My big idea!

[Uncle Buck]

My big idea is probably a moldy oldie and no big deal for most of the wrench benders out there, but I never read or heard about it and it solved a problem in my shop so I am sharing it here. Anyone that knows much about me and my cramped 2 car shop knows that space is at a premium and I have made the most storing vertically for years. As a result, I have several mechanic and machinist boxes either equipped with mid boxes, or mounted above bench height on shelves leaving access to the top till of the boxes only accessible for viewing/retrieving tools by using a small step to access their contents.
So, here is my big solution to this inconvenience. I bought a large plate glass thickness mirror at the local Restore for $3 (any mirror thickness of the required length x width will work for this) I measured the size of the underside of the raised lid on the box for the required size. I took the mirror to the local hdw store and cut the required  size from the mirror with enough of the mirror remaining to use on another box.
Next I bought a piano hinge from the local HDW store and cut it to the width of the mirror and glued it to the bottom of the mirror on its back side, and the underside of the bottom bottom edge of the box using JB weld. Secure in place with strong tape until the epoxy dries. Next choose either strips of leather, or fabric and cut two 1" wide strips. The size of the box will dictate the length of strips of material. After the piano hing glued in place has dried,  swing the top edge of the mirror down to an estimated 45 degrees. With the length of the strips of leather/fabric determined glue one end of each strip to the underside of each corner of the mirror at the top backside of the mirror and each of the two ends of the material to the underside of the box lid. Finish the install by adding a small hasp or like type hardware store procured device to glue to the center of the top of top side of the mirror, and the underside of box lid to allow you to secure the mirror in place on the underside of the box lid in the event you should ever want to close the lid of the box.
Obviously,  my big fix is worthless if the box is a road box for a service truck or likely sees frequent opening and closing of the lid. My boxes never move and my lids never close. The only reason I added a center device was in the event I should ever have need to close the lids on my boxes. Over most boxes I have shelves or cabinets to which fluorescent lights have long ago been attached so available lighting of the contents is easier for my aging eyes.
With the addition of the mirrors  I have no need for the step. I can easily reach the contents of the top tills of the boxes and can now see what is where in the top tills without the need for the step. 
Likely my big fix has been done by countless others. I  just never got that memo.
Hopefully someone else with this same minor inconvenience will find benefit in my solution to this dilemma
.

[j.a.f.e.]

Very clever UB. 

Although at 5'7" I would still need a step to reach the top of the box. As it is I need a step to get to the top drawers in a triple stack.

[Uncle Buck]

Very clever UB.

Although at 5'7" I would still need a step to reach the top of the box. As it is I need a step to get to the top drawers in a triple stack.

At 5' 9" I am not much better off myself! LOL

[Hickory n Steel]

At least you're not a 5'6" squirt like me.
This is a good idea for sure.

[goodfellow]

Yes, I'm vertically challenged as well, being 5'8" on a good day. I like the idea and the price of the mirror sure helps. Lots of good mirror stock available at Goodwill and Restore outlets.

[Uncle Buck]

Yes, I'm vertically challenged as well, being 5'8" on a good day. I like the idea and the price of the mirror sure helps. Lots of good mirror stock available at Goodwill and Restore outlets.

While my little step is convenient, I like not having to use it to figure out what is where in the top. I can reach it all without a step, but could not see it without the step. I love cheap and effective solutions and this did both.

If a guy was picky, a highly polished sheet of stainless would provide the same answer,  but would be costlier and would cost so much more, plus the work polishing it out. As I think about it the same could be done with aluminum I suppose.

[AbiggerGarage]

I decided long ago, and when health permits, I took my top boxes for the most part, off the mid chests and just have the bottom and mid.
I have one lower chest. that I have a Montezuma angled toolbox on, and that may be the one I move inside with more SAE/home repair type of stuff.
If not, my plan was to put those top boxes on a shelf, chest level, and put cased power tools above and heavier power tools down lower, for storage (make it so I can use them on a bench and move them when not in use).

I did pass along one of my top boxes, to my niece, it was almost the exact size she needed.  I don't plan on using them as much since buying my 56" HF box Christmas week, and while I debated wood or stainless, Menards only having 3 stainless 56" tops sealed that deal for me, I have other wood benches.

[Uncle Buck]

After living with my mirror fix for a few months, I still like the idea, but learning to train my hand in sync with the reverse image in the mirror is a bit of a trick to get used to, but I have adapted to make it work. Still satisfied with my fix.

BTW: The addition of a light hanging above helps a whole lot.

[Muddy]

Great idea! Luckily I'm ,6'3" so I can see top of most things.