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Menards sell Masterforce toolboxes

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5isalive

Active member
Joined
Nov 23, 2009
Messages
43
Location
Iowa
The one with the pull out shelf is the 41". I have special ordered the 56" but they are telling me it will be up to 8 weeks before they can fill the order. I got it for under $1k and 12 months no interest. It looks like it also comes with 6 wheels.
 

tjohnson

New member
Joined
Jan 25, 2010
Messages
1
I too have this tool chest. Menards did come out with the side chest (which I have yet to get). These are the greatest tool boxes I have ever seen and the price was right too. The color mached my garage just fine...:bowdown:
 

Mickey O

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Joined
Oct 25, 2009
Messages
6,153
Location
Chicago, IL
I too have this tool chest. Menards did come out with the side chest (which I have yet to get). These are the greatest tool boxes I have ever seen and the price was right too. The color mached my garage just fine...:bowdown:

Do you own Menards, if not you need to look at some more toolboxes. They are decent boxes for being imports but you can get a nice high end box used for a little bit more (sometimes less).
 

Serious Machining

New member
Joined
Mar 7, 2010
Messages
4
Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion, I have found it to be very informative and helpful in my quest for a 3rd rolling tool cabinet (I have 2 Kennedy cabinets) that does not cost a small fortune. Since it was noted that the Masterforce (Menards) and Masterhand (Tractor Supply) look to be rebranded Montezuma boxes, I thought I'd ask Montezuma Mfg. about this. I promptly received a very cordial and thorough reply from Montezuma. Following is a summary of their letter:
.
Neither the Masterforce or Masterhand cabinets are made or imported by Montezuma, there is simply a styling resemblence; Montezuma Mfg. has no involvement with either of these other 2 brands. The Masterforce cabinets are similar to the 'previous generation' of Montezuma's cabinets. The current Montezuma cabinets have improved handles, drawer pulls, and casters. The top chest also has what's called an "open till" design, allowing for an easier view of the contents in the top compartment.
.
Montezuma cautioned me about Menards "lifetime warranty" as it might have lots of exclusionary conditions. For the Montezuma products that do have a lifetime warranty on the cabinet construction, their exclusions are the "usual wear items" such as drawer slides, casters, and gas springs.
.
Montezuma's response concluded with the note that all 3 brands are good value for their respective pricing. Admitting to their obvious bias, they said an absolute rating of the 3 brands in order from 'good' to 'excellent' would be Masterhand, then Masterforce, then Montezuma.
.
So now it appears my next step is to find a Montezuma dealer/distributor in Minnesota and find out what the pricing is on their cabinets. :headscrat
 

Kevin54

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Jan 12, 2005
Messages
29,341
Location
Urbana, Ohio
For the money I find the MasterForce a very good box. I bought the 41" bottom a couple of years ago, then bought the top box shortly after. I liked them well enough that I bought another 41" bottom for work. After that, the Menard's started selling side boxes so I picked up one of those. I think in a few weeks I will pick up another side box. The only thing that I found that I do not like is the side box drawers are hard to open and close due to the rubber catches. I imagine they will wear in eventually.
 
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Deafautotech

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Joined
Jan 5, 2007
Messages
7,653
Location
Indianapolis, Indiana
For the money I find the MasterForce a very good box. I bought the 41" bottom a couple of years ago, then bought the top box shortly after. I liked them well enough that I bought another 41" bottom for work. After that, the Menard's started selling side boxes so I picked up one of those. I think in a few weeks I will pick up another side box. The only thing that I found that I do not like is the side box drawers are hard to open and close due to the rubber catches. I imagine they will wear in eventually.

you can pull the detent out of one slide to make it easier to open and close... i did play a lot on it at menards... i really like it but i have way many toolboxes and no room for me... so well..
 

onewaydave

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Joined
Sep 28, 2009
Messages
961
Location
Down the road from Dorothy and Toto
anybody have those boxes I have been looking at them also?

I bought the 48" stack, oh November or so. Moved it and all my crapsman boxes out on the drive (under the porch) to move things over. Well about that time came snow and temps regularly below 0 F. I still haven't moved them inside. I like the tool boxes but I will say you have to pull a little harder on the drawers to get them open at -19' F:confused:

Oh yes, the other drawback, they fill up too fast so you need to buy 2 sets:thumbup:
 

Mickey O

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Joined
Oct 25, 2009
Messages
6,153
Location
Chicago, IL
IMHO the Harbor Freight tool box is better quality then the Masterforce.

No way, I've seen and "used" (at the store) both of them, the Masterforce is a much better box by far, the Harbor Freight display one at the store out here is a piece of junk, drawers don't work properly or slide well and nothing is lined up, like the box was twisted or something, that being said, I wouldn't buy either of them.
 

