One wide or two narrow toolboxes?

[lyonkster]

I posted this question before, but it got buried in the thread, so let me ask again.

I see a lot of narrow (~30") Snap on and Matco toolboxes advertised on CL in the $400-600 range - here's an example: http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/tls/1512304999.html

Yet the big boxes (~53") advertise for closer to $1500-1600.

So I wonder, would it make sense to get a couple of the narrow ones, if I could get them for less than one big one? It seems that I'd have more drawers and bigger volume overall.

What is the downside? Are the narrow ones made flimsier? I can see that I may have a hard time getting two "matching" units, but I am not sure that I am that picky...

Leon

 

[mrshaun]

prybars torque wrenches and long screw drivers. think about those then make your purchase
prybar/screwdriver holder
but the torque wrenches. where do they go?
and do not forget a longer work surface.
guys who buy smaller boxes generally have to upgrade pretty quick.

 

[X1 Mike]

My first reaction is get the wide one. On second thought it would be nice to have one box dedicated to metric and one dedicated to SAE.

 

[Mickey O]

I posted this question before, but it got buried in the thread, so let me ask again.

I see a lot of narrow (~30") Snap on and Matco toolboxes advertised on CL in the $400-600 range - here's an example: http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/tls/1512304999.html

Yet the big boxes (~53") advertise for closer to $1500-1600.

So I wonder, would it make sense to get a couple of the narrow ones, if I could get them for less than one big one? It seems that I'd have more drawers and bigger volume overall.

What is the downside? Are the narrow ones made flimsier? I can see that I may have a hard time getting two "matching" units, but I am not sure that I am that picky...

Leon

No super wide drawers for long stuff. I'd say narrower ones are just as strong, stronger in some cases. I personally prefer the small boxes 26"~27", I want boxes that I can empty into some bins and be able to load and unload by myself without a big truck. I'd like to see someone come up with a nice modular box with an add on wide middle drawer.

I like the 30" ones too, haven't lifted one yet so I don't know if I can handle it by myself. I recently missed out on a 30" Canadian made Blue Point, top and bottom for $250. Harry Epstein has a new 30" Williams (same as Snap On or Blue Point) for a $1,000.00. Link

 

[Mickey O]

One more thing, resale on the small boxes is a breeze, put them on craig's list and they usually go very quickly on the other hand the large boxes, because of cost and size take a while to sell.

 

[Mickey O]

prybars torque wrenches and long screw drivers. think about those then make your purchase
prybar/screwdriver holder
but the torque wrenches. where do they go?
and do not forget a longer work surface.
guys who buy smaller boxes generally have to upgrade pretty quick.

You forgot long extensions, that's always been a problem for me, usually diagonally in the top of the box. I'm thinking about fabricating a vertical holder that bolts (so it isn't stolen) to the side of my box.

 

[X1 Mike]

No super wide drawers for long stuff. I'd say narrower ones are just as strong, stronger in some cases. I personally prefer the small boxes 26"~27", I want boxes that I can empty into some bins and be able to load and unload by myself without a big truck. I'd like to see someone come up with a nice modular box with an add on wide middle drawer.

I like the 30" ones too, haven't lifted one yet so I don't know if I can handle it by myself. I recently missed out on a 30" Canadian made Blue Point, top and bottom for $250. Harry Epstein has a new 30" Williams (same as Snap On or Blue Point) for a $1,000.00. Link

That is a great idea, it would be nice to be able to build as you need.

I just looked at the cl ad that the op posted. That is a good deal, a lot of the tools with it are junk but there is some gems mixed in there.

 

[jam022316]

My first reaction is get the wide one. On second thought it would be nice to have one box dedicated to metric and one dedicated to SAE.

That would be awesome! Especially for us OCD folks.

 

[X1 Mike]

That would be awesome! Especially for us OCD folks.

What do you mean "US" OCD folks? Just because my ratchets are color coded doesn't mean I have OCD....

