A few months ago my life-long collection of tools and test equipment were liberated for use by others; I can only hope that some deserved tech is now making good use of by beloved stuff.
Moving on, I'm now in the process of slowly re-building my stock of tools, but this time around I shall need to be more focussed and only buy the tools I actually make use of. Cheaper that way too.
Some years ago I started to make up what I called (for want of a better term) a "minimal toolkit". This was a day-pack (small back-pack) containing a minimal but reasonably comprehensive set of tools, the idea being to be able to tackle most jobs from this kit. It contained, for instance, adjustable spanners rather than spanner sets, and a butane-powered soldering iron to be able to work in "the field", 1/4 inch hex bit sets, reversible screwdrivers etc. I'm sure you get the picture. And before someone starts moaning, in principle I am a great advocate of using the correct tool for each task - but here I'm talking about working on the go, as lightly loaded as possible, not back in the (fully equipped, we hope) workshop.
So what I'm interested in hearing about now is - assuming that we're talking about working away from the workshop, out in the departments and wards, and off-site, how do you organize your tools? How do you carry them around? Satchel, day-pack, brief-case style toolkit, traditional toolbox, shoulder bag, stuffed in your pockets, canvas toolbag, whatever? Or do you visit the job first, and then go back to pick up the tools you need? Also, do you make up your own kit(s), or simply rely on ready-made sets purchased from ... whoever?
If anyone has the time, how about listing the contents of the perfect toolkit (as long as you can handle the general ridicule bound to result)?
Lastly, what about service consumables? Give us your perfect list of aerosols, tapes, cable ties etc. that you regularly lug around, and how do you carry them?
We'll leave the topic of the "ideal biomed cart" for another day, and later we'll move on to the "ideal biomed service vehicle" (car, estate car, motor-bike, on foot public transport, van etc.)!