Tool box question.

[UP Guy]

I'm struggling with trying to find a good value on a stand up rolling type tool box. I'm an average do it your self-er and don't need anything real expensive. There are so many brands and types and varying prices that I'm flooded with choices. Do you guys have any suggestions on a box that has worked out good for yourself. My tools are in small boxes spread all over the darn garage and I want to get everything organized and in one place. Thank you in advance...

 

[BHD]

Years ago I bought a medium priced sears unit,
a few years ago to add on I bought some from home depot,

I have one of the cheap units that is smaller and has a panel door on the base with only a few drawers in it (not that good of a unit, ) I use for seldom used tools electronic test tools, and a second for the lath tools, (they work, but if used a lot they would not last long)

I have read some think the better harbor freight units are OK,

unless you can buy one used your happy with, a reasonable one will cost a few bucks

 

[motownbrowne]

I bought a 31" wide 7 drawer Snap-on roll chest with new paint on craigslist last summer for $175. Last week I added a 9 drawer kra59b snap on top box for $150. They're both slide bearings, but work great. Deals are out there if you're diligent. Good luck!

 

[Thomas]

Also bought second hand Snap On couple months ago off Criaglist,way more than I needed but the price you couldn't refuse.
Keep an eye out for auctions etc.

 

[motownbrowne]

Another thing to add, depending on your budget, and how "set-up" with tools you already are, but I've realized that if I were to do it again, I'd buy a used snap-on, Mac, Matco etc. box with the tools on craigslist. You might pay full price for the box, but get all the tools for free. Just something to consider.

Also, if you're considering a craftsman box from sears, apparently they'll have a big sale around president's day. Some of their stuff is pretty cheap, but there might be something decent there.

 

[Quartz]

What kind of money do you mean by a good value? Craftsman has some cheap $100 units sold at ACE Hardware when they are on sale. Not great, but for cheap storage, not bad. Menard's has some decent priced units. If used boxes are OK, keep checking Craigslist or flea markets or garage sales for them.

 

[jgrieve]

Ive been wondering if there are parts and plans out ther to build a good roll around tool chest at home?

 

[senecak19]

Local auctions. Mine has them once a week and always has one rollaway. Best part.... You keep the contents.

 

[beeforty]

Trying to build one at home can be done but you give up room unless you can make metal drawers. I still have an old wooden TV cabinet that I built 3/8" plywood drawers for when I was going to college. Still works under my radial arm saw for storage but wouldn't do it again. With a used one make sure the spot welds for the corners aren't popped from being pushed around a busy shop/or tipped over. Also some of the cheaper ones have small wheels that don't roll well once you get your work bench cleared off, so look at putting a good set of wheels on an old box. Also a piece of plywood cut to go under the bottom of the box or a angle iron frame makes a big improvement in being able to maneuver it around. For fixed storage look at auction for Stanley/Vidmar/Lyon or other industrial cabinets. They have full extension ball bearing drawers with a built in divider system to the drawers. These can break the bank if bought new but these are what we use in our tool cribs at work! see Stanley: http://www.stanleyvidmar.com/sites/www.stanleyvidmar.com/files/flipbooks/product-catalog/index.html

 

[s219]

I just bought two Husky units from Home Depot. They seem to be made by the same factory that makes the higher end Sears/Craftsman stuff, though the Husky was a lot cheaper than the Sears normal price (you generally need to get Sears stuff on sale for it to be reasonable). The Husky cost $139 for the rolling base unit with 4 drawers, and another $99 for the top unit with 5-6 drawers. Bearing slides and all that and heavy casters on the lower unit. Painted black.

 

[UP Guy]

All good stuff. Thank you.

 

[dfkrug]

I just bought two Husky units from Home Depot. They seem to be made by the same
factory that makes the higher end Sears/Craftsman stuff, though the Husky was a lot cheaper than the Sears
normal price (you generally need to get Sears stuff on sale for it to be reasonable). The Husky cost $139
for the rolling base unit with 4 drawers, and another $99 for the top unit with 5-6 drawers. Bearing slides
and all that and heavy casters on the lower unit. Painted black.

I got what I think are the same units a few months ago. $199 + tax.

Fantastic deal, and great quality. Ball-bearing drawers with closed detents.

I was looking for 6 mo for a good used Snapon, Matco, Crapsman, etc, but nothing was right. The
cheap HarborFright units have no bbs, and the better ones were much more $. Same with
Lowes.

