What Is a Hard Tool Case?
A hard tool case is a type of case designed to protect stored items from external shocks and forces, water, oil, and chemicals, especially during transport. It ensures secure transportation and storage without damage.
It features a box material with excellent impact resistance and durability, a lid and body with excellent sealing performance, and an interior lined with shock-absorbing cushioning material.
They range from small, lightweight cases for small tools to large cases with telescoping handles and casters that can hold large power tools or numerous tools, as well as cases with automatic air pressure adjustment valves.
Uses of Hard Tool Cases
Hard tool cases are used to protect stored items securely, such as power tools required for field work, precision equipment such as cameras, and various measuring instruments from shocks and extreme temperature changes that may occur during transportation and storage.
Therefore, these cases are not intended for general household use; rather, they are designed for business and professional purposes. They are frequently used in harsh environments and situations with high transportation frequency, such as in industrial settings, sports, government offices, police, and the military.
There are also cases specialized for personal computers, which can be operated with the lid open in an attaché case style, and are used for adjusting and programming control equipment in the field.
How to Select Hard Tool Cases
The following points should be considered when selecting hard tool cases. They should be selected according to their uses and the environment in which they will be used.
Impact Resistance
This is the most important point in hard tool cases. The exterior box and lid are made of impact-resistant materials, such as copolymer polypropylene (PP) or aluminum, while the interior is made of cushioning material such as urethane foam. Some boxes are molded to fit the shape of the items to be stored, minimizing the gaps between them to ensure that the items are securely fixed in place.
Some containers comply with the Air Transport Association standard ATA300 Category 1 (a standard that allows containers to withstand at least 100 round-trip air shipments) for air transportation.
Other special cases comply with military standards, such as MIL-SPEC 4150J, the U.S. military standard for transport and storage, and STANAG 4280/DEFSTAN 81-41 NATO standard.
Water and Dust Resistance
The next important point to consider is waterproofing and dustproofing. An O-ring embedded in the lid groove adheres closely to the protruding part of the main body to maintain an airtight seal and prevent moisture and dust from entering the case.
The IP67 rating, based on IEC144, IEC529, and DIN40 050 (IEC is an International Electrotechnical Commission standard), is a rating of 6 for dustproof performance (complete Structure of dustproofing completely protects against the ingress of dust) and 7 for waterproof performance (no water ingress for 30 minutes at the specified pressure and time, even when placed under 6″ to 3 ft. of water). For example, water will not penetrate for 30 minutes even if the product is submerged under 6″ to 3 ft. of water at the specified pressure and time.
Operating Temperature
Some are made of copolymer polypropylene or other materials with excellent heat resistance and can withstand temperatures from below-freezing to high temperatures (examples range from -40 to 99°C). They can be used in harsh environments such as deserts, extreme cold, and scorching heat.
Size
Select a size with optimum leeway depending on the size of the tools to be stored and the quantity of tools. In addition to the length dimension of the toolbox, the depth dimension is also important when storing power tools. In addition, the dimensions should be sufficiently larger than the items to be stored, taking into consideration the thickness of the interior cushioning material.
Others
Some boxes are equipped with locks and can be securely locked. Others feature automatic air pressure control valves that regulate the internal pressure based on external air pressure. This design ensures they can be easily opened and closed without difficulty caused by a drop in internal pressure due to temperature or air pressure changes.