Craftsman Tool Box Question

[Badger05]

I've been looking for a while to get a small bottom tool chest to compliment my 5 drawer HF cart. I'm not a professional user by any means. I know the 44" HF is a bargain but I don't really have the room or desire to spend the $ for that currently. A smaller 26" bottom chest will fit under my workbench nicely so that's the route I think I am going to go.

This is one I have been looking at:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00937720000P

Can someone give a review if they have anything similar in use? With so many different craftsman boxes out there it's hard to tell where this particular one falls in line with the others.

It is listed as "heavy duty" and the drawers are rated for 75 lbs and it has the griplatch features which I thought went along with the "better" offerings at sears...

Thanks in advance.

 

[Stuey]

This is one of the newer units with 75 lb drawer ratings and "stylized casters." In other words, you'll probably be the first to try it.

I played around with these at a recent Craftsman Fall 2013 product show and tell, and thought the new drawers slides were FANTASTIC.

Right now the price is $185 with Craftsman Club discount. I am very strongly considering getting one for my father and one for myself. Going to have to talk myself out of it.

Personally I think this has a nice drawer configuration. Some of the other 4-drawer cabinets have medium, medium, small, large drawers. This looks to have small-medium, medium, medium, medium drawers, which seems more practical to me.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

I've been looking for a while to get a small bottom tool chest to compliment my 5 drawer HF cart. I'm not a professional user by any means. I know the 44" HF is a bargain but I don't really have the room or desire to spend the $ for that currently. A smaller 26" bottom chest will fit under my workbench nicely so that's the route I think I am going to go.

This is one I have been looking at:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00937720000P

Can someone give a review if they have anything similar in use? With so many different craftsman boxes out there it's hard to tell where this particular one falls in line with the others.

It is listed as "heavy duty" and the drawers are rated for 75 lbs and it has the griplatch features which I thought went along with the "better" offerings at sears...

Thanks in advance.

I have that box but it is black in color.

One drawer has a polisher and recipricating saws in it
One drawer has metric impact sockets in it
One drawer is empty
One drawer has standard impact sockets in it

I have no complaints with it

 

[cburnscrx]

At the Craftsman Club price I'd likely go for it, much more than that, I'd have to check out Menards Performax or Masterforce boxes.

 

[zkling]

I have fondled them in the store I wouldn't pay $300 for them, but they seem OK. $300 can usually buy something pretty nice in the used market. Heck I have ~$300 into 8 used boxes.

I think I would much prefer the HF box compared to that one. Even the viper series are nice. BUT compared to the average Cman boxes of today the one you linked is nicer than average. I really like the griplatch, as the standard BB boxes take so much for to get over the hump that it would probably shift the tools every time you opened and closed the drawers. Then again I have only fondled them in the store, no long term use to report.

I have that box but it is black in color.

One drawer has a polisher and recipricating saws in it
One drawer has metric impact sockets in it
One drawer is empty
One drawer has standard impact sockets in it

I have no complaints with it

You sir need more tools. And this is coming from a guy that only has 3 3/8" drive ratchets.

 

[stoveboltgunnut]

About a year ago sears was selling the same chest and roller with "normal" castors and a black paint job. I bought the set for $250 iirc. I could not be happier with it, the drawers are stout. I keep my big stuff in it (3/4 sockets, etc.), lots of weight.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

You sir need more tools. And this is coming from a guy that only has 3 3/8" drive ratchets.

I have around 120 drawers in 8 roll cabs/top chests and service carts. with about 9 drawers empty. Nine empty drawers does cause me to think what do I need to fill those up

 

[Badger05]

Thanks for the input everyone!

They actually have this tool box in stock at my local sears so I'm hoping to stop in there tonight after work and find a display to check out. Most likely will be taking one home with me.

 

[Farmall450]

At the Craftsman Club price I'd likely go for it, much more than that, I'd have to check out Menards Performax or Masterforce boxes.

Looks a good amount like my Crafstman Ball Bearing 4 drawer which I love, slightly different drawer configuration & colors. I will say my drawer "Bottom Out" if weight is out in front...even if it's not a lot of weight.

But if you keep the other drawers fully closed hopefully it won't happen with you. This one may have thicker steel which would solve that problem.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

This is one of the newer units with 75 lb drawer ratings and "stylized casters." In other words, you'll probably be the first to try it.

After being severely let down with my current 40" Cman box i havent even TOUCHED a cman box...are you saying these boxes are better then the old ones?
It would be nice if so..at the Cman club price, I'd get a couple for my workbench boxes...

 

[crewchief888]

i think for less than that price you'd be able to pick up an older CM, kennedy, waterloo, remline, or even a truck brand box from CL



local CL tool box prices vary wildly, so i may be way off base....

