Fortress tool chest ?

[chepe]

Hey guys,

This is my first post on here, I have been browsing and reading for a few days now. I am in the market for a tool box, I already have a good sized hand tool collection and I want a toolbox bigger than 26''.

I looked around at my local sears and was not to impressed with any of the cm boxes that they had, they seemed a bit on the pricey side for the storage they offered. So, I headed out to the Sears outlet (a worker at sears told me that they had a wider selection) and found a box that is just about the right size.

It is a 36'' Fortress, it seemed better built than the CM boxes that were there and at the previouse sears. and about 500$ for the top and bottom, (the prices are lower than advertised online)

What do you guys think? is this a pretty solid box manufacturer? What do you guys think of the price?

 

[David W]

I've never heard of that brand before. My local Sears outlet is a crock. Not much of a selection nor much of a discount for the scratch and dent appliances.

 

[Packard V8]

X2 on never having seen or heard of Fortress. Can't be certain from the photos, but appears to be a typical Chicom stainless. They come in all levels of quality. When Costco first carried Hammerhead, they were a wonderful box for the bucks. Then, Costco went with a cheaper Chicom vendor and those boxes were half as good.

jack vines

 

[thightower]

Never heard of them either. There was a thread on here not to long ago that compared different tool boxes. It went into gauge of steel, weight of box and such. That will give you a good idea of what to look for when buying a box. I'll look for it if I can find it.

 

[thightower]

Found it.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=175173

 

[dandan111]

Never heard of that brand. I like the viper brand sears sells.

 

[ChevyZ71]

Home Depot use to sell boxes that looked very similar to those.

 

[crewchief888]

i do like the drawer size and arrangment of the top,

not so much on the roller cab, too many tall drawers for my taste.

from the pics, the box doesnt look very deep (front to back)

 

[Slip_Kid]

I would get this instead of that box.

http://www.harborfreight.com/roller-cabinet-44-13-drawer-gloss-red-industrial-uality-69387.html

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

X2 on the HF setup. Best value in boxes bar none.

 

[chepe]

i do like the drawer size and arrangment of the top,

not so much on the roller cab, too many tall drawers for my taste.

from the pics, the box doesnt look very deep (front to back)

Went to sears yesterday, the drawers are 18'' deep.

 

[chepe]

I would get this instead of that box.

http://www.harborfreight.com/roller-cabinet-44-13-drawer-gloss-red-industrial-uality-69387.html

The thing is, Weight and size is an issue. I am going to need a box in the near future for work. The box and tools have to be under 200lbs due to where I wil be shipping it. The size of the top chest(which at this point is probably the only part I will be buying) is perfect.

At this point I was just wondering if anyone had any experience with these, It looked pretty solid in person, just trying to get some feedback from someone who may have run across one of these before.

 

[woody 73]

Having looked at craftsman tool boxes last night I find I am somewhat confused to the sheet metal numbers I realize the higher the number the less metal is used; but just how strong is a box of 18 and 20 metal Gauge in holding up tools and moving around the garage?

 

[crewchief888]

Went to sears yesterday, the drawers are 18'' deep.

i guess it's deeper than it looks in the pic.
i woulda guess the box itself was only 18" deep, then you'd have a 16" (=/-)
deep drawer

 

[ihatelaramie]

The thing is, Weight and size is an issue. I am going to need a box in the near future for work. The box and tools have to be under 200lbs due to where I wil be shipping it. The size of the top chest(which at this point is probably the only part I will be buying) is perfect.

At this point I was just wondering if anyone had any experience with these, It looked pretty solid in person, just trying to get some feedback from someone who may have run across one of these before.

Under 200lbs for box and tools? I have a sneaking suspicion that you would blow past that number fairly quickly with a chest that size, loaded down with tools. I don't know what all you've got, but that's my view on it.