Advise on new box please

[jeepfan93]

Hi gang. I'm having a bit of a problem here. I currently have 6 26 inch craftsman tool boxes fill and would like to get a bigger box. I'm not sure if a 42 combo or a 56 combo is the way to go. I know I don't need a 72. I have my choices narrowed down to the Montezuma or International. If anyone has done a similar upgrade please advise. I know get the biggest I can afford, but I don't expect my collection to grow much more than what i currently have. I am a serious home enthusiast doing work on the side and buying and selling cars. I also do metal fab and welding, plus all my home repair stuff.
So let me know what you think please, TIA

 

[Steen27]

56" montezuma from Shannon at www.strictlytoolboxes.com you won't regret it one bit!

 

[W650Mike]

Would a 42" or 56" combo total more square inches or volume than the 6 - 26" boxes you have?

Either add up total drawer footage or total volume to help guide your decision.

I'm kind of in the same situation as you are. I need more space and volume but I'm really trying to decide more on overall arrangement - what cab/chest/drawer arrangement would best suit my needs.

 

[back2class]

I don't have much advice except SKIP THE CRAFTSMAN. The HF is a substrantialy better box and I am pretty sure less expensive. For a little more some of the othe rimport boxes marketed to pros are worlds better. The Craftsman boxes are a horrid value.

 

[jeepfan93]

Agreed, not buying craftsman anymore, the oldest one I have is from '63. 2 are from the '74. My bottom boxes are all pretty much the same, newest one being 2 years old. Having them all together, it's interesting to see the differences between the old and new. Going into the Sears store and playing with the new boxes is really what made me decide NOT to buy Cman.
Mike, I did just that. I know the 41 isn't as big as two of my 26's but I thought i would get more storage from the extra height and width. Guess it's time to break out the calculator.
Steen, I have read nothing but great things about Shannon and the Montezuma boxes. Comparing the Montezuma and International boxes side by side, The are identical. Both made in Canada, better than China, but I can get a 3 piece combo from International for 300 more than the 2 piece Montezuma. The 3 piece Mont'y, ye that's a good contraction for that box, is another 650. So right now it comes down bottom line on the price.
Thanks guys for the feedback

 

[poprockcrusher]

what is the shipping on the chinese boxes ?

 

[jeepfan93]

Not sure, I know I can go to HF and pick up a set of 41's plus 2 side cabinets, but I'd rather not send my money over there. International and Mont'y are price delivered to my door, extra $30 for lift gate.

 

[compman25]

Make sure the International really is Made in Canada. Lots of the ads on the internet for the less expensive Internationals say Made in Canada when in fact they are made in China. Ask me how I know....

 

[Steen27]

Well whichever way you decide to go, you are now officially obligated to post lots of pics of the new box when it arrives.

 

[jeepfan93]

Make sure the International really is Made in Canada. Lots of the ads on the internet for the less expensive Internationals say Made in Canada when in fact they are made in China. Ask me how I know....

Ok I'll bite, how do you know

 

[jeepfan93]

Well whichever way you decide to go, you are now officially obligated to post lots of pics of the new box when it arrives.

Steen, search my name and you'll see the setup I have now. Not pretty. As soon as boxes get here, I'll do a step by step, from truck to filled. I know it's been done before on the Monty's, but of these will be mine. If I get them.

 

[Underdog]

Two words Craig's List's .
If you have the time, Look at CL. For the money you will pay for a China box you can, If patient buy a used SO, Mac, Matco box. US made. IF not then buy what you can afford. Good Luck.

 

[jeepfan93]

Well I've been trolling CL for almost a month. The only one s I've seen as smaller units like mine, or 72's for no less than 5 or 6 grand. I really like the roller bearings on the newer boxes and some of the ones I've found are older units. I'll keep looking. If something come up in the 2 grand range I 'll grab it. But mu big right now is determining size.

 

[jeepfan93]

Ok broke out the calculator. The 56" boxes give me 20k more CI of space than my current setup. The 41's I would have to add a side cabinet to equal the space I currently have. The 41 with cabinet is the same price as the 2 56" boxes. So looks like I'll be calling Shannon soon, unless a smokin deal on a SO or Matco comes up. Thanks for letting me think out loud.

 

[j.c.whitney]

Two words Craig's List's .
If you have the time, Look at CL. For the money you will pay for a China box you can, If patient buy a used SO, Mac, Matco box. US made. IF not then buy what you can afford. Good Luck.

Agree 100%, be patient and the right deal will come along.

 

[jeepfan93]

I got a month before I have the garage ready so we'll see. As I said been looking for a month already.