 

[lyonkster]

Thanks for the replies, much appreciated. I don't have anything super long in my "weekend wrench" collection, probably the 26" torque wrench being the longest.

Mickey O, it seems that from what I see around here, it's actually the larger ones that go quick, and the smaller ones seem to languish. Maybe it's the weird CA air, I dunno.

A guy has two KR555 units on ebay right now, at about $300 each with a day to go. He had them listed previously at $500 each, and got no bids. I think those have friction slides (?), but if I got them both, I'd have a matching set...

I do think the Matco box in my top post is a nice deal, but part of me does want to have a matching set.

Leon

 

[lyonkster]

Are the narrow boxes more likely to have friction slides instead of ball bearings?

 

[Mickey O]

Are the narrow boxes more likely to have friction slides instead of ball bearings?

Depends on what year they were made, older boxes both big and small (except Lista, Vidmar, etc) had friction slides, the newer quality boxes have ball bearings. You can still buy newer boxes with friction slides and they aren't terrible until you get some serious weight in them. I do have some old boxes with 4 friction slides per drawer and they work pretty well loaded down but nowhere as nice as ball bearing.

 

[mrshaun]

3 555K2000TR 1 Drawer, Shallow
6 550A2000TR 1 Drawer, Medium Deep
7,8 555K2100ATR 2 Drawer, Medium Deep
9 555K2500ATR 1 Drawer, Deep
– 8-167 18 Offset Runner, HD (Drawers 2,3,4)
– 8-468 18 Channel Track, False Side (Drawers 2,3,4)
– 555K3001 2 Trim Channel
– 8-2518 2 Trim Cap
– 8-10039 2 Swivel Caster (2 used)
– 8-10139 2 Caster, 5" Rigid
– 1-1626 16 Screw, 1/4"-20 x 5/8" w/Lockwasher
– 1-3041 16 Washer, 1/4" Flat
– 8-16437 1 Lock Assembly
– 8-8437-1 2 Cam (Lock)
– 8-3237A6 2 Spring Clip (Lock)
– 1-467 2 Spring (Locking Mechanism)
– 555K0604 2 Stiffener, Bottom Panel
– 791X5000 1 Hardware Package
– KN450ASV 1 Nameplate
here are the parts for that box..... just FYI

 

[lyonkster]

I'm looking at something like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SNAP...tZMotors_Automotive_Tools?hash=item4a9d03b80b

Are the friction slides in this model any good?

Leon

 

[PhantomEB]

I dunno, I just know the way I have gone for the past 18 years of workin on my own stuff.....

I dont recall ever 'replacing' a tool, just buy another. Same goes for my tool box, still got the same one from when I was 16. I havent outgrown it, just built cabinets but when I do move on from here.... its gonna be ANOTHER box. Nothin cooler than several chest and cabinets next to eachother. Only for me, they all got to be red to match, none of those fancy blue or black ones....

 

[Merkava_4]

The ideal drawer size is [30-17/32"W] x [26-31/32"D].

 

[myslow2002gt]

The ideal drawer size is [66"W] x [26-31/32"D].

There, fixed it for ya

 

[krusty the clown]

i used to have two matco mb520's attached (i had one mb510 chest) and thought it was a great setup. in fact matco used to sell a kit to attach them. IIRC it was called a linemaster, so yes it can be done. like mentioned before the downside is no long drawer for extensions and prybars but for a home setup you'll be fine.

 

[Mickey O]

i used to have two matco mb520's attached (i had one mb510 chest) and thought it was a great setup. in fact matco used to sell a kit to attach them. IIRC it was called a linemaster, so yes it can be done. like mentioned before the downside is no long drawer for extensions and prybars but for a home setup you'll be fine.

What did the kit consist of?

