Are intermediate chests worth it?

Farmall450 · Jun 21, 2013

Got some new organizers...

Wrench Organizer from Sears

HF Socket organizers (now it takes 2 drawers :sad:

)

And the question that comes to mind is it worth getting an intermediate chest for my 26" cman (#37710) and delaying the inevitable, or should I just invest in say a HF 44" that should (potentially) hold everything with ease for a long long time?

The cman was coming up @ around $110...in store sale price, and I'd get 3 more drawers, which would be fine for now. But that being said, it's more bigger stuff that I need space for vs smaller stuff (like top box/intermediate box drawers are for)

I don't really have the space...until the shop gets concreted, but I could just hold off on doing anything until then. I don't really think I would get rid of the cman...probably just have 2. Make the US General a workbench with a piece of stainless.

Thoughts? :lol_hitti

Thanks!

toolmutt · Jun 21, 2013

Go big or Go home. :lol_hitti

More space equals more tools!

Farmall450 · Jun 21, 2013

toolmutt said:
Go big or Go home.

More space equals more tools!

I do like your logic!

I think I'd still keep the cman, put a piece of stainless on top of the 44" to make a workbench of sorts...

kenfain · Jun 21, 2013

I'm six ft.two, have to stand on my toes to see into the top of my box. But I really like the extra space. I got used to the inconvenience. If I had to do it over, I would definitely go with the HF.box

jjjrmx5 · Jun 21, 2013

No.

Seldom are they a good ROI.

And chest sellers know that.

Used are hard to find and usually a mix and match.

Going up is good if space/sf is at a premium but outside of the HF and a few mid range offereings going bigger will net you a better $$$ per sq inch than a inter. chest.

But if you are happy with your set up as it is and just need a mid chest, then cost be damned.

Packard V8 · Jun 21, 2013

If one lives long enough, there's no such thing as one big-enough box. If there were, it would be so heavily loaded as to be immovable.

So yes, buy the Craftsman and keep it for the smaller stuff when you trade up.

Maybe, look around a bit. I bought a like-new Craftsman double-stack filled with tools for $110. Doesn't happen every day or every year, but if one goes to enough garage/estate sales, it happens.

jack vines

Farmall450 · Jun 21, 2013

kenfain said:
I'm six ft.two, have to stand on my toes to see into the top of my box. But I really like the extra space. I got used to the inconvenience. If I had to do it over, I would definitely go with the HF.box

I'm 6' 4" but I can see your point!

jjjrmx5 said:
No.

Seldom are they a good ROI.

And chest sellers know that.

Used are hard to find and usually a mix and match.

Going up is good if space/sf is at a premium but outside of the HF and a few mid range offereings going bigger will net you a better $$$ per sq inch than a inter. chest.

But if you are happy with your set up as it is and just need a mid chest, then cost be damned.

True. It's just seems I keep having to outsource tools :sad:

It's almost a sin to put them back into the box the came in! :lol_hitti

softailgarage · Jun 21, 2013

As much as I hate to say it (because I really despise HF) if ya got the money, go with the 44"

Farmall450 · Jun 21, 2013

Packard V8 said:
If one lives long enough, there's no such thing as one big-enough box. If there were, it would be so heavily loaded as to be immovable.

So yes, buy the Craftsman and keep it for the smaller stuff when you trade up.

Maybe, look around a bit. I bought a like-new Craftsman double-stack filled with tools for $110. Doesn't happen every day or every year, but if one goes to enough garage/estate sales, it happens.

jack vines

It just doesn't seem super cost effective to spend the same amount on a 3 drawer intermediate chest when you could get a whole toolbox & tools like you did, or put the $$ into a bigger box.

Farmall450 · Jun 21, 2013

softailgarage said:
As much as I hate to say it (because I really despise HF) if ya got the money, go with the 44"

I'll start saving up :beer:

Yeah when I tell someone I spend $300+ in one trip at HF :willy_nil

Farmall450 · Jun 21, 2013

Then I wouldn't have to carry the cman up a flight of stairs and down another to the new shop as well.

Farmall450 · Jun 21, 2013

Farmall450 said:
It just doesn't seem super cost effective to spend the same amount on a 3 drawer intermediate chest when you could get a whole toolbox & tools like you did, or put the $$ into a bigger box.

I don't get why a 3 drawer intermediate chest = price of a top box?

#1SomeGuy · Jun 21, 2013

So long as you have space it will get filled...buy a bigger box, buy more tools to go in it.

Farmall450 · Jun 21, 2013

#1SomeGuy said:
So long as you have space it will get filled...buy a bigger box, buy more tools to go in it.

I never would have guessed that when I bought my first one! :lol_hitti

I think whenever my folks get to concreting the shop, a shiny new HF 44" will be gracing one side... :beer:

probably opposite of all the other cman...they won't match :lol:

Automatic Slim · Jun 21, 2013

I have a 3 drawer napa intermediate box, which I like, but as stated, the top of my matco 26" box becomes unusable and I'm 6'2". Furthermore, I had to bolt the damn thing to the wall so it wouldn't topple if someone started to be a jackass. Mac/Napa/Matco.

