Which tool box would you prefer?

[PT Doc]

This 52" SS craftsman combo is quite a bit cheaper than the Montezuma.

From what I understand the 72" Montezuma is the same as the HF 72 roller. The HF only comes in red and is currently unavailable.

The montezuma is deeper and wider but I haven't looked at the cubic inch comparision.

Craftsman:http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_009C0440000B?prdNo=4&blockNo=4&blockType=G4

Montezuma:http://www.strictlytoolboxes.com/tool-cabinets/72-montezuma-classic-16-drawer-tool-cabinet.html

I appreciate your opinions. Thanks

 

[PT Doc]

CM 52" SS combo: 33170 cu in
Montezuma 72" roller only: 38498

 

[Scout Driver]

I'd prefer the drawer configuration of the Montezuma.

Scott

 

[Toolhorder]

Snap-On


Okay if I had to pick between your choices Montezuma. The HF box isn't as nice and from the feedback I've heard here on the forum Montezuma's are nice. I'm actually going to pick up their triangle shaped road box in the future.

 

[briggsguy17]

I don't have either of those boxes but..........I use to have a Cman 40" top and bottom box with roller bearing drawers, it was ****. Through the years I traded up and now have a Snap On KRL1023 box, probably nicest, most popular box on market. I look at the Montezuma boxes as the DIYer equivilant to the SO KRL Series, I have looked at them and find them to be well built and durable looking. For the $200 price difference I say go with the Montezuma. To compare one key feature; the Cman has casters rated at 1200 lbs. and the Montezuma has a combined drawer capacity of 4500 lbs!!

 

[Wes28376]

May be a stupid question by why compare different sizes by different companies. This box is cheaper than the craftsman:

http://www.strictlytoolboxes.com/mo...xes-21-drawer-tool-cabinet-and-top-chest.html

I can' speak for the montezuma but I wouldn't spend the money on the Craftsman. I've looked at them in the store and they are pretty flimsy.

Have you looked at the harbor freight stuff? Many people on this board rave about their boxes and they are considerably cheaper than craftsman and better quality.

Here is the 56" in box:

http://www.harborfreight.com/56-inch-11-drawer-industrial-roller-cabinet-67681.html

Here is the 41" in box, you could buy two of these and save a ton of money over either of the boxes you posted:

http://www.harborfreight.com/13-drawer-red-industrial-quality-roller-cabinet-90320.html

 

[PT Doc]

The CM will cost me 1350. The Montezuma is 1900.

I compared the 2 because cubic inches are roughly the same and I could use the top on the MOntezuma as my workbench instead of occupying more floor space with a separate workbench. This was just a thought. I got a good workbench for about 200. So 1350+200+70(drawer liners)=1620. Not that much of a price difference in the end. And if I got the HF 72" roller with 20% off (if possible), then HF would be 1380.

Someone mentioned that the HF 72" was made my Torin and that this is the same as the Northern Tools 72" roller. Is the Montezuma 72" made my Torin also.

Is the Montezuma 72" worth the price diff compared to the HF 72"?

Thanks again

 

[PT Doc]

May be a stupid question by why compare different sizes by different companies. This box is cheaper than the craftsman:

http://www.strictlytoolboxes.com/mo...xes-21-drawer-tool-cabinet-and-top-chest.html
[/url]

Somehow this 56" mont combo has less cub in than the 52" CM combo:

CM 52" combo:33170
Mont 56" combo: 28870

Something doesn't add up?

 

[Wes28376]

The CM will cost be 1350. The montezuma is 1900.

I compared the 2 because cubic inches are roughly the same and I could use the top as my workbench instead of occupying more floor space with a workbench. I was just a thought. I got a good workbench for about 200. So 1350+200+70(drawer liners)=1620. Not that much of a price difference in the end. And if I got the HF 72" roller with 20% off (if possible), then HF would be 1380.

Someone mentioned that the HF 72" was made my Torin and that this is the same as the Northern Tools 72" roller. Is the Montezuma 72" made my TOrin also.

Is the montezuma 72" worth the price diff compared to the HF 72"?

