Cantilever Box Comparison

[archer401]

I'm in the market for a cantilever box...I've searched the forum for the past few hours and I'm hoping to get some recommendations.

I like the style of and have seen recommendations for the snap-on ut22, hazet 190L and Beta C20. The Beta is actually really difficult to find and the SO and hazet are more expensive. It would be great to stay under a hundred bucks for one, but if that buys me shoddy quality, I'll pony up for the hazet or SO.

Do you guys know of any other similar boxes out there? Is the Beta any good and is there a vendor that actually sells them in the US?

Thanks!

 

[joeswamp]

I think the Beta box is Chinese made and at one point you could get it directly for like $50. There's this company "Excel" that seems to sell a lot of different cantilever box designs. I bought mine a little over a year ago from alltimetools on ebay, looks like the Beta box in every detail (including the two tone paint scheme) and seems extremely well made. Do a google/ebay search on excel cantilever toolboxes.

Edit: It's not the Beta box that's Chinese, it's the FACOM BT.11A. This is the one that I have (either that or it's a really impressive replica). I think it's sometimes marketed as an Apollo, do some searching on here, this was discussed before.

Edit Again: Here's the box on the Excel website, not sure who stocks it in the states:

http://www.excel-hardware.com/product_detail.asp?cat=1&pid=115

 

[bart1]

The Hazet is nice. You can get them from Inky Ford in the Classifieds or here:

http://themotoringshop.com/hazet.php?curPage=9

You could ask samstagsales, as well.

 

[ricleh]

I have both the Hazet and the Beta boxes. Both are good boxes, but I think I like the Beta more because the opening and closing action is much smoother than the Hazet. Other than that the boxes are very similar. I got the Beta box on Amazon for $59.00, but they are currently unavailable on Amazon.

 

[Arachnotron]

The excel boxes are very good quality. I have a black 18" box.
http://www.toolboxesdirect.com/tool-boxes/metal-tool-boxes/excel5compartmenttoolbox.cfm

Amazon has smaller sizes are lower cost.

 

[Kirbot]

I don't think you can buy a better box than a Kennedy.
They are pricey though.
http://www.toolboxesdirect.com/tool-boxes/metal-tool-boxes/kennedy22incantilevertoolbox.cfm

 

[archer401]

Wow, thanks for the quick replies guys! I'm going to search around and see if I can find the Beta...if not I'll get the Excel. If I end up finding the Beta, I'll throw up a link since it seems hard to find now that it's off Amazon.

 

[mrholeshot]

The Excell is a really nice box. Much better than you would expect

 

[holland_patrick]

I saw some at the sears outlet in CT i'm not sure if you can get them on line

 

[Stuey]

The Excel are nice, but small.

I ordered the 14" model from Amazon and am pretty pleased with it. If Amazon drops the price of the larger version(s) I might order one of those too.

Although what I really wanted was a nice orange Beta one. Oh well.

 

[MalibuLX3]

The Excel are nice, but small.

I ordered the 14" model from Amazon and am pretty pleased with it. If Amazon drops the price of the larger version(s) I might order one of those too.

Although what I really wanted was a nice orange Beta one. Oh well.

Wow, that seems really reasonable. I might have to pick one up for that price

 

[plinker]

My Dad has the S-O UT-22, I have a Toptul TBAC501 and the 18" black Excell

The quality of the Excell is on par with the Toptul and Snap-on in regards to the sheetmetal gauge used. I was impressed as I was not expecting it to be.
I've had it for a couple of months. The bottm tabs are spotwelded and I could see possibly having to reweld them if too much weight is put in it.

The Toptul I bought fall of '08 and it could stand a minor amount of welding on the corners. (from me overloading it)

My Dads UT-22 is in fair shape after seeing hard use of and on since about 1995.

The Snap-on is nice for long tools as it is about 20" long. The other two are about the same size wise, the Excell hase a "dome" shaped bottom, and access to the middle drawer isnt as good as the others, but still a nice box

The Excell was 33$ shipped from amazon, COO china.

The Toptul was around 80 or 90$ Shipped from Wren hand tools, COO Taiwan.

Last I knew the Snap-on was around 120ish from there website, COO USA or Canada

 

[jvitez]

http://spg-toolbox.com/vw/fs/p009.htm

See page 23, bottom. Many SPG products are made in Canada, no COO on this page though.

http://www.graytools.com/catalogue/2 - Tool Storage.pdf

See page 45. Gray tool boxes are made in Canada. I bought the flat hand box and it said Made In Canada.

 

[Monte]

NOS Gedore box with wood handle:

(not mine)

 

[srmofo]

Do you have a sears outlet near you? I picked up a nice blue point (rebranded from something else Im sure) for $35. The thing is heavy for a hand box that gets carried a lot, but its a nice box

 

[Stuey]

That Gedore looks really good - crisp and clean.

Where can one find one of those these days?

 

[crewchief888]

if you're in the market for a used/vintage box, you might find a kennedy or older cm.

i saw several of them at garage sales, flea mkts, and swap meets over the past year.

picked up this kennedy last summer for $9

 

[Monte]

That Gedore looks really good - crisp and clean.

Where can one find one of those these days?

The modern day Gedore boxes look like this:

To find an old one with the wood handle i guess you need a time machine and travel back to around 1993

The new version is available from Gedore USA http://www.gedoretools.com/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=11150

 

[Kirbot]

if you're in the market for a used/vintage box, you might find a kennedy or older cm.

i saw several of them at garage sales, flea mkts, and swap meets over the past year.

picked up this kennedy last summer for $9

That looks about identical to mine.

