Toolboxes Make Versatile Holiday Gifts

(ARA) – If you’re looking for a practical, useful gift that will be appreciated by just about everyone on your gift list this holiday season, look no further than your local hardware store. Toolboxes make a great gift, whether you’re buying something for a college student or your favorite “gear head.”
Toolboxes come in all sizes, can be made of metal or plastic, and can be plain or fancy. Choose the appropriate tool box and personalize your gift by filling it with carefully chosen items that you know the recipient will love. Here are some ideas to take with you as you shop.
Turn a compact toolbox like Waterloo Industries’ 20-inch plastic model into a car emergency kit. Having the right supplies is just as important as having a cell phone in an emergency. Include all the basics that will come in handy in the event of a roadside emergency like a flat tire. For starters, consider flares, a few basic tools, a flashlight and batteries, a tire inflator and sealant, a first aid kit, pre-moistened towlettes, a couple bottles of water, and a few candy bars. Add anything else you think might be useful. Show your loved ones you care by making sure they hit the road well prepared.
Is there a car buff on your list? Start with a generously sized tool box such as Waterloo’s 3-Drawer Portable Chest (available with a Chevrolet or Ford emblem to complement the theme). Fill it with products that will help the recipient pamper his (or her) car: car wax, cleaning rags, window and upholstery cleaners, deodorizers to hang from the mirror and any other favorites. And if the buff spends more time with the car than with you, slip in a framed photo for a humorous touch.
If you know a family that likes to bike ride, present them with a bicycle care kit. Include a compact tire pump, patches for tire repairs, a couple of spare inner tubes, a set of allen wrenches, and other necessities.
Tool boxes make excellent storage solutions for various crafts. If someone on your list is into beading, for example, look for a toolbox that has lots of small compartments for stashing beads, as well as a larger area for storing other supplies. Scrapbookers will also find a toolbox comes in handy to organize markers, stamps, stickers and other tools of the trade.
Another nice gift for people who like to tackle big jobs is a project center. Waterloo’s 2-drawer project center has bulk storage to hide all the big stuff, as well as drawers for smaller items. No more half-finished projects cluttering up the dining room table or the spare bedroom; with a project center, there is a place for everything. The center fits right in whether it’s used in the house or in the garage.
A sit/stand/tote with caddy is a very versatile item and makes a great gift. Fill it with tackle and take it ice fishing, or fill it with ice, add cans of your favorite beverage and take it tailgating. It doubles as storage and seating. The tote is also great for keeping kids’ sporting equipment rounded up. Earmark a separate tote for each sport, label them and when you’re ready to go, simply grab the appropriate tote. You’ll never end up at the soccer game without shin pads again!
If you know a new homeowner, get them off to a good start with a sturdy toolbox stocked with all the basics — include a hammer, pliers, screwdrivers, a variety of nails and screws and even some cleaning products. A similarly stocked toolbox would come in handy for college students as well.
Virginia Woolf knew a woman needs a room of her own. The same might be said of toolboxes. Even if a household has a fully stocked tool box in the garage, women like having a few basic tools handy when and where they need them — in the house. Fill a compact tool box with multi-use tools that won’t take up a lot of space: a screwdriver with interchangeable heads to tackle a variety of jobs; needlenose and regular pliers; and an adjustable wrench.
If your budget is tight this year, consider giving toolbox organizers or accessories. Waterloo makes a variety of dividers, liners, wrench organizers and other accessories to bring order to toolbox chaos.
Use these suggestions to get your creativity flowing — you’ll be able to come up with toolbox ideas for just about everyone on your list. Holiday shopping just got a lot easier.
You’ll find a wide array of tool boxes and other tool storage ideas at hardware and home improvement stores such as Sears, Menard’s, Lowe’s and other retail outlets. The Chevy and Ford portable chests are available at select retailers. Web sites such as www.waterlooindustries.com are also a good source of information. Courtesy of ARA Content