system tool box on the hood

[rowdy13]

I purchased a hood protector, but I just dont know if I want to put my windshield repair system on the hood of someone's car even though its on the protector. I sure dont think I would like that done to my car, but would like to know what you guys do. I think I might place a micro-fiber towel on the hood so when I lean, I wont rub against anyone's car. and I will probably leave the system on the ground.

[gt_repair]

I would start be asking if they don't mind if you put the kit on the car and you will get the feel what they think... There are some cars I will not even lean on.

I use a towel doubled over to put my box on instead of a hood protector.

Use your own judgment with the car and customer.

[rowdy13]

I'm sure there are lots of people who would get very upset putting a tool box on their cars. when I ordered the hood protector, I thought it would be thicker, and more car friendly, but they really arent. I think I will do like you, and IF I need to lean on the car, I will use a big fluffy soft towel, but try to keep from it if I can. I'm 6'3", so I'm sure that will help me to not have to lean. thanks for the response Don.

[GlassStarz]

I am 6'4" 200 lbs I lean in and can reach just about anywhere without leaning on the car. for those in the middle breaks or tall pickups I have a one step fold up stool. I have seen others that place the tool box on the hood but it just doesnt make much sence to me. I set it in the shade side of the car. I am sure some of the more verticly challenged have to lean on the car so a big towle would make a good choice

[CrackMagic]

Even with a hood protector, I would be hesitant to put my bulky tool box on the car. I have had enough trouble keeping the loose leaf tools I set on the hood from rolling off with all the different angles. Would hate to bump the toolbox and have it slide off and explode on the ground.:eusa_doh:

[gt_repair]

I do not use a bulky tool box. I use a small tackle box and also use earth magnets to hold small hand tools in place.

I would not want some one to put a big tool box on my truck either. as thin as they make the skins on the autos now days that may put a small dent in the skin.

I have pic's on the another post about tool holders used.

[gt_repair]

You can see the post: Carry box? for pic's on what I use.

[Brent Deines]

The reason the thin closed cell hood protectors are so popular is for exactly that reason. The thick rubber backed hood protectors used to be popular, but any soft material including towels have a tendency to pick up glass, rocks, dust, and other debris that can scratch the paint. Windshield repair is pretty clean, so it's much easier to keep the hood protector or towel clean than say in a body shop or auto repair facility, but it's still best to use caution. In the glass shop we were constantly picking small fragments of glass from the soft surface of the thick mats. It's not usually what you put on the hood that causes the scratches, it's what is under what you put on the hood.

I like having all my tools in front of me so I use hood protectors on all but the most expensive of cars, $50K+, and have never had any problems or complaints, but not putting tools on the car is probably the safest option. Paying for a windshield is one thing, but paying for a paint job is something to avoid at all costs.

[screenman]

Keep them on the floor and make use of the excercise in bending over to get them. I have seen the damage done by a tool box sliding down a hood when the wind caught it, not pretty luckily I managed to machine polish it out. This was in the days when we did mobile paintwork which is how I come to have my polishing mahine on board and yes it was my toolbox.

[chips1144]

Nothing irritates me much more than seeing a WSR tech putting a large toolbox on the hood of a car, It shows disrespect for the owners car, its just another accident waiting to happen, and Id guess it might lose you your next chance at fixing that persons windshield, It would mine, I wouldn't tell you but Id never call you again, some people are picky about their cars, that's why they called you in the first place, When I work on someone's car I treat it as if it were my own.