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Rolling tool storage for $500?

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swduncan

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Suppose you were looking for rolling tool storage on a budget of $400. What would you look at for the best mix of quality and capacity. This would be in a garage with very moderate use - hobbyist stuff.

I've looked over the Craftsman stuff, along with what Farm & Fleet and Northern Tool sell. The used truck brand stuff seems to be either non-existent, or too expensive.

Sears has a nice roll cabinet with 11 drawers, for about $320 right now. What else should I look at?
 
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Uncle Buck

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Merkava_4 said:
Kennedy 3900MP. It's gonna cost you a little more than $500 - but it's 10 times the quality of Craftsman Freight.
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The man said his budget was $400, not north of $500 Merk. If the Craftsman has a look and the drawers feel as you think they should when you pull them out I would say go with the Craftsman.

Take note, there are tons of Craftsman haters on this board, so don't expect to see many posts suggesting you buy a Craftsman box. In fact, I suspect you would see more telling you to go get a HF box instead of the Craftsman! :wtf:

For what it's worth the only box I ever bought new was a 40" Craftsman friction slide box almost twenty years ago and it has served my needs just fine, even though it has been loaded down far beyond the suggested capacity almost from day one it works just as well now as it did the day I bought it.

BTW: When I bought mine I was operating on a tight budget as well! Good luck, I hope you buy the Craftsman. :thumbup:
 
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Uncle Buck

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Lol! Busted you didn't I merk! You can't get the quote can you! Damn, and after you went and removed yer post and all! :lol_hitti:lol_hitti
 
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swduncan

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Well, I left 500 in the subject, so I can't complain but the Kennedy seems to be more like $1000. I'd love to spend a grand on stool storage, but that's just too much for the use I would give it.
 
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Uncle Buck

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Kennedy is a far better quality box than a Craftsman, but if you are working with a budget, and are not a pro, the Craftsman line should do you just fine.
 
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swduncan

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Thanks - I'm not really worried about Craftsman quality. I've got a few of their bottom-end chests in my woodworking shop, and they are ok.

I was just wondering if anyone else was offering better value/unique features/something else I should look at.
 
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fotoflojoe

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I'd go trolling on Craig's List, you never know what you'll find.

FWIW, I have a 26" Snap On chest sitting right next to a 26" C'man homeowner's chest - they both work equally well.
 
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-B-

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500 is a good number fora a life time box my suggestion is look for used but be patient look for a month of two before you give up and go new. Do not for get to look at Lista, Equipto, and Vidmar wheel can be added to these boxes quite easily.
 
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Merkava_4

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-B- said:
500 is a good number fora a life time box my suggestion is look for used but be patient look for a moth of two before you give up and go new. Do not for get to look at Lista, Equipto, and Vidmar wheel can be added to these boxes quite easily.
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Here's one. :bounce:

moth431x300.jpg
 
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Fedwrench

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I guess you need to define rolling. Are you going to load the box up to the max and then regularly push it around? If so, I would try to buy a used truck brand box or find a used Craftsman professional or industrial bottom. The Harbor Freight bow is gaining popularity with entry level techs due to its low price (especially when on sale). They've even added a full length side locker to the top and end cab offerings. However, these boxes are best left as stationary objects and aren't made for the long haul being pushed around daily with a lot of weight inside. Craftsman has had some pretty good deals lately on 40 inch wide carts. I would watch for a sale.:beer:
 
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wrenchr

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Uncle Buck said:
The man said his budget was $400, not north of $500 Merk. If the Craftsman has a look and the drawers feel as you think they should when you pull them out I would say go with the Craftsman.

Take note, there are tons of Craftsman haters on this board, so don't expect to see many posts suggesting you buy a Craftsman box. In fact, I suspect you would see more telling you to go get a HF box instead of the Craftsman! :wtf:

For what it's worth the only box I ever bought new was a 40" Craftsman friction slide box almost twenty years ago and it has served my needs just fine, even though it has been loaded down far beyond the suggested capacity almost from day one it works just as well now as it did the day I bought it.

