Knack tool boxes

[Dimitri]

So what is everyone's opinion on them?

Also how secure are they really?

Service van has been broken into and been thinking about getting a smaller one and bolting it onto the floor. Not sure if it is worth the investment.

Dimitri

 

[malibu101]

Well it's not an impenetrable bank vault, but, most job boxes are pretty stout in that it takes some time and noise to break one open.
If you go this route, definitely bolt it down like you said so bad guys can't just take it like a big box of goodies to open elsewhere.
I'd say it would be a good investment to ward of smash and grab thieves.

 

[matt_i]

I'm not a thief but I can open one in under 30 seconds with the right tool.

I think I would look for Vidmar cabinets with the lift-lock feature on the right hand side ( that locks the drawer fully open or fully closed. The lock on the Vidmar is much tougher. The Knaack (depending on model) just has a collection of shelves and can be hard to find things in the back (also dimly lit).

 

[trackwelder]

We use them quite a bit and leave them on jobs in remote areas. They are the huge units and are moved around with a grapple truck. The weak area is in the lock. If someone can pick it they could gain access.

 

[rk_tek]

Like trackwelder said, the weakest point is the padlock. My old boss had a box(forget the brand) that you bolted a padlock in and only the key cylinder was exposed. This protected the shackle from being cut, but I've been able to pick every padlock I own in under a minute. And I'm no thief or locksmith. Just a Joe with a $15 set of picks. I have a green Lee box and it would take a lot of noise to get into with any method other than picking the locks. A cylindrical lock( the tube shaped key like some tool boxes and freezers have) may be "safer" as many people are not as familiar with them and they require a special picking device.

 

[Dimitri]

matt,

My tools are in a cart, this is more for power tools etc, which I am currently lugging back and forth between the van and indoors at night.

rk,

The Knaack boxes have the padlocks recessed into holes to help protect them from break in.

Dimitri

 

[LXCam]

I think a couple of you guys are confused. I own several of the knack job boxes as well as lista's and Job Box job boxes. The JB boxes are the easy target. And if you know how s lista locking bar is configured, I can be in a lista in seconds. I also own a vidmar with that external bar lock deal. And that's an easy target too if your willing to make a mess out of the top of the padlock bar hole area. But a knack unless your a rock star padlock picker your gonna go thru some effort and some noise getting into one. That's the reason Knack is the best construction site box made. And there is no comparison between a construction box and a lista or vidmar box, two different animals with two different goals.

 

[rustyjames]

Knaack is by far the most widely used box on construction sites that I've been on.

 

[Al Borland]

Knaack boxes are strong. They will stay together after coming out of the bed of a pickup that got rolled over at expressway speeds.
Plenty strong for your use, but this may mean they will steal the whole van.

 

[930cabman]

I would be careful bolting a job box into your van, they will take the van/box.

Ever think about a German Shepard? or move to a better neighborhood or outside lighting or wireless security to trigger your cell ph.

Whatever you go with, have at least one backup

 

[Dimitri]

I think my van was targeted by an independent gypsie when it was broken into last year, due to the decals on the company van.

They stole company specialized forklift tools, left my personal toolboxes alone (save for a couple of things like my 20V MacTools 3/8" impact that was on the shelf). But stole the railroad jack, 4x6" hardwood blocks, huge roll of paper towel, etc. Everything needed to work on forklifts and other machinery, but they seem to go to great lengths NOT to take my personal tools.

I just don't want to lose another $1,000+ in power tools if they ever decide to break in again, so I've been carrying my laptop bag, Power tool bag and my Fluke bag inside with me every day.

I've been with the company nearly two years, and only had one break in, so it's not that rough of a neighbourhood, but would rather limit my lost tools if it did happen again. It wasn't until I was on a construction site recently that chatting up the guys there, I got into thinking a Knaack box might not be a bad idea, they seemed to like them.

Dimitri

 

[PeterT]

You could booby trap the box, they haul it off to some undisclosed location and get a surprise as they open it.

 

[Dimitri]

Thought about it but the law doesn't take too kindly to that.

Dimitri

 

[LXCam]

I hade one that I used for my coring stuff. It was 2ft x 4ft x 2ft that sounds about the right size for your stuff. Personally it'd get bolted down to the van for one reason only. If you were to have an accident it probably wouldn't be the one thing in a van that FD ya flat. But you could do a couple of heavy duty lock clasps to secure it to that van. Anyhow point being even if they got it out of the van it'd take two guys to carry the damn thing off, meaning you're more likely to get your stuff back unless they are pro's with a truck to haul it off.

