Looking for the right utility cart

[nutsnbolts]

I am looking for a new utility cart for work. I currently have a Mac box that is too big to roll efficiently through the hospital where I work. A few things I am looking for...

1) It needs to be light and easy to roll around. Wherever you go in the place (it is a Children's hospital) there are kids everywhere, the corridors are narrow in many places, and office/cubicle areas are tight.

2) It needs to have some locking storage, preferably a couple drawers and a top compartment. I know this may sound funny, but I don't want it to have too much storage; I am a tool junkie and if it is there, I will fill it, and then I will defeat item #1. I want to be able to carry my common tools; cordless drill, drill and driver bit sets, levels, hardware, and some basic hand tools.

3) It needs to be sturdy enough to mount a 4 foot stepladder to and carry it well.

4) Price isn't a huge factor; I'm not an owner of a money tree or anything, but I don't mind paying good money for good stuff. I would prefer to spend more for something really high quality than to get something that turns out to be shoddy. If possible, I would find whatever I buy, used and in great shape on Craigslist. I have started saving for it and will put money aside every payday until I have enough to buy what I want.

I found this one on the Matco site, but I don't know much about Matco or this cart. Any insight on this or another cart would be great. Thanks!

http://www.matcotools.com/catalog/product/MSC2-BL/TWO-DRAWER-SERVICE-CART-BLUE/#to-details

 

[erty67]

Many good things have been said about the carts at Harbor Freight. I bet the $99 (w/ a coupon) black 4 drawer cart would suit your needs. For a little more, the 5 drawer is a bit nicer as well.

 

[nutsnbolts]

Many good things have been said about the carts at Harbor Freight. I bet the $99 (w/ a coupon) black 4 drawer cart would suit your needs. For a little more, the 5 drawer is a bit nicer as well.

Thank you for the suggestion, and that very well may be the case, but I do not support Harbor Freight. I would prefer to buy something that is made at home, if possible.

 

[TK-421]

One idea would be to just get some bags and one of those plastic two tier rolling carts and then put tools in the bags, put bags on the cart, and roll that around, and then put your tools back in your main box at the end of the day. Could even bolt on some brackets onto the non-handle end to hang your ladder.

 

[Greg85mcss]

I'd check for a used cornwell. I've seen pretty much what you're looking for in decent shape around $300. The hf suggestion reminds me that there's a difference in 2 fixed casters or all swivel. The fixed will allow you to push it long distances with one hand since it won't wander to the side. All swivel is more maneuverable in tight spaces though.


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[nutsnbolts]

I'd check for a used cornwell. I've seen pretty much what you're looking for in decent shape around $300. The hf suggestion reminds me that there's a difference in 2 fixed casters or all swivel. The fixed will allow you to push it long distances with one hand since it won't wander to the side. All swivel is more maneuverable in tight spaces though.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yeah, I like the look of the Cornwell stuff, it screams quality.

Can anyone tell me what the measurements on one of these is? I can't find much info on their site. I have a feeling this is bigger than what I want.

http://www.cornwelltools.com/webcat...%2d-Neon-Green-PRO-SERIES®-3-Drawer-Cart.html

 

[nutsnbolts]

One idea would be to just get some bags and one of those plastic two tier rolling carts and then put tools in the bags, put bags on the cart, and roll that around, and then put your tools back in your main box at the end of the day. Could even bolt on some brackets onto the non-handle end to hang your ladder.

That is basically what I have been doing now, I have an electrician's cart that I throw my stuff on and go. But it is really too flimsy to carry the ladder on safely, and the tools going back and forth between my big cart and the electrical cart makes for a lot more headache keeping track of everything (which isn't my strong suit anyway). I would really rather have a small project cart with stuff in it that stays in it, and then have a rollaway to keep big tools that I don't use in my everyday tasks.

 

[FigureItOut]

A little out of the box here, but thinking of rolling around in a hospital I thought of this. Rubbermaid makes some very nice carts with locking storage, drawers etc. You might be surprised how nice they really are, and I believe made in the US.
They also offer different modular accessories to outfit them to your liking. Most are under $500. http://www.rubbermaidcommercial.com...de=material_handling_heavy_duty_utility_carts


Rubbermaid Commercial TradeMaster Cart

 

[Richard Cranium]

i think the Napa also offers a cart,

 

[nutsnbolts]

A little out of the box here, but thinking of rolling around in a hospital I thought of this. Rubbermaid makes some very nice carts with locking storage, drawers etc. You might be surprised how nice they really are, and I believe made in the US.
They also offer different modular accessories to outfit them to your liking. Most are under $500. http://www.rubbermaidcommercial.com...de=material_handling_heavy_duty_utility_carts


Rubbermaid Commercial TradeMaster Cart

That 5 drawer cart is what was company issued to me. They are...I will be nice...not very user friendly. We have a bunch of these types of carts, but they just aren't very good.

 

[nutsnbolts]

i think the Napa also offers a cart,

Is it made by Homak? If so, someone was talking about it last night. I definitely would like to check it out.

