New toolbox must haves

[Shoreline_]

I think the Icon boxes are made in Taiwan. I would have no issue owning one and I am big on quality and country of origin. Taiwan is leading the tool industry in innovation.

I could explain myself but we have a no politics rule here.

 

[Mr_B]

Personally I see full length drawers as not that big a deal, not even that fussed on deep top drawer as I don't stand sockets upright .
I got 4 older Matco bottom boxes MB7525 and MB8525 used daily in auto repair shop & would never bother replacing them .
With bit of thought you can get good storage layout without needing 2 long drawers .
Only time I consider getting really fussy on drawer layout and spending serious coin is if floor space an issue,
As for a power strip you can make your own to your liking and quality level for very minimal cost.
Would never bother with power drawers, batteries and the charger far better charging in open ventilated space for better cooling not jammed in a closed drawer .
I suppose to me the must have is stout no gimmick quality box and not paying the new price tag so used market older stout Matco and Mac boxes fit in well to my preferences .

 

[Ultradog MN]

I have two older boxes. One really old macsimizer from the 90s and a tall narrow KRL from the early 2000s. One thing I would love is at least two long top drawers and a power strip. I don't like splitting up my wrench drawer. I'm not big into side lockers or hutches but some guys really want that. What about you guys?

I bought some Stanley Vidmar cabinets at an auction last fall. They have totally changed my thinking about tool cabinets - like a complete paradigm shift.
So many advantages... I can't even list them all... over even the best mechanic's cabinets.
I would never go back!

 

[LWB]

I bought some Stanley Vidmar cabinets at an auction last fall. They have totally changed my thinking about tool cabinets - like a complete paradigm shift.
So many advantages... I can't even list them all... over even the best mechanic's cabinets.
I would never go back.

You should list some...At the end of the day it's a bunch of drawers. What are the advantages?

 

[AEAdam]

I think the Icon boxes are made in Taiwan. I would have no issue owning one and I am big on quality and country of origin. Taiwan is leading the tool industry in innovation.

Icon toolboxes are made in China according to Google. I personally don’t think Icon boxes are a good value. I can buy a used KRL for less, possibly much less and I think the KRL is a better box.

What do you mean?

I’m not sure what he means, but I think you are right that Mac toolboxes are nice. Maybe he’s saying it’s the only good thing Mac makes?

I agree with the others tho. I think I wouldn’t pay more than $2000 for a toolbox. You may not find used EPIQs for that, but you will find KRLs all day long. And they are a lot of box for that money.

 

[dr_clyde]

You should list some...At the end of the day it's a bunch of drawers. What are the advantages?

Massive weight ratings per drawer, completely different and rebuildable drawer slide mechanisms, highly configurable drawer layouts, factory organizers that bolt in, overall heavier built, there’s more I’m sure. They’re also cheaper than truck boxes.

They’re absolutely the best answer to store anything that you could want to store in a cabinet based drawer setup.

I have 4 Vidmar cabinets as well as 4 Snap-on boxes and the Vidmars absolutely kick the SO’s *** when it comes to heavy tools, large or awkward tools, or thousands of small things like hardware, fittings, machining cutters, stuff like that.

They do have a few downsides compared to a mechanics box however.

They’re not designed to be moved, as such they don’t have casters typically. They can be moved and you can put casters on them, but they’re really just designed to stay put.

They also are typically quite tall, and not meant to have a work surface on top.

Lista, which is owned by Vidmar, offers a “technician series” which is basically a tooling cabinet re-configured as a toolbox.

If I was buying a new box today, I’d look HARD at the Lista Tech Series and the Tekton/Rousseau boxes which are very similar.

 

[GTO]

The deeper the drawer the better....
Snap on KRL depth

 

[AEAdam]

Massive weight ratings per drawer, completely different and rebuildable drawer slide mechanisms, highly configurable drawer layouts, factory organizers that bolt in, overall heavier built, there’s more I’m sure. They’re also cheaper than truck boxes.

They’re absolutely the best answer to store anything that you could want to store in a cabinet based drawer setup.

I have 4 Vidmar cabinets as well as 4 Snap-on boxes and the Vidmars absolutely kick the SO’s *** when it comes to heavy tools, large or awkward tools, or thousands of small things like hardware, fittings, machining cutters, stuff like that.

They do have a few downsides compared to a mechanics box however.

They’re not designed to be moved, as such they don’t have casters typically. They can be moved and you can put casters on them, but they’re really just designed to stay put.

They also are typically quite tall, and not meant to have a work surface on top.

Lista, which is owned by Vidmar, offers a “technician series” which is basically a tooling cabinet re-configured as a toolbox.

If I was buying a new box today, I’d look HARD at the Lista Tech Series and the Tekton/Rousseau boxes which are very similar.

There are details, such as drawer heights, that are not optimized for automotive type tools. Many are comprised of a single or 2 drawer depths.

The boxes Icon & others are copying were developed by Snap On specifically for automotive techs based on real world feedback and Snap On's initmate knowledge of the way mechanics want to store their tools and the specific sizes of those tools.

Example: The holes down the sides of a Snap On roll cart were designed to hold Snap on pry bars. That detail was missed on the US General or maybe they designed their top compartmemnt to hold Pittsburgh pry bars, don't know.

Example #2: The socket drawer should be only deep enough to hold the biggest deep impact socket available. Much more depth is a waste of space. Unlike my kennedy, low height drawers should be deep enough to hold screwdrivers, preferably in their packaging/organizers.

What I'm saying for depth is also true of width and length of drawers.

The US General Roll cart remains a great deal, well enough made, and perfectly usable. But the drawer layout kinda *****. Shallow drawers are too shallow, that top deep drawer is really too deep. Goofy really.

When it comes to toolboxes, little stuff really makes the difference. Manufacturers want us to compare the stuff they think we want. Like sheet metal thickness or weight capacities. But there's so much more to a "good" toolbox than these few attributes.

 

[Shoreline_]

Yea like the reason why I want two full length top drawers is because in a course of a day or week rifling through multiple drawers to grab stuff adds up and makes you less efficient. And I don't use a cart. It's why snappy even has boxes of just full length drawers. For a guy working on a hot rod at home it doesn't really matter. You could have five 26" wide boxes. In the end it does come down to preference and working style.

 

[LWB]

I've often thought that two flip tops with 24" depth and a workbench in the middle would be ideal for a stationary box.

 

[dr_clyde]

There are details, such as drawer heights, that are not optimized for automotive type tools. Many are comprised of a single or 2 drawer depths.

The boxes Icon & others are copying were developed by Snap On specifically for automotive techs based on real world feedback and Snap On's initmate knowledge of the way mechanics want to store their tools and the specific sizes of those tools.

Example: The holes down the sides of a Snap On roll cart were designed to hold Snap on pry bars. That detail was missed on the US General or maybe they designed their top compartmemnt to hold Pittsburgh pry bars, don't know.

Example #2: The socket drawer should be only deep enough to hold the biggest deep impact socket available. Much more depth is a waste of space. Unlike my kennedy, low height drawers should be deep enough to hold screwdrivers, preferably in their packaging/organizers.

What I'm saying for depth is also true of width and length of drawers.

The US General Roll cart remains a great deal, well enough made, and perfectly usable. But the drawer layout kinda *****. Shallow drawers are too shallow, that top deep drawer is really too deep. Goofy really.

When it comes to toolboxes, little stuff really makes the difference. Manufacturers want us to compare the stuff they think we want. Like sheet metal thickness or weight capacities. But there's so much more to a "good" toolbox than these few attributes.

This is why Vidmar/Lista allow you to configure their boxes to your exact specs.

LISTA Technician Series Mobile Drawer Cabinet, Double Bank, 16 Drawer, 69.2" W 28.5" D 47.4" H (TSMWMP900-1601-M)

Shop the world's finest tools from elite brands like PB Swiss, Wera, KNIPEX, Ko-ken, Ebisu, KEIBA and more..

drpd.cc

This is a nicer box than my KRL 1023.

 

[AEAdam]

This is why Vidmar/Lista allow you to configure their boxes to your exact specs.

LISTA Technician Series Mobile Drawer Cabinet, Double Bank, 16 Drawer, 69.2" W 28.5" D 47.4" H (TSMWMP900-1601-M)

Shop the world's finest tools from elite brands like PB Swiss, Wera, KNIPEX, Ko-ken, Ebisu, KEIBA and more..

drpd.cc

This is a nicer box than my KRL 1023.

That's a handsome box to be sure, but also super spendy. I paid $800 for my 20yr old Kenosha red KRL with a stainless top. I see others like it for roughly double that. But they are still nearly $1000 cheaper than an Icon.

I see older Listas, beat up by industrial users for around $100/drawer. That can be a good deal if you need an industrial box. I've never seen a used one like the one linked above. I would much rather have Lista base cabs than my Kennedys. No comparison between the 2 really. And old Kennedys aren't THAT cheap.

 

[Ultradog MN]

You should list some...At the end of the day it's a bunch of drawers. What are the advantages?

Better organization. If you're a wrench guy it's One drawer for 3/8" one 1/2", one for 3/4" ratchets and sockets.
I don't need drawers that are 42" wide.
They're just heavier and less specialized.
These typically have several drawer depths.
2" depth is perfect for a lot of things.
3 1/2" for other items.
Get a couple of them and strategically place them so there's fewer steps to go grab a tool.
I wear several hats in here. Welding, machining, wrenching.
I have 4 cabinets, one has 5 shelves and a door - for lathe chucks, milling vises, angle plates, etc.
The other 3 have drawers. A total of 32 drawers each with specialty stuff.
Plus all the junk that gathers on top.
Massive drawer capacity. Like 300 lbs per drawer but ONE HAND - even just 2 fingers to open or close a drawer.
They come in different shapes and sizes but mine are all 30w, 28d, 60 tall.
Think of the "skyscraper principal" - tall buildings save land in a crowded downtown area.
I was lucky and got a Lot of drawer separators with mine = lots of options for storing dissimilar things.
I put mine on stands and can move them with ease with my pallet jack.

 

[LWB]

Better organization. If you're a wrench guy it's One drawer for 3/8" one 1/2", one for 3/4" ratchets and sockets.
I don't need drawers that are 42" wide.
They're just heavier and less specialized.
These typically have several drawer depths.
2" depth is perfect for a lot of things.
3 1/2" for other items.
Get a couple of them and strategically place them so there's fewer steps to go grab a tool.
I wear several hats in here. Welding, machining, wrenching.
I have 4 cabinets, one has 5 shelves and a door - for lathe chucks, milling vises, angle plates, etc.
The other 3 have drawers. A total of 32 drawers each with specialty stuff.
Plus all the junk that gathers on top.
Massive drawer capacity. Like 300 lbs per drawer but ONE HAND - even just 2 fingers to open or close a drawer.
They come in different shapes and sizes but mine are all 30w, 28d, 60 tall.
Think of the "skyscraper principal" - tall buildings save land in a crowded downtown area.
I was lucky and got a Lot of drawer separators with mine = lots of options for storing dissimilar things.
I put mine on stands and can move them with ease with my pallet jack.

Thanks, reason I ask if I've been thinking about adding benches/cabinets at work and am looking at all boxes. Mac, Snappy and Rousseau, which are very similar to what you have there. Rousseau can be had at auctions.

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