Thanks again

Here is a post from the HF 72" box. I think you could make a nice work bench

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=45628

 

[fringeofinsanity]

I went back and forth for awhile and pretty much had discounted the C-man box, but a few weeks back Sears ran a rebate special where you were to get back the cash saving plus 10%. I spoke with a rep and they had verified what I was expecting back, but got an even better deal, though I think it was a error on there part. I pulled the trigger as my 30 some odd year old Vulcan box drawers finally gave out, though the box itself is strong as an ox!

I paid $940 and was expecting a $615 gc as the rebate while also using mrrebate's $47 rebate so originally had a total cost in my mind of $278 net net and at that price it became a no brainer, even if the box ends up being relegated as a secondary back up or even sell it afterwhile.

To my surprise my gc showed up today and it's worth $1123!!!! so essentially I just got paid to take this box off their hands. Merry Xmas and happy birthday to me!

 

[crewchief888]

if i hadto buy another toolbox, i think i'd lean towards the HF, or a masterforce from menards.
IMHO CM boxes just aint worth the money, ive never seen or touched a montezuma, so i cant /wont comment on them.
drawer size and layout are most important to me, most of the boxes i see today dont have a drawer layout i like.

i'm kinda a toolbox snob, i have 4 SO roller cabs, 3 SO top boxes, 1 SO middle box, 4 SO sides, a lyons mid, 2 CM tops, & a mac side box.

but i'd look at the HF boxes if i needed space.

 

[atari]

I sold my craftsman boxes and got the HF unit and have not looked back.

 

[gatewaysysop]

Is the montezuma 72" worth the price diff compared to the HF 72"?
Thanks again

I have the 72" Montezuma in question, just had it delivered in early November. I looked at Craftsman and all the other big-box pieces of ****. There is no comparison, not on drawer capacity, drawer configuration, caster quality, thickness of the metal, quality of the slides, quality of the frame of the box or the bracing underneath and under each drawer.

I say this as someone who has waited about 5 years to get a nice toolbox, with most of my **** piled up on shelves or pegboards in the garage. I fondled just about every sizable toolbox I found at any store, HF, Sears, Lowe's, Home Depot, Costco you name it. Looking back, I would not have taken any of them over the Montezuma. I even played with the big $4000+ bottom box from Craftsman's professional series at a local Sears. It was a POS by comparison, with a smaller, shallower top drawer that couldn't hold as much weight.

Bottom line, I don't see a better value for the money than the Montezuma box. They are seriously built, have very nice drawer liners already in place, a good quality lock, a very nice top and IMHO better paint than the **** at the big box stores. Delivery was free, unless you count the $25 lift gate charge, and it was packed so well that I can't imagine damaging it without having to run a forklift through it.

I am thoroughly impressed and love my 72" Montezuma. I wouldn't trade it for any box at Sears, not even their top of the line. It's that good.

 

[dwm]

I've had the 52" Craftsman unit for over 10 years, with a side locker on it. Non-professional use, but I've been perfectly happy with it. It's near full and very loaded down, but the drawers aren't being used 100 times a day. It's also not my only roller... I have a 40" combo and a 26" roller too. The big drawback for the 52" Crafstman is no full-width drawer for long tools. I have several things that won't fit in the Crafstman 52" except in the top tray. Very long locking extensions (mostly for getting the top bolts out of bellhousings), SmartCamber in its case, Snap-On 1/2" Techwrench in its case, etc.

 

[NWphotog]

I sold my craftsman boxes and got the HF unit and have not looked back.

I am in the middle of that process right now. The quality and stoutness of the HF model is just so far ahead of the CM there is no comparison. Hopefully I can sell the CM boxes without too big a loss.

 

[dwm]

I failed to mention that if I were buying this size today, it'd be the 56" Montezuma combo. $100 more than the Craftsman sale price, and well worth it.

 

[gatewaysysop]

From what I understand the 72" Montezuma is the same as the HF 72 roller. The HF only comes in red and is currently unavailable.

Er... no.

They're both 72" boxes but that's about all they have in common. Or was that what you meant? I hope you didn't mean the same as in the Northern Tool and "Wolf" brand boxes. Those are exactly the same thing as the HF, which there's a whole other thread about. The Montezuma is a completely different box, not just a different color.

Thought I'd throw that out there in case there was some confusion.

 

[SnowBlaZeR2]

I like how this turned into a HF is better than Craftsman thread, again. I think I even saw some Snap On in there.