 

[FigureItOut]

That 5 drawer cart is what was company issued to me. They are...I will be nice...not very user friendly. We have a bunch of these types of carts, but they just aren't very good.

Hmm, that's good to know. I've seen them and checked them out, Rubbermaid is around the corner from me and I have a buddy there, but of course it's in everyday work that you really get a feel for the function. They sure seem well built and well thought out for what they're made for.

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[nutsnbolts]

Hmm, that's good to know. I've seen them and checked them out, Rubbermaid is around the corner from me and I have a buddy there, but of course it's in everyday work that you really get a feel for the function. They sure seem well built and well thought out for what they're made for.

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They are plenty sturdy, but everything is plastic and the drawers tend to "shimmy" open rather than rolling nicely. Because of the rubbery material they are made of, everything sticks to them and they are really hard to clean the dirt and grime off of, especially things like sawdust and drywall dust, which I am constantly battling since one of my most common tasks is hanging white boards and cork boards.

 

[OCD]

This would look good in a hospital!!

 

[colin39]

Mb197uc from mac is a well made unit and so is the matco , guys in our work shop over here in the Y-uk use them and they are well made

 

[IUEC Medic]

I'm pretty partial to my hand-me-down Rubbermaid x craftsman hybrid.

 

[nutsnbolts]

This would look good in a hospital!!

Yes it would! l will check this out! Love me some Snap On

 

[bart1]

A couple o other options not mentioned yet are lista and Waterloo.

 

[Heaty]

http://www.fleetequipmentmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Snap-On-Roll-Cart.jpg

Can be used as a working bench and has a locking top compartment and lots of drawers at bottom. Best roll cart and last one you'll ever buy.

 

[DoctorDiesel]

We have the Matco you posted at work, its pretty nice. Well, it was till we got ahold of it. Haha. Chain on our frame machine broke and sent a big steel piece into it...still works tho...just a little more dented.

 

[tekgmr]

I know you said more drawers aren't necessarily better. But I've had this cart for about 5yrs and would highly recommend. Lots of space, easy to roll (even heavily loaded), everything about it is top notch. I have tipped it twice since having it (mine is very heavily loaded and it was really my fault both times), and you'd never be able to tell I've laid it over before.

https://store.snapon.com/KRSC326-Se...art-Compact-6-Drawers-Royal-Blue-P743233.aspx

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[tekgmr]

Sorry for the double post but thought I'd also mention this one. A friend of mine bought this one and I was super impressed. Really nice tool cart. And the shape of it being what it is eliminates the possibility of a tip over.

http://www.mactools.com/en-us/Tool-...t-and-3-Drawer-Add-On-Unit-Combo-MB403UCCOMBO

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[lilxtra]

I have both a MB199UC ( which is probably too big for what you need ) and a MB133UC and absolutely love both, great quality, well built and got both off Craiglist for less than half of new & both look fantastic.

 

[frankush]

This thread's right up my alley. I'm an electrician that has spent a lot of years working off of a cart in commercial settings. I also own the Matco cart. My first question is," Do you plan to work off the top surface?" I've used metal carts and they are just too noisy. The Matco is solid and might work OK but I wouldn't be happy rolling it all over a hospital.

Another option would also be a Knaack roller with the doors and drawers. Not cheap but there's usually one on Craigslist. Everything can be locked up and left in the hallway. These are a lot more stable than the Matco cart. Here's a heavy duty Durham cart.

http://www.durhammfg.com/item.html?id=1138

I personally like the plain old Rubbermaid 2 shelf cart w3ith the tray shelves. It's fairly quiet without the metal tool on metal shelf rattle. You can partition off a portion of the bottom shelf and slide the ladder right onto it. You'd still have a ton of room on the bottom shelf. If you like lockable storage, a top or mid chest could be bolted to the cart. You'd even have room for a handheld vacuum if you wanted. I also prefer the squared off handle on the cart rather than the curved one. The putty colored version will look cleaner than the black one in the link.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001602VI2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[zakmartin]

They used to sell these at Sears. They're small, so they can fit in narrow spaces. Since you're at a Children's Hospital, you can get these in a bunch of colors to brighten the place up. They used to make them in Taiwan, but not sure what the COO is now. They're a bit on they pricey side, but they're well-made.

Viper Tool Cart

 

[jlipsky14]

Is it made by Homak? If so, someone was talking about it last night. I definitely would like to check it out.

Its made by homak in china. I assembled one for a friend and like my harbor freight 5 drawer more than the homak.

 

[oldldh]

I know you said that you didn't support Harbor Freight...

But...

It's the only picture of a SnapOn cart I have...

 

[nutsnbolts]

Sorry for my absence here guys, I didn't mean to abandon my own thread. We had a big weekend that kept me away.

