56” tool storage option selection, Tool Vault 55x30?

[BroncoAZ]

Agreed on the HF box latches, everything you say makes sense. Counter space in my garage is at a premium, so a ~46+ tall single box is still the main target. I wouldn’t want one of the older ~40” high tool boxes like the SO classic 78.

I also discovered OfferUp.com last night, seems to be a much better selection of truck brand boxes there at more reasonable prices than craigslist. This will require more investigation.

 

[BroncoAZ]

I was a work today (car dealership service departments) and was checking out boxes and asking some techs about their experiences. One of them mentioned another dealership that was remodeling and replacing all of their high end built in boxes, and selling off their old high end stationary boxes for cheap. I called and may be able to get one, 51” wide, 32” deep, 49” high with stainless top. I should know by Friday if I can get one, if so this will be my choice.

 

[Mr_B]

If decent and cheap could buy more than 1 either for yourself or to sell on covering some cost on yours .

 

[BroncoAZ]

I considered that, but I’m specifically trying not to be greedy. If it comes through it will be someone doing me a favor. I can’t possibly fit two units in my garage. Details and pictures once it happens.

 

[kythri]

I happened into HF today after being in Home Depot this week. I can say with certainty that I like the US General 56” Gen 2 box more than anything found at Home Depot.

Understanding that you're waiting to hear about a box from that dealership, if you like the HF box, you'll love the Tool Vault you were considering.

 

[Mr_B]

I considered that, but I’m specifically trying not to be greedy. If it comes through it will be someone doing me a favor. I can’t possibly fit two units in my garage. Details and pictures once it happens.

I always been greedy on used boxes, bought some large stainless ones at auction once, was greedy enough get 2 of the best ones but they so cheap and sold so easily I should of been more greedy & had the lot .
If get chance of more than one I would take it and figure what do with it once got it, any decent used storage boxes sells real easy .
Hope works out as sounds an ideal option for your requirements ...

 

[BroncoAZ]

I always been greedy on used boxes, bought some large stainless ones at auction once, was greedy enough get 2 of the best ones but they so cheap and sold so easily I should of been more greedy & had the lot .
If get chance of more than one I would take it and figure what do with it once got it, any decent used storage boxes sells real easy .
Hope works out as sounds an ideal option for your requirements ...

I got greedy and bought two of the boxes from the dealership today. I figure I’ll never be able to buy a matching box in the future, so I might kick myself in the next garage if I have space for two side by side. I’m going to clean them up before posting pictures.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

I got greedy and bought two of the boxes from the dealership today. I figure I’ll never be able to buy a matching box in the future, so I might kick myself in the next garage if I have space for two side by side. I’m going to clean them up before posting pictures.

Good job. They had to move them anyway, may as well be to someone who appreciated it.

Looking forward to seeing the pics.

 

[BroncoAZ]

Just finished cleaning, I’ll reassemble them tomorrow afternoon and get some pics.

 

[Mr_B]

I got greedy and bought two of the boxes from the dealership today. I figure I’ll never be able to buy a matching box in the future, so I might kick myself in the next garage if I have space for two side by side. I’m going to clean them up before posting pictures.

Sweet, good logic as one of those one time only deals. you done for boxes for life . how deep are the drawers compared to overall 32" depth and do they open fully or couple inches hang in .

 

[BroncoAZ]

Sweet, good logic as one of those one time only deals. you done for boxes for life . how deep are the drawers compared to overall 32" depth and do they open fully or couple inches hang in .