I've been thinking about an upgrade too, but it's just a homebox so the HF would probably do fine. I've only been inside HF once, so not exactly sure what all the blubbering is about.

But this thread makes me think, 44" or the 56" HF & is there a difference? GL If you got the room, seems logically that wider is better, but have spacial issues meself.

crewchief888 · Jun 21, 2013

i have mid boxes with 2 of my 4 sets of boxes.

one 26"w 18" deep
one 33" wide full depth (20?)

i dont have boxes wider than 36"

cant find a pic of the 26" wide boxes, SO roller, lyons mid, vintage CM top

:beer:

Farmall450 · Jun 21, 2013

crewchief888 said:
i have mid boxes with 2 of my 4 sets of boxes.

one 26"w 18" deep
one 33" wide full depth (20?)

i dont have boxes wider than 36"

cant find a pic of the 26" wide boxes, SO roller, lyons mid, vintage CM top

You'd think wider would indeed be better, no spreading over drawers :willy_nil

Farmall450 · Jun 21, 2013

Automatic Slim said:
I have a 3 drawer napa intermediate box, which I like, but as stated, the top of my matco 26" box becomes unusable and I'm 6'2". Furthermore, I had to bolt the damn thing to the wall so it wouldn't topple if someone started to be a jackass. Mac/Napa/Matco.

I've been thinking about an upgrade too, but it's just a homebox so the HF would probably do fine. I've only been inside HF once, so not exactly sure what all the blubbering is about.

But this thread makes me think, 44" or the 56" HF & is there a difference? GL If you got the room, seems logically that wider is better, but have spacial issues meself.

Mine is a home box too.

jeffmoss26 · Jun 21, 2013

I had one once...locked some stuff inside, could not get the box open so I had to very destructively gain access

crewchief888 · Jun 21, 2013

Farmall450 said:
You'd think wider would indeed be better, no spreading over drawers

i bought the last set of new boxes in '94
back then there werent nearly as many options for boxes wider than 36"

double/triple bank boxes were just becoming a little more popular.

i never wanted a box that was so big/wide/heavy that i couldnt handle moving it myself when the time came.
i my small garage it helps to have boxes with a smaller footprint, and side boxes to configure as the organization/ storage and my needs change.

in the 30 years i've been wrenching, right now is the closest i ever come to having all my tools in one place. i still have one set of boxes at the shop with a few select tools in it,
the rest of my working tools are in my service truck thats parked in the driveway. i suspect by the time i get ready to retire, i may need another box or 2.....
:willy_nil

Super Sport · Jun 21, 2013

They are not really cost effective given the amount of usable room, much like a side cabinet.

However, before I joined this board, I bought two for my Cman stack. One shallow one originally, and later an 18" deep version. At the time I didn't expect my tool collection to expand. And then I found this site...

Schwinn68 · Jun 21, 2013

Where in Illinois are you? I should be freeing up a craftsman mid box soon once I finally settle on a deal for a snappy rollcab. It's black with two drawers 26"wide and 18" deep. I bought it as an open box discount. Its a little tweaked but works just fine. Let me know if you're interested. I can get you a pic.

NUTTSGT · Jun 21, 2013

I picked up a mid chest with BB slides about 4-5 years ago on sale for $70. I bought it for two reasons, it was on sale and it will go in my future enclosed car trailer.

IMHO, for those two reasons, it will work and was worth the money, but in your case of a home box, I'd spend the money on a HF box.

Steevo · Jun 21, 2013

I started wrenching in the 1970's, with just a Cman top box.
Then I bought a Snap-On top box that was bigger.
Then I bought the rool-cab to go with my Snap-On box.
Then I bought an intermediate drawer unit to go between them.
Then I bought a couple of other chest/cabinet combos also, one Cman and one vintage RemLine.
Then I built a tool storage bench for my shop, with four HF cabinets, and I consolidated all of my tools.
Except . . . . I still have the Snap-On set full of all my precision tools and tooling for the lathe and mill.
Oh, and I have the RemLine set in the house-attached garage for "house tools".

It is an evolutionary process, not a one-time decision that lasts forever.

Farmall450 · Jun 21, 2013

Thanks for all the awesome input!

I think I'm ultimately go with the HF 44", and I'll be sure to put different castors on. Apparently that's a bug complaint.

Farmall450 · Jun 21, 2013

Schwinn68 said:
Where in Illinois are you? I should be freeing up a craftsman mid box soon once I finally settle on a deal for a snappy rollcab. It's black with two drawers 26"wide and 18" deep. I bought it as an open box discount. Its a little tweaked but works just fine. Let me know if you're interested. I can get you a pic.

