| Author | Message | ||
     Mikej |
What do you do with your accumulation of tools? We've been sort of shopping around for tool box options, looking at stacked roll-around packages, some taller single unit stacks, and so forth. Looked at some of the Craftsmans options, some less costly without ball bearing slides, some with a no-bearing quiet glide rail, some just metal on metal rails. Some narrower, some wider, some with more shallower drawers, some with fewer but deeper drawers. Gotten to the point of just about forgetting about it and staying with my scatter approach, which ends up with not being able to find half of the stuff. So feel free to post up what you do with your tools, pics help, sources help. I can't afford a Snap-On rack but go ahead of post up your $3,000 stacks if you want. I need something to store power tools, hand tools, and assorted other stuff, all in one primary location. This one was the current leader before I decided to just shelve the idea until after Christmas:  No ball bearing quiet glide, all three pieces, about $300 plus tax. | ||
| Gearloose |
Looks like mine,only blk,and b/bearing,with lift latch drawers. | ||
| Gotj |
Mikej, That's exactly the rig I have. Probably had it six years and it's still fine. I would buy it again. | ||
| Bluzm2 |
Mike, I have a ton (literally) and am too in need of a new roller chest. Make sure to check the weight capacity of not only each drawer but the cabinet capacity. The heavier capacity units all have ball bearing slides. The lower cabinet has to be able to hold not only it's contents but the weight of the middle and upper chest. I added up my current setup, it's no wonder the lower cabinet is sagging. Next time you are in a decent sized Sears, just check the spec's of the various sets and you'll see what I mean. A lot of the unit's I've seen lately of the "low cost" variety are not built very well. That includes the one's I've seen at Sams, CostCo, Lowes, etc. Not sure what I'm going to do. I'd like to find someone around here that sells Waterloo. My current one has serves me well. Brad | ||
| Mikej |
I'm going to have to check into that weight limit on it. I had looked at the wheels, looked sort of like rubber on a shaft with no visible bearings. Home Depot has a single 6 deep drawer bottom unit about the height of the lower and middle unit above for about the same price, I'll have to check the weight limits on that one too. I've got a variety of older heavier hand tools that will end up in the bottom drawers. A relative has one like pictured above, had it over 10 years, maybe 15 or so, heavily used and loaded, just starting to have issues with it, but way heavily loaded at times. I'm halfway thinking I might be better served with just a better bottom unit. Keep the comments and ideas coming. I could live with the above unit/set if need be. | ||
| Buell_bert |
I have a Craftsman bottom and top I bought in "78" with ball brg. drawers and it still works fine today. Quality lasts. And I've got alot of tools in it. And do not pull out all the drawers at once. Never done it but seen it done. It's kind of funny as long as it's not your box. | ||
| Ocbueller |
If your making a living with your tools, buy the very best box you can, even if it's a bit of a stretch on the wallet. If it's just for hobby tools you can settle for something a bit less. A good box can last many generations. SteveH | ||
| Road_thing |
The Craftsman ball bearing units are what I have, too. They cost more, but were worth it. I had a non-BB chest before, and every time I open a drawer on the current ones, I'm glad I spent the extra bucks. rt | ||
| Ulyrider2006 |
I agree with basically everything thats been said above. I am an automotive technician by trade and have the Snap-On at work, but at home its craftsman all the way. I would go for the ball bearing slides though. when I started turning wrenches for a living I actually started with the set-up you have shown with ball bearing drawers. filled it up and had to step up to more storage. my father has a craftsman box in his shed that he bought new in '74. it still works fine. Leave the industrial stuff at work and buy a decent craftsman and you'll never need another box unless you run out of room. | ||
| Yohinan |
What do you mean Snap-On for 3000.00 bucks? I have a Sears Craftsman Professional Series box with attached sides and it cost me right close to 3000.00 I do not even have a top for it. And you know what the worst part of it is? I have since bought a Snap-On cart for some additional storage and I have so many tools that don't fit in either of them it's not even funny. Ughh. I need to buy another box but I am not right now. The majority of my tools are Snap-On though so they are kind of out of place in the Craftsman box but I dont really care to much. If I want to move to Snap-On then Im looking at like 10 grand or more for a box if bought new. I will surely pass on that one. But as mentioned unless your an extreme home mechanic then I would avoid Snap-On or one of it's equivalents and stick with the mid grade stuff. | ||
| Mikej |
I'm kind of thinking that for $3,000-$10,000, the box had better be full of tools for that kind of money. | ||
| Sam_07 |
Snap-on boxes will never fix a car or a bike! Imagine how many tools you can buy with 3k. Fill a craftsman ballbearing tool box with snap-on tools. Then when you fill that buy another one. Dont make the mistake of purchasing a non-ball bearing box. Put a set of impact deep and shallow sockets in a non ballbearing draw and youll hate yourself! | ||
| Morgan_44 |
Snap-on, Matco, and Mac tools usualy sell used tool boxes that professonal mechanics have traded in. I have a three bay Matco that is teathered to the ground in my garage. Knowing how much I've spent on tools, I like the security of better locks on a heavy cabinet. Kobalt has a few nice tool chests for under $700. | ||
| Blueeyedsin |
