Guides
Setups that work.
Records that hold up.
For people who use their tools for a living. No listicles, no fluff.
Electrical · Apprentices
Apprentice electrician tool list: what you need day one, and what can wait
The hand tools a first-year electrical apprentice actually uses, what to add in year two, which test gear ratings matter, what to skip, and a small starter stack that grows with you.
8 MIN READ
HVAC · Service and install
HVAC tool storage setup: tool bag, modular stack, or both
When a tool bag beats a modular stack for HVAC work and when it doesn't, how to store gauges, hoses and refrigerant tools, and the hybrid bag-plus-stack setup a lot of service techs end up with.
8 MIN READ
Organization · Drawers
PACKOUT drawer organization: how to lay out every drawer
Drawer-by-drawer logic for PACKOUT-style drawer boxes: daily tools on top, heavy tools low, one job per drawer, and when to use foam, bins or open dividers.
8 MIN READ
Vehicles · Truck and van
PACKOUT truck setup: bed, cab and van layouts that work
How to set up modular storage in a pickup bed, cab or van: what to mount, what to strap, how to keep weather and thieves out, and how to plan the layout before you drill.
8 MIN READ
Comparison · Modular storage
PACKOUT vs TOUGHSYSTEM 2.0: what actually matters on the job
An honest, dated comparison of Milwaukee PACKOUT and DEWALT TOUGHSYSTEM 2.0: how they latch, what the manufacturers say about capacity and sealing, organizers, mixing systems, and who should pick which.
8 MIN READ
Plumbing · Service and repipe
Plumber tool storage setup: a stack that survives wet jobs
How to lay out a modular stack for plumbing work: press tool and jaws protected, fittings you can count at a glance, wet gear kept away from dry, and a split between what lives on the truck and what goes inside.
8 MIN READ
Inventory · App comparison
Tool inventory apps compared: what each one does, as of November 2026
A dated, sourced look at apps tradespeople use to record tools, serials and receipts: free limits, prices, export, crews and privacy. Plus where Show Your Stack fits, and where it doesn't yet.
9 MIN READ
Theft · First steps
Tools stolen from your truck? What to do, step by step
A first-hour checklist for the worst morning: stay safe, document the scene, file a police report with serial numbers, call your insurer, watch resale listings, and get back to work.
8 MIN READ
Electrical · Service work
How to organize a modular tool storage stack for electrical service work
A drawer-by-drawer system for electricians running service calls: testers on top, heavy iron on the bottom, consumables you can see, and a ten-minute Friday reset.
9 MIN READ
Inventory · Theft and insurance
Tool theft inventory: what to record and why
The fields police and insurers ask for after tools are stolen, where to find serial numbers, how to photograph and mark your tools, and a free inventory template.
8 MIN READ