Beach vs Kennedy vs Gray vs williams tool storage
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crewchief888
Well-known member
ive had kennedy boxes in the past, wish i still had the ones i sold many years ago.
no experience with the other brands listed
no experience with the other brands listed
RRmech
Well-known member
I've had 2 Kennedy boxes since around 1990.
VERY solid & well-build.
NO complaints whatsoever.
Steve
VERY solid & well-build.
NO complaints whatsoever.
Steve
dieseltech
Well-known member
sorry to hijack the htread but does anyone have any experince with the gray pro series tool boxes and I have been looking into a new box for a while and like the looks of them
vssjim
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Kennedy boxes are of the highest quality a life time purchase
caper
Well-known member
The Gray style that looks like Beach aren't the greatest.I've had both the Beach and the Gray and the Beach is much better.A guy I work with has a red Gray bottom that the welds are letting go on and it looks like the leaning tower of Piza.I used to have the Marquis series from Gray on my service truck but it didn't last long.Probably not the boxes fault,it wasn't designed as a road chest.All the Beach boxes I've had have held up well and lasted well.I know several guys who have used them for more than twenty years and are still working fine.I'm still looking for a bottom for the Beach chest I have in the barn.I've never seen a Kennedy or Williams here in Canada so I can't comment on them.
are you talking about the "pro series" dont last?
The ones on page 6-7 here:
http://www.graytools.com/Professional Tools Special Winter 2011/
This would be a bummer because i was thinking of getting the top chest.
SP Simpson sells kennedy and williams here in canada.
The ones on page 6-7 here:
http://www.graytools.com/Professional Tools Special Winter 2011/
This would be a bummer because i was thinking of getting the top chest.
SP Simpson sells kennedy and williams here in canada.
caper
Well-known member
Yep,the one one the top right is the one that turned into the leaning tower.I have the side cab lower on the page with the built in prybar rack.It's a great design but the quality of manufacture isn't very high.The metal is pretty thin,friction slides.It has the potential of a great box but it's just decent.None of the pro series has bearing slides,they're all friction.
Kennedy is the industry standard for machinist for many many years. they're still made here in Indiana.
they only come in one color and drawers are small and very shallow. not good for mechanics but perfect fit for machinists who have very small tools.
my little one is over 100lbs loaded up, still feels very solid after ~40 years.
they only come in one color and drawers are small and very shallow. not good for mechanics but perfect fit for machinists who have very small tools.
my little one is over 100lbs loaded up, still feels very solid after ~40 years.
vssjim
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Van Wert Ohio
stopdroplol
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2011
- Messages
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I currently use the Kennedy top box. The thing is probably 40-50 years old and still looks new. Used to be my dads yacht box that he took around to work on boats. I've used it for the last couple of years to store my tools since I started working on my motorcycles.
Like T100 said the drawers don't really soot a mechanics needs but the thing is tough. I probably have closer to 200 pounds in mine and the drawers slide smoothly. The thing even fell about 5 feet to the ground once, fully loaded, and only has a minor scuff to show for it. I'm in the market for a new box since I've outgrown it but I'll definitely be keeping it around for my mics and other future machinists tools.
Like T100 said the drawers don't really soot a mechanics needs but the thing is tough. I probably have closer to 200 pounds in mine and the drawers slide smoothly. The thing even fell about 5 feet to the ground once, fully loaded, and only has a minor scuff to show for it. I'm in the market for a new box since I've outgrown it but I'll definitely be keeping it around for my mics and other future machinists tools.
turbochabot
Member
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2010
- Messages
- 19
I have the six drawer top chest on the link you listed. Have had it going on ten years with no complaints.
canuckian
Well-known member
a guy I work with has a Beach roller and top chest he got when he was in the military. VERY well built and tough as nails. We brought it up from his basement in 2 pieces last year on a trolley when it was still half loaded with tools. When we set it down in his garage, it was perfect and not tweaked at all. With all the thrashing around it did on the way up the stairs, we were sure something would give but everything was as true as they day he got it.
lalaland
Banned
They are all very very nice.
donnykooy
Well-known member
but friction slides usually can hold more weight
buco
Well-known member
If you are in Canada, I'd look at International tool box as well. It's the best bang for the buck.
You would be hard pressed to find a better box for the price, especially the SHD series.
You can get decent prices through Costco.ca, they deliver free to your home!
Gray makes there own boxes, but they are over priced in my opinion, and the Marquis series of Gray which is there high end is Chinese.
If i was you I'd google all the boxes you are interested in and look at the weights and roller bearing capacity vs price.
You would be hard pressed to find a better box for the price, especially the SHD series.
You can get decent prices through Costco.ca, they deliver free to your home!
Gray makes there own boxes, but they are over priced in my opinion, and the Marquis series of Gray which is there high end is Chinese.
If i was you I'd google all the boxes you are interested in and look at the weights and roller bearing capacity vs price.
Last edited:
CecilTheTurtle
Well-known member
Holy thread resurrection, Batman!
oldldh
Well-known member
Check out www.strictlytoolboxes.com
The Extreme EX5510RC and EX5510CH may be just what you're looking for...
Really heavy duty, and the price is right for what you're getting...
The Extreme EX5510RC and EX5510CH may be just what you're looking for...
Really heavy duty, and the price is right for what you're getting...
young_buck
Well-known member
my shop bought a few gray boxes in the 90's or so and have heavily used them in a diesel shop, abused actually, and they are holding up great!