 

[compman25]

I ordered an International 56" box, every online ad claimed it was made in Canada, called the store I bought it from, they guaranteed it was made in Canada. It arrived and after I got it un-boxed I noticed the Made in China sticker. Called the store I bought it from and said come get it, it wasn't what I ordered. Let's just say I now have a 56" Chinese box that cost less than the HF 42", after the company realized what it would cost to have a shipping company pick it up and put it on a pallet they begged me to keep it and kept offering more and more money back until it was less than the HF 42" box. At that point I decided I would keep it. I then had a slide go bad and International doesn't know how to communicate with their Chinese supplier. I needed 1 pair of slides, I ended up with 100 pairs of slides Fed Ex overnight from China. I bet that cost more than the box did since they weighed over 100lbs. Every ad on the internet for the cheap International 56" box says made in Canada, that is false.

 

[Mr Ratchet]

If you have the space. Think about a 72" bottom. If you need more drawer space you can add a side box or a smaller top box. I was going to go with a 40" top/bottom and ended up with a 53" bottom. I really like having the top clear as another work bench. I've found that I do most of my work on it over my main bench since the tools are right there and I can move it around.

The nice about the bigger boxes is the additional depth over the standard CM roll a ways. Instead of 16" (bottom) of the CM, you usually go to 24" and sometimes deeper. That really adds to the storage capacity.

 

[darkk]

ours.....72" total

 

[jeepfan93]

Well I do have the room. And I have thought about a single 72. Problem I see is that alone may not be enough. I like the idea of making a bench out of it. But then putting a topper on it negates the bench. And If I put say a 42 on top it won't look right. And at that money wise I'm pushing the 56 combo. I just found out today the block is cracked on my Grand Cherokee, so now I gotta figure out a motor for it, then worry about the box.Stupid Jeep

 

[jeepfan93]

Darkk is that a Monty?

 

[David W]

I have a 56" International. No Problems and a made in Canada sticker. I hope it wasn't made in china and so far I have no reason to believe it is. (it actually works). $950 from qualitytoolsforless.com

 

[compman25]

I have a 56" International. No Problems and a made in Canada sticker. I hope it wasn't made in china and so far I have no reason to believe it is. (it actually works). $950 from qualitytoolsforless.com

Yeah, that's who I bought mine from. At least mine ended up costing under $300 after discovering where it was made.

 

[darkk]

Darkk is that a Monty?

It's an international 56 1/2 x 24 x 39 1/2 lower
55.6 x 24 x 19.1 top
15.5 x 24 x 39 1/2 side box
http://www.qualitytoolsforless.com It was a combo special they no longer offer. Shipped from Canada.

 

[dittle fart around]

Try Excel boxes they are made in China like most tool boxes. You can get a 42" chest and roller cabinet for 1000 bucks with free shipping from ShopStorageCabinets.com

 

[David W]

Yeah, that's who I bought mine from. At least mine ended up costing under $300 after discovering where it was made.

Was it a made in china sticker or something stamped on the back of the box? BTW, I love that truck in your siggie.

 

[compman25]

Was it a made in china sticker or something stamped on the back of the box? BTW, I love that truck in your siggie.

Thanks, I loved that truck too. Wish I still had it.

It was the cardboard box 1st, I noticed somewhere on it that said made in China, then I found a sticker on the right side near the don't kill yourself or hurt yourself stickers that said made in China. Mine shipped out of Canada also, but was made in China.

 

[NJHandyGuy]

Well I do have the room. And I have thought about a single 72. Problem I see is that alone may not be enough. I like the idea of making a bench out of it. But then putting a topper on it negates the bench. And If I put say a 42 on top it won't look right. And at that money wise I'm pushing the 56 combo. I just found out today the block is cracked on my Grand Cherokee, so now I gotta figure out a motor for it, then worry about the box.Stupid Jeep

what motor do you need i have a 4.0 jeep motor ion the yard Cheap

 

[jeepfan93]

what motor do you need i have a 4.0 jeep motor ion the yard Cheap

LOL well, I just bought this 2000 WJ to flip, got it for next to nothing because seller had it diagnosed by Lester Glenn as a cracked head. Sent the head over to the machine shop. Head is fine. I did find a bad head gasket. Put everything back together still overheating. Seller said she had new tires, new radiator and water pump installed. She certainly did, but the water pump impeller was broke in three places. Didn't pull it at first because it was new. Well, new pump and everything is good now, so no motor needed But I will keep you in mind because I do buy and sell Jeeps all the time. Thanks Jay