 

[krusty the clown]

What did the kit consist of?

it was a frame that the two bottoms sat on, with casters, and a top that fit over the two. i'll try and dig out a catalog and scan the pages.

here ya go

 

[usmc_noma]

i'd figure out how often you'll be moving the box. if you're settled in a place and have the room why not spring for the bigger box. it makes sense to me. if you're confined in space or think you'll be moving the boxes around the shop or to a different location, i say go for the smaller chest.

 

[caper]

Gray Tools still sells a kit to join their smaller boxes together.They also have the solution to prybar storage with their side cabinet that has a built in prybar storage cabinet.

 

[jshillin]

I have a 26" Craftsman Ball Bearing Bottom/Middle/Top Griplatch and a 32" Snap-On Roller. I don't mind them, but I do need the 32" for my bigger 1/2" breaker bar, pry bars, etc. I work mostly out of the Snap-On as i roll it around wth my most used tools and leave the C-Man stationary.

 

[Mickey O]

Gray Tools still sells a kit to join their smaller boxes together.They also have the solution to prybar storage with their side cabinet that has a built in prybar storage cabinet.

Pictures? Links?

 

[Papawrench]

The bigger boxes r what u need if ur a pro if not smaller boxes r fine as for the guy who said there easier to unload and move quit changing jobs if ur quiting stop the grass isn't greener on the other side if ur getting fired apply at a dealer and work ur way up

 

[Merkava_4]

I gotta have a drawer big enough to fit four 12 slot wrench racks:

1 forward and 1 reverse side by side, plus 1 forward and 1 reverse side by side directly behind them.

 

[caper]

Pictures? Links?

Here you go,scroll down to the end for the bases.Stop in the professional series section to see some different configurations.The side cabinet with prybar storage is in there too.

http://www.graytools.com/pdf/storage2008.pdf

 

[Mickey O]

it was a frame that the two bottoms sat on, with casters, and a top that fit over the two. i'll try and dig out a catalog and scan the pages.

here ya go

Thanks for posting that, I'd like to see them make something similar again, maybe a 27" or 30" base and an 18" base. With an available wide drawer that goes on top. One that could also be used vertically with some sort of metal pegboard bottom so it could be used independently if you had the boxes separated.

 

[Mickey O]

Here you go,scroll down to the end for the bases.Stop in the professional series section to see some different configurations.The side cabinet with prybar storage is in there too.

http://www.graytools.com/pdf/storage2008.pdf

Thanks.



...

 

[myslow2002gt]

I gotta have a drawer big enough to fit four 12 slot wrench racks:

1 forward and 1 reverse side by side, plus 1 forward and 1 reverse side by side directly behind them.

My 56" wide drawers is not big enough for all my wrenches

 

[Fedwrench]

There was a thread here awhile back about Frankenstein boxes where smaller boxes were joined together via platforms and other means.
If I was to do it all over again, I would opt for the Cornwell 7 drawer cart and two wall lockers. The wall lockers would be home to the numerous plastic boxes of test equipment, specialty tools, and measuring stuff. The Cornwell cart is big enough to contain tools to perform 90% of my tasks and offers great mobility. I think multiple rollaways under a nice workbench is also a great technique. I think when I grow up, I want to have say 36 inch wide units from each of the tool truck brands, that way I can put all of my Snap on stuff in the Snap on unit, all of my Mac stuff in the Mac unit, and so on.

 

[Mickey O]

I like the Gray toolboxes, the retro handles are cool. They just need to come up with a top like Matco and a single or double drawer unit to fit on top of the combined units. Are they available in the states?

 

[lodemia]

My dad had that setup when I grew up. It was about as perfect as I can imagine. Then one of his employees decided to "oil" the drawer slides.....

it was a frame that the two bottoms sat on, with casters, and a top that fit over the two. i'll try and dig out a catalog and scan the pages.

here ya go

 

[rsanter]

depending on what you do, you may want one big box or several smaller ones.
I have 2 semi-large boxed that store most of my stuff, but them I have smaller boxes that are for specialty tools like sheetmetal tools and then I have a seperate box for the tooling for my mill & lathe
for me this is what works

bob

 

[speed bump]

I need at least one long drawer for pry bars, big wrenches, and long drive tools as well sometimes long extensions and other what nots that are picked up for certain jobs.

The thing that is most appealing to me right now is getting a locker. All those plastic cased tools, hard to store stuff like torches, power tools, welding safety gear, and cords would store much easier in a locker than they do taking up drawer space.

 

[Stick Figure]

and a single or double drawer unit to fit on top of the combined units.

http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/p_10...&cName=Tool+Storage&sName=Intermediate+Chests

thats the closest thing i've seen to something like that. I thought about sneaking one of these between my HF top and bottom, but for the cost its not really worth it to me. I pretty much lost my mind and decided to go for a 72" just waiting for the right deal at this point.

As far as the smaller ones being easier to move, that could be a bad thing in case of a theft situation. I would rather have a box that was too heavy for someone to lift. Let them try and break into it at least then i have a chance i'll have some tools left, and a damaged box that could have some prints lifted!

 

[glenmore]

I have very limited experience but the Snap-On KRL style seems optimum to me. A wide box, at least 54", with a taller full width top drawer will hold all your sockets standing up all your ratchets and extensions and a second full width thinner drawer would hold all your wrenches. It seems like it would be ideal to open just one or two drawers to get at the tools that you use the majority of the time.

 

[scottmlew]

A wide box, at least 54", with a taller full width top drawer will hold all your sockets standing up all your ratchets and extensions and a second full width thinner drawer would hold all your wrenches.

Wow, you're new here, huh? I'm just giving you a hard time...but I couldn't resist. I recently had a discussion with my wife where she was encouraging me to get a bigger box, and I actually measured to figure out if all of my wrenches would fit in a single wide top drawer (I thought they would, she thought otherwise), and they wouldn't...and my collection in tiny compared to many on here. Same situation with ratchets...go to the "show your toolbox" thread and prepare to be amazed!

Welcome aboard!

 

[Mickey O]

I have very limited experience but the Snap-On KRL style seems optimum to me. A wide box, at least 54", with a taller full width top drawer will hold all your sockets standing up all your ratchets and extensions and a second full width thinner drawer would hold all your wrenches. It seems like it would be ideal to open just one or two drawers to get at the tools that you use the majority of the time.

With a small box you can keep all of your sockets standing up, metric in one drawer, sae in another (sometimes both in the same drawer depending on what you have) and all the drive tools in their own drawer. I think you could never please all of us with one box, big or small. We all have different ways we like to organize and keep our tools. I'm on a quest for the perfect small box, if I still worked in a fabrication shop I think I'd build it myself. I wish we had those shop cooperatives out here like they do out west.

 

[crewchief888]

I posted this question before, but it got buried in the thread, so let me ask again.

I see a lot of narrow (~30") Snap on and Matco toolboxes advertised on CL in the $400-600 range - here's an example: http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/tls/1512304999.html

Yet the big boxes (~53") advertise for closer to $1500-1600.

So I wonder, would it make sense to get a couple of the narrow ones, if I could get them for less than one big one? It seems that I'd have more drawers and bigger volume overall.

What is the downside? Are the narrow ones made flimsier? I can see that I may have a hard time getting two "matching" units, but I am not sure that I am that picky...

Leon

i like the small box idea myself. i end up moving my boxes by myself, slide the top boxes into the back of the truck and the roller cabs get strapped down on a utility trailer. largest setup i have put together was this one, i still have the kr555/550 set, but sold off the other kr555 and the lrg side box to a young tech.
with 3 sets smaller boxes that i use in my rental building, i can move em around where they fit the best in my ever changing world, and of those 3 sets, i paid $25 for one of the top boxes, the rest were give-awys or dumpster finds