Serious Machining

New member
Joined
Mar 7, 2010
Messages
4
For those of you who have a Menards store close by, their sale flyer for
today (03/21) shows the 41" Masterforce combo of the 8 drawer upper
chest and 11 drawer lower mobile cabinet on sale for $688. The chest
alone is $289 and the cabinet alone is $399 ($289 + $399 = $688). No
mention of if the 36" unit is also on sale. Sale good thru April 4th (Easter).
 

pubes2942

Member
Joined
May 2, 2009
Messages
6
Hey does anybody have a link to there online catalog. i cant seem to find it. I found that flyer on there website tho.
 

shovel

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Joined
Dec 26, 2008
Messages
477
Location
Port Neches, Texas
No way, I've seen and "used" (at the store) both of them, the Masterforce is a much better box by far, the Harbor Freight display one at the store out here is a piece of junk, drawers don't work properly or slide well and nothing is lined up, like the box was twisted or something, that being said, I wouldn't buy either of them.

I have to disagree. While I have never seen a Menards or the Masterforce boxes, I own the HF unit and it is far from junk. It is hell-for-stout and the one I bought has no problems with any drawer slides or hardware. While I do have to agree with Mickey O on his buy USA stance and tonydanzah is right about the wrinkle finish powder coat. It is a tough finish, but looks cheap and will probably fade to pink if it sees too much sunlight. It is only 16" deep (like the Sears boxes), so storage is limited. For an Asian made box, it is very well made and would last a lifetime for the home user.

One of these days, I hope to upgrade to a larger, American made box. I want to purge my garage/shop of any Chinese made product. Gonna be hard to do with limited resources, but that is the plan anyway. Who does make the masterforce box? Anyone know?
 

Serious Machining

New member
Joined
Mar 7, 2010
Messages
4
PUBES2942 wrote: "Hey does anybody have a link to their online catalog?
I can't seem to find it. I found that flyer on their website though."
.
My Answer: I don't believe Menards has an online catalog, I've tried
to find one several times; their online flyer appears to be all there is.
If someone manages to find such a site, please tell the rest of us !
.
.
SHOVEL wrote: "One of these days, I hope to upgrade to a larger,
American made box. I want to purge my garage/shop of any Chinese
made product. Gonna be hard to do with limited resources, but that is
the plan anyway. Who does make the masterforce box? Anyone know?"
.
My Answer: All we (I) know for sure is that Masterforce is NOT made
by Montezuma. The instruction/warranty pamphlet included with the
Masterforce boxes is devoid of any manufacturer's I/D; in fact, the
only catalog/part #'s listed in the pamphlet ID'ing the specific boxes
are Menards stock #'s for the units. You could try asking someone
working in Menards 'Tool Dept' who looks like they know something as
to who the manufacturer is. At least they should be able to say if the
boxes are "American Made", especially since Menards likes to promote
this with their periodic "Made in America" sales. I don't recall ever seeing
the boxes advertised during these sales.
 

tonydanzah

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Joined
Nov 14, 2009
Messages
5,275
Location
the champagne of people
I have the exact same box made in all stainless as the menards box with craftsman logos on it, along with the menrads box. The PNs for that are box are sears numbers, but when i ordered a new key, the lock cylinder number wasn't in sears system.
 
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1299

Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2010
Messages
22
Menards owns the Masterforce brand. You can exchange them without a receipt because they're the only ones that carry it. I've returned Tool Shop items with no hassle before.
 

Indy_500

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 2, 2010
Messages
1,873
Location
Appleton, WI
I have to disagree. While I have never seen a Menards or the Masterforce boxes, I own the HF unit and it is far from junk. It is hell-for-stout and the one I bought has no problems with any drawer slides or hardware. While I do have to agree with Mickey O on his buy USA stance and tonydanzah is right about the wrinkle finish powder coat. It is a tough finish, but looks cheap and will probably fade to pink if it sees too much sunlight. It is only 16" deep (like the Sears boxes), so storage is limited. For an Asian made box, it is very well made and would last a lifetime for the home user.

One of these days, I hope to upgrade to a larger, American made box. I want to purge my garage/shop of any Chinese made product. Gonna be hard to do with limited resources, but that is the plan anyway. Who does make the masterforce box? Anyone know?

a worker at menards told me masterforce is made my snap-on. don't know whether or not to believe that.
 

kartracer55

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 21, 2005
Messages
5,317
I work with a guy who has a dark green "masterhand" or "masterforce" box, Cant remember which, but the quality is decent, especially for what he paid. Craftsman has much better ball bearing slides, and the "grip latch" on craftsman is nicer than his detent system, but his box is definitely a ticker gauge steel.
 

