got my new box!!!

[scottmlew]

Hi everyone! I haven't been on GJ in quite some time and I feel badly about that since I have some exciting news to share. I recently received my 72" Montezuma toolbox from Shannon at StrictlyToolboxes.com and I couldn't be happier with it! I got the Elite model with the bigger casters, stainless top, etc. It's huge -- 30" deep, etc. But the most exciting part of this is that I was able to customize the drawer layout -- I have a bunch of shallow drawers, with only a handful of 5" drawers. This works out well for me, since I have mainly flat items (wrenches, screwdrivers, extensions, ratchets, etc.) and I still have my Kobalt box for most of my deeper items. I've put all of my metric stuff in the new box, and I'm keeping the Kobalt for my SAE stuff. I still have a huge deep drawer for sockets, and I love the really wide drawers for wrenches. I still have some stuff in my Kobalt that I need to move over, some stuff on shelves to move, and lots of organizing (you'll note I even have some unopened tools in there as placeholders), but even after all of that I have plenty of expansion room (plus my Kobalt will be nearly empty) -- right now, I have 3 completely empty drawers, and you can see in the pics that some have VERY little in them.

I'll post more thoughts as I get to use the box, but I can't speak highly enough of the build quality or of Shannon's patience in working with me. I would highly recommend him as a source for your toolbox needs. I'm not getting to get into a discussion about the relative merits of Montezuma vs truck brands, but I will say this -- in searching for boxes, I had my hands on several truck brand boxes, and I don't feel I'm missing out on any quality with my Montezuma. If you factor in the price, it's an amazing deal, and a smart buy for sure.

Shown below are some pics of the box and its drawers.

 

[taylorboi]

thats a nice box and great looking tools but where did you get those green wrench racks

 

[scottmlew]

more pics...

Here are some more pics...

 

[scottmlew]

And some more...

 

[glenmore]

Look at all that acreage!

 

[scottmlew]

Last batch...

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

Love that drawer layout. I think most boxes have too many deep drawers. Awesome box...

 

[scottmlew]

thats a nice box and great looking tools but where did you get those green wrench racks

Thanks! Green racks are from SK but I hear that they're not readily available anymore.

 

[scottmlew]

Look at all that acreage!

Love that drawer layout. I think most boxes have too many deep drawers. Awesome box...

Yes, you don't have any idea how excited I am about the square inches (contrast with cubic inches). The only place you can get this is from Shannon. I could have replaced the 5" drawers that I do have with shallow drawers if I wanted to. But I love the fact that I could pick the EXACT drawer layout I wanted, and I wanted those drawers for sockets, air tools, etc.

Everyone looking for shallow drawers (paging CamaroRus!!!) this is your solution. For many home users, this is the way to go -- you don't need the deep drawers to lock up specialty tools, aerosol cans, etc. that you need to lock up in a shop setting.

Call Shannon and see what he can do for you!

 

[pearl_dude]

Roughly how much more was it for the custom drawer layout? Thanks.

 

[BMW]

that is a nice looking box
30" deep just makes sense
you can put alot of tools in there

 

[Wesley B]

I sooooooooo jealous right about now. Pretty much a dream set up for me. With alot of my dream tools.

 

[arkangel06]

Very nice.

 

[expatriated]

that is just wicked awesome! Box and tools!

I'm on their site right now. Can't find a smaller box (like 55 or 56) that has 30" deep drawers--anyone know if they make those?

 

[Fedwrench]

Nice box, interesting drawer layout.
On a side note, you really need to at least open the packages of tools up and take the tags off of them unless your goal is to be Merkava
Does that drawer of PB Swiss smell?
Congratulations on your purchase.

 

[48548]

Nice stuff.... Been waiting for some pics for a while...

 

[Dust]

Extreme Toolboxes makes this one that's 30" deep. It's too tall for me, but might work for you.

Personally I like the Mountain 56" box because it's not as tall as the others, and has a good drawer layout. However, if I could get a bigger box that's only 40-41" tall with deep drawers, I'd definitely go for it. I'm a shorter guy, so I can sacrifice a couple drawers if it would be waist high.

 

[Indy_500]

Wow, that box is one pile of ****. You should ship it over to my house for free! jk lol that thing is amazing! how much did you pay for it?

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Congrats, Scott! Great to see you're happy with your purchase.

I know you were searching awhile for the right toolbox and it looks like you found it!

 

[scottmlew]

Roughly how much more was it for the custom drawer layout? Thanks.

Please contact Shannon at 888-289-1952 for pricing. He can tell you all about your options for custom drawer configs. I was the first, AFAIK, to get a custom drawer box and "final" pricing wasn't set at the time I ordered...it could be higher or lower now that they're going mainsteam.

I sooooooooo jealous right about now. Pretty much a dream set up for me. With alot of my dream tools.

Thanks! Once I get everything sorted out I'm going to make a post in the "let's see your toolbox" thread, enumerating everything. What are your favorite items?

On a side note, you really need to at least open the packages of tools up and take the tags off of them unless your goal is to be Merkava

Yep, I know. I had been storing stuff until the new box arrived, and a lot of it is just put into the drawers so I can see how everything will fit, before I take things out of their trays, remove tags, etc. And I'll admit -- some of that stuff is mainly for collecting, and will see little use.

Does that drawer of PB Swiss smell?
Congratulations on your purchase.

Surprisingly, no. I'm not at all sure why. I think the smell of the drawer lines overwhelms it. Thanks for the kind words!

