Can't decide

[My Old Tools]

I bought two of the 44" HF toolboxes today ($349) and one 44" top ($279). I was thinking about the top for a machinist box and the two bottoms for a Steevo bench. Now I'm not sure. They are nice as is. I have a 96"x24" butcher block top ready to go and a spot picked out. Just have to decide, wheels or bench.

 

[Rkbuell]

1 vote, Wheels

 

[astroracer]

It's still a bench with wheels attached. I put my lathe on one last year with a birch plywood top. Can be wheeled in and out for cleaning. Unless you are rebuilding the world on it the casters won't matter. I would NOT put any king of heavy vise on it just because I don't think you want to do a lot of heavy pounding or banging on them.
If you need a heavy duty bench build one that attaches to the wall. I've got one wall mounted bench and it doesn't get that much use over the mobile ones.
$350 was an EXCELLANT buy! I was tempted to pick up another one myself but the snow here in Michigan kept me off the streets.
Mark

 

[Richard Cranium]

wheels on would be my vote, I like to be able to move stuff...Rich

 

[APEowner]

I like as much stuff as I can on wheels. I work on a variety of stuff and the ability to re-arrange the shop for different projects has proven quite useful over the years.

 

[My Old Tools]

I'm kind of leaning toward plotting that top box on one of the bases and parking it next to the mill to hold all the tooling for the mill and lathes. The other one will be general storage. They seem to be quite a bit heavier and nicer than the 20 year old Craftsman set that holds my hand tools. I finally came to the realization that I would never turn loose of the $2-3000 to buy a Snap-on set, even used. And I don't need one really. Same with Lista/Vidmar.

 

[jjjrmx5]

If you don't ever plan on moving to a different building or rearraging your facility, then use it as a "built-in". Even if mounted in a "moveable" non wheeled std. work bench you can move it around.

If not, keep them on wheels.

With wheels locked, I don't mind doing many jobs on a properly finished tool box surface. For doing big jobs with big vises involving big or heavy objects, I still prefer a std. fixed tool bench be it wood ot metal.

 

[justanengineer]

I finally came to the realization that I would never turn loose of the $2-3000 to buy a Snap-on set, even used. And I don't need one really. Same with Lista/Vidmar.

You should be able to find some Vidmar or Lista cabinets used fairly cheap in your corner of the country. Govliqudation tends to stockpile certain things and sell them through specific facilities, for Vidmar/Lista cabinets one is a few hours north of you at Fort Sill. This time of year the sales slow down a bit due to the weather and holidays, but come spring you'll find sales with dozens of cabinets on them. Locally I usually pay $1-300 for the short desk-height 30" wide cabinets and $3-500 for the 4-5' tall 30"W cabinets. If you want double-wides they're close to double the price.

I've got a few standard "toolboxes" parked on top of my Vidmars for lightweight, easily damaged measuring/other tools like indicators, mics, etc, but after years of struggling with **** toolbox drawers bending I put everything substantial in a Vidmar now.