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Montezuma Tool Boxes

transchief

New member
Joined
Jan 26, 2008
Messages
2
Hi All,

New here and would like to know if any one has purchased a tool chest/cabinet/box distributed by Montezuma Manufacturing in Kansas. They are available through many internet tool distributors. I have been looking at the 72" Elite roller cabinet model. None of the distributors I have contacted stock the box. I would really like to see one before taking the plunge. Boxes are direct shipped from Kansas, free shipping to a business with a dock or forklift.
The box is made in China (scary) but as explained by a distributor, they are competitive with Snap On at 25-30% of the cost. The phrase "you get what you pay for" runs throught my head. Again the distributor says they are a very high quality box, but then he is trying to make a sale.
If you have one of these let me know how the quality and workmanship rate.

Thanks,
transchief
 
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jay50

Banned
Joined
Oct 28, 2007
Messages
3,894
Hi All,

New here and would like to know if any one has purchased a tool chest/cabinet/box distributed by Montezuma Manufacturing in Kansas. They are available through many internet tool distributors. I have been looking at the 72" Elite roller cabinet model. None of the distributors I have contacted stock the box. I would really like to see one before taking the plunge. Boxes are direct shipped from Kansas, free shipping to a business with a dock or forklift.
The box is made in China (scary) but as explained by a distributor, they are competitive with Snap On at 25-30% of the cost. The phrase "you get what you pay for" runs throught my head. Again the distributor says they are a very high quality box, but then he is trying to make a sale.
If you have one of these let me know how the quality and workmanship rate.

Thanks,

transchief
distributor will say anything to make a sell, remember, you would have to pay freight to return it if you were not happy. He knows this is very unlikely..
Would have to see a box in person before buying or hear from someone who owned it.
 

MarkH

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 19, 2005
Messages
1,353
Location
Kansas
Kansas, lets see is that from Spring Hill, KS. Home of some Cummins junk I was unfortunate enough to buy.
 

Uncle Buck

Banned
Joined
Mar 7, 2005
Messages
9,120
Location
Kansas
Kansas, lets see is that from Spring Hill, KS. Home of some Cummins junk I was unfortunate enough to buy.

I think it is actually made in Motezuma KS. as the name implies, and I have never seen one however I have never seen or read anything speaking poorly of their products either!
 

locoman

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 16, 2007
Messages
97
I live not to far from montezuma. In the midwest half of the farmers pickups have one in the back. They are great for flatbeds. They were made very heavy in the past. The last new one's I have seen is some at the railroad where I work. They were made in Montezuma. It was a little lighter gauge metal than some of there older ones, but was powder coated. I can tell you that the quality is there. They take a real beating in some trucks. I can tell you that if you want a box to store a lot of small stuff or oddball tools look at the chest type. They are good at keeping your basic hand tools neat and handy. If you start throwing in a lot of small stuff they become quickly cluttered and disorganized. My brother has one that is 25-30 years old. Kind of like an old timex! The last I looked they make several sizes and configurations now. P.S I have seen some of the older boxes roll down the hyway at 60 and not lose a tool or function to operate. the old ones rock!!
 
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Kevin54

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Joined
Jan 12, 2005
Messages
29,341
Location
Urbana, Ohio
I just recently purchased a MasterForce which Hholmberg pointed out to me was actually a Montezuma box. I am very well satisfied with it. It's not a 72" but it is a 41". Well built, heavy, bearing drawer slides, etc. Built way better than my Craftsman.
 

jay50

Banned
Joined
Oct 28, 2007
Messages
3,894
I just recently purchased a MasterForce which Hholmberg pointed out to me was actually a Montezuma box. I am very well satisfied with it. It's not a 72" but it is a 41". Well built, heavy, bearing drawer slides, etc. Built way better than my Craftsman.

Who'd you get it from? Retailer?
 

Kevin54

MEMBER EMERITUS
Joined
Jan 12, 2005
Messages
29,341
Location
Urbana, Ohio
Who'd you get it from? Retailer?

I got mine from Menards. But if you do a search for Montezuma Toolbox retailers it will pop up some that may be in your area. Menards are only limited to just a few states and I think MasterForce is Menards specific. Different names for different stores.
 

jay50

Banned
Joined
Oct 28, 2007
Messages
3,894
We have always built them out of 16 ga. steel since the beginning over 25 years ago. What made them look a little different was the paint we have used over the years. We first started off with a white enamel which we applied thru a dip process. The paint actually turned out pretty thick. Second we switched to a LineX rubber coating which made the steel look really thick. 11 years ago we switched to powder coat and have had great success.

Vince Koehn
President
Montezuma Mfg., Inc.
1-800-759-5157
[email protected]

Vince,
What trade names/brands are the Montezuma boxes sold under? From your website I see NT listed, but have only seen Torin boxes there.

