high quality portable toolboxes?

[homec]

My tools all need to be stored in the basement. No garage. I was looking in local stores at toolboxes and they're awful quality. Reallythin metal, handles low quality and not connected to box in really solide manner. Drawers, if they had them, were terrible quality.

Can anyone recommend brands?

I have dewalt stackable boxes for my construction tools, and they're really sturdy and awesome, but for automotive tools I'd like something with more built-in organization so that I can separate out extensions and ratches, sockets (on rails), wrenches, etc.

Thanks

 

[gdocktor3]

Pelican cases are the ultimate in portable tool boxes. Used by military. http://www.pelicanproducts.us/?gclid=CJ279IDD6c8CFVRahgodn1oFlQ
They aren't cheap, but can be bought used off eBay and from military auctions and online sites. Unclesamsretailoutlet.com may have some.
Check this out.
http://www.pelicandealer.com/mobile...details.aspx?gclid=CISO9sDD6c8CFYcfhgodONIMTw

 

[Stuey]

I bought a Pelican 0450. http://toolguyd.com/pelican-0450-mobile-tool-chest/

It's big, heavy (45 lbs empty), and while I love it dearly, it excels at portability and extreme conditions endurance, ***** as a stationary box.

Montezuma makes triangular-shaped portable chests that a lot of people like, and they have built-in organization.

My post on them is oooold, but I might be buying one soon.

http://toolguyd.com/montezuma-portable-toolbox/

If you're going to be lifting and carrying the boxes at all, a top chest with ball bearing slides is going to be too heavy. Sturdy construction is going to add dearly to the weight.

Milwaukee has a decent 30" box, and Dewalt's coming out with one as well, but they're not portable at the least. Mobile when on a rolling cabinet, yes.

What I'd do in your shoes is consider a rolling cabinet base, and either the Pelican or a 26" Montezuma that you can carry to where you need it - if that's your goal.

But with the Pelican, it's not an "access several times a day" box. The slides are a little frictiony. I've had better experiences with Craftsman's mid-level chests, but again, they're not very portable.

Montezuma: http://www.strictlytoolboxes.com/mo...-portable-tool-boxes.html?source=nav-dropdown

But the Montezumas are 50-65 lbs empty, at least. The main benefit is that you don't have to tinker with separate organizers in drawers.

 

[jeffp1979]

I have a cantilever Kennedy that is awesome

 

[pstemari]

Check out the Contico boxes on Zoro, eg https://www.zoro.com/contico-portable-tool-box-26wx8-34dx10-12h-8260-4/i/G2462363/. They're made of a thick structural form and are pretty much indestructible.

They aren't watertight like a Pelican, but unless you're planning on falling in a lake that probably isn't an issue.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[Roobaix]

I guess it all depends on how much stuff you need to fit into it and whether or not you'd like to have one or multiple boxes.

I've got a Hazet 190L cantilever box that has all of the 1/4", 3/8", screwdrivers, and a set of combination wrenches. The rest of my stuff is all in one of those Rigid hard box sets, like the Toughsystem.

Then a whole boatload of tools at work...

 

[homec]

The pelican 0450 and kennedy cantilever boxes look really sweet. So some good options to consider... I'm going to finish buying my tools and then I'll decide.

The Montezuma looks interesting but at 60 lbs empty, that's a little much...

 

[Job]

This is all right up my alley. I'm currently looking for something semi-portable to load on a bus. The Pelican 0450 and Montezumas have my interest.

 

[Derek420]

I recommend a blue point one like mine it's a damn good one it's super thick strong plastic and handle is held on by strong rivet. I swear mine has over 165 pounds or so in it and so hard to carry even but the handle is holding on strong no stress marks or nothing love it. I would never try putting that much in any other plastic box. It's about 24" long and has a top tray for sockets or whatever even tray is heavy duty nice and is full from 1/2 to 1/4 even enough room for deep Wells to stand up. I'm not sure if they still make them but if not check eBay.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Vintage (pre 1975) Craftsman boxes. Frequently, I see them at flea markets, yard sales, etc. for less than 20$. Clean & repaint it, and it will be better than new. Kennedy also has a good line of carry around boxes and smaller mechanic's boxes with drawers.

