Owner: Richard Hays
Shop: Service King Paint and Body #302
Location: McDonough, GA
Over the past five years, Richard Hays of Service King in McDonough, GA, has purchased his now 12' long Snap-on setup in sections, and he says he's not done adding yet.
Currently, the box itself is 12.5' long, 7' tall, 2.5' deep. The setup features a main box, complete with personalized name plate, hutch, side locker and side cabinet with an open work surface. That's not even mentioning his matching Snap-on tool cart.
"The size of the box is quite large for a body shop technician," Hays says. "It has plenty of room for storage, but I will probably add a few more sections in the next few years."
Managing a big 30-drawer box like Hays' can be a handful, but he says keeping it organized is his best trick.
"I try to put everything up at the end of each day, and sometimes during the day, to keep everything handy, and to make sure nothing is left in any vehicle," Hays says.
Generally, each of the drawers is designated by tool type, from a wrench and socket drawer, to electrical testing equipment.
A Snap-On Verus diagnostic scan tool, Hays' go-to tool, has a home in the hutch next to his laptop. The hutch also stores cleaning supplies, aerosol can greases, and an underhood worklight. On top of the hutch Hays keeps reference books, welding equipment and a stereo, which will likely find a home in a horizontal locker Hays plans to purchase in the near future.
Additional storage can also be found in the single locker on the main box, which holds some of his lesser used items, as well as larger blow molded cases that don't fit in a regular drawer.
Some of his blow molded cases are kept under his box, as well. But the addition of a second side locker, which Hays plans to add, would give a place for some of those bulky miscellaneous items.
Next to his setup is a matching blue Snap-on flip-up tool cart which holds "everyday" hand, air and battery operated tools, including sockets.
Hays has been a technician for over 30 years, and has been with Service King, primarily a body repair facility, for about 11 of them. He completes mechanical repairs, diagnostics, alignments and brakes, among other things.