I'm in the market for a bigger tool box/chest.
thanks
 

CBSuperDuty

Active member
Joined
Oct 16, 2006
Messages
29
So are the MasterForce boxes at Menards yours then? Just curious as I have looked them over and hope to be buying one soon. I like the fact that you are not too far from me, just down in KS.
 

SteveU

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 20, 2006
Messages
1,243
Location
Michigan
Thanks to all who have purchased a "Montezuma" toolbox. We pride ourselves in our products whether it be our domestically made or import product. If it says "Montezuma" it is a product we are proud of and will make sure you as our customers are completely satisfied with it.
We are just wholesale at the factory as we sell thru a network of distributors which are listed on our website www.montezumamfg.com
However with that said I want to open our phone lines to you so that we can answer any questions you have about our products. Give us a call at 1-800-759-5157 or email me [email protected]
We have produced our "portable" toolboxes for over 25 years in the US and continue to do so. We import our "top chest & roller cabinet" toolboxes which are built to our specs. We as a US manufacture could not improve on the quality we see in our import line if we built them in the US. Our goal was to introduce a high quality, affordable toolbox that could indeed be compared to the leading brands in the toolbox industry today.
There are certain cost cutting measure frequently seen in the toolbox industry that we will not do such as cutting the ga. of steel down, decreasing drawer slide capacity, reducing caster weight rating, etc.


Vince Koehn
President
Montezuma Mfg., Inc.
29502 12 Rd.
Montezuma, KS 67867
1-800-759-5157
[email protected]
www.montezumamfg.com

Hi Vince, I had a question concerning your 56" top chest/roller cabinet, how do the specs on it compare to the International model in the same size? Will be looking at getting something bigger hopefully in the next year or so. Also, do the portable boxes have enough room between the pegs to mount impact sockets on them? Something like this mounted on a rubbermaid type rolling cart would be slick for underlift work.
 
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spd_speedwerks

New member
Joined
May 30, 2010
Messages
4
Talk to Shannon Flesner at Strictlytoolboxes.com I recieved my box today and had an issue with a chipped drawer. Though this wasn't Shannon's fault he is willing to do whatever it takes to make it right. Great guy. He's on here as Global72. I didn't expect the Montezuma box to be perfect. Nothing ever is when shipped cross country. But the customer service I have gotten definitely is. As far as the claims of it being made it china? So are snap on's blue point tools. They are still warrantied. And I don't have a weekly bill for my box. I OWN IT! Bottom LINE. Buy a montezuma. And buy it from shannon. Trust me. You can say whatever you want but when it's in your garage and you own it you'll be happy and dying to rub it in the face of your buddies paying every week just to be able to store there stuff in a brand name box.
 

TLCDino

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 23, 2010
Messages
117
Location
Pasadena, CA
Thanks to all who have purchased a "Montezuma" toolbox. We pride ourselves in our products whether it be our domestically made or import product. If it says "Montezuma" it is a product we are proud of and will make sure you as our customers are completely satisfied with it.
We are just wholesale at the factory as we sell thru a network of distributors which are listed on our website www.montezumamfg.com
However with that said I want to open our phone lines to you so that we can answer any questions you have about our products. Give us a call at 1-800-759-5157 or email me [email protected]
We have produced our "portable" toolboxes for over 25 years in the US and continue to do so. We import our "top chest & roller cabinet" toolboxes which are built to our specs. We as a US manufacture could not improve on the quality we see in our import line if we built them in the US. Our goal was to introduce a high quality, affordable toolbox that could indeed be compared to the leading brands in the toolbox industry today.
There are certain cost cutting measure frequently seen in the toolbox industry that we will not do such as cutting the ga. of steel down, decreasing drawer slide capacity, reducing caster weight rating, etc.
If you purchase any "Montezuma" toolbox of any kind and for some reason are not completely happy, we want to know call us direct and we will absolutely make it right.
If you have a "Montezuma" toolbox send me a "in-use" picture along with a proof of purchase (receipt, etc.) and we will send you a free hat or t-shirt your choice.

Vince Koehn
President
Montezuma Mfg., Inc.
29502 12 Rd.
Montezuma, KS 67867
1-800-759-5157
[email protected]
www.montezumamfg.com

That is a really amazing quote, Vince. I commend you for being the type of president that would post on Board and speak up for your product as well as leave your email. Bravo:thumbup:
 

Okuma

New member
Joined
Dec 31, 2010
Messages
1
Location
California
I too would like to commend Vince for his comments. I have been in the market for a new chest for about 3 months now and was ready to pull the trigger on a Montezuma box. Unfortunately, it now looks as if the Montezuma boxes are no longer made of 16ga steel. The Montezuma website lists them at 20ga. Vince, do you still have any of the older, 16 ga chests available. Would love to get my hands on a couple. Thank you and Happy New Year!

Chris
 
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