i was a salesman for sears for over a year. the thing to do, ask the salesperson if they have any damaged ones in the back stock. i got a nice solid stainless stell ball bearing double stacker for about 250. what happened someone hit the box with a pallet jack. punctured the box and scratched the steel. they have to sell it as used. also in personal choice. ball bearing is the way to go. lubricate it every blue moon it will last forever. the quiet glides are teflon based rails. eventually in a dirty enviroment you will be screwed. metal on metal, worked for many of years for craftsman. but when you start adding alot of wieght to a drawer, you start noticing a difference. at the store i wa working at, i placed a 45 lbs wieght from the gym section in a drawer. and kept switching it between boxes. customers can appreciate it better in the store when you demonstrate its power. | ||
| Buelleaver |
 If you have wall space, for about 60 bucks i got this peg board mounted over firing strips and all the hanging hardware from lowes. the socket racks are from sears hardware.very convenient. | ||
| Kmfw160 |
awesome setup bro. | ||
| Rhpaw |
You could go the Harbor Freight route. I have a lot of tools that I inherited and then upgraded over the years to what you would call "more than adequate" number of tools. As I do do not do anything professionally, I just needed a place to store them that was not cardboard boxes. I bought the bottom box from Harbor Freight that you usually see on sale form about $400. That box, along with with my older-than-crap top box holds most everything and does exactly what I NEED it to do without too much complaint. It is the Kia of toolboxes, but everything is nice and organized, pretty and easy to get to.  It doesn't close as nice as it should, and it squeaks. But I've had it for 5 years now and it's shown no real signs of aging beyond that. I don't use it every day, but I do have 4 broken cars and 3 motorcycles that all require constant crap so it's more than just a dust collector. It's hard to beat for the price and my tool-less friends still marvel at it even it doesn't say Snappy. Cheap boxes = more expensive tools. | ||
| Aussiexbox |
Buellleaver you murderous bastard,I was wondering why Santa never came this year,but now I know what happened to them,you shot them and hung em on yer wall!you callous fiend you,now what do I tell my little kids.   | ||
| Buelleaver |
Just to clarify , Santa gave me the gun, so it was a very confusing situation .  | ||
| Texas_firebolt |
i make my living as a harley mechanic. two things to remember. Never, EVER buy a cheap box, or tools for that matter. you will regret it every day. i own only the best (in tools and tool box). my box is a snap-on classic series special edition box but for the normal garage king i would recommend a craftsmen. good quality at an affordable price. the warranty makes all the difference. happy shopping  | ||
| Newxb12ss |
Keep in mind that damp environments promote corrosion. For this reason most older toolboxes for precision tools (and gun cabinets) were made of wood. Most people today have less moisture to worry about in shop spaces than prior to WWII, but dampness can still slip in unnoticed for some folks and a winter of un-nattended tools can be a spring nightmare when the boxes are opened for riding season. Light coats of oil can temporarily fend off moisture attack. Dessicant is also a handy moisture fighter. (Message edited by newxb12ss on October 06, 2009) | ||
| Newxb12ss |
It's getting harder and harder to find jackalopes in eastern Oregon. I think Buelleaver has begun adding them to his reindeer collection & probably has a shed full of hundreds with no wall space to mount them. | ||
| Wilcom |
Pawn shops are excellent spots to look for roll away tool boxes. Keep in mind that a pawn shop will only loan about 20% of what it's worth and maybe less. So if they have one for sale they are not in the thing very much so pay no more than 1/3 of the original cost. If he says NO , just come back every week or so till you outlast him | ||
| R100rs |
waterloo used to make craftsman boxs,not sure who make them now.all i have seen lately have been made in mexico.have both snap-on and craftsmen tools and chests.the best way to deal with snap-on dealers is to ask if they have any repos and pay cash,no receipt,i have never needed one for any warranty issues.craftsmen get their club card and wait for sales,there is seldom any reason to ever pay more than 50% of full price on craftsman tools and chests.get a basic tool set(50-150 pc.)set and add items as you go along.budget 25-50$ a month and next thing you know you got everything you will ever need.stewart | ||
| Dustyxb |
I work at lowes and personally I like some of the chest we have. Especially the one with a stereo and mini-fridge allbeit not essential but nifty haha. Anyway, check into them i've "put together" a few which is just bolting the casters and putting in the top box for some and they are nicely built. Oh and lowes can special order Waterloo. I saw someone was asking in a previous post. It was Bulzm2. If you were in my area I'd set you up perfect. | ||
| Oldironsides |
I too agree with Texas_firebolt top of the line tools and toolbox if its your living. But with that said I know a couple guys at our shop (CAT Dealership) that have the Harbor freight General brand box and it has been flawless. Also to give you an idea of weight, most of us here have tools all the way up to 3/4 and 1" drive impacts. Then our wrenches go up to 2". Nothing we touch is very light unfortunately. I firmly believe if you were to get the General top, bottom, and side box you would be set for a LONG time. hope this was helpful. I dont remember who posted earlier but the husky ball bearing 41" box and the tech series Mac boxes are made by waterloo. | ||
| Iamarchangel |
I like higher chest of drawers so I can use the tops as tables. I've got a couple now. |
