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New Tool Box

mangorockfish

Active member
Joined
Mar 29, 2015
Messages
41
Location
East Arkansas
I'm toying with the idea of giving my 15yr old grandson one of my tool boxes and getting myself a new one. I looked at HD today at the Huskies and the Milwaukees. Liked both and would consider either. When looking at tool boxes, which is more of a determining factor, the cubic inches or the pounds they will hold? Also, just over-all which do you guys/gals consider the better of the two? One is the 16 drawer Milwaukee and the Huskie is a 12 drawer.
 
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WWheeler

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Jun 23, 2015
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4,105
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Middleofnowhere USA
A few months ago I picked up the 52" Husky textured combo. It's not a professional box but more than stout enough for my needs. I've been happy with it so far. No complaints.

FWIW the manufacturer of the Milwaukee and the newer textured black Husky boxes are the same. Zhongshan Geelong Manufacturing Co in China.
 

2ndGearRubber

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Joined
Mar 24, 2014
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14,185
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Pittsburgh
Drawer layout is king. Consider a locking cabinet for power tools and a smaller box for standard hand stuff.

The tools you have, and the things you do with them, are the determining factors for layout choice.
 

Wamsutta

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Joined
Jan 8, 2014
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10,879
Location
Amarillo, Texas
I'm toying with the idea of giving my 15yr old grandson one of my tool boxes and getting myself a new one. I looked at HD today at the Huskies and the Milwaukees. Liked both and would consider either. When looking at tool boxes, which is more of a determining factor, the cubic inches or the pounds they will hold? Also, just over-all which do you guys/gals consider the better of the two? One is the 16 drawer Milwaukee and the Huskie is a 12 drawer.

Neither. It's sheet metal thickness.
 

Alexander

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Joined
May 24, 2014
Messages
169
Location
Hudson Valley, New York
I agree with 2nd Gear.

Drawer layout is what you want to consider most of all.

Cubic inches is a measure of the overall dimensions of the toolbox (more or less). It would basically be the same number if it had just one gigantic drawer. That isn't particularly helpful.

Weight capacity can be helpful, but it depends which number you see. Some list overall box capacity (less helpful), and some list capacity per drawer (much more helpful). Generally you'll see 100# per drawer for this level of box, give or take. Better boxes hold more, lesser boxes hold less. You may think that's an incredible amount of weight, but start adding sockets together and you may be surprised by how much it adds up to. Even if you're not at the limit, better drawer slides will likely be able to hold the weight day after day for longer without failing.

But back to drawers. The ideal layout depends on you, the user. Do you have a lot of sockets and do you want those to be in the top drawer of the bottom box (most accessible)? Then you probably want that to be a drawer deep enough (height-wise) to hold your sockets upright on holders. Do you like your tools to all be laid out flat like an aircraft technician (slimmer drawers)? Do you plan to store bulky power tools in the same box (one or two deep drawers)? Perhaps a side cabinet, if applicable, can handle this stuff? Do you want a pegboard (again, depending on which box)?

These are all questions to ask yourself. Then again, it may seem like a big decision, but it's not the end of the world. If you buy something and end up wanting something else instead, there will always be ways for you to make that happen.

In my experience, the milwaukee boxes are more expensive than the husky boxes, but I think the name plays into that a lot. In general I think they are close in quality, enough where a sale price makes one more attractive than another.
 
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RedneckWelder

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Nov 12, 2013
Messages
5,705
Location
The Ghetto Kingdom of Methlandia
Drawer layout and what you like best feature/color wise. In that price range of box you aren’t getting anything with radically different specs from others they shake out about the same. The Milwaukee boxes are very nice and so are the Huskys for the money.
 

plinker

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Joined
Feb 28, 2007
Messages
4,286
Location
Northern Wi
The deeper depth the better. Most are 18" deep some up to 22" deep. Other things to check on are if it has dual slides on deeper drawers and the drawer slide weight rating.

Having a plan on how you want to store what you have also helps, Wrenches here, sockets there, ete...
 

Mr_B

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Joined
Nov 21, 2016
Messages
5,378
Location
Reading
I would go with 24" deep husky and choose a drawer layout that best for tools you got .
If got a menards near have a look at masterforce boxes .
 

visiter555

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 22, 2016
Messages
132
Location
Winnipeg, MB, Canada
I still have and sometimes use, my (circa 1979) Beach cantilever tool box. If I remember the model was 418 or 419. The thickness of the metal has stood the test of time along with the hinges and scissor arms.

Unfortunately it weighs a ton when empty...lol

Quality of metal and components is the true test.
 
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