Looking for a good bench top tool box

[GutsnGlory]

I'm looking to get into an automotive shop and I will need a good mobile tool box that can be carried around and hold a good size of tools.

I was looking at one of the matco two drawer with the opening top. Any input on matco boxes? Or what else would you suggest that is made in the USA, durable, and good for automotive.

 

[bobcatdan]

What kind of work are you looking to? Are you going into a shop, sit your box down, do something, pick up your box and go to the next shop. Or are you going to be a shop mechanic? Unless you are doing something specialized that only requires a small number of tools, a small bench top will not hold everything an auto really needs. Even a small 26" top chest gets real heavy real quick. For option A, I would get a tool bag. For option B, at roll away bottom box. Need more info to make a better recommandation.

 

[zkling]

I'm not trying to be a smart a$$ when I ask this but, when you say "carried around" do you mean one person is capable of easily picking the box up and carrying it around a shop? Reason I ask is in my mind "holds a lot of tools" and "easy to carry" are not two things that go in the same sentence.

That matco 2 drawer box looks overpriced for what it is to me. The made in USA may be hard to fill on the new market. Craftsman make a few portable 3 and 4 drawer boxes that are decent for the money. You are going to have to find a balance between quality, storage cap and weight. On the new market the viper boxes look really nice for a poartable kit, but kinda $ IMHO.

Maybe these threads will give you some ideas.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=202287

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=60505&page=2

 

[1982fxr]

As far as carry type boxes, on a lot of the newer boxes out there, c-man, husky, etc...they are pretty light duty. Overload them and they will want to buckle.

Many of the cheap plastic ones are actually stronger, not joking

 

[scaron]

i think it'll be more of a challenge for you than you think; those boxes fill up fast and they get heavy fast. if you really need a relatively full assortment of tools and you absolutely have to have it "on the go", i really suggest you look at at something with wheels, like one of those hazet assistant boxes that i saw on here, or a knock-off thereof.

 

[GutsnGlory]

I would start out doing tires and oil and the easy stuff so I would only need the tools for that job so the box wouldn't be too heavy and be an issue. I get discount from matco and snapon for being an auto tech student so I save good money and that's not an issue.

 

[Scout Driver]

Sounds like a tool cart or service cart may be a better option for you.

Scott

 

[Tallboy]

If you are looking to make an investment in a quality box that will stand up to the abuse of daily use and you get a good discount from the Snap-On man, I'd take a look at their hand boxes. Theirs...not Bluepoint.

http://store.snapon.com/METAL-BOXES-C629524.aspx

I have this one:

http://store.snapon.com/Metal-Boxes...ote-Tray-20-7-8-x-8-3-4-x-8-3-4--P630840.aspx

It's built hell for stout. I had bought a striping at a charity auction and chose to buy a box and have it striped. I've used it for an office liquor vault and now it's just sitting at home. Hoping to someday have a better use for it. But it is well built. They have some with drawers. Expensive, but I would wager built much better than the Craftsman/Waterloo copies I've been around.

 

[CWP1616L]

I was looking at one of the matco two drawer with the opening top.

What size is that one? What's the part number? I'm trying to figure out what size box you're looking for. A "bench top" box could be a pretty good size, but you're saying you want to be able to carry it around which indicates a smaller box. Tell me what size so I can make a recommendation.

 

[JasonCAT]

I would start out doing tires and oil and the easy stuff so I would only need the tools for that job so the box wouldn't be too heavy and be an issue. I get discount from matco and snapon for being an auto tech student so I save good money and that's not an issue.

I'd pass on a hand box and go for a service cart.

There are coupons out there so you can get this for $159, I think:
http://www.harborfreight.com/tool-cart-five-drawer-700-lbs-capacity-69397.html

...annnnnnnd I think there's a coupon to get this for $99:
http://www.harborfreight.com/580-lb-capacity-four-drawer-tool-cart-95659.html

Once you start loading a hand box with wrenches, filter wrenches, impact sockets, chrome sockets, breaker bar, ratchets, consumables, your impact wrench, etc, it's going to tear your arm off if you can even fit it all in there.

 

[zkling]

What size is that one? What's the part number? I'm trying to figure out what size box you're looking for. A "bench top" box could be a pretty good size, but you're saying you want to be able to carry it around which indicates a smaller box. Tell me what size so I can make a recommendation.

I think this is the one the OP is referring to?

http://www.matcotools.com/catalog/product/PMB2D/2-DRAWER-PORTABLE-BENCH-CHEST/

 

[chrisa7164]

get yourself a HF 5 drawer roll cart..well worth the money. Whenever we had lube techs at the dealership they usually would move around from bay to bay.

 

[CWP1616L]

I think this is the one the OP is referring to?

http://www.matcotools.com/catalog/product/PMB2D/2-DRAWER-PORTABLE-BENCH-CHEST/

If that's the case, then I'd recommend the Kennedy model 220.

 

[GutsnGlory]

I think this is the one the OP is referring to?

http://www.matcotools.com/catalog/product/PMB2D/2-DRAWER-PORTABLE-BENCH-CHEST/

That's correct. Thanks. And I'm not looking for a roll cart, that will be somewhere down the future. I just need a easy carry box since I'll be doing field experience/ beginning out and service managers told me a small one like that ^^^ will do fine. Plus it would always be good to have around when I do upgrade to more storage and a permeant position.

 

[Scout Driver]

The Kennedy 220 is a great little box. I've got a couple of them. They are fairly easy to find used too.

Scott