I also recommend looking at VETO. IMO, they make an excellent hard bottom tool bag. I use it to store & organize my most used hand tools.

The third picture shows 2 of my steel boxes. The one on top is a Gundlach brand, used for wrenches and heavier tools, that I bought at a resale shop for 16$. Gundlach sells top shelf carpet/floor tools.
The Craftsman on the bottom is stores my gas welding stuff.

 

[cheechi]

Basically it sounds like you are storing hand tools in the basement but not necessarily using them there. Based on that the husky 40-50" whatever box might be useful for you. It's drawers, but it's not as convenient as a roll cab. So you could organize things somewhat, put them in a tool bag/small box and carry them to where you need.

Otherwise, the Bosch Lboxx-1 & 2 might be useful to you in addition to the Dewalt ones. When I had everything stored in a single car, I used the Bosch & Dewalt boxes both to sort things because none of it got used where they were stored.

 

[maxpower_hd]

I've been eyeballing some of the DeWalt Toughsystems boxes at our local hardware store. They look pretty durable and they can be stacked and built to suit your needs and have a rolling cart they all snap into. I was going to set up a portable box for work when I need to go out in the yard. I just haven't been able to talk myself into it just yet.

http://www.dewalt.com/jobsite-solutions/toughsystem

 

[homec]

Basically it sounds like you are storing hand tools in the basement but not necessarily using them there.

That's correct. I have to store everything in the basement. My construction tools are all in those stackable dewalt boxes and that works out great but for automotive the tools are different and there's a lot more little pieces. I have to cart everything up stairs to use them. A cantilever with adjustable trays like the Kennedy or the pelican seem ideal for my situation.

 

[homec]

I've been eyeballing some of the DeWalt Toughsystems boxes at our local hardware store. They look pretty durable and they can be stacked and built to suit your needs and have a rolling cart they all snap into. I was going to set up a portable box for work when I need to go out in the yard. I just haven't been able to talk myself into it just yet.

http://www.dewalt.com/jobsite-solutions/toughsystem

I have my construction tools in 3 of those and they are awesome. Very sturdy. Not ideal for automotive due to lack of internal organization options though. Feel like I'd be searching too much.

 

[FigureItOut]

On the Bosch LBoxx stuff that was mentioned, I've got quite a bit of it and my take is that the drawer units are the most useful. The 3D and L-Rack are awesome. You can use either the drawers, or the pull-out organizer cases. I use both, for hand tools, connectors and small parts.

If I had it do over again, I'd completely skip the bigger sizes and just have a couple of 1's, a couple 3D's and a ton of L-Racks.

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[decaf]

I like my Parat case from Germany. Held up for 6 years now and still in mint condition. Highly recomended if this is what you are after?
They also have bigger cases:
http://www.werkzeugkoffer.parat.de/en/parapro-tool-case-wheels-6.582.500.391

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HR2YGMG/?tag=atomicindus08-20



Under the lid, space for small parts etc.

 

[FigureItOut]

I like my Parat case from Germany. Held up for 6 years now and still in mint condition. Highly recomended if this is what you are after?
They also have bigger cases:
http://www.werkzeugkoffer.parat.de/en/parapro-tool-case-wheels-6.582.500.391

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HR2YGMG/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I used to think my Veto stuff was expensive.

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[niferous]

My metal boxes that are made by Proto and Williams work well and have held up to a lot of work. I have a Craftsman as well that is flimsy compare to the aforementioned brands. I also use a few Klein tool bags that are very durable and have served me well.

 

[geartow]

Well organised and portable to get from the basement up stairs to a useable space is not likely and still be carry weight. My solution would be to leave tools in there plastic cases.

 

[drewvdw]

These seem like some solid ideas, but my love of Stor-Loc boxes is making me mention them. I can't say that they make any portable boxes, but if you gave them a call or email, I bey they would be happy to build you one. Personally, I'd prefer a miniature job box/road chest type of thing over a pelican style case, but that's just me. Make sure you buy something that has plenty of room to grow, because your tool set will.

 

[TBrian]

I have the L boxxes (Bosch) and T boxxes (Sortimo). They are great for orgainzation!
You can configure your organization system inside the box. They have many different options so that smaller parts but also bigger parts find space. http://www.sortimo-shop.us/category-s/110.htm