Let's see your Job Boxes

[Mark in Indiana]

I don't see very many threads about job boxes (aka gang boxes). Over the years I've resold several. They've always been interesting to me.

Here's a Clarke "Strong Box" construction site gang box that I won at an auction a few weeks ago. Instead of reselling it, I decided to restore it and mount it on my trailer.
Clarke seems to be popular in Europe. I've not seen as many as KNAACK, Delta, Greenlee, etc.
It was in fair condition. It had a lot of rust on the carry handle mounts (see picture) and the legs. I cut them off, welded holes as needed and repainted.
The color I chose to repaint the exterior was Rustoleum John Deere Yellow Farm machinery oil based paint. Close to the original color and resists outside weather better than standard paint. I didn't bother painting the interior because it would eventually get beat up.
If I need to remove it from the trailer, it can easily be rolled around like a wheel barrow. I replaced the original handles with one stainless steel bathroom grab handle.
I installed window seal strips at the location where the lid meets the box to seal it better and reduce the rattling that sometimes happens with job boxes.
Here are some pictures for your review. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture before starting the restoration. To give an idea of how mine was when I brought it home, I had to use one from the internet that was close.

The last couple of pictures are KNAACK "Piano" gang boxes that I resold. Wish I could have kept them, but...

So, please show off your job boxes.

 

[mikeinri]

Very nice. Don't think I've ever seen wheels on these, great idea.

Mike

 

[drivesitfar]

Mark: great idea for a thread.

i'd like to see and hear more how you installed those wheels on your job box if you have time. can't say i've ever seen that and did you copy something you found here or think of that yourself?

I also haven't looked to see how the handles are connected, but your picture doesn't look like it was easy to take them out and replace with your bathroom handle. another nice upgrade!!

i'll post a few pics of mine as i get some.

I do like the way Knaack and Jobox locks their boxes and looking for a better padlock than master lock.

anybody tried the new Paclocks that HD is selling online that you can re key yourself?

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Drives & Mike:

The handles were my idea. Normal casters wouldn't work for me. Although the box will stay mounted to my trailer, there will be times that I will need to take the box off. Moving it is a little cumbersome, but I'm happier with the set up, than using casters that would have to be clamped on when moving.

The original handles and legs were welded on. The box was originally power coated. The problem with powder coating is that it doesn't cover welded areas. Also, when cracks form in the powder coating, water gets in and stays in to cause the steel to rust faster. I had to cut the handles and legs off at the welds. Grind the surfaces down and repair holes. The handles were too far gone, but I could save the legs. After wet painting everything separately, I applied silicone and bolted the legs and handle, so no water could get in to start the rust process.

Regarding the padlocks: Master, Yale or any other name brands have their cheap and industrial products. I used Master #5 padlocks (industrial). The DIY re-key locks are fine, but only necessary in a workplace, where employees come and go. I keep key copies to EVERY lock I have. It's the best insurance to have.

 

[isb cornbinder]

Pictures coming soon

 

[mikeinri]

Thanks for following up, Mark.

I agree on the spare keys, 100%. I like to keep at least two spares of all keys.

Mike

 

[drivesitfar]

Mark: i'm still a bit fuzzy how you installed your wheels. did you put an rod/axle on the side of your job box or just bolt each wheel to the sides and leave a bit of slack so they roll?

also if you watch the youtube guy Lockpickinglawyer I bet you won't buy more master locks. I hear Home Depot is getting Paclocks in their stores which is a little more protection from actual thieves, but I guess anything can be broken into if they have time and the tools.

thanks again for starting this thread and i'll post up more than a few pictures of mine so we can compare the differences between Knaack, Jobox, Greenlee, Rigid and others.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Drives:

Regarding the wheels: I ran a 1/2" length of threaded rod along the bottom right corner, inside the box. I jammed a nut at each end, inside and outside of the box, so the rod couldn't flex. The wheels are retained with locking nuts. I applied silicone to the inside corners of the box, where the rod goes through, to prevent any moisture from entering.

Regarding Master locks: Being interested in locksmithing on a hobby level, I've seen the lock pick video. No lock is perfect. An old saying I went by for years: "Stronger locks create smarter crooks."

I'm really surprised that there's been little mention of gang boxes in GJ, all these years. There are some really cool boxes out there.

 

[mikeinri]

I was clueless about the lock picking videos on YouTube until I was searching for info on DIY rekeying an ignition switch that I had to replace (and really didn't want to carry an extra key, or pay to rekey the doors).

It's frightening how easy locks are to defeat by watching a 3-minute (or shorter video).

But, if someone really wants your stuff, they'll figure out a way to get it (or destroy it while trying).

Mike

 

[Renegade1LI]

Drives:

Regarding the wheels: I ran a 1/2" length of threaded rod along the bottom right corner, inside the box. I jammed a nut at each end, inside and outside of the box, so the rod couldn't flex. The wheels are retained with locking nuts. I applied silicone to the inside corners of the box, where the rod goes through, to prevent any moisture from entering.

Regarding Master locks: Being interested in locksmithing on a hobby level, I've seen the lock pick video. No lock is perfect. An old saying I went by for years: "Stronger locks create smarter crooks."

I'm really surprised that there's been little mention of gang boxes in GJ, all these years. There are some really cool boxes out there.

We probably have over a hundred boxes over a few sites, there really isn't much in the way of exciting about them, not like mechanics boxes. They are tough metal boxes that are hard to really organize, fairly secure, keeps the rift raft out & they really get beat up. Maybe in a setting where 1 or 2 people use it but in construction they hold the tools & get beat up, they're disposable equipment. One big plus is they are fairly water tight, I have some that have never been indoors & get less condensation than a shipping container as they don't hold heat. They really are a hard working, low maintenance, low cost tool of the industry, can't work without them.