BTW: When I bought mine I was operating on a tight budget as well! Good luck, I hope you buy the Craftsman. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Merk knocks Craftsman which is mostly USA made still, but loves toptul and gearwrench:headscrat Make up your mind Merkava.
 
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fordracing200

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swduncan said:
Suppose you were looking for rolling tool storage on a budget of $400. What would you look at for the best mix of quality and capacity. This would be in a garage with very moderate use - hobbyist stuff.

I've looked over the Craftsman stuff, along with what Farm & Fleet and Northern Tool sell. The used truck brand stuff seems to be either non-existent, or too expensive.

Sears has a nice roll cabinet with 11 drawers, for about $320 right now. What else should I look at?
Click to expand...

harbor freight has a huge bottom cabinet for 450...twice the thickness and qaulity of the craftsman boxes.....ball bearing, very nice. and its expandable with a side cab and top box as finances allow

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90320

I atleast reccomend checking one out in person.

edit-
I see people have already reccomended it. I personally have a taskforce 7 drawer top and 5 drawer bottom...made by waterloo just like the craftsman and its not built exceptionally, but does the job, definitly too narrow to fit my 26" pry bar though :mad::headscrat, so I'm saving for the US General one I linked..checked it out yesterday at chinese freight, looked real good, definitly well built and affordable for a student or someone on a budget.
 
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tw33k2514

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Home Depot sells the husky boxes also, They are great expect for the drawer catch that yanks the drawer shut.
 
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Packard V8

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x2 on the craigslist search. As always, your money, your tools, your decision, but I seldom-to-never find it necessary to buy new tools or boxes. There are so many out there, it just takes checking craigslist morning, noon and night and being ready to move with the cash when the right buy comes along. If you take your time, you can get three times the box for used money.

thnx, jack vines
 
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Merkava_4

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wrenchr said:
Merk knocks Craftsman which is mostly USA made still, but loves toptul and gearwrench:headscrat Make up your mind Merkava.
Click to expand...

I have made up my mind - I reward those with my dollars who produces the best quality - irregardless of origin. ;)

In addition:

If two products are the exact same quality, with one being foreign and the other being domestic, I'll choose the USA product. :)
 
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Danglerb

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HF on sale with a coupon is a LOT of box for less than $500, more than I need so I bought a used Craftsman glide 26x18x40 roll away and matching intermediate box for about $250.

Bigger than a 26" wide and its never going to be moved around. Even with mine I use a service cart next to the car, and a rolling seat with a tray for all my working stuff and only go to the big box to restock or put stuff away.
 
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Lookin4'67Galaxieconv

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Why buy a toolbox new? Unless you're getting a hell of a deal, it's almost always better to go used and buy one that hasn't been abused at a fraction of the price of a new one.

Am I wrong?:headscrat
 
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Zorro13

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Take the HF box! Bought mine last week after I had first a old snapon (good but to small) and then a Waterloo Magnum pro ( = Craftsman professional) top + bottom.

The Magnum is cheap **** compared to the build quality of the HF. Chiping paint everywhere even on plain surfaces, hard plastic rollers, two-layer sheet metal separates easily where handles are mounted. Got the Magnum really cheap so I bought it used (2.5 yr old) to sell it again, which worked out very well. But would not even consider this being a pro-grade box regardless what the brand badge tells you. The C-man / Waterloo box is horribly overpriced.

The HF comes with a more robust powder coat paint, and the frame construction is far more robust. The drawers run slightly worse than the Waterloo / Craftsman box but overall the HF is still the far better box. Both are Chinese made boxes BTW, but one comes definitely from a "el-cheapo" plant only pimped up by adding decent ball bearing drawers the other one seems to be built by a company that seriously thinks about its design (HF even has a patented looking system for the drawers).
 
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