Serious Machining

New member
Joined
Mar 7, 2010
Messages
4
The Masterforce boxes are definitely made in China; it says so in distinct
lettering on the sides of the cardboard packaging. I ended up purchasing
the 41" upper & lower set for $688 on the 2nd to the last day of Menards
sale. Shipping weight of lower cabinet is 231 lbs., upper chest is 154 lbs.
.
"Sale" & "Regular" prices for the various upper chests & lower cabinets:
$169 $199 26" 7 drawer Chest
$259 $299 26" 6 drawer Cabinet
$229 $269 36" 8 drawer Chest
$319 $359 36" 7 drawer Cabinet
$289 $339 41" 8 drawer Chest
$399 $449 41" 11 drawer Cabinet
No Sale $249 16" Side Box
 

street131

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 11, 2009
Messages
323
Location
West Michigan
these toolboxes are actually pretty damn solid for the price. I was looking at craftsman toolboxes for the longest time, but these toolboxes had thicker steel and just felt a hell alot better. Come with a lifetime warranty and menards has always been good with me for warrantys.
 

Kevin54

MEMBER EMERITUS
Joined
Jan 12, 2005
Messages
29,341
Location
Urbana, Ohio
does anybody know if they make master force tool boxes in red

Nope!!!! Grass green only. But don't worry, you will get used to it after a while. I have two of the large boxes and a side box. Green has never been my favorite color but I like the box.
 

caper150

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Joined
Nov 20, 2007
Messages
1,106
Location
Mantorville MN
I like the box too and will probably pick one up this weekend, but I too don't like the green that much, I have been toying with the ideal of painting it blue since I want a blue box but can't find one that size for that price.
 
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rsieracki

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Joined
Mar 3, 2010
Messages
1,679
Location
Chicagoland Area
i know this is an old thread but....

i was at menards the other day and the now have that green box in 36 (full width drawers) and 56 as well as the orginal 4?" width.... very nice for the money. if i hadn't already bought the HF boxes and built them in i would have bought the masterforce boxes for only a few bucks more (filled the space better and i like the drawer layout better).
 

jhelrey

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 15, 2010
Messages
7,238
Location
MN
I bought the 56 inch Masterforce Box myself. I love the thing! Best built box I have ever seen without spending the money on a Snap On or Mac.

I am 100% pleased with it. I can show how it is loaded up, etc. if anyone is interested in a few pics.

All boxes were on sale except for this one. I told the guy if he could knock off $50.00 I would buy it. Well, he did and I bought it.
 
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Deafautotech

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Joined
Jan 5, 2007
Messages
7,653
Location
Indianapolis, Indiana
I bought the 56 inch Masterforce Box myself. I love the thing! Best built box I have ever seen without spending the money on a Snap On or Mac.

I am 100% pleased with it. I can show how it is loaded up, etc. if anyone is interested in a few pics.

All boxes were on sale except for this one. I told the guy if he could knock off $50.00 I would buy it. Well, he did and I bought it.

damn!! i am jealous!! i would like to see that pictures... :beer::thumbup::drool::drool:
 

JASTECH

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Joined
Oct 21, 2009
Messages
2,671
Location
Gering, NE
I have been looking at them too, trying to find SO or MAC ect used for cheap. I may need to sell my SO & MAC bottom/top for the money.

Thanks, JASTECH
 

crewchief888

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 3, 2009
Messages
13,739
Location
NW indiana
the only thing i didnt like about the masterforce boxes was the drawer size and layout.
i'm kinda **** about what drawer holds certains tools, ive been organizing stuff the same way for 20 years.
when i'm forced to rearrage stuff in drawers i cant ind anything for a week :lol_hitti:lol_hitti:lol_hitti

they seemed to have a more solid feel to them than a lot of non truck brand boxes ive looked at, if not for the drawer sizes and quantity in the top box i looked at i would have put one in my service truck.

my poor 10 year old CM box has seen much better days :(

:beer:
 

jhelrey

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Sep 15, 2010
Messages
7,238
Location
MN
Here are the pics I said I would post....
 

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jhelrey

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Sep 15, 2010
Messages
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MN
and more....

The air tool drawer as a 2135TIMAX IR Impact, IR Angle Die, IR 3/8 Air Ratchet, IR Air hammer, Senco finish nailer, Porter Cable Stapler, Staples, Stapler, etc....

The box holds so much weight and the drawers are impressively smooth.
 

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jhelrey

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Messages
7,238
Location
MN
and some other random tools...

PS: These are good for insurance reasons as these pics will be backed up here as well! Haha!
 

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