I appreciate all these suggestions, some of them are definitely worth looking at. Something I feel compelled to say, and I probably should have said earlier, is that the hospital is huge...I believe it is something like a quarter mile from one end to the other, with as many as 11 floors in certain buildings, and lots of different hallways that connect different areas. I'm not talking about being able to push the cart across a garage...I need to be able to push it miles a day. If it isn't significantly smaller than what I already have then I would just keep my Mac.

 

[nutsnbolts]

They used to sell these at Sears. They're small, so they can fit in narrow spaces. Since you're at a Children's Hospital, you can get these in a bunch of colors to brighten the place up. They used to make them in Taiwan, but not sure what the COO is now. They're a bit on they pricey side, but they're well-made.

Viper Tool Cart

Wow, these are kind of cool. I like the purple and the neon green. We have an alliance with the University of Washington Medical Center, so we have purple everywhere; Russell Wilson comes to see the kids every week, so we also have that Seahawks green all over the place.

Would you say the quality of the box is on par with my Mac or a Snap-On, Cornwell, or Matco box?

 

[nutsnbolts]

Its made by homak in china. I assembled one for a friend and like my harbor freight 5 drawer more than the homak.

Good to know

 

[nutsnbolts]

This thread's right up my alley. I'm an electrician that has spent a lot of years working off of a cart in commercial settings. I also own the Matco cart. My first question is," Do you plan to work off the top surface?" I've used metal carts and they are just too noisy. The Matco is solid and might work OK but I wouldn't be happy rolling it all over a hospital.

Another option would also be a Knaack roller with the doors and drawers. Not cheap but there's usually one on Craigslist. Everything can be locked up and left in the hallway. These are a lot more stable than the Matco cart. Here's a heavy duty Durham cart.

http://www.durhammfg.com/item.html?id=1138

I personally like the plain old Rubbermaid 2 shelf cart w3ith the tray shelves. It's fairly quiet without the metal tool on metal shelf rattle. You can partition off a portion of the bottom shelf and slide the ladder right onto it. You'd still have a ton of room on the bottom shelf. If you like lockable storage, a top or mid chest could be bolted to the cart. You'd even have room for a handheld vacuum if you wanted. I also prefer the squared off handle on the cart rather than the curved one. The putty colored version will look cleaner than the black one in the link.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001602VI2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Yes, I work off the top, but it is usually just quick work...installing white boards, swapping out a Purell dispenser, changing a flushometer on a toilet. That is what attracted me to the sliding top on my Mac, but it wasn't well thought out, as it requires taking up most of the hallway in order to open it all the way.

The Durham cart would be cool if it had another full length drawer below the other 2. So that I could put all my hanging tools and hardware in it.

That electrical cart is exactly what I have now. The problem is, it is a pain taking all my stuff back and forth from it to my big cart and back everyday. And, unfortunately, our shop has a thief. We all know who he is, and the management also knows and has been made well aware, but they refuse to acknowledge the problem because he is an 01 electrician who works weekends in the operating rooms. Finding a replacement would be near impossible. So we are all faced with guarding our tools 24/7.

 

[nutsnbolts]

Sorry for the double post but thought I'd also mention this one. A friend of mine bought this one and I was super impressed. Really nice tool cart. And the shape of it being what it is eliminates the possibility of a tip over.

http://www.mactools.com/en-us/Tool-...t-and-3-Drawer-Add-On-Unit-Combo-MB403UCCOMBO

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Both this and the Snap on cart are essentially the same size as what I have, but even bigger because of the additional drawers.

 

[nutsnbolts]

I have both a MB199UC ( which is probably too big for what you need ) and a MB133UC and absolutely love both, great quality, well built and got both off Craiglist for less than half of new & both look fantastic.

The MB133UC is the closest to what I am looking for thus far. It looks to be enough smaller that I wouldn't fill it to the gills with heavy tools. Would you say that it would be sturdy enough to mount a ladder to one side and carry it well?

I really wish they made a smaller version of the MB199UC. That would be ideal.

The one I have is the MB1305UC in yellow.

http://www.mactools.com/en-us/Tool-...a30d012cec46/MB1305UC-Macsimizer-Utility-Cart

 

[Jazz1]

I have seen many hospital carts that would be excellent and top quality as well. Take a look at what hospital maintenance staff are using.

 

[pendragon1998]

Just remember, narrow also means tippy.

 

[lilxtra]

It's a very sturdy cart but it depends on how tall the ladder is

 

[nutsnbolts]

I have seen many hospital carts that would be excellent and top quality as well. Take a look at what hospital maintenance staff are using.

We were all issued Rubbermaid 5 drawer carts. The drawers are pretty crummy on them and I replaced mine with the Mac MB130UC. Most of the other guys got ahold of some steel anesthesia carts that were retired by the OR. Other guys have built their own, with a tool box built into a table on wheels of some sort. There are a lot of different directions I could go; I would like to see if I can just buy the right cart.

 

[nutsnbolts]

It's a very sturdy cart but it depends on how tall the ladder is

Just a 4 foot stepladder. We use them for simple jobs like changing light bulbs or getting above ceiling in offices