Masterforce toolbox thoughts

[308guru]

I've located this toolbox for sale. Mfg. date is 2011 and it's listed as 42"wide x 18"deep x 60" tall. I don't know anything about the older Masterforce boxes so looking for thoughts on whether or not these were decent or not.

I just looked at new ones at Menards and they were quite nice. Solid drawer catches, drawers that didn't wobble all over when extended, etc.

This one is used but looks pretty nice. It's about an hour drive each way so wondering if it's worth the time.

Thanks.

 

[sparky 1971]

I've located this toolbox for sale. Mfg. date is 2011 and it's listed as 42"wide x 18"deep x 60" tall. I don't know anything about the older Masterforce boxes so looking for thoughts on whether or not these were decent or not.

I just looked at new ones at Menards and they were quite nice. Solid drawer catches, drawers that didn't wobble all over when extended, etc.

This one is used but looks pretty nice. It's about an hour drive each way so wondering if it's worth the time.

Thank you

I'd buy it in a heartbeat if the price seems anywhere close to reasonable. I have the same bottom box as well as the 30" wide top and bottom from the same era and they the same as the boxes in Menards today other than the new versions are 24" deep. Same metal, slides, and latches. If you have never had a box deeper than 18" you probably won't notice the lack of depth, I didn't until I bought the 56" wide 24" deep version a couple of years ago.

 

[308guru]

Do boxes of this "vintage" have the same drawer catches as current models? The latch with a spring and pivot? They worked really nicely on the new ones I was looking at and seemed to require very little effort which I liked.

 

[sparky 1971]

Do boxes of this "vintage" have the same drawer catches as current models? The latch with a spring and pivot? They worked really nicely on the new ones I was looking at and seemed to require very little effort which I liked.

I haven't noticed a thing that is different between the old and new. I'm not home now to go look, but between all of my Masterforce boxes and side cabinet I have over 40 drawers and all of them open the same whether it's a box I bought in 2010, 2012, or 2021.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I eyeballed those boxes when they were the current offering.

Right price I would have no issue buying.

 

[Snapped-off]

Do boxes of this "vintage" have the same drawer catches as current models? The latch with a spring and pivot? They worked really nicely on the new ones I was looking at and seemed to require very little effort which I liked.

They do not have the same latch. That came on the 2nd gen boxes. We're moving into the 4th gen of Masterforce boxes as far as i can tell.

The drawers themselves are like 15" - 16" deep on the original boxes.

 

[sparky 1971]

Here are the top drawer latches to my 30X18, 41X18, and 56X24 and they are all the same from 2010 when I bought the 30" through 2021 when I picked up the 56". If there is something different about what Menards currently has it's news to me, I've played with the 72" on display and it seems the same as the others to me.

 

[RichRiddle]

I have a 41" current model of the Masterforce and find it to be a good box for the money; it appears better made than Craftsman, Husky, and a few others... To determine if it's worth the drive, you'd have to indicate the price wanted. You can get the current version setup like that one for a bit over $1000 to offer you a frame of reference.

 

[dclark2171]

I'm going to go Masterforce for the extra depth compared to the other big box brands (Craftsman, Husky, etc)

 

[Snapped-off]

Here are the top drawer latches to my 30X18, 41X18, and 56X24 and they are all the same from 2010 when I bought the 30" through 2021 when I picked up the 56". If there is something different about what Menards currently has it's news to me, I've played with the 72" on display and it seems the same as the others to me.

These are 2nd gen boxes. The first ones didn't get the fancy latch.

 

[sparky 1971]

These are 2nd gen boxes. The first ones didn't get the fancy latch.

But, the box in the OP was manufactured in 2011 which puts it in the range of my two smaller boxes since I bought the 30" in late 2010 or early 2011 and the 41" later in 2011 or early 2012. I am going to assume my 24" deep box (the one with the sockets) is a 3rd gen due to the change in depth and it has the same latch. I know nothing about the 4th gen, I do know three of the five local Menards have a 72" box on display but I don't know if they are old 3rd gen or new 4th gen, I do know that opening the drawers is the same motion, but don't know if the actual mechanism is different or not. I saw the thread on here in the last couple of months about the new boxes, but it looks to me like the only real changes were related to the power strip, which I don't even use on mine, the cord has never even been unrolled.

 

[308guru]

I’m not sure which Gen this one is considered but here’s a pic of the drawer. No latches.

It also looks like the drawers pull out full depth and more. Looks a bit strange.

 

[sparky 1971]

I’m not sure which Gen this one is considered but here’s a pic of the drawer. No latches.

It also looks like the drawers pull out full depth and more. Looks a bit strange.

WOW. I must have bought the very first box with the lift up latches and that was the last box built without. I know I bought the 30" cabinet for my service van right after I started out on my own and that was in November of 2010, the box has the latches. I later bought a more van specific box and moved the cabinet to my garage and added the chest. I wouldn't let the lack of the latches stop me from buying it though, it looks like it has the same slides as all of mine. My 56" box has the full width drawer and I have probably 150 pounds in it. Also, my drawers have a stop so they won't pull out that far but I wish they did come out farther, I have the really large 1/2 sockets in the back and on the rare occasion I need one it's a ***** to get them out over everything else.

 

[PowderKeg]

I've had a 36" combo since @ 2010, have mostly liked it - solid feel to drawers with thick drawer liners, good variety of drawer depths carry plenty of weight without sagging or sticking, really like the dark green color, BUT:

- 3 drawers on the bottom box have very weak to non-existent friction locks to keep the drawers closed, will roll open if the box is moved or parked without a slight tilt to the back. Not really an issue for me since I rarely ever move it, but have to key lock the box and remove the shims under the front casters when I do.

- my garage has partially flooded lightly (@ 1" and less) a handful of times and the water standing under the box softened the solid tires or adhesive on the casters such that they started breaking off in chunks, making occasional moves very rough and frustrating until I knocked the remaining remnants off. Gonna replace the casters one day, but don't let them get wet...

 

[308guru]

The box followed me home. I need to get the drawer liners cleaned up or replaced and then I'll post some pics. Both upper and lower are ridiculously heavy. It's a good feeling.