 

[Rc_Guy]

The two KNAACK are what we used installing fire sprinklers, big enough we could usually put the sprinkler heads in there also to prevent theft.

Ours always had wheels and usually a grommet to run a cord through to keep chargers going overnight.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

We probably have over a hundred boxes over a few sites, there really isn't much in the way of exciting about them, not like mechanics boxes. They are tough metal boxes that are hard to really organize, fairly secure, keeps the rift raft out & they really get beat up. Maybe in a setting where 1 or 2 people use it but in construction they hold the tools & get beat up, they're disposable equipment. One big plus is they are fairly water tight, I have some that have never been indoors & get less condensation than a shipping container as they don't hold heat. They really are a hard working, low maintenance, low cost tool of the industry, can't work without them.

This one's interesting to me. I used one like this at a refinery I worked at.

 

[Rc_Guy]

This one's interesting to me. I used one like this at a refinery I worked at.

We used that style at jobs that took longer, a year or more, we would keep hardware and big brass valves in the box until we needed them.

 

[Renegade1LI]

This one's interesting to me. I used one like this at a refinery I worked at.

I have a few of those & they are great well built boxes, just not exciting, but now that I have read & subscribed to this thread I may have to customize a box or two. Honestly never gave a second thought to a job box before today & I'm looking at about a dozen right now, have to see what can be improved upon.

 

[Chuck122]

I do millwrithing/machinery moving. This is the rigging box. Come-alongs and chains hung on the shelf.There are chain falls in buckets and ammo boxes with shackles and eye bolts and the likes at the bottom.
I have 2 more that hold the miscellaneous tools and the welding stuff but no pictures. Also the other 2 are a bit of a mess so there isn't much to see.
I favor greenlee boxes because they have a shelf and a simple, reliable and secure locking system. Also, mine are 3048 rather than the more common 2448. It's a small difference in dimensions but yields a lot more cube feets of storage

 

[Renegade1LI]

Not to mention there is a welder plasma cutter most power & hand tools with tons of material in the same room.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

I do millwrithing/machinery moving. This is the rigging box. Come-alongs and chains hung on the shelf.There are chain falls in buckets and ammo boxes with shackles and eye bolts and the likes at the bottom.
I have 2 more that hold the miscellaneous tools and the welding stuff but no pictures. Also the other 2 are a bit of a mess so there isn't much to see.
I favor greenlee boxes because they have a shelf and a simple, reliable and secure locking system. Also, mine are 3048 rather than the more common 2448. It's a small difference in dimensions but yields a lot more cube feets of storage

I was looking at a Greenlee for sale this evening. I wondered what the little shelf was for. Your picture answered that. I like the idea of the holes drilled in the outside of the box for the padlocks, while open.

 

[Chuck122]

I was looking at a Greenlee for sale this evening. I wondered what the little shelf was for. Your picture answered that. I like the idea of the holes drilled in the outside of the box for the padlocks, while open.

Those shelves are very convenient to hold smaller tools and frequently used items. In my other boxe I keep my pybars, a couple adjustable wrenches, a bottle of loctite etc on there. It saves those items from the chaos of job box life. The shelf is pretty solid but I definitely need take the hoist off of it if I intend to travel over rough roads otherwise they just get bent open. To be honest, why everyjob box doesn't have a shelf is byond me
Sometimes I leave my keys in the toolbox to avoid loosing them at work so I usually lock the padlock in the outter hole to keep someone (likely yours truly) from locking the keys in the box.

 

[Renegade1LI]

I've changed all our locks over to resetable combo locks, so much easier, guys can set their code, send me a pic to keep on file. Send a new guy for a day, no keys, just text code, let's face it locks really are for honest people.

 

[GaryM909]

I have a Greenlee 3660 like this one in my backyard. I use it for storing extra welding gear. I had it given to me and even with the slant lid it is still starting to rust. I would have never bought one like this but I got it for free.

 

[drivesitfar]

Mark: I own several Greenlee job boxes mostly 24x48, but I do have a couple smaller 32 inch wide ones. the 48 inchers have that smallish tray at the back on top that is very handy like Chuck mentioned for small items like wrenches and supplies. I've never seen one used like Chuck showed and surprised the shelf didn't bend or break with all that weight on it.

I have a couple slanted job boxes and even though the rain doesn't puddle up on them they still can rust. surprising the Klein, Rigid, Greenlee and Knaack don't seem to rust as fast as Jobox does.

 

[Renegade1LI]

I wonder if they are made out of corten steel like shipping containers? They do take a lot to rust.

 

[Chuck122]

Mark: I own several Greenlee job boxes mostly 24x48, but I do have a couple smaller 32 inch wide ones. the 48 inchers have that smallish tray at the back on top that is very handy like Chuck mentioned for small items like wrenches and supplies. I've never seen one used like Chuck showed and surprised the shelf didn't bend or break with all that weight on it.

I have a couple slanted job boxes and even though the rain doesn't puddle up on them they still can rust. surprising the Klein, Rigid, Greenlee and Knaack don't seem to rust as fast as Jobox does.

My first job box was a 2448 and the shelf did bust with just 2 of the 1-1/2 ton hoists on it. The 3048 has travelled as pictured and hasn't broken yet. I try to unhook them for travel but sometimes forget. You can see I organise the hoists so that the heavier ones are closer to the sides to help. Also I always set it in the truck so that the right side is towards the cab so that when I brake, they tend to slide to the side instead of the center.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Here's a 48" Dayton gang box that I'm currently fostering until I find a good home for it.
In remarkably good shape for a 28 year old construction box.
I don't plan to paint this one, as customers prefer them to look old so thieves won't be attracted.

 

[mikeinri]

Wow, that looks great for its age!

Mike