Show off your Menards Masterforce tool boxes.

[chevy_tech]

I'm thinking of purchasing a new Masterforce tool cabinet/chest combo from Menards. I'm undecided whether or not to get the 26" wide or the 30" wide. I'd like to see some pictures of Masterforce toolboxes. I'd like to see exterior pics as well as drawer pics to see how you organize your boxes. Thank you.

 

[mstewart]

I'd say a 36" even though you didn't mention it. If you have a lot of hand tools that lay flat, the 36" cab has more drawers to accommodate this.

I've attached something I did when I was looking at them, all the Masterforce size offerings for roll cab/chest, side drawers and side locker.

 

[youngridge]

Get the 41 inch if possible, will post pics of mine later this week.

 

[Kevin54]

I don't have any pics on this computer (garage computer) but I have three 41" rollers and a 41" top box. I love them. They may not be the quality of S-O, Matco, or Cornwell, but they are built heavy. Do a general search for "Menards sells MasterForce boxes"


Nevermind.....I did the work and found it http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12891&highlight=Menards+sells+Masterforce

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=96227&highlight=Menards+sells+Masterforce

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=49879&highlight=Menards+sells+Masterforce

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=132388&highlight=Menards+sells+Masterforce

 

[chevy_tech]

I am going to stick with a smaller box because I am trying to conserve space in my garage at home. If I would ever require more space, I would add a side cabinet or locker. I noticed that Masterforce only advertises the side "locker" for the 41" and larger combos. I don't see why you couldn't mount one to a 26" or 30" model??

 

[chevy_tech]

Bump

 

[Rickster]

I would recommend buying the largest base box you can fit and afford. They have a way of "filling up" rather quickly.

 

[Kevin54]

I am going to stick with a smaller box because I am trying to conserve space in my garage at home. If I would ever require more space, I would add a side cabinet or locker. I noticed that Masterforce only advertises the side "locker" for the 41" and larger combos. I don't see why you couldn't mount one to a 26" or 30" model??

You can as long as the depth of the box is the same. I have two side cabs and they are 18" deep.

 

[metaldad]

got the 41.
shoulda got the 56.
here's some out dated shots.



and a semi current one,

 

[traumadoc2b]

I bought a 41" chest and cabinet on sale a couple months ago and am pretty happy. I too felt pretty quickly that it was too small. As soon as they had one of their 11% off sales, I bought a 16" side box.

I was going to get the 56" chest and cabinet, but I wanted the different sized drawers for smaller tools, which the 41" had. I bought from what they had in stock too, as I kind of like the green color. The pull out shelf on the top chest is nice too and gets a lot of use as I'm gathering tools for a job or putting them away.

One of the reasons they may not suggest the side cabinet or box be combined with the smaller chests is the wheelbase on the smaller boxes and how it changes the center of gravity. The side box and cabinet don't have their own wheels, and you certainly don't want a 1000 lb chest tipping over or doing a wheelie while you're trying to move it.

Still trying to organize and move around some of my tools. Just picked up some Ernst Space Saver wrench/tool organizers for my standard wrenches. Liked the way they looked and were made, so I bought another set for my metric wrenches. Was looking for some rubber mat material to put on top of the side box, but instead found some tough, mildly textured plastic for fairly cheap at Menards. I think I'll cut that to fit to protect the top of the box.

Overall, I think the MasterForce boxes are a good deal and seem to be fairly well built, especially if you don't plan on beating them up and can buy them on sale or with a rebate.

 

[traumadoc2b]

got the 41.
shoulda got the 56.
here's some out dated shots.


Can you show a close up of what you're using to organize your pliers, dikes, adjustable wrenches, etc? Or where you got them? The tools are all standing neatly along the length of the handles. I like it.

 

[metaldad]

Can you show a close up of what you're using to organize your pliers, dikes, adjustable wrenches, etc? Or where you got them? The tools are all standing neatly along the length of the handles. I like it.

just wire shelving, menards has it. narrow and wide spacing, with only the first support. the rest is cut off.
ill grab a pic later, hockey's on.

 

[jhelrey]

I have the 56 inch green box. No room left!

 

[traumadoc2b]

OK, now that I know what I'm looking at, I can totally tell that's it's wire shelving. Good idea. Wonder if it comes in black? Guess I could always paint it.

 

[powertrip]

OK, now that I know what I'm looking at, I can totally tell that's it's wire shelving. Good idea. Wonder if it comes in black? Guess I could always paint it.

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=106926

 

[youngridge]

Top socket drawer, magnetic rails on the front side and my impact driver.

Sae drawer

Metric drawer

Screw drivers and nut drivers

Air tools and drill bits, drill etc...

Bottom big drawer, gearwrench metric and sae tap and die, various random things, and my big metric wrench.

Plier drawer

Punch and chisel drawer, some home made

Electrical drawer

Random drawer, glue gun, etc

Bottom drawer on right side, my 'cosmetic' drawer

Top box top, bit set, ratcheting screw driver extensions, 1/4 drive set

Hammer drawer

Prybar drawer

Plan on getting the side cab, then putting another 26 inch on top of it, thinking an older mac box that is in nice condition, top box is an sk box.

 

[allinon72]

I have the older style detent drawers - painted blue

 

[PowderKeg]

Don't go any less than 36", you'll regret it. I can understand not going larger for the space, but don't think that adding a side cab will suffice when you fill the 26"/30", and you'll use as much/more space (and more $$$) with the side cab than just going right to the 36".

Been very pleased with my 4+ year old 36" set, now packed full with the lion's share from two 26". Only complaints are about a couple of drawer detents that don't hold if the cab is slightly off level - leveled it up and no problem...

 

[aaronrkelly]

Don't go any less than 36", you'll regret it. I can understand not going larger for the space, but don't think that adding a side cab will suffice when you fill the 26"/30", and you'll use as much/more space (and more $$$) with the side cab than just going right to the 36".

Been very pleased with my 4+ year old 36" set, now packed full with the lion's share from two 26". Only complaints are about a couple of drawer detents that don't hold if the cab is slightly off level - leveled it up and no problem...

I agree with this statement.

I started with the 36" set and at that time I probably didnt have enough tools to fill it 1/3 up. I could have gotten by with the 26" but thankfully they were having a sale so the 36" was less than $100 more - easy choice.

It took no time to fill the box......and I was looking at adding that side box to get more storage. At that time the sidebox was like $240ish but the 26" chest was on sale for something like $280.....$40 more and tons more storage......and I could use it like a tool cart.....simple choice.

.......then I was in Home Depot and found the Husky 26" top chest on sale. Its not built QUITE as well as the Masterforce stuff........but TONS better then the cheap Craftsman **** at my local Sears.....did I mention on sale......think I paid $60....maybe $70.

Now on top of all that storage Im also running a 30" tool cart......put the most common used stuff in there....roll to repair, saves walking back and forth (even though were talking a fairly small garage, its nice not to have most of your stuff at arms length).

I dont have much pictures of my toolboxes....cause Ive never had a reason to take one I guess.

Here they are in the background.

 

[sb7979]

Here's a pic of my workbench under construction from last year. I do not have any finished pics or drawer pics, but I have some advise. This is made from three 46" boxes. I would not get this size again. Notice how the drawers are split evenly down the middle. On the 41" there is a row of big drawers and a row of smaller drawers. I have some tools that will not fit well in the drawers on the 46", but probably would fit in the big drawers on a 41". This forces me to put these tools in the top full width drawers. I would go 41" or 56".

 

[johndeereman]

Man sb7979 that is a great looking bench i really want to have a similar setup when i build my new shop. Hopefully spring 2015 right now i have a 41'' roller with one side cabinet thinking about another one. I also have two 5 drawer service cart's i'm thinking of getting another 41'' and putting them side x side.

 

[ryan5455]

Just wanted to show off my small potatoes. I used a piece of 1/2" plywood for a base and used different size tubing pieces with a screw ran through them to hold everything. I too realized right away hoe fast a small box fills up. Saving up for the 72"

 

[77Ford]

Nice idea... I would have never thought of it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ryan5455]

Just wanted to show off my small potatoes. I used a piece of 1/2" plywood for a base and used different size tubing pieces with a screw ran through them to hold everything. I too realized right away hoe fast a small box fills up. Saving up for the 72"

 

[ryan5455]

Sorry for the double post. Kept saying it didn't post. I'm a plumber so I was looking around for stuff that would work. Lav supply lines are 3/8 so they worked perfect. Ice maker line from a refrigerator is 1/4. Can't remember what I used for the 1/2 drive tho

 

[mizzourob]

I've been looking around for a while, and finally bit when Menards had a pretty good sale last week on the 56" box. Here is the unboxing and a quick look around at mine.

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[ssdave]

I know the allure of the narrow space and lower cost of a 26" box. In my last garage, I had about a 30 inch wide space just to the side of the door, before my cabinets started. I went to Menards, and tried to decide between the 41" boxes and the 26". For the 41", I would have to remove 3 feet of pallet rack shelf, and then I'd have extra space. The 26" fit the narrow space available. The clincher for me was that for about $100 less than the 41" set, I could get 3 pieces of 26", and end up with 16 drawers. I bought the 26".

MISTAKE! The 26" is a pain to use. It is too tall (I'm short, at 5'6"). Nearly impossible to use the top till, and the two top drawers are hard to see into. The narrow drawers also require you to split up your sockets, and long wrenches won't fit. After a couple of years of making do with that box, I went down and bought a 41" top and bottom box. Much better height and the drawer configuration works a lot better.

I've since added a Snap-on KRL 54" box. It's drawers are about 8 inches deeper, in addition to being wider. That is incredibly better, but it takes up a lot of floor space.

The 26" box is adequate for a good working set of tools. You won't be able to assemble the impressive, perfectly arranged and polished display cases that have favor on GJ, but if you are just a user and not obsessive about presentation, they will do a great job. They won't hold a large excess of tools or a wide range if you have a lot of specialty stuff. But, they will do a good job of holding and organizing a good working set.

The 41" box will do the same, but will be a lot easier to use and organize. It all depends on whether the extra foot and a half of space is worth it to you.

If I thought I would go to a side locker later in addition to the 26", I would just get the 41" now instead.

 

[XCMTB83]

Hello All,
I have a variety of the Masterforce boxes. Specifically the early ones with the flat keys. I would really like to have all of the locks keyed the same. With that being said would anyone be interested in trading a “006” lock and key set for a “002” lock and key set? Ideally I would be helping out someone that would prefer a “006”. Thanks!

 

[ToughToolReviews]

Nice

 

[AlexNGreen]

Heavily modified 46"

 

[Stadger]

Holy old dead thread, Batman!

 

[rockfordmarv]

I'll add, I love mine. My side cabinet has the newer drawer design--which I really prefer. These are really built well and heavy, I may add the side locker eventually.

View media item 69850

 

[Eslader]

I like everything about mine except the color, but when I bought green was the only option. I've gