International vs. Mastercraft Maximum boxes

[The English Hacker]

Home use only, weekend warrior with a tool collection that's growing that is all GJ members' fault

What do you think?

This 56" box: http://www.homedepot.ca/product/56-inch-10-drawer-orange-tool-cabinet/844837 Delivered price would be $757.

vs.

this 47" box: http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/euro-style-10-drawer-cabinet-0581010p.html#.U2PbgIFdV8E The price in-store is $588.

International box

Pros

1. International is Canadian made. Called them and confirmed - they said it's not just assembled here.
2. Love orange
3. Bigger

Cons

1. I believe that the drawers are held in by friction alone
2. More expensive

Mastercraft Maximum box

Pros

1. I've seen it in person and its' definitely high enough quality for me
2. Drawer catches are good and "hook" using a hinged pull

Cons

1. Don't love the blue handles
2. Made in China
3. Smaller

 

[oldldh]

You live in Toronto, or...


I'd say---shoot around the QEW and get to the Harbor Freight store in Niagra/Buffalo...


And get one of these...


I have one, and I love it...

 

[rusjack]

100% on the international. Those are nice boxes. I've played with a bunch in the hangar I work at and they are very nice for the price! The drawers take a good push to get in and out past some sort of lock - I like it. I checked out the Mastercraft boxes and I'd go International every time over them.

 

[Professur]

Screw China Tire. Is that too blunt?

 

[LOOSEWHEEL]

I am in a similar dilemma. I have seen the MC box (the 56") and felt it was very flimsy. Even the drawer edges are not rolled.

The problem is there is no where to see the International box. So having said that, buy the International box. I'll come over with a beer and finally make my decision if the International box is 'good enough'.

What ever you do, have it priced matched at Lowes and get another 10% off the HD price.

 

[The English Hacker]

What ever you do, have it priced matched at Lowes and get another 10% off the HD price.

Funny you should say that because I chatted with a representative online this morning. They will only match the price because it's online only, not in-store. They didn't seem to understand that there was no reason for me to buy from Lowes if all they would do is offer the same price. It's selling for over $1k at Lowes currently (including shipping).

 

[Danguitarman]

Why does someone always have to mention Harbor Freight boxes? He obviously doesn't want one, considering he has narrowed it down and supplied pics and info regarding two very specific boxes that are not HF.

Btw, I would definitely get the International.

 

[LOOSEWHEEL]

Funny you should say that because I chatted with a representative online this morning. They will only match the price because it's online only, not in-store. They didn't seem to understand that there was no reason for me to buy from Lowes if all they would do is offer the same price. It's selling for over $1k at Lowes currently (including shipping).

Who said they would only match the price? HD or Lowes?

This from Lowes website:

We guarantee our everyday competitive prices. If you find an identical item currently offered for less at a local competitor's store or website (including shipping, handling and fees, if applicable), we will match their price and beat it by 10%.

 

[beakie]

Funny you should say that because I chatted with a representative online this morning. They will only match the price because it's online only, not in-store. They didn't seem to understand that there was no reason for me to buy from Lowes if all they would do is offer the same price. It's selling for over $1k at Lowes currently (including shipping).

Who said they would only match the price? HD or Lowes?

This from Lowes website:

We guarantee our everyday competitive prices. If you find an identical item currently offered for less at a local competitor's store or website (including shipping, handling and fees, if applicable), we will match their price and beat it by 10%.

Regarding the Lowes price match. Call again and talk to someone else. I was in the process of ordering and having Lowes price match the HD online price... untill Lowes got lazy and didn't call me back twice.


As stated before tho, NO to the CTire box. Having just brought home a TSC Torin 56" box, I would spend more $$ for a wider chest than anything CTire offers.

The wider chest is great for storage,but also for mobility. Rolling a 16-18" chest felt scary unloaded in the store.Compared to a 22-24" box.

 

[rmsg0040]

A lot of the craftsman tool boxes are made by international, hop into a sears and check it out.

 

[MikeF2316]

You can see International boxes in person at Princess Auto, although not that exact one. Also I see that International finally has a new catalog (dated 2015!) The last one was dated 2012, so don't expect another new one for a while. I see they've changed the name of the Value Series to Tech Series, which this box is. I also believe the boxes in Princess Auto are also this series.

 

[bobcatdan]

Just by looking at the pictures, the drawers on the mc look tiny and useless. The international has ball bearing slides.

 

[LOOSEWHEEL]

A lot of the craftsman tool boxes are made by international, hop into a sears and check it out.

The only one you can compare is the 'Professional' series as those are the same. There is no way of knowing which Sears box equates to the Value/Tech series from International.

You can see International boxes in person at Princess Auto, although not that exact one. Also I see that International finally has a new catalog (dated 2015!) The last one was dated 2012, so don't expect another new one for a while. I see they've changed the name of the Value Series to Tech Series, which this box is. I also believe the boxes in Princess Auto are also this series.

If the PA boxes are the equivalent of the Value/Tech series, stay clear. Those are garbage, probably the lowest series that International makes....worse than the Mastercraft boxes.

 

[beakie]

If the PA boxes are the equivalent of the Value/Tech series, stay clear. Those are garbage, probably the lowest series that International makes....worse than the Mastercraft boxes.

This ^

I was just in PA Wednesday, saw an International (26" or maybe bit bigger) and thought, ya great I can finally compare.
It didn't even have bearings for the slides, utter ****.

 

[Heavymetalmechanic]

One of the guys in our shop has that MC top and bottom combo, he has no complaints, other then outgrowing it quickly.

I found the drawers to be too narrow, shallow and short. But the one wide deep drawer helps make up for it. Overall nothing wrong with it for home use, just not what I would choose.

Unless you are dealing with limited garage space, you will never ever regret spending a little bit more (25%) on a bigger box.

 

[rmsg0040]

The international box that he is looking at is of the tech series.

I had a tech series top and bottom 26" as a first setup, I will say its ok for a starting box price point wise, drawers are lightweight, don't expect to load them, if you have nice tools I would look elsewhere.

When I first joined this site, I started buying better tools, I came home one day and my sister had picked the lock with a hair pin, the box had to go, sold it for a SO which I picked up off kijiji for a really good price.

Checkout kijiji and craigslist, something nice might pop up for a few dollars more than what you are currently looking at

 

[56flatbed]

Be real careful about buying American from Snap-on. Things have changed a lot on the professional tool front with ALL tool companies.

 

[youngridge]

I have the mastercraft 41" bottom box, love the grip latch, casters are good, have had no problem with the slides, and is very comparable (in my opinion better) than the hf counterpart, hf has a solid box, but I absolutely hate the detent locking for the drawers, much rather have the grip latch. A guy I work with has the hf 44"? So comparison is pretty easy for me.

 

[youngridge]

On the plus the hf does have more drawers, but I like the larger drawers that masterforce offers

 

[James_B]

A lot of the craftsman tool boxes are made by international, hop into a sears and check it out.

I have a Craftsman Professional 5 drawer base cabinet and 5 drawer top box that I got in late 2008/early 2009 from Sears Canada, and an identical sized but different drawer configuration Craftsman 7 drawer base cabinet that I got late last year. All the items are labeled made in Canada, and appear to be sourced from International.

That being said, there is a big difference in the quality of the Craftsman Professional boxes and the standard Craftsman box. While both generation boxes have ball bearing drawer slides, the Professional box just feels more rigid, so it's most likely that they are from different International product ranges.

 

[The English Hacker]

I ended up getting a Torin 42" combo tonight from TSC. Think I got the best value box I could afford and I'm very happy. Well constructed, lots of space and I like the crinkle paint finish. Looking forward to getting it set up this weekend.

I had tried again with Lowes to beat HD's price on the International but despite keeping me on the line for 30 minutes they would only match the price. No thanks.