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Proto 450hs 57" workstation 13 drawer review

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fhemm20

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Joined
Jan 15, 2014
Messages
118
Location
North Alabama
Im new to the board, but have been cruising around here for a few weeks checking reviews of toolboxes. I was in a 26" 7 drawer Waterloo Traxx Series that (great box, by the way). I had gotten it second hand, but very lightly used for $220 a little over 2 years ago, but outgrew it very quickly. So I have been cruising craigslist, but, being the poor cheapskate I am, I hadn't run up on the right deal, until the other day.

A local business that buys ALOT of **** (damaged shipments, bulk amounts of nothing, etc) had an ad up for a 57" PROTO box for $1450. So I did a little research into it. Grainger has it priced at $5100. Most of us are probably aware of how Grainger prices, well, everything, so I dug more. Average internet vendor price was around $3k. :headscrat So, since it was local, I went to investigate.

Lowe and behold, it was a scratch and dent. Only a 3" scratch in the lower right drawer. It still had the drawer liners and handle uninstalled and in their bags. It was only missing the keys (I can live with that). So 15 minutes later I was driving back to the shop with it.

Overall it is a very tough box. I especially like the adjustable drawer detent stiffness. Only gripe is the lack of double slides on tall and or wide drawers, but they feel solid and are rated at 200lb per drawer, so I wont gripe too much.
 

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C

Chunchula

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Joined
Feb 12, 2013
Messages
51
Location
L.A. (Lower Alabama)
Nice find!:bounce:

I have one PROTO box that is about 35 years old and my sentimental favorite. I got it for cost from an industrial supplier the company I worked at sourced from and I think it cost about $250 in 1978 dollars. No ball bearing slides then!

Anyway, WAY NICE box and if you want to sell it in 30 years give me a shout.:thumbup:
 
OP
F

fhemm20

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Joined
Jan 15, 2014
Messages
118
Location
North Alabama
So, 5 full, busy workdays in the books. The new box has been awesome. Still playing with drawer layout a bit but overall I think I've got it set.

Getting used to the drawer pulls in the middle instead of the top has been less awkward than expected. The only thing about it I don't really care for is the shape of pulls. They allow you to grab them from the top and bottom, which is nice so you don't pull you fingertips off. Bad thing about that, the top of the pulls collect stuff, in my case, metal shavings. It wouldn't be a deal breaker if I were shopping again, just a mild annoyance.

Loaded drawers slide in and out very nicely. Even though there are no drawers with double slides, they are all very stable.

The adjustable detents are very nice. My box gets moved around our shop a good bit and its nice to be able to stiffen them up on the heavier drawers to keep them in order.

Casters roll very nicely, almost too nicely. But the box is only about 40% loaded since I just came out of a 26" box that was 120% loaded. Another 1000 lbs of tools should get it to settle in nicely.

So, overall, If you run up on a deal for one, go for it. Its not worth the $5K that Grainger wants for it, but worth the $2800 (ish) it can be found for.
 
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F

fhemm20

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Jan 15, 2014
Messages
118
Location
North Alabama
Well, it's bigger than I could currently use, my 57" is almost too big. I work on fire trucks in a 2 bay shop with only 5 feet between the doors...it's a bit tight to say the least.
 
B

Brownsfan

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Joined
Apr 16, 2012
Messages
5,974
Location
Cleveland Ohio
If you remember please give a review after a month or 2? I am SERIOUSLY considering the box I linked. I have a Mac tech series 50" and it's been great.
 
R

Ruger_556

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Dec 8, 2013
Messages
4,005
Do your sockets stand up in the top drawer? It's a bit shallower than other boxes... And more pics be needed :beer:
 
A

ADSR

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Jan 12, 2013
Messages
10,713
that box for under 1500 bucks? I would have pulled the trigger as well!
 
R

Ruger_556

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Dec 8, 2013
Messages
4,005
^^^What he said^^^

I found it for $2,600 and as soon as the tax return comes in it's mine in blue.
 
OP
F

fhemm20

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Joined
Jan 15, 2014
Messages
118
Location
North Alabama
My 1 month(ish) update.

All is well. Everything is performing nicely. It still is not nearly as loaded as it could be, but I'm also not made of money to fill it with. Im not happy with how I've got my wrenches setup. Im sure I'll end up making something on one of my off days that will suffice. I cut a piece of 3/4" MDF for the top to work on.
 

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F

fhemm20

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Joined
Jan 15, 2014
Messages
118
Location
North Alabama
Nearly everything (except my welding hood and books) all came out of a 27" waterloo
 

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