To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Has anyone gone backwards toolbox wise?

78C-10

Banned
Joined
Mar 14, 2012
Messages
1,314
Location
No. Illinois
I'm thinking out loud here. I'm a heavy equipment mechanic and at this point I have a 66" wide Macsimizer box and a Mac 7 drawer cart, both are full. We do not have dedicated bays so we have to roll our aircraft carriers to where the work is. I'm thinking of going with two top and bottoms Snap On KRA4114 and two KRA4107 boxes. They are 40" wide and doing the math the cubic inches are more than I have now. Anyone else here go backwards or do I just stay with what I have? Thank you in advance. P.S.....I do realize the heritage series SO boxes aren't up there in strength as my Macsimizer.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

1982fxr

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 7, 2012
Messages
10,012
Location
Phoenix
I'm just a hobbyist. Went from a Lista and two vidmars plus a Waterloo Magnum 46" set down to a couple 40" wide rollers of various brands.

I hated it. Now I have a hf 56" combo and Vidmar along with a couple 40" rollers. Life is much better.
 

BDT/NWMN

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 22, 2012
Messages
3,762
Location
Erskine, Mn
If in Your situation; I would keep the 66" Macsimizer and Mac 7 drawer cart for now. If You are otherwise satisfied with the Macsimizer, look for a second one; either new or used. You would have the option of keeping the Mac 7 drawer cart, selling it, or trading it.
 

Mr_B

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 21, 2016
Messages
5,378
Location
Reading
Yeh I went with 2 56" boxes purely as easier move and drawer layout worked better for my preferences .
Don't know if want go as small as 40" and wouldn't want loose all the countertop space myself .
 

Aqua-Andy

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 1, 2013
Messages
332
I have a Matco MB8525 and a Craftsman stack with ball bearing slides. So when I outgrew my matco bottom I purchased the Cman stack to supplement the big box and hold all the tools that I did not use a lot. I soon swapped all my most common tools to the Cman and put the specialty tools in the Matco. What I did not like about the big box is the depth and size of the draws. I hated opening up that big wide top drawer every time I needed a socket. Yes with roller bearing slides the drawers move easily but you still have to get it moving and then stop it from moving again, and that goes with all the draws. I just felt that they were just too wide, deep and too heavy. Now I know it sounds like I'm just being a whiny *****, but I would rather open and close a smaller lighter drawer especially when doing it 30 or more times a day. I ended up using the big box as a base station with my computer on the top and then using the small box as a mobile work station. I Welded up a frame and installed quality casters on the Cman box as it would probably collapsed with the casters bolted just to the bottom. Most of the dealerships I worked at I only had one bay to work in. If I had my lift ******* waiting for authorization, parts or whatever I would move the mobile box to any other available bay, sometimes out in the parking lot if needed. Yup, flat rate was fun, if your not turning a wrench your not making money. God, I'm glad I'm not playing that game anymore!

Edit:

I almost forgot. The best part about smaller boxes is they are easier to transport when you get pissed off at your employer.
 
Last edited:
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

crewchief888

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 3, 2009
Messages
13,751
Location
NW indiana
in a word, NO

my large boxes are "only" 36" wide, ive had them since '86
2 other sets are 33" wide, 1 set I bought new in the 90's the other set I picked up as part of a trade.

26" roller cab in the basement, small top box on it, and another smaller vintage PLVMB I keep my machinist tools in.


:beer:
 
OP
7

78C-10

Banned
Joined
Mar 14, 2012
Messages
1,314
Location
No. Illinois
I pretty much agree with what Aqua-Andy has to say. It can be a ***** moving that big landing strip around and opening smaller drawers is easier. Although I have zero intention of leaving if they ever did get rid of me I wouldn't need a flat bad tow truck to move my box.
 

rsanter

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 22, 2007
Messages
18,523
Location
visalia ca
In your situation I would think about looking for a used pit box or pit cart.
They depreciate big time so you may be able to grab a deal on one and they are meant to me moved around
 

MushCreek

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 14, 2015
Messages
9,803
Location
Upstate South Carolina
I went backwards on quality/cost, not size. My beloved old Kennedy got so hard to open the drawers that the whole chest would move trying to open the drawers. I cleaned them and greased them to no avail. Mine was too old for the roller slide refit kit. I bought a HF 44, and it's world's better. The drawers are smooth and easy, despite having a LOT of very heavy tool maker's tooling. It rolls better, too. It held up to years of in-shop professional use until I retired. I finally refitted the Kennedy with roller slides, and gave it to my kid. I just drilled out the old slides and pop riveted roller slides from kitchen drawers. It kills me to prefer a Chinese box over my good ole 'Murican box, but it is what it is.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom