i need a tool chest for home

[AXEMAN]

not a pro, not a mechanic. wont have to hold up to the rigors of a shop. just hold my shit and allow me to put all my tools in one area. this whole unit is the same cost as just the top chest at a few places. its not matco or snapon, but neither am i, lol. so as long as no one has heard anything terrible, i think its coming home next week

take a look and let me know.

 

[tansinator]

Re: i need a tool chest for home

Check at Sams for the stainless steel cabinets. A little bigger than what you have listed and a little more pricey. Its kinda like a safe, buy a little bigger than you need because over time you will fill it up. I have one I believe I gave about $550 for. The quality is great for home use. Mine stays in a cold damp garage and has for 7 years and still likes it is brand new. The drawers have bearings and they are like butter. I could see no difference in these and the Sear's model and a lot cheaper.

I hope this helps

Eddie

 

[Redmanss]

Re: i need a tool chest for home

Haven't heard of that brand before, but the price is definitely intriguing. The two biggest differences I've always found between tool boxes is the rollers and the gauge of sheet metal. It has the ball bearing rollers, so now all it needs is a heavy enough gauge metal which it makes no mention of. That doesn't make much of a difference if you're only putting <20lbs of tools in a drawer, but if you're looking to put more than that in there it will buckle if it is too flimsy.

My cheap one at the house crumbled under the weight of my sockets and wrenches. Should have left it to the screwdrivers and pliers instead.

 

[Guest]

Re: i need a tool chest for home

Check Craigslist.
The stolen stuff is always cheaper.

http://craiglook.com/topeka-ks/all.html?q=tool+chest&m=100&o=1

 

[Guest]

Re: i need a tool chest for home

And here's one that didn't come up in the above search.
http://topeka.craigslist.org/tls/1955377965.html

 

[AXEMAN]

Re: i need a tool chest for home

im still not seeing anything close in storage for the price. 24 of 25 reviews were positive, even with criticisms. one guy stripped a screw and gave it a negative. everybody else was ok with it. crap, ill go look at lowes to get an idea of scale, but this is close to what im after. its just gotta hold stuff indoors. i can use a small one to take what i need out to work on stuff if thats the case.

something in this size range

 

[GUNNER75]

Re: i need a tool chest for home

First hit the pawn shops especially if you are not in a hurry. Check out what they have and inquire on price. Couple weeks later, revisit and make sure you talk to the same person behind the counter. I have bought some great boxes for others for cheap and sometimes loaded with tools.

Or buy new:

Check this out. http://www.montezumamfg.com/index.php

Located 25miles SW of Dodge City. Can purchase at Orchelns Farm and Home and maybe Home Depot. I know there are some bigger names that carry there product, but don't recall who.

Darn good design and solid built. Orchelns also has another line of boxes they carry, most are black in color and a way better deal than Craftsman.

 

[txhippo]

Re: i need a tool chest for home

Im in the repair business the only ones i've seen take very much use other than the high end boxes are craftsman and husky. The drawers are flimsy and the drawer slides fall apart with very much use.I've seen alot of brands come in and out in 30 years.
If you plan on keeping it for a while watch craigslist and always buy more box than you can fill so you have room to grow.
My personal pick is Snap-On I've had this one for 10 years with only minor proplems.

 

[The Mechanic]

Re: i need a tool chest for home

Most of the good boxes were made by Waterloo. If I were to buy an inexpensive box you should go with a Craftsman as they are the only company that has a lifetime warranty on their boxes. This will pay off in the long run. If you have a failure you get the entire box replaced. If they no longer carry that model you get the next model up. If you go to sell it, it will retain a decent value.
The wrenchin' biz sucks right now so you should find a whole lot of good used boxes for sale. The tool guys are loaded with repo's right now.

 

[jr81452]

Re: i need a tool chest for home

That is a very small box. with an external depth of 13", you'd be hard pressed to even fit a standard hammer in the drawer depth wise. I suggest you mark out the dimensions minus 3/4" on all sides on a piece of cardboard. this will give you a good idea of the drawer size and what you can put in one. individual drawer height will also be important if you have any jigs, presses, or power tools you want to store. for that money you could do a lot better.

 

[Force_Multiplier]

Re: i need a tool chest for home

I'm not a pro wrench either... that being said I buy most of my tools at Lowe's and Kobalt works for me

 

[AXEMAN]

Re: i need a tool chest for home

ill keep looking. really thinking it out more i have alot of combo wrenches, sockets and that type of automotive stuff that i always have to sort thru til i get the one i want. thats what i need to get organized just so its not a jumble cause it gets worse everytime tools come out and all get thrown in a pile or in a tub. ill hit the store tomorrow to see whats up. i just cant see spending a bunch for this. its just not gonna see daily use. not even weekly use really, after all i have a ford. its maintainence free.

 

[GUNNER75]

Re: i need a tool chest for home

This is another great box that is easy on the wallet. Don't recall the website off hand, but...

Waterloo Pro Maxx series can be bought online seperate or in a 3 pc set up for a really great price including shipping. Ball bearing drawers and well built.

 

[ArcticLight]

Re: i need a tool chest for home

Craftsman - cheap enough and works.

Think this setup was about $250 on sale, ball bearing drawers.
Kind of messy right now but you get the picture.

 

[ArcticLight]

Re: i need a tool chest for home

Damn I'll be cleaning the toolbox tonight...

The rubber duck was in the bathtub race boat....


Ya know that pawn shop idea is a good one.

Even my crapsman toolbox is sheet metal, they all are - so they should not cost a mint.

But it depends on the rollers - that's where the bucks are at....how smooth do you want it to open or do you want to have to jerk it open or worry about alignment issues.

Go see what sears can do after you hit a pawn shop - pawn shops have some GOOD stuff in them sometimes.

 

[Jeepin_Lawyer]

Re: i need a tool chest for home

Sams has a really nice one for a reasonable price.
Sears puts them on sale all the time and some of their boxes are nice for the money.

 

[Jeepin_Lawyer]

Re: i need a tool chest for home

I never find any good boxes at the pawn shops around here. Always seems like they are asking more than I can buy one new!