Help Me Decide On Tool Storage

[Lucid Moments]

I don't like my current tool storage. I have two boxes one is an old blue point roller cabinet with top box somewhere in the neighborhood of about 30" wide, the other is an American General 44" roller cabinet. I am strictly a hobbiest. I maintain, modify and repair my own cars, and sometimes cars of close friends and family. Plus any other odd jobs that come up.

My main gripe with my toolboxes is that they are both too shallow, and too deep both at the same time and no single drawer is wide enough to hold all my sockets. I really want a single deep drawer that will hold all my common sockets. I have considered two drawers, one for metric and one for SAE sockets but haven't seen anything that is laid out for that.

I am looking at US General boxes and am considering either the 72" roller cabinet by itself, or the 56" roller cabinet and top box. I really like the Icon 73" roller cabinet, but the price tag is a little steep. Obviously since the Icon is a little steep I am not really considering any of the tool truck boxes. I have looked at the tool vault 72" box.

I am also considering just keeping what I have, and put the money into more tools.

Any suggestions or additions or other general thoughts are appreciated.

 

[Bogie1632]

You mean US General? They have plenty of good revoews from forum members. I have a 72" on my wish list for the home shop along with a 56" top and side locker. For home/hobby stuff I don't think you can go wrong for the cost and the series 2 seem to fair well. Quite a few threads you can review if you search.

V/R
Bogie

V/R
Bogie

 

[Lucid Moments]

You mean US General? They have plenty of good revoews from forum members. I have a 72" on my wish list for the home shop along with a 56" top and side locker. For home/hobby stuff I don't think you can go wrong for the cost and the series 2 seem to fair well. Quite a few threads you can review if you search.

V/R
Bogie

V/R
Bogie

Yes, I meant US General. Sorry brain fart. And I have seen numerous reviews that is why they are high on my list.

 

[Bradc1989]

Earlier this year I bought a Proto 540 41” box for work and am very pleased with it. I think it was a little under $2k delivered

 

[Mr_B]

Is your 44" the newer 22" deep series 2 or older 18" deep .
you could just get another 44" or a 56"
I would prefer no top box or a smaller top box so have some countertop area which I find invaluable .
I would also agree money on tools going be more help than a box.
Maybe keep a box solution down to 500bucks range and spend rest on tools increase jobs you can handle .

 

[Climatecreator]

I buy used tool boxes off places like FBM, LG, & OU not to mention tag sales, yard sales, garage sales, estate sales, flea markets etc. Then you get more for your money. Doesn't bother me not having a brand new anything, more money for tools! Used tools are also a bargain.

Just something to consider.

CC

 

[JP Chestnut]

I buy used tool boxes off places like FBM, LG, & OU not to mention tag sales, yard sales, garage sales, estate sales, flea markets etc. Then you get more for your money. Doesn't bother me not having a brand new anything, more money for tools! Used tools are also a bargain.

Just something to consider.

CC

What’s LG and OU? I’m interested in a pre owned tool truck box.

 

[pbon]

I’d buy the HF 72”. You could always put your top box on top of it at one end.

 

[Lucid Moments]

Is your 44" the newer 22" deep series 2 or older 18" deep .
you could just get another 44" or a 56"
I would prefer no top box or a smaller top box so have some countertop area which I find invaluable .
I would also agree money on tools going be more help than a box.
Maybe keep a box solution down to 500bucks range and spend rest on tools increase jobs you can handle .

My 44" is the older 18" deep.

 

[m6z]

If I had the space I'd go with the biggest bottom box I could afford with a wood work top.

I went with a combo due to space constraints and I miss the work space I had with my previous 56" bottom box.

 

[Crabman]

Lucid

I really want a single deep drawer that will hold all my common sockets.

So are you saying the 44 (really 41) USG does not do it? How big does the drawer need to be to meet this goal? The USG 56 is two bank, I am not sure how wide the wide drawers are, but probably not much more than the 44. The big drawer on he 72 looks honking, although I do not know the width. Maybe someone who has 56 or 72 can measure and post exact widths.

I feel your pain, I have a 54 with a full width drawer and also could not contain the socket and ratchet addiction. I moved the 3/4, which I don't often use, which helped.

Northern Tool has a 54 Homak Pro II for $799 right now with a full width top drawer. A lot of folks on GJ like these boxes. I posted a thread in Hot Deals: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=458672

Good luck finding the right fit.

Bruce

 

[Lucid Moments]

Lucid



So are you saying the 44 (really 41) USG does not do it? How big does the drawer need to be to meet this goal? The USG 56 is two bank, I am not sure how wide the wide drawers are, but probably not much more than the 44. The big drawer on he 72 looks honking, although I do not know the width. Maybe someone who has 56 or 72 can measure and post exact widths.

I feel your pain, I have a 54 with a full width drawer and also could not contain the socket and ratchet addiction. I moved the 3/4, which I don't often use, which helped.

Northern Tool has a 54 Homak Pro II for $799 right now with a full width top drawer. A lot of folks on GJ like these boxes. I posted a thread in Hot Deals: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=458672

Good luck finding the right fit.

Bruce

The 44 does not quite do it. I would have to go out and measure to be sure, but off the top of my head I would like to have another 6 to 9 inches. I looked at the AG 56" box, but the top drawer doesn't go all the way across. It looks to be no wider than the 44" top drawer. I will take a look at that Homak though.

 

[TuxThePenguin]

Whatever you do, just make sure you use the top of the box you do buy, either by also getting the top cabinet or by putting several parts bins or by throwing a stainless/wood/whatever surface on it and using it as a workbench.

I got the HF 56" bottom, have some parts drawers (from Durham) on top and next to it I have a ~27" Proto on top of a ~27" Craftsman and as far as having tools laid out neatly in drawers goes, I'm kind of running out of toolbox space (also as a hobbyist). Though I could fit a LOT more if I just start dumping wrenches into drawers in a messy pile. That said, I'm not completely out of space as-is either.

Top drawer of the HF 56" is having trouble containing my socket collection (which is less extensive than some) and second drawer is having trouble containing my wrench collection. Third drawer is having trouble containing my pliers collection, though pliers are kind of tough to do neatly since each one takes a lot of space when you lay them out side-by-side. I should see if I can fit some of those pliers holders that keep them vertically.

 

[Mr_B]

I got no idea why people want put all socketry in 1 big drawer .
Splitting it into 2 or 3 seems better option to me .
72" HF at 999.99 coupon deal is a fair buy for home user.
used boxes always best value but takes bit of effort get what you want .
the HF 44 you got should sell okay as few people looking out for 18" boxes match series 1 they already got .

 

[Lucid Moments]

I got no idea why people want put all socketry in 1 big drawer .
Splitting it into 2 or 3 seems better option to me .
72" HF at 999.99 coupon deal is a fair buy for home user.
used boxes always best value but takes bit of effort get what you want .
the HF 44 you got should sell okay as few people looking out for 18" boxes match series 1 they already got .

I am open to the idea of two drawers, either side by side or up and down. But the boxes I see only really have one drawer that is sized tall enough for a set of deep impact sockets to sit upright which is how I prefer mine stored.

 

[richfinn]

You live in the USA?

Thanks to Covid-19 there will be thousands of redundant vehicle techs selling off amazing tool boxes, who really need the money to keep feeding their kids.

I would be looking for a nice used Snap On KRL or maybe a Lista

 

[Climatecreator]

What’s LG and OU? I’m interested in a pre owned tool truck box.

Let go and offer up....

CC

 

[SeisMec]

There are no current coupons for the USG 72" roller cabinet. Current price is $1,200
If you start leaning that direction, I'd guess (based on previous coupons) that waiting a month or two would save you $200.

Regarding organizing sockets in multiple drawers - it looks like the 56" roller cabinet & top chest would get you the second drawer (& 1/4" might fit in one of the narrow drawers?)

So far as I can tell, none of the USG top chests ever go on sale, but there is a coupon for the roller cabinet. For a combined total of $1,180.

The combined capacity is about 34,700 cu. in. compared to 29,500 for the 72" roller cabinet.

 

[dimichele]

If you get a tool cart and put your most used sockets in it, will you be good with what you have?

 

[Lucid Moments]

There are no current coupons for the USG 72" roller cabinet. Current price is $1,200
If you start leaning that direction, I'd guess (based on previous coupons) that waiting a month or two would save you $200.

Regarding organizing sockets in multiple drawers - it looks like the 56" roller cabinet & top chest would get you the second drawer (& 1/4" might fit in one of the narrow drawers?)

So far as I can tell, none of the USG top chests ever go on sale, but there is a coupon for the roller cabinet. For a combined total of $1,180.

The combined capacity is about 34,700 cu. in. compared to 29,500 for the 72" roller cabinet.

Hmmm. I do believe you are right about the two drawer solution with the 56" box. I need to go to HF to double check and make sure that is correct. That may be an excellent option.

I will also add that I am not in a hurry on this, so I can afford to wait until I can find a coupon or something to go on sale.

 

[ndnchf]

I too am looking to upgrade. I've been up to my local HF store a couple times looking at the 44" and 56" boxes. I'm leaning towards the 56". But there are shortages of some colors. Red and green are in stock. Other colors seem to be less so. Blue is the most scarce.