Bought mine at an auction quite a while ago.... for $2!

There are plenty of bargains on used boxes out there if you willing to be patient.

 

[marnav1]

I have a Craftsman cant box from 1985. Don't know how the new ones compare but it's been a great box. When it's packed with tools though it is HEAVY. I can post a pic if you wish.....................

 

[Stuey]

The modern day Gedore boxes look like this:

To find an old one with the wood handle i guess you need a time machine and travel back to around 1993

The new version is available from Gedore USA http://www.gedoretools.com/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=11150

Thanks for the link!

But for $275, they had better include a time machine and a free coupon for the 1993 version!

 

[Monte]

yep

 

[mrholeshot]

It's hard to beat the 18" Excell at about 30 dollars. It would cost me 150 dollars to have it powder coated as nice as they already are.

 

[autobon7]

I have a couple of these,€58 for one, and the quality is good and a bit heavier than the Chinese/Taiwan/Etc cantilevers.

Thats a fine looking box !!!!!!

 

[Monte]

nice box !!

 

[ricleh]

I have a couple of these,€58 for one, and the quality is good and a bit heavier than the Chinese/Taiwan/Etc cantilevers.

It looks almost exactly like a Hazet 190. Perhaps they were manufactured in the same facility?

 

[CamarosRus]

Who sells what for how much $$$$$

Thanks,

 

[bart1]

It looks almost exactly like a Hazet 190. Perhaps they were manufactured in the same facility?

The 190 is not identified as Made in Germany in the Hazet catalog

I still like mine, though. Although, the wood handled Gedore might be sexier...

 

[sarel.wagner]

I will take some pictures of my Ally cast one, see the link here, also got the little cart at the bottom of the page: Cast cantilever box

Rgrds

 

[alberto]

I will take some pictures of my Ally cast one, see the link here, also got the little cart at the bottom of the page: Cast cantilever box

Rgrds

Those are nice. Do you know if anyone carries them in the US?

 

[superautobacs]

I think the Beta box is Chinese made and at one point you could get it directly for like $50. There's this company "Excel" that seems to sell a lot of different cantilever box designs. I bought mine a little over a year ago from alltimetools on ebay, looks like the Beta box in every detail (including the two tone paint scheme) and seems extremely well made. Do a google/ebay search on excel cantilever toolboxes.

Edit: It's not the Beta box that's Chinese, it's the FACOM BT.11A. This is the one that I have (either that or it's a really impressive replica). I think it's sometimes marketed as an Apollo, do some searching on here, this was discussed before.

Edit Again: Here's the box on the Excel website, not sure who stocks it in the states:

http://www.excel-hardware.com/product_detail.asp?cat=1&pid=115

Perhaps I must've posted that information?
The orange/grey is the Excel version (also sold under the Apollo name in Canada).

@Joki,

NICE box you got there, and thanks for the link! It's not a bad price.


@Monte,

That wood-handled Gedore is gorgeous!

@Sarel,

That's another cool box! Thanks for sharing.

 

[sarel.wagner]

I doubt very much if it will be available in the US, none of the RSA made Gedore stuff, made bt same company as they are the casters, are in the US.

Pleasure sharing, will take some pictures and post

Rgrds

 

[bart1]

 

[Monte]

nice Hazet box ! I like that the name is stamped into the metal and not just a sticker or print.

 

[CamarosRus]

All the european boxes are gorgeous and you owners are rightfully proud............

However many hear just want an affordable, functional, reasonably well built carry box that they pack to and fro...........

I'm thinking that the TOPTUL might be one of the best options if not the EXCELL. Is the 18" Model adequate to load up with a decent asst of tools ????????

Thanks to all,

 

[alberto]

I will take some pictures of my Ally cast one, see the link here, also got the little cart at the bottom of the page: Cast cantilever box

Rgrds

Those are nice. Do you know if anyone carries them in the US?

I doubt very much if it will be available in the US, none of the RSA made Gedore stuff, made bt same company as they are the casters, are in the US.

Pleasure sharing, will take some pictures and post

Rgrds

Well, that's too bad. The thing I like about these is that you have 100% access to each of the 5 sections, while on all other 5 section cantilevered boxes there is overhand from the level above, partially obstructing the tools in the section below. It's sort of like fully extendable drawers vs. 85% extendable. I'd be interested if anyone makes a 5 section cantilevered box that provides 100% clearance to each of the sections.

 

[plinker]

All the european boxes are gorgeous and you owners are rightfully proud............

However many hear just want an affordable, functional, reasonably well built carry box that they pack to and fro...........

I'm thinking that the TOPTUL might be one of the best options if not the EXCELL. Is the 18" Model adequate to load up with a decent asst of tools ????????

Thanks to all,

I'd say over the last couple of years I've had anywhere from 50 to 100lbs in the Toptul box I've got (possibily more, dont have a scale). It's handled the weight fairly well so far. It currently has 1/2 & 3/8 drive sets plus prying & striking tools. (it's heavy enough to where I dont want to carry it to far).

The excell has about 40-50lbs in it mostly plers, screwdrivers, misc. other tools, and a 1/4 drive set.

Both boxes new were 14-15lbs each, empty.

 

[mattwgrizwald]

http://www.wrenhandtools.com/storage/portable_tool_boxes.html

 

[robtheblade]

that box looks amazing

trying to get hold of one myself now

 

[expatriated]

I have that same Hazet 190 box. My wife bought it from Inky Ford. It flat out rocks. I can't think of anything else I'd ever want in a toolbox.

I went old school and lined the bottom of each section with cork instead of that soul-less plastic, rubber stuff