Wow, that box is one pile of ****. You should ship it over to my house for free! jk lol that thing is amazing! how much did you pay for it?

Again, please contact Shannon for details. For reference, the base box is $2879 on his site now, without drawer customizations. I think the pricing that is likely to become the "final" pricing is VERY fair.

Congrats, Scott! Great to see you're happy with your purchase.

I know you were searching awhile for the right toolbox and it looks like you found it!

Yes, and thanks again for all of your help and support along the way. I am really very excited!

 

[Indy_500]

wow since i'm kinda new to tools, i never really knew much about montezuma tool boxes but i knew they were pretty good ones. i've known about strictlytoolboxes.com but never really looked around on there. i was really surprised with the pricing on there! I know where my next toolbox is coming from!

 

[Flash21]

Does that drawer of PB Swiss smell?

Hey Fed - Is this an inside joke or do the PB Swiss handles really smell?

 

[mkdive]

Nice box, interesting drawer layout.
On a side note, you really need to at least open the packages of tools up and take the tags off of them unless your goal is to be Merkava
Does that drawer of PB Swiss smell?
Congratulations on your purchase.

I was thinking the same thing.....man that's a lot of tools still in the plastic!

Really nice box! Im looking at getting a larger box in the 4-6 months. I might have to check those out. I would probably do the same thing and get as many thin drawers as I could...and keep my deeper drawers on my current boxes. Very nice!

 

[CamarosRus]

Congrats on this new box.

I havent figured out how many additional drawers you purchased, but it was quite a few.

Last I heard from Shannon (stb.com) you keep all your original drawers. You have to buy your new drawers and new slides.

I'll call this coming week.

 

[Krokodil]

Very nice new set-up!

 

[Fedwrench]

Hey Fed - Is this an inside joke or do the PB Swiss handles really smell?

I do not own any but, there have been more than a couple of threads here that mentioned the PB Swiss handles smell like vomit.

 

[poprockcrusher]

congratulations on your massive purchase

 

[moronmountain]

So where are these boxes made?

 

[Indy_500]

So where are these boxes made?

In a factory

 

[moronmountain]

In a factory

Wow! You are really helpful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Indy_500]

Wow! You are really helpful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks, any questions you got, just ask me

 

[WSMC633]

Congrats on the New Box. Looks like you've got some free space in those drawers. Better go shopping for some new tools to fill 'em up! It's the only safe thing to do.... you know, to keep the other tools from sliding around!

 

[scottmlew]

Hey Fed - Is this an inside joke or do the PB Swiss handles really smell?

Many people report that they smell bad, but I've never found that with the SwissGrips. Certainly nothing as bad as the Cman clear handles.

I was thinking the same thing.....man that's a lot of tools still in the plastic!

Yeah, like I said I was buying tools and had absolutely no place to put them, and I knew the box was coming soon, so I just didn't open them. I'll post new pics once everything is opened and properly setup. I believe the primary things still unopened are the Gearwrenches (2 separate trays that make up the same set) and a bunch of sockets. The SO sockets and some Cornwells that are not shown will replace my Cmans (currently on the Hansen trays) and the Cmans will go into a road kit. Those VIM things are all weird specialty stuff that I will open, but that I won't use much...things like universal e-torx, triple square, etc. Some of the other tools that are still in their packaging are actually opened, but I like to store them in the packaging...for example, the Cman files.

Congrats on the New Box. Looks like you've got some free space in those drawers. Better go shopping for some new tools to fill 'em up! It's the only safe thing to do.... you know, to keep the other tools from sliding around!

Yes, I was surprised how much space I have left...and don't forget, there are 3 completely empty drawers that I didn't show!!!

 

[Wesley B]

Thanks! Once I get everything sorted out I'm going to make a post in the "let's see your toolbox" thread, enumerating everything. What are your favorite items?

The right hand side of your socket drawer, ratchet drawer, screwdriver drawer, and plier drawer are all my favorite! I really like the screwdrivers!

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

Many people report that they smell bad, but I've never found that with the SwissGrips. Certainly nothing as bad as the Cman clear handles.

Have any xcelite to compare them to?

(that is one way to keep kids out of your toolbox, make it smell like puke)

 

[Merkava_4]

Congrats on this new box.

I havent figured out how many additional drawers you purchased, but it was quite a few.

Last I heard from Shannon (stb.com) you keep all your original drawers. You have to buy your new drawers and new slides.

I'll call this coming week.

What about that Scott, did the box come pre-arranged with the thin drawers, or did you have to buy the thin drawers separate and put them in yourself?

 

[scottmlew]

What about that Scott, did the box come pre-arranged with the thin drawers, or did you have to buy the thin drawers separate and put them in yourself?

I did not need to swap the drawers myself; however, as I understand it, I was the "test case" for establishing the feasibility of doing the drawer customizations before shipping the boxes, so I am not sure if this option will be made widely available. Again, contact Shannon (fwiw, the drawers are very easy to remove/replace, so needing to customize by yourself wouldn't be a big deal)

 

[yellowbox]

i have seriously been thinking about selling my snap on box and getting one of these boxes
for the money i would get TWICE the space
i just wish i could see one in person and feel it touch it play with it

 

[Hlidskjalf]

I like to see brand variety. Good stuff!

 

[Todd.Brock]

I see a little piece of my tool box in there! The 88t green matco ratchet.. Nice box!! Super jealous!