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Good 3-drawer tool box?

swduncan

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May 28, 2009
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30
I'd like to find a 3-drawer tool box - you know, one of those 20" jobbies you can carry around. I've looked around, and everything has drawers that, well, ****. They feel like there's no way you'll get them open without using both hands, maybe one hand if you're pulling in the exact center.

I saw the Homak on Amazon, and it advertises ball bearing drawers, which seems promising. Reading posts on Homak here it's less promising though.

Does anyone still make a decent 3-drawer 'rally box' style tool box anymore?

Failing that, what would you use to carry a basic set of tools while keeping them organized?

Thanks!

Steve
 
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Lookin4'67Galaxieconv

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Jul 2, 2008
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Atlanta, GA
Does anyone still make a decent 3-drawer 'rally box' style tool box anymore?

Failing that, what would you use to carry a basic set of tools while keeping them organized?


My Pull a Part box is a plastic toolbox from Big Lots that was $9 IIRC. It's 20" wide, 9" high and 9" deep, and a pull out tray.

I keep a ton of tools in there, and it works great. If I need to go somewhere and need tools, I just grab this box and I usually have everything I need and a lot more at my disposal. :bounce:
 
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swduncan

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May 28, 2009
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I've looked at the Sears boxes, and they were not impressive. It seems like everywhere I've been, they have basically the same box with a different sticker on the front, but the same drawers.
 

Mike83

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Jan 24, 2008
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Wisconsin
I have the 4 drawer C-man rally box and although the drawers sometimes bind, it is a decent box if you can get it on sale. I just make sure to pull and push in the center of the drawer handle. BB drawers would probably add a bit of weight to an already very heavy box when it is full of tools.
 
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swduncan

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May 28, 2009
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I'm kinda hinky about a 4-drawer. I'm one of those nature-abhors-a-vacuum kinda guys, and if there's space I'll fill it. Heavily. I don't want to end up with something so heavy I never carry it anywhere - I have chests that do that pretty well. Even a three drawer can get a bit unwieldy when full, I'm told.

I'm looking for something that will hold 3/8" & 1/2" drive, metric and backward, along with combination wrenches, screwdrivers and a few other items. I like the idea of drawers because I can get stuff back into a drawer. The little slip compartments that a lot of tool bags have, not so much ;-)
 
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Rickster

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Jun 26, 2005
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SE PA
I have an old Craftsman 2 drawer Rally box as my go-box and it's pretty much loaded down and really damn heavy. Has every thing you mentioned in it except 3/8 only. If I added 1/2 dr I don't know if I'd be able to lift it with the one center hand grip.
 
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swduncan

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May 28, 2009
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30
I have an old Craftsman 2 drawer Rally box as my go-box and it's pretty much loaded down and really damn heavy. Has every thing you mentioned in it except 3/8 only. If I added 1/2 dr I don't know if I'd be able to lift it with the one center hand grip.

That's what I'm afraid of. The problem I've found with tool carriers of any kind is that by the time you get enough tools to handle a situation that you didn't specifically load the thing for, it's so heavy you don't want to carry it.

I have a small Veto Pro Pac, and if I load that thing up it is a spine-altering experience to carry, and I have the small one!
 

quattrojon

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Feb 25, 2009
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557
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England
I have a Waterloo carry box. I'ts made of plastic, but has three metal drawers. It seems solid enough, but there is a fair amount of sideways play in the drawer slides.
 

RRmech

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Mar 25, 2009
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Location
Santa Fe, NM
I have one of those plastic Waterloo carry boxes too.
Works OK when you need something portable......which my Kennedy roll box certainly isn't!

Steve
 

Packard V8

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Mar 16, 2009
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Location
Spokane, WA
As much as I hate to admit it, those Stanley plastic cases with a place for each of their 108 pieces is the best pick-n-pull or portable set I've ever seen. I've got at least twenty tool boxes and none of them organize as much varied basic tools in as small, yet accessible space as the big box store Stanley set.

thnx, jack vines
 

Brandon_Lutz

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Sep 2, 2007
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429
Location
Forest Hill, Louisiana
I've got one of the black, 4 drawer, rally chests that Sears sells as my apartment toolbox.

I've got it loaded with tools, and the drawers open pretty easily. It's pretty sturdy too. Only downside is it is heavy with tools in every drawer and up top. But I've trucked it around town in the back of my truck several times and it has held up for the 2 years I've had it.
 
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swduncan

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May 28, 2009
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So I was at sears again today, and saw a 3-drawer. On this one the drawers worked pretty well - it was the $70 on sale for $50. I was pretty close to buying it, and then I picked it up.

Yow! I'd end up treating it like a chest.
 

Rickster

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Jun 26, 2005
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SE PA
I picked this up today at a garage sale. I can't find it on the Sears site, did they stop making these??

IMG_1083.jpg

IMG_1084.jpg
 

crankshaftdan II

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Feb 25, 2009
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Milwaukee, burbs.
That box looks very simuliar to the one I have willed to me by my father-in-law, mine is all gray in color inside and out, was made about mid 1960's, very solid box, however loaded down with fair amount of tools will leave you weak-kneed to transport very far!:(
 
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