Get whatever fits your needs and budget. You won't get anything constructive here, as everyone will understandably say what they have is the best out there. My Craftsman box holds my tools just fine and I'm pretty sure it isn't going to fall apart. It's not the best box out there, but I'm not buying Snap On. And you won't catch me with a HF box in my garage either.

 

[pl_silverado]

Lista.

(10 char)

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

Id buy just about any box before I bought a Craftsman box. Of the OPs originial choices I would go with the Montezuma box any time.

 

[PT Doc]

Sounds like the monty is the way to go.

 

[gatewaysysop]

You won't get anything constructive here, as everyone will understandably say what they have is the best out there.

Really? I thought there was a lot of constructive information given regarding what is and isn't the same as HF, others were talking about cubic inches of storage or how much weight the boxes could hold, drawer configuration, etc.

 

[PT Doc]

Does anyone know who the manufacturer of the montezuma is? Is it Torin?

 

[briggsguy17]

Does anyone know who the manufacturer of the montezuma is? Is it Torin?

From the looks of their website they manufacture them overseas and import in container quantity.

 

[eclou]

I bought the 52" CMan top and bottom a couple of weeks ago for $940. It is my first box, and it seems to be pretty decent compared to the others I checked out at HF, Northern, Lowes, HD, etc. My only complaint is it did not come with liners for the drawers

 

[SnowBlaZeR2]

Really? I thought there was a lot of constructive information given regarding what is and isn't the same as HF, others were talking about cubic inches of storage or how much weight the boxes could hold, drawer configuration, etc.

Do I really need to go back through the posts in this thread, or the countless others and point out the "I saw it in the store, and Cman *****" or "Craftsman isn't what it used to be". The point is, how many of those who commented on it actually own a CMan box? Do most even know that Craftsman doesn't have just one type of box? They probably go in and grab a few drawers on one of the homeowner's boxes and now they are the expert. Not just in this thread either.

 

[00pewter]

Absolutely hands down, the Montezuma box will be a better deal.. period!

 

[PT Doc]

Any comments on the Extreme Tools or Mountain brand tool boxes. They all make a 72" roller and they look very similar. Maybe Montezuma makes them all. Slight differences in tops, caster. Mountain has the highest weight capacity for each drawer but only has 1 year warranty. Thoughts?

 

[precisionworks]

I looked at everything discussed on this board & ended up with the 54" Montezuma from StrictlyToolBoxes.com, $1495 delivered. Just loaded it full of tools today.

Pull the bottom drawers out of any chest that you are considering ... Montezuma uses double box beams at both the front & the rear of the bottom - which has to support all the weight from both the top chest & the bottom chest.

Drawers operate smoothly when fully loaded. Boxes are carefully palletized (from STB), banded & stretched wrapped - mine arrived with zero damage.

I'd buy another 54" Montezuma if another box were needed. They are very nice.

 

[Stick Figure]

Do I really need to go back through the posts in this thread, or the countless others and point out the "I saw it in the store, and Cman *****" or "Craftsman isn't what it used to be". The point is, how many of those who commented on it actually own a CMan box? Do most even know that Craftsman doesn't have just one type of box? They probably go in and grab a few drawers on one of the homeowner's boxes and now they are the expert. Not just in this thread either.

Okay ..... how's this I have a Craftsman combo from the mid 70s and love it. I had couple newer pieces and they are thin garbage in comparison. I've resold them all. I do however still use my twin HF 41" boxes at home on a regular basis. I've never owned the Montezuma products but have seen them in person at SEMA and was very impressed. between the two I would take the Montezuma any day, and would take it over the HF of any size as well.

 

[SnowBlaZeR2]

Okay ..... how's this I have a Craftsman combo from the mid 70s and love it. I had couple newer pieces and they are thin garbage in comparison. I've resold them all. I do however still use my twin HF 41" boxes at home on a regular basis. I've never owned the Montezuma products but have seen them in person at SEMA and was very impressed. between the two I would take the Montezuma any day, and would take it over the HF of any size as well.

Which one did you have that was thin garbage?

 

[Racr350]

Absolutely hands down, the Montezuma box will be a better deal.. period!

Couldn't have said it better myself

 

[precisionworks]

I have a Craftsman combo from the mid 70s and love it.

Me too, mine is marked (as I remember) 1976. Non ball bearing slides, but they've worked well for 34 years. It's a small chest, 30" wide, but is perfect sitting between the lathe & the mill ... and holds tons of lathe & mill tooling.

 

[gatewaysysop]

Do I really need to go back through the posts in this thread, or the countless others and point out the "I saw it in the store, and Cman *****" or "Craftsman isn't what it used to be". The point is, how many of those who commented on it actually own a CMan box? Do most even know that Craftsman doesn't have just one type of box? They probably go in and grab a few drawers on one of the homeowner's boxes and now they are the expert. Not just in this thread either.

Wow.

I hate to quote myself, but earlier I said that:

I even played with the big $4000+ bottom box from Craftsman's professional series at a local Sears. It was a POS by comparison, with a smaller, shallower top drawer that couldn't hold as much weight.

And yes, I own a Craftsman box too. I have for years, it was just wasn't a rolling cabinet. I also have family that works at Sears and even they won't buy those boxes, not even with the discount they get or the clearance items that they get first dibs on. He loves Craftsman tools too, which is the real kicker.

Me? I own a TON of Craftsman tools. Actually one of my favorite brands. I still buy it today, at least the US-made stuff. I have nothing against Craftsman, but their toolboxes today are mostly ****. Sorry if that bothers you so much.

 

[gatewaysysop]

Pull the bottom drawers out of any chest that you are considering ... Montezuma uses double box beams at both the front & the rear of the bottom - which has to support all the weight from both the top chest & the bottom chest.

This x2, especially on the 72" unit in question. It is very well supported from below and under the drawers themselves, especially the top drawer. I have no doubts about the claimed load capacity and I wouldn't hesitate to load the drawers up seeing how it's reinforced. I definitely don't see this on cheaper boxes from the big-box stores and such, at least not the ones I mentioned.

 

[SnowBlaZeR2]

Wow.

I hate to quote myself, but earlier I said that:

And yes, I own a Craftsman box too. I have for years, it was just wasn't a rolling cabinet. I also have family that works at Sears and even they won't buy those boxes, not even with the discount they get or the clearance items that they get first dibs on. He loves Craftsman tools too, which is the real kicker.

Me? I own a TON of Craftsman tools. Actually one of my favorite brands. I still buy it today, at least the US-made stuff. I have nothing against Craftsman, but their toolboxes are mostly ****. Sorry if that bothers you so much.

I don't remember pointing the finger at you in the first place, so I'm not sure what you're talking about. Congratulations, you own one. That's one. I own one as well, and I know mine isn't junk. Maybe I got the only one they ever made that wasn't junk.

 

[gatewaysysop]

I don't remember pointing the finger at you in the first place, so I'm not sure what you're talking about. Congratulations, you own one. That's one. I own one as well, and I know mine isn't junk. Maybe I got the only one they ever made that wasn't junk.

Sorry, you quoted my post so I assumed you were pointing the finger at me as well.

I added an edit to that post, hopefully that helps and we can agree to disagree.

 

[PT Doc]

Thanks for all the information. It has greatly helped me eliminate the craftsman 52"SS combo. After further searching I have found another option. Tool box is labeled Mountain. Might be cleaner to start another thread.Thanks for all the info.

 

[SnowBlaZeR2]

Sorry, you quoted my post so I assumed you were pointing the finger at me as well.

I added an edit to that post, hopefully that helps and we can agree to disagree.

Nope, I was just responding as to why I made the comment about getting nothing constructive. I guess I was maybe a little too narrow with that. Mostly nothing constructive probably would have been better. I just get tired of looking at the "I saw this at the store and it's junk" or "my brand is better than this brand" type posts with no knowledge of the product and there were a few in here and elsewhere recently that got on my nerves. My bad.

 

[Keep]

Which ever one you decide on, make sure it is at least 24 deep. I just switched from 2 27x18 boxes to a 56x24 and the extra inches in the depth makes a huge difference.

One of the big ones being all the socket trays will now fit running front to back instead of side to side.

I was going to go with the 56 Mountain you are now looking at. But found a similar box closer to home at a better deal. Mine is an International.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000JKY57U/?tag=atomicindus08-20