Help me choose tool chest brand

[Russianstyle]

Moving into a house with a garage. After I finish, I'll be getting some stainless steel tool chests.

A buddy of mine finished automotive school, and he bought the whole snap-on thing... Spent huge $$$.
I asked him if he recommended snap-on for a home, do it yourselfer, he told me he would rather go with craftsman ball bearing. He said there almost just as good.

What do you guys recommend? I'm on a budget... I want a few chests, I won't be able to spend more then 2k total for all chests. Would like to get a roller, and a big stationary...

I heard viper is better brand also at sears? I'm totally new when it comes to chests, never owned one....

 

[Cryptic1911]

grab yourself a couple of the harbor freight 44" boxes and call it a day, and then go buy some tools with the $1200 you'll have left

 

[Russianstyle]

Don't know about harbor freight. I have one of those stores 10 min from my house.

Sme of the stuff is tempting, like there $2 clamps and vises, but even the store worker told me they are 1 time use. There boxes can't be much better. I want something that will last a lifetime. I like to buy things once. I know 2k is a tight budget, but I want quality

 

[Steevo]

If you are hoping for a lifetime tool box, don't buy new Craftsman boxes.
Maybe older (1980's and earlier) Craftsman boxes, if you can find some in excellent condition.
The new ones are pretty flimsy metal.
I only spent about $2400 on my toolboxes AND workbench.

 

[NWphotog]

Well there about 2x as good as the Craftsman you spoke of. I had the BB model and sold it after seeing how much better the HF 44" model was. Absolutely love em!

 

[toolstools]

HF boxes get rave reviews. Go look at us general boxes and look at craftsman new stuff. You might be surprised. As they say, don't knock it till you try it

 

[Super Sport]

There are a million threads on this topic. The HF boxes are really good quality for a DIYer. Menard's boxes are good. Some Sears carry Montezuma or Viper boxes, both are good. Most Cman boxes are **** in comparison to those.

Or look for a used truck brand.

 

[Cryptic1911]

Don't know about harbor freight. I have one of those stores 10 min from my house.

Sme of the stuff is tempting, like there $2 clamps and vises, but even the store worker told me they are 1 time use. There boxes can't be much better. I want something that will last a lifetime. I like to buy things once. I know 2k is a tight budget, but I want quality

They do sell some junk stuff, that's for sure, but their boxes really are good quality. Stop down and check out the bright red 44" and 56" boxes, and see for yourself. The 44" you can get for $349-359 pretty much all the time since they always have coupons. People are starting to buy 2,3 or 4 of them to make a wall of boxes, and putting benchtops over them to have a built in setup

 

[NUTTSGT]

The HF 44" boxes have a very good reputation here at GJ.

As a matter of fact, go check them out and then make a trip to Sears and compare them first hand.

 

[Russianstyle]

I'll check them out this weekend. So scratch craftsman, it's us general vs viper for now..

 

[Cryptic1911]

print yourself out a coupon for the 44" and bring it with you.. check the hf coupons thread

 

[NewShockerGuy]

If you have a budget of 2k... I'd say go Extreme and support a local vendor on here... Shannon and Joe are great.. VERY Professional and extremely awesome..

I LOVE my Extreme 56" box.. Many of us have the same one on here.

http://www.strictlytoolboxes.com/

Check em out.

Here's my yellow one:

-Nigel

 

[KEH]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Gladiator boxes are US made, sold in Sears, but can be ordered online and delivered to you door cheaper.

KEH

 

[jmcknight]

Another vote for Extreme toolboxes. I just got the 41" combo for my DIY garage. It's way below your $2K budget and looks professional. Let's be honest, tool boxes make a statement for many DIY garages. Your statement could be anything from HF to SnapOn, as long as you're happy with it. A good box will last 20-30 years, so make sure you like looking at it. My last toolbox (Sears) lasted almost 30 years. Changed wives, houses and jobs more than once during that time, but the toolbox stayed with me. They're loyal, so get the one you really want.

 

[Falcon67]

Don't know about harbor freight. I have one of those stores 10 min from my house.

Sme of the stuff is tempting, like there $2 clamps and vises, but even the store worker told me they are 1 time use. There boxes can't be much better. I want something that will last a lifetime. I like to buy things once. I know 2k is a tight budget, but I want quality

You need to do a little more research. If I wasn't loaded with decent older Craftsman boxes, I'd be buying US General. Sorry Sears, but the quality is just too poor now. I was at a guys place yesterday where they build and modify big trucks for oil field work. Heavy duty stuff. Lots of US General boxes, all holding up well.

 

[cbracer]

The "basic" line of Craftsman is really flimsy and I don't recommend it. But their standard line of boxes will work just fine for a DIY guy. I have their ball bearing and really like it. The HF ones are good too, and a little thicker sheet metal. The ultimate value is when sears does a sale of like 50% off on their ball bearing sets! Christmas time, father's day, etc.

 

[Duck72]

I love my HF 44" box. Only had it about 4-5 months now. But so far I would buy it again if I needed another one. If you haven't looked at it yet Check out Steevo's work bench project (made of chests). Simply fantastic.

Happy hunting!

 

[crewchief888]

A buddy of mine finished automotive school,

I asked him if he recommended snap-on for a home, do it yourselfer, he told me he would rather go with craftsman ball bearing. He said there almost just as good.

if a recent auto skool graduate/buddy told me that CM boxes were almost as good as his SO...

i'd be looking for a new buddy, and wouldnt let him within 150 ft of my car....

just my $0.02

or a homeowner
HF
viper,
extreme
masterforce

all would be a reasonable choice without breaking the bank

 

[sberry]

The guy is a friend giving him confidence and solid advice even if they are "just about as good" This describes the person we are talking to, a homeowner willing to spend a little and for a grand you can be the proud owner of a couple boxes that wouldnt embarras me to have in my garage, no reason you need a 10 grand box. A couple of those HF deals would be on my short list as well as a couple sales deals from the box stores maybe if I felt like shopping.

 

[sberry]

I like that extreme, nothing not to like about it. One of my best buds a local auto mechanic made a living 25 yrs with a couple junk used boxes he paid 200 for and a service cart from HF for 150 He has 10% the tools I got, he had a handful of cman he scraped together after a set was stolen started over and never did buy into getting everything under the sun, I think he bought a set of SK wrenches at one point a full SK 1/4 and a set or 2 of small sockets, the rest a few craftsman things that would fit in to a 5 gallon bucket

I bought a load of tools the same way off the shelf at the parts store, had it delivered with a phone call when I order a part. Snap ring plier set, 50$, catch a few things out of their sale flier and what is and was nice about it is small stuff they have on hand, even common puller sets etc. That Calvan stuff, some of the Lisle, its cheap, its in the store if and when a guy needs it.

I bought a set of wobble extensions a while back, was like 3 pcs of 3/8, a 3 inch, 6 and a long one, was on sale for 12$, maybe 13, I was in the store a while back and mention it to the counterman what a deal those were, he says, they were just on sale again so he shoots me another set for 13. , I put the 2 small ones in my tote box, threw out an old common one and added the long one to the service truck. But I used them a few times where they made it work, I might not have added them in particular but I knew they worked well from a few years shop use, was low risk.

 

[shoturtle]

If you look at the higher end craftsman boxes they are pretty good still. Their SS grip latch are decent at 70lb pre drawer, so is the Kolbalt SS just skip the radio or fridge option.

If you go with the low price boxes like the ball bearing form craftsman, or the basic ball bearing. They are not as well built as the HF 27" box and not as good of a value. But the higher end ones are still nice. For 27" box I like the viper boxes or the gladiator at sears. Nicest layout and good quality and color options.

For larger boxes, the SS craftsman grip latch is very nice, and they give you a deep drawer which really comes in handy if you are using it to store power tools along with hand tools. And you have other color option.

The HF drawer are not well design for larger power tools. If you only have hand tools and small power tools, the HF 44 set up would work better for you. With the harbor freight, you only have one color option RED and that is it.

Personally I do not like the HF drawer layout. It does not work for my needs.

 

[sberry]

When we talk about technology a lot of people think exclusively electrical but so much of the worlds real work is done with simple hand tools. Still millions of man hours behind a shovel. One of the reasons the third world can produce tools is that they can produce tools, they can make some real junk, if you want to see it go to Mexico and get Mexican pliers, the numbers have shanged though for imported. you can find garbage but you can find fine clones and most of it is, like that stanley stuff, no one went out of their way to save 20$ a ton on steel to run another line to cheapen something, same blank as several premium brands.

 

[darkk]

We have an International 56" top and bottom with a side cab that extends our box to 72" I'd sell it in a minute if I could and buy the HF boxes. Nothing wrong with my box, I would just prefer to build mine into my workbench instead.

 

[DKerns]

Consider looking into a used Matco or SnapOn box. And personally after having both, I prefer my Matco. Have not had a single issue with drawer slides like I did with the SnapOn box and have had it twice as long. Seemed the snap on guy was bringing me new slides once a month!! Any N.E. guys that saw the picture comparisons on the Matco truck with the build quality between the red SnapOn box and the Yellow Matco box, they were both mine!! I know quite a few of the Matco guys had them on the truck!!

 

[Rockuf8]

You didn't mention size, drawer layout preference...etc

I was in the same situation as you and after scouring craigslist and ebay for used boxes and finding nothing to my liking, looking at the HF and Craftsman boxes I decided on Viper. Really nice quality, steel doesn't feel flimsy at all, drawers feel nice and tight and they roll nice and smooth too. Wheels are also very high quality.

Bought two 26" and two 41"

 

[Duck72]

I never would have thought I would have liked a white tool box. But those Vipers do look very nice!

 

[oldldh]

www,strictlytoolboxes.com

They know and will set you up right...

$2,000.00 will buy a lot of toolbox from these folks!!!

