Hello Everyone
My first post. I've been looking for a new tool box for a while. G/J had the most and best information so I figured I should add my experience as a way to pay back for everything I learned here.
As a DIY, not a professional wrench turner, I was looking mainly for storage and organization. I have a 30+ year old Craftsman upper and lower unit for my common tools. What I wanted was a good quality, lower roller cabinet for my secondary tools. And if it was made in the USA, that would seal the deal.
After looking at 30-40 vendor websites and reading articles and reviews, I ended up with an International 27 inch 5 drawer (VRB-2705RD). Why that one? All the reviews I could find for Internationals were all pretty positive. The size and drawers are about perfect for me. It claimed to be 'heavy duty' at a value price. And it was made in Canada. I placed an order on Amazon in early April, $270 and delivered free to my garage! More on Amazon later.
So what about the box? I like it. Seems well made. Arrived on a wood pallet. Well packed with lots of shrink wrap plastic over a double wall cardboard box. The cabinet itself is straight, square, and solid. Edges are not folded over, as they are on my old Craftsman, but well finished. Bottom is flat, no stiffeners. (Could be on inside, can't see.) No rubber pad on top surface. Their literature had mentioned both. Drawers have roller guides and are smooth empty or 'full'. I put 30-40 pounds in a drawer and it opened and closed easily and smoothly. Drawer sides are 0.030 inch. Old Craftsman are 0.032 inch. Drawer depth is over-stated. A 4 inch drawer is really only about 3-3/4 inch. A simple, flat key will lock all drawers closed. But there is no latch on each drawer so if you plan to move the cabinet, lock the drawers. There is a soft detent the last inch of travel but it's not a lock. The casters are 5 inch with hard plastic wheels. (Old C/M are 3.5”) Plenty adequate for home use. In fact, it rolls too easy. As I was opening and closing drawers to load it, it would skate around. I may have to wedge the wheels. Or fill it with lots of really heavy tools so it will stay put! Paint (powder coat?) is hard, slick and uniform. A nice, basic, well made tool cabinet. But not a whole lot different than other boxes in this class. And their information (2015 catalog page 14 on their web site) needs to match what they ship. A nice standard duty box, but I don't think it would hold up to heavy daily use. This unit in not competing with Snap-on. Its competitors are Craftsman, Husky, Kobalt, etc. International has several lines; Super Heavy Duty, Professional, Tech (Value), Workshop, Economy and Classic (friction slides), with several styles and sizes in each series. And I think they're all make in Canada. I have no connection with or interest in this company, just pointing out there is a pretty attractive alternative to all the boxes made in China. Both Home Depot and Lowes show them on their web sites. (If I get the pics to load, it's fire-engine-red, not pink-purple. Last pic shows old C/M drawer as comparison.)
And, after I bought this one, I found out the 26 inch Waterloo chests and cabinets in the professional, waterloo and shop series are made in USA. That's from Ernie Tamm at Waterloo customer service. Sure wish I'd known that earlier!
Regarding Amazon. I placed the order early April. Estimated delivery in 2-3 weeks. After 2+ weeks THEY canceled the order. Customer service said there was a 'technical problem', and I could re-order and they would honor the original price and free delivery. Uhhh, okay, so I re-ordered. Now estimated delivery is 3-4 weeks. Actually took 5. Original order was early April. Finally delivered early June. Two month start to finish. But Amazon DID deliver (for free?) an undamaged tool cabinet to my garage. All with a few mouse clicks and phone calls.
Bottom line:
International has a broad line of competitive tool boxes made in Canada.
Waterloo has 3 grades of 26 inch made in USA tool boxes.
Amazon can deliver to your door, if you're willing to wait.
I hope there is something here of use to others.
TomW
My first post. I've been looking for a new tool box for a while. G/J had the most and best information so I figured I should add my experience as a way to pay back for everything I learned here.
As a DIY, not a professional wrench turner, I was looking mainly for storage and organization. I have a 30+ year old Craftsman upper and lower unit for my common tools. What I wanted was a good quality, lower roller cabinet for my secondary tools. And if it was made in the USA, that would seal the deal.
After looking at 30-40 vendor websites and reading articles and reviews, I ended up with an International 27 inch 5 drawer (VRB-2705RD). Why that one? All the reviews I could find for Internationals were all pretty positive. The size and drawers are about perfect for me. It claimed to be 'heavy duty' at a value price. And it was made in Canada. I placed an order on Amazon in early April, $270 and delivered free to my garage! More on Amazon later.
So what about the box? I like it. Seems well made. Arrived on a wood pallet. Well packed with lots of shrink wrap plastic over a double wall cardboard box. The cabinet itself is straight, square, and solid. Edges are not folded over, as they are on my old Craftsman, but well finished. Bottom is flat, no stiffeners. (Could be on inside, can't see.) No rubber pad on top surface. Their literature had mentioned both. Drawers have roller guides and are smooth empty or 'full'. I put 30-40 pounds in a drawer and it opened and closed easily and smoothly. Drawer sides are 0.030 inch. Old Craftsman are 0.032 inch. Drawer depth is over-stated. A 4 inch drawer is really only about 3-3/4 inch. A simple, flat key will lock all drawers closed. But there is no latch on each drawer so if you plan to move the cabinet, lock the drawers. There is a soft detent the last inch of travel but it's not a lock. The casters are 5 inch with hard plastic wheels. (Old C/M are 3.5”) Plenty adequate for home use. In fact, it rolls too easy. As I was opening and closing drawers to load it, it would skate around. I may have to wedge the wheels. Or fill it with lots of really heavy tools so it will stay put! Paint (powder coat?) is hard, slick and uniform. A nice, basic, well made tool cabinet. But not a whole lot different than other boxes in this class. And their information (2015 catalog page 14 on their web site) needs to match what they ship. A nice standard duty box, but I don't think it would hold up to heavy daily use. This unit in not competing with Snap-on. Its competitors are Craftsman, Husky, Kobalt, etc. International has several lines; Super Heavy Duty, Professional, Tech (Value), Workshop, Economy and Classic (friction slides), with several styles and sizes in each series. And I think they're all make in Canada. I have no connection with or interest in this company, just pointing out there is a pretty attractive alternative to all the boxes made in China. Both Home Depot and Lowes show them on their web sites. (If I get the pics to load, it's fire-engine-red, not pink-purple. Last pic shows old C/M drawer as comparison.)
And, after I bought this one, I found out the 26 inch Waterloo chests and cabinets in the professional, waterloo and shop series are made in USA. That's from Ernie Tamm at Waterloo customer service. Sure wish I'd known that earlier!
Regarding Amazon. I placed the order early April. Estimated delivery in 2-3 weeks. After 2+ weeks THEY canceled the order. Customer service said there was a 'technical problem', and I could re-order and they would honor the original price and free delivery. Uhhh, okay, so I re-ordered. Now estimated delivery is 3-4 weeks. Actually took 5. Original order was early April. Finally delivered early June. Two month start to finish. But Amazon DID deliver (for free?) an undamaged tool cabinet to my garage. All with a few mouse clicks and phone calls.
Bottom line:
International has a broad line of competitive tool boxes made in Canada.
Waterloo has 3 grades of 26 inch made in USA tool boxes.
Amazon can deliver to your door, if you're willing to wait.
I hope there is something here of use to others.
TomW