Mine is red & black

Gotmayhem · Jun 21, 2013

What I personally want is an intermediate for my HF 44" roller. I'm just about out of space and don't really want to put a full chest on top of it. I think if I had an intermediate box on top of it I would still be able to use it as a workbench, ideally.

Farmall450 · Jun 21, 2013

That is very true.

2 full drawers I'd assume?

Gotmayhem · Jun 21, 2013

Yup, exactly. I want at least one full length drawer for cabinet drivers, prybars, etc. I use the one big drawer on my 44" just for sockets and its stuffed. HF doesn't make one so I've been keeping an eye out for something else that might work.

cide1 · Jun 21, 2013

I had two stacks of bottom, middle and top that were each 26" wide. When I ran out of space, I bought a 54" bottom, so I could fit both pairs of mids and tops on top. I couldn't do that with a 44". I took my two 26" bottoms and built them into the work bench.

kossuth · Jun 21, 2013

Gotmayhem said:
Yup, exactly. I want at least one full length drawer for cabinet drivers, prybars, etc. I use the one big drawer on my 44" just for sockets and its stuffed. HF doesn't make one so I've been keeping an eye out for something else that might work.

Might make the most sense to upgrade to the 56 in your case. The 56 has almost double the storage of the 44 from the greater width plus it is about 3 inches deeper.

RCStocker · Jun 21, 2013

I have intermediate boxes on 4 of my cabinets. I got them used. 2 are Homark and fit the same brand boxes. I got the for $50 each new on close out. The other 2 are on C man boxes and are C man middle boxes with bearings . paid $75 each for those used. They are full depth. They were returns and one was a dent but you can't see it. they are never worth it if you are buying new. I have picked up the HF boxes for my sons and grand sons and they are much nicer than any C man in the class of box. The bottom is tall and the top is full depth. They were on sale at Easter for $299.99 That is what I paid last year and I got 2 more this year. I picked up the 42" box with 2 side boxes off of Craigslist before Christmas. I pad $400 for all 3 with the keys. Not a scratch or mark on them. For small boxes HF are the best for the money on the market. Their cherry pickers and lifts are not bad. I have had them for 25 years with heavy use in construction and they work fine. Never had a cylinder fail yet.

Farmall450 · Jun 21, 2013

kossuth said:
Might make the most sense to upgrade to the 56 in your case. The 56 has almost double the storage of the 44 from the greater width plus it is about 3 inches deeper.

Steeper price point though.

Gotmayhem · Jun 21, 2013

kossuth said:
Might make the most sense to upgrade to the 56 in your case. The 56 has almost double the storage of the 44 from the greater width plus it is about 3 inches deeper.

Farmall450 said:
Steeper price point though.

Yea I don't really feel like spending twice what I spent on the 44" for another HF box. If I don't find an intermediate box in the near future I'll probably end up either getting one from strictlytoolboxes or look for a used SO/Matco locally. Luckily I'm not in a rush to expand.

Farmall450 · Jun 21, 2013

I think I'll get a 44" in the near future...and keep my cman.

I don't think you could ever have enough tool storage!

crewchief888 · Jun 21, 2013

Farmall450 said:
I think I'll get a 44" in the near future...and keep my cman.

I don't think you could ever have enough tool storage!

you'll probably never have enough tools either... :lol_hitti

decableguy2000 · Jun 21, 2013

For those who have been thinking of adding an intermediate chest, I keep eyeballing this
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-40inch-wide-1-drawer-ball-bearing-griplatch-reg/p-00959604000P?prdNo=6&blockNo=6&blockType=G6

I looked at it the other day at sears, it only has one set of slides, but it looks like you can add another set.

kossuth · Jun 21, 2013

Gotmayhem said:
Yea I don't really feel like spending twice what I spent on the 44" for another HF box. If I don't find an intermediate box in the near future I'll probably end up either getting one from strictlytoolboxes or look for a used SO/Matco locally. Luckily I'm not in a rush to expand.

True, but in the end are you just putting off the inevitable when you run out of room again? I am fan of going out not up. Being you can use the top of the box as a workbench. I would be worried that a intermediate chest would get the whole setup too high and mess that up.

Farmall450 · Jun 21, 2013

kossuth said:
True, but in the end are you just putting off the inevitable when you run out of room again? I am fan of going out not up. Being you can use the top of the box as a workbench. I would be worried that a intermediate chest would get the whole setup too high and mess that up.

Why I'm now leaning towards HF 44"!

NUTTSGT · Jun 22, 2013

decableguy2000 said:
For those who have been thinking of adding an intermediate chest, I keep eyeballing this
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-40inch-wide-1-drawer-ball-bearing-griplatch-reg/p-00959604000P?prdNo=6&blockNo=6&blockType=G6

I looked at it the other day at sears, it only has one set of slides, but it looks like you can add another set.

I have one of those, it houses all the air tools and impact sockets.

Are intermediate chests worth it?

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