 

[Rockuf8]

I never would have thought I would have liked a white tool box. But those Vipers do look very nice!

Thanks.

www,strictlytoolboxes.com

They know and will set you up right...

$2,000.00 will buy a lot of toolbox from these folks!!!

True, they have great buys too, colors are rather limited if you're looking for a unique color.

 

[ny1]

Search long and hard for older Snap On KRL stuff. I just did a quick CL scan here is some of what is out there. I didn't find any screaming deals everthing seems about average.

http://hartford.craigslist.org/tls/3546571131.html. Keep the bottom re-sell the top.

Here is another one. http://hudsonvalley.craigslist.org/tls/3581472602.html.

Theres a ton of good stuff around where you live. I've seen mint KRL 1000's with a matching top go for as little as 1500.00

If you have the stomach to drive a hard bargin this would chew up your budget with one box. It's not the multiple boxes your looking for but it is a first quality box. http://hartford.craigslist.org/tls/3570614982.html

Be patient and you can score some really nice stuff.

 

[Rockuf8]

When I searched for a few weeks on CL I saw a lot of guys trying to get $3,500 and up for their boxes, and to boot the photos were **** and the surroundings were a complete mess which let me to believe they didn't take care of their box, some people really are slobs. The nicest boxes at the best prices I've seen on ebay seem to always be in Florida not sure why.

 

[ny1]

Prices are all over the board on used boxes. Some are very unrealistic. There was a KRL 7023 for 7k when I was searching. List is 9460.00. That box new off the truck is 5400.00 today. No trade in or anything.

The white boxes are nice btw.

I'm wondering what the opdecided to do.

 

[dandan111]

You didn't mention size, drawer layout preference...etc

I was in the same situation as you and after scouring craigslist and ebay for used boxes and finding nothing to my liking, looking at the HF and Craftsman boxes I decided on Viper. Really nice quality, steel doesn't feel flimsy at all, drawers feel nice and tight and they roll nice and smooth too. Wheels are also very high quality.

Bought two 26" and two 41"

Hey Rocku,
I forgot all about your project. Looks like you decided on 2 vipers that are alike? How's the garage coming?

 

[saabman]

I have 56 and 41 inch box sets from StrictlyToolboxes and I am very happy with them.

 

[RVDan]

There is the option of SnapOn KRA series, they're not that far out of your budget. Not quite as heavy as KRL but I used my KRA set at work for more than ten years with no issues other than four drawer slides from the most used drawers. They were replaced under warranty and I expect that set of boxes will last me the rest of my life at home. I'll probably sell them in 25 years when I bring my KRL home when I retire.

 

[Russianstyle]

Thanks folks for the options and links. I have decided to go with new boxes. All the used stuff around my area is beat up and overpriced.
Once I finish the garage I will see which ones are on sale that month, harbor freight, viper, or the higher end craftsman. Also I will compare their differences and choose from their.

Just looking at links and online only, I'm really digging the viper boxes, they looks awesome in white!

I have decided the snap-on, matco, etc, is not for me. Too expensive. I would rather invest the money in actual remodel of the new house, rather then premium tool boxes.

Thanks again

 

[Rockuf8]

Prices are all over the board on used boxes. Some are very unrealistic. There was a KRL 7023 for 7k when I was searching. List is 9460.00. That box new off the truck is 5400.00 today. No trade in or anything.

The white boxes are nice btw.

I'm wondering what the opdecided to do.

Thanks, yeah that's what I found too. The ones that were priced reasonably weren't in very good shape.

Hey Rocku,
I forgot all about your project. Looks like you decided on 2 vipers that are alike? How's the garage coming?

Yeah, I will have to grow into these, actually 4 boxes total. Couldn't pass up the 26's, the price was too good and I needed soemthing for under the tool bench, now they'll just be drawers, and I actually like the 26's the best. They look much bigger than the size they are, not sure if it's the white or what.

The garage is coming along very slowly, I managed to clean it up and throw a lot of stuff out. Need to make room so that the contractor can install the lam beam, that's the fist step, then things will progress more quickly. I'll cate a build thread once the construction begins. Thanks for asking.

I have 56 and 41 inch box sets from StrictlyToolboxes and I am very happy with them.

Pics?

Thanks folks for the options and links. I have decided to go with new boxes. All the used stuff around my area is beat up and overpriced.
Once I finish the garage I will see which ones are on sale that month, harbor freight, viper, or the higher end craftsman. Also I will compare their differences and choose from their.

Just looking at links and online only, I'm really digging the viper boxes, they looks awesome in white!

I have decided the snap-on, matco, etc, is not for me. Too expensive. I would rather invest the money in actual remodel of the new house, rather then premium tool boxes.

Thanks again

Glad we could help. I heard Viper will be offering the 41" boxes in all of their colors, it's a one time promotion for Fathers Day if you can hold out tht long ha. I think it's only been available in the pink, lime, white, ss and black, so that's pretty cool as they have yellow, orange, teal and now purple. The new purple color may be available soon from what I am hearing.