I think these are Shure stationary tool boxes, or they could be old Rousseau, I can’t find any markings inside or out, just some computer printed build date tags for January 2002. These were in an Audi store their entire life, I was able to cherry pick the best drawers from 3 units to make my two, but there are still some dings and minor dents and scratched/chipped/missing paint. The original measurement for depth I was given was incorrect, they are actually 29.5” deep, the 51” wide and 49” tall were correct. On the left side each box has ten drawers 24”x24” usable footprint with four ~2”, then some 3” and 4”, on the right side each box has six drawers 18” wide 24” deep with heights from ~4” to 8”. Drawers are full extension and surprisingly heavy. Drawers are also set up for a partition system, it came with a handful of dividers but I’m hoping I can get a bunch more free or cheap (I can also fabricate something relatively easy). Both boxes have stainless tops that are substantially heavy (I grabbed a spare top for free, can be used to make a nice bench later).

For now I’m not going to deal with trying to repaint them (I need them in permanent position while I have a borrowed pallet jack) but in the future these could be stripped and made to look amazing. I also thing they would be great candidates for spraying with bedliner. I do need to find some 24” drawer liner or something I can substitute. I do see these as the last tool boxes I’ll ever buy.

 

[dopod]

This is the best 24" drawer liner I've found for a reasonable price:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VHXEJ6/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Sounds like you landed some sweet boxes, looking forward to pictures

 

[kythri]

Sounds like you landed some sweet boxes, looking forward to pictures

Likewise!

 

[48548]

I wish i had that before i bought my tool vault, but it works... i may not have the best but not bad and i am in phx. Just to show what i put in mine... way overloaded...

looking for a pebble 4766 or any 47xx pebble hinged handle

 

[48548]

I really over loaded it...

looking for a pebble 4766 or any 47xx pebble hinged handle

 

[Mr_B]

contact nusource for liner rolls, that stuff pretty damn good .
Seems like you done well picking the cream and having free top to do a bench .
Can't go wrong for function/durability to cost .

 

[BroncoAZ]

Here are the boxes cleaned up. I have about 12 hours of sweat equity into disassembly/cleaning/lubricating/reassembling. The paint looks better in the pictures than in person.

 

[BroncoAZ]

Here they are in the final position. My buddy who was helping suggested that I use the extra stainless top to make a backsplash for the main tool box. The main box will hold all my hand tools, air tools, battery tools, etc. The one without the backsplash is on the front side of the garage between the two doors, this one will be for storage of hardware, my welding stuff, less commonly used tools, etc. The storage box is sitting on fence cap bricks to keep it away from moisture, that ares sometimes gets snow melt off my car. I’m very pleased with how these fit the space. I won’t be filling the main box until I get liners, but the storage box can be filled now.

 

[JazzBlueRT]

If you want it in that corner, it's not going to be easy. Most boxes only have 2 swivel castors, 2 stationary. Parallel parking a 56' box in a 61' space ain't happening.



If it were me, for only home use? I'd get a nice box store unit with latching drawers.

Depends upon the box and if you can install the fixed wheels facing forward.

 

[Dirty Diesels]

I wish i had that before i bought my tool vault, but it works... i may not have the best but not bad and i am in phx. Just to show what i put in mine... way overloaded...

looking for a pebble 4766 or any 47xx pebble hinged handle

How do you go on when you need to use the T20 screwdriver? Wow that is some serious tool inventory.

 

[Mr_B]

Here are the boxes cleaned up. I have about 12 hours of sweat equity into disassembly/cleaning/lubricating/reassembling. The paint looks better in the pictures than in person.

They look pretty good, certainly up to the job and easy enough refinish if ever want to .
Look better with liner and tools in it and a sticker/emblem of some sort .

 

[kythri]

So, what did you end up giving for those boxes?

They look really nice, though, I'll be honest, I wouldn't be thrilled with the drawer layout for my own personal stuff, but for the right price, I could easily get over it.

 

[BroncoAZ]

So, what did you end up giving for those boxes?

They look really nice, though, I'll be honest, I wouldn't be thrilled with the drawer layout for my own personal stuff, but for the right price, I could easily get over it.

$400 for both boxes.

 

[Mr_B]

some wider drawers wouldn't hurt but for durability to the buck it a sweet deal .
stainless counter top space useful, think I would do a matching bench from spare top with removable hitch style vise perhaps.
Plenty drawers and longer items like pry bars could go on side or wall rack. Sure you get it how you want it and not going loose anything down road if did upgrade boxes and either repurpose them or sell them .
Used storage is a win win .

 

[LXCam]

$400 for both boxes.

Those sure look like lista and you flat out stole them. You sir, totally earned a major YOU ****!!

Congratulations and enjoy those for your lifetime. Check out the link in my sig and on page 7/8 you'll see what kind of options you have for utilizing various dividers. I didn't use many but they still came in damn handy where it made sense.

 

[BroncoAZ]

some wider drawers wouldn't hurt but for durability to the buck it a sweet deal .
stainless counter top space useful, think I would do a matching bench from spare top with removable hitch style vise perhaps.
Plenty drawers and longer items like pry bars could go on side or wall rack. Sure you get it how you want it and not going loose anything down road if did upgrade boxes and either repurpose them or sell them .
Used storage is a win win .

I’m planning on building a new welding table in the near future that will have some hitch mount points for vise, shear, bench grinder, etc. I’m looking long term to a different house with the two boxes with a lower bench with that top between them. As long as I still have my cart the pry bars and such have a home, or I’ll build a rack next to the box for them like you suggest.

Those sure look like lista and you flat out stole them. You sir, totally earned a major YOU ****!!

Congratulations and enjoy those for your lifetime. Check out the link in my sig and on page 7/8 you'll see what kind of options you have for utilizing various dividers. I didn't use many but they still came in damn handy where it made sense.

Looking at your Lista thread the insides of the drawers look the same and the handles are similar. I’ll gladly accept the nomination for sucking

I love the way you used the dividers, I plan on doing something similar for screwdrivers, punches, socket extensions, etc. I need to clean and inventory the dividers that we’re included, then get more from the dealership. Looks like the dividers aren’t too expensive from Lista directly, the 3” tall partitions are $10.21 and the dividers range from $.82 to $3.24.

 

[kythri]

$400 for both boxes.

That's a hell of a deal. Well-deserved suckage! Yeah, for that price, I could certainly get over any layout issues I may have.

 

[MrDeerHunter]

BTW OP -


I accidentally looked in Pheonix, not flagstaff for snapon boxes via craigslist. PLENTY of options, but you'll be driving. You local selection in worse than mine, which I wasn't sure was possible.


EDIT: If you're not moving it, check out listas used. Damn if those aren't good looking boxes.

You need to look in Kansas City area. They are almost non existent or are retail price.

Sent from my Moto Z (2) using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Those sure look like lista and you flat out stole them. You sir, totally earned a major YOU ****!!

Agreed, outstanding!

 

[BroncoAZ]

The dividers in my box have the Lista part numbers stamped on them.

I was working at the dealership today and spoke to another fortunate guy who purchased a couple boxes same as me. I mentioned dividers and he said his came with a drawer full that he wasn’t planning on using. I went to his place after work and picked up about half of what he had, a dozen of the drawer partitions and a couple dozen dividers. I’m very pleased as I’m planning on using the partitions and dividers for separating screwdrivers and all my grade 8 hardware 1/4” to 5/8”.

I think I’d rather make my own dividers rather than using the Lista ones, I don’t really need them full height and I don’t like the angled section at the top for a label. I measured the slots and it looks like 14 ga will fit, so I’ll likely purchase a couple lengths in 1.5” and 2” and cut them on my throatless shear. I’m thinking aluminum so I don’t have to paint it, but steel may be easier to get locally.

I loaded some two of the drawers down heavy with steel targets and they took it like a champ. Very pleased with the set up. Unfortunately I’m traveling the next 3 weeks and won’t be able to transfer my tools to the new boxes until early August. Now to figure out how to organize everything

 

[pcmeiners]

What a deal, in the NYC area that price is only in dreams. Condition is exceptional for used boxes. Enjoy