 

[zkling]

I have around 120 drawers in 8 roll cabs/top chests and service carts. with about 9 drawers empty. Nine empty drawers does cause me to think what do I need to fill those up

I stand corrected. 111 drawers full?

 

[NC-Fordguy]

I stand corrected. 111 drawers full?

Yea I have way to much junk

But I'm not caught to often with not having the right tool to fix something

 

[davesnothere]

I have around 120 drawers in 8 roll cabs/top chests and service carts. with about 9 drawers empty. Nine empty drawers does cause me to think what do I need to fill those up

Probably could use about 450 more ratchets.

 

[Stuey]

After being severely let down with my current 40" Cman box i havent even TOUCHED a cman box...are you saying these boxes are better then the old ones?
It would be nice if so..at the Cman club price, I'd get a couple for my workbench boxes...

My experience with the new line consisted of playing with production and pre-production samples, with only my heavy camera bag used to weigh down the drawers.

I didn't have a thickness gauge or micrometers on me, but the sheet metal didn't appear unreasonably thin.

From what I can tell from the 30 minutes or so I spent chatting with the product manager and playing with the products, I think that they are definitely better than the last generation or two of Craftsman ball bearing products.

The DynaGlide slides felt crazy-smooth. Drawer pulls on the premium models are 3-dimensional and well done.

The Grip-Latch felt great.

For less than $200 apiece, I desperately want to buy two of these, but I have no place to put them!

Better 40" units are coming out, but at higher prices.

I can't tell you these are great long-term, but I'd buy one (or two) with cash, at least at this price. Would I pay more than $300 for one? Unlikely.

 

[Stuey]

I decided to go ahead and buy one.

First impressions are here: http://toolguyd.com/craftsman-griplatch-dynaglide-ball-bearing-review/

Overall I'm quite happy, especially at under $200 with tax.

Made in USA of US and global materials.

Casters are made in China and don't work perfectly.

 

[theamcaddict]

I decided to go ahead and buy one.

First impressions are here: http://toolguyd.com/craftsman-griplatch-dynaglide-ball-bearing-review/

Overall I'm quite happy, especially at under $200 with tax.

Made in USA of US and global materials.

Casters are made in China and don't work perfectly.

Thank you for answering the question I was just about to ask.

 

[Stuey]

Thank you for answering the question I was just about to ask.

In the past I could never find COO on chest or cabinet boxes, but with this one it was printed right on the outside of the cardboard box.

Those that aren't made in the USA are made in Mexico.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

I decided to go ahead and buy one.

First impressions are here: http://toolguyd.com/craftsman-griplatch-dynaglide-ball-bearing-review/

Overall I'm quite happy, especially at under $200 with tax.

Made in USA of US and global materials.

Casters are made in China and don't work perfectly.

Read your review.........

I haven't noticed an issue with the casters. However the only time I did roll this box around was after I assembled it. Perhaps 2 or 3 feet is all then some fidgeting to get it where I wanted it to sit exactly. I haven't moved it since.

I might have to take a closer look

 

[Super Sport]

In the past I could never find COO on chest or cabinet boxes, but with this one it was printed right on the outside of the cardboard box.

Those that aren't made in the USA are made in Mexico.

Some of their old cardboard boxes did say "Assembled in USA" on them, but not all. For whatever reason, they never advertised it though.

Also, some of their non-traditional boxes are made in China. Their "Contour" boxes, for example, are.

 

[zkling]

In the past I could never find COO on chest or cabinet boxes, but with this one it was printed right on the outside of the cardboard box.

Those that aren't made in the USA are made in Mexico.

Yea alot of the new ones are really hard to spot on the actual box. Most of the older up till early 2000's were stamped on the bottom frame rail with made in usa and the date they were made. Just like their recent hand tools if it's not there, there probably isn't anything to brag about / advertise (China).

Funny, how companies know people don't want Chinese products, yet will do it anyway just to save a buck.

 

[rande]

I've been looking for a while to get a small bottom tool chest to compliment my 5 drawer HF cart. I'm not a professional user by any means. I know the 44" HF is a bargain but I don't really have the room or desire to spend the $ for that currently. A smaller 26" bottom chest will fit under my workbench nicely so that's the route I think I am going to go.

This is one I have been looking at:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00937720000P

Can someone give a review if they have anything similar in use? With so many different craftsman boxes out there it's hard to tell where this particular one falls in line with the others.

It is listed as "heavy duty" and the drawers are rated for 75 lbs and it has the griplatch features which I thought went along with the "better" offerings at sears...

Thanks in advance.

A couple months ago the local Home Depot was having a clearance sale on similar boxes. They were all under $100. You might see if they have any left.