What is the best metal lockable toolbox for a freshman starting plumbing tech?

Kennedy is the classic choice for a shop environment if you want something that actually lasts. They make a 20-inch cantilever model that fits a standard 12-inch hacksaw and a torpedo level without much fuss. It’s all steel, has a tray that moves out of the way when you open it, and you can throw a decent padlock on the latch. Most of those plastic bins won't survive a semester of being kicked around a shop floor, but a steel Kennedy or a **Proto** hip-roof box will likely last trough her entire apprenticeship.

Regarding the specific brands like Rigid and Douglas, don't try to save a few bucks by getting knock-offs. Instructors ask for those because they’re the industry standard. A **Rigid 151** tubing cutter is basially the only one worth owning. If she shows up with a diffrent brand, she might find that the instructor's demos don't quite match her gear, or the tool just won't hold up to the abuse of learning. Better to buy it once and have it for a decade than buy a cheap one that walks off track after a month. The biggest issue in a tech school shop is tools growing legs. Since everyone is going to have the exact same kit, she needs to mark everything imediately. Get a cheap electric engraver and put her initials on every single piece—pliers, wrenches, even the levels. Then, hit them with a quick dab of high-visibility spray paint on the handles. Neon pink or bright teal works best because it sticks out from across the room. It’s much harder for someone to "accidentally" put her tool in thier box if it’s got a bright stripe of paint on it. If the 20-inch steel box ends up being too heavy once it’s fully loaded, check out the **Homak** heavy-duty series. They are a bit lighter but still use real hardware instead of plastic clips. Just make sure whatever you get has a solid metal handle. A full set of plumbing tools gets heavy fast, especially once she starts adding pipe wrenches to the kit.

I'm thinking about joining a similar program and the tool list is a bit overwhelming. Is there a specific type of padlock that's better for those shop lockers? I’ve heard the basic combination ones are pretty easy to bypass. Also, for the paint idea, does it acutally stay on the metal handles once they get covered in grease or flux? I’d hate to spend a ton on Rigid gear only for the 'anti-theft' paint to smudge off on her hands the first week.

For the locker, skip the basic school locks. Get a brass Master Lock 175 or an Abus; they handle the shop dust and grit way better without seizing up. As for the paint, it'll hold if she hits the handles with a bit of brake cleaner or degreaser first to get the factory oil off. Tell her to look into a high-tension hacksaw frame, too. The standard ones flex like crazy when you're trying to get a square cut on copper or PVC. Also, since she's lugging that steel box, maybe grab a padded shoulder strap. Those metal handles dig in real deep once you've got two heavy pipe wrenches in there.