 

[dr_clyde]

I have a Knaack jobmaster. The only easy way in would be to pick the lock. In these, the lock acts as a physical barrier for the latch pins, not allowing them to slide. It only exposes the key hole of the padlock.

I would say it's about as secure as a job site box can be. There's always a way in. Locks just keep the honest folks honest.

 

[ncfh]

I've found that bolting a big box of anything to your work vehicle will come back to haunt you one day, or maybe it will every day.

If it's not part of a well thought out system, it's doomed to hinder you more than it helps you. That's why "bolting in" anything other than one of the numerous commercially made van storage systems, or your own analog, is a no-go IMO.

If they want it bad enough, or your your property is that valuable, crooks will simply steal the entire van and figure any locked box later. It's not like all vans are notoriously easy to steal or anything. Yet, you will still have to trip over and work around your bolted in box, every day.

...

Provided a properly kitted van with a front partition and "vanlocks" or similar, a straight sided metal box with a hasp and padlock for specialized, dangerous, and/or expensive items, like Knaack's "welders box" is about as far as I allow for.

That way, if the situation arises that an item needs to be left on site, locked in a guarded building for example, we can still assert our control over the item within the transportable locked box, the bailee (the guarded building) merely provides a guarantee the box will not be molested.

Simple and efficient for everyone, logistically and legally.

The other half of the system is to maintain "inland marine insurance" that specifically details all of the expensive stuff, and provides for a physical check delivered to the site of the loss within 24 hours, and now some fancy digital claim methods.

That way, we just cover the obvious basics and go about our own business, and let the insurance do theirs. It's really not expensive, just have to show written business policies and cover the basics like a partition and vanlocks.

 

[trackwelder]

I've found that bolting a big box of anything to your work vehicle will come back to haunt you one day, or maybe it will every day.

If it's not part of a well thought out system, it's doomed to hinder you more than it helps you. That's why "bolting in" anything other than one of the numerous commercially made van storage systems, or your own analog, is a no-go IMO.

If they want it bad enough, or your your property is that valuable, crooks will simply steal the entire van and figure any locked box later. It's not like all vans are notoriously easy to steal or anything. Yet, you will still have to trip over and work around your bolted in box, every day.

...

Provided a properly kitted van with a front partition and "vanlocks" or similar, a straight sided metal box with a hasp and padlock for specialized, dangerous, and/or expensive items, like Knaack's "welders box" is about as far as I allow for.

That way, if the situation arises that an item needs to be left on site, locked in a guarded building for example, we can still assert our control over the item within the transportable locked box, the bailee (the guarded building) merely provides a guarantee the box will not be molested.

Simple and efficient for everyone, logistically and legally.

The other half of the system is to maintain "inland marine insurance" that specifically details all of the expensive stuff, and provides for a physical check delivered to the site of the loss within 24 hours, and now some fancy digital claim methods.

That way, we just cover the obvious basics and go about our own business, and let the insurance do theirs. It's really not expensive, just have to show written business policies and cover the basics like a partition and vanlocks.

I couldn't disagree more. Over the years I have returned to my work vehicle to find that some skel tried to pry open the job boxes during the night on my welding truck. I have a small 36" in the back of my personal truck that is chained in a with few locks. It's a great way to secure a small floor jack, straps, and other items.

 

[ncfh]

I couldn't disagree more. Over the years I have returned to my work vehicle to find that some skel tried to pry open the job boxes during the night on my welding truck. I have a small 36" in the back of my personal truck that is chained in a with few locks. It's a great way to secure a small floor jack, straps, and other items.

Disagree with what?

Your method has no resolution for failure.

Just wait until the day your equipment encounters some proper villains... The chain will be cut and your box will be gone.

On our vehicles with external boxes we get the boxes rekeyed and valuable/dangerous stuff then goes in locked roadcases of it's own with no obvious label. We color code our standard loadouts, but other stuff has to get labeled of course.

And the other half of the system, it's all insured. You don't have to tell me, I know the heartache of shitbags stealing your stuff.

I was unfortunate enough to have my equipment stolen and used to break into one of the federal govt's toy boxes, and was very close to having my own door kicked in, if not for some local LEOs who convinced the crazed feds to knock and talk instead.

And the junkies smashing the window for the change in the cupholder...

The employee covering the striker plate on a door before they leave, and come back later to steal everything....

...seen the whole range. Unfortunately

You learn the basic smart things to do in order to dissuade the casual hooligans and junkies.

But you carry good insurance for when the real thieves and insiders make a hit.

edit: Not to say you don't do some sneaky things of your own; alarms, game cameras, gps larger equipment/vehicles.

 

[trackwelder]

For what this guy wants to do a small job box will serve him well. I personally can not stand those crappy van shelving setups.