Just sold my 60s vintage Huot rolling cabinet for $50.....no bbs on the drawers.

20-25 y ago, I bought a HuskyProfessional from HD, and it is fine, but no bbs. Best deal
around back then, too.

 

[jenkinsph]

I have a variety of Craftsman roll a way cabinets, and would say the mid priced ball bearing units are the best deal imo. I have over twenty of these cabinets in the shop and on my service trucks and have had decent service from them. The cheap ones won't hold up well and cabinet door bottom units are not convenient for storage. The mid priced 40" unit with a full width top drawer, stack of 26" drawers on the left and stack of 12" drawers on the right would be my favorite single unit.

If you can find a good deal on a used cabinet of any brand that would be the best deal. Snap On is a good unit but costly for a home shop, I need too many to be able to afford them. The various brands like Husky seem good too, but I require specific dimensions to mount to my trucks frame work. Since I started with the Craftsman (made by Waterloo) I need to stay with them.

The 40" unit on the driver side rear is pictured below. With ball bearing slides individual drawer locks, one full width drawer and one deep drawer can hold lots of tools for a home shop.

 

[AaronS]

I bought this beast at Menard's a couple of years ago and am very happy with it. Very well built.

http://www.menards.com/main/tools-hardware/tool-storage/tool-chests-boxes/masterforce-36-tool-chest-cabinet-combo/p-1851828.htm

 

[s219]

I have a variety of Craftsman roll a way cabinets, and would say the mid priced ball bearing units are the best deal imo. I have over twenty of these cabinets in the shop and on my service trucks and have had decent service from them. The cheap ones won't hold up well and cabinet door bottom units are not convenient for storage. The mid priced 40" unit with a full width top drawer, stack of 26" drawers on the left and stack of 12" drawers on the right would be my favorite single unit.

If you can find a good deal on a used cabinet of any brand that would be the best deal. Snap On is a good unit but costly for a home shop, I need too many to be able to afford them. The various brands like Husky seem good too, but I require specific dimensions to mount to my trucks frame work. Since I started with the Craftsman (made by Waterloo) I need to stay with them.

The 40" unit on the driver side rear is pictured below. With ball bearing slides individual drawer locks, one full width drawer and one deep drawer can hold lots of tools for a home shop.

Interesting, I have never seen shop toolboxes on a truck like that -- how do they hold up to rain/weather and road spray?

 

[George2615]

I've had good luck with Craftsman. I have 2 stand up rolling cabinets since the 70's. I used them when I worked in dealership garages for over ten years and in my own garage for the rest. They've held up well over the years and were reasonably priced. I have been thinking of replacing them with a wider roll around but haven't because the old ones still roll around fine.

 

[Will_C]

I have a 3 pieced medium priced Craftsman unit my mother bought for me 20 years ago. My fathers's Craftsman boxes are 40 years old and are still used my brother.

I am just a typical homeowner, but my father ran and brother runs a excavation business out of those toolboxes.

Will

Sent from my iPhone using TractorByNet

 

[jenkinsph]

Interesting, I have never seen shop toolboxes on a truck like that -- how do they hold up to rain/weather and road spray?

Hold up pretty well, that truck pictured above is a 1999 built the truck and body up about 16 years ago. On occasion I have had a little water get in but no harm done. One of the problems with a conventional service body is organizing small parts and tools, cabinets are not near as easy to organize as drawers. The drawers hold everything in place without the parts moving which causes a lot of wear and damage to them.

 

[94BULLITT]

Look for a used snap on craigslist. If you want something new a little cart like this will hold a lot of tools. http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/tools.asp?tool=storage&Group_ID=683099&store=snapon-store The Husky boxes from depot are probably the nicest boxes you will get from a box store.

 

[Scrambler82]

I too like the Craftsman units.
The newer ball bearing draws and quick releases are great.

I found a deep top box and mid chest, both ball bearing draw type, at a small yard sale for $150 for both, the guy was getting rid of them so he could switch over to the black box color and his wife wanted the red stuff gone, funny what you can find at yard sales.

Check out local sales and hope for the best.

Another thought, I was at Harbor Frieght, checked out the hanging side box, ball bearing draws, quick draw releases, similar red color as the Craftsman red, all in all not a bad looking and operating box for less than Sears wants for a similar box. In fact the draw arrangement in the HF Box was better.
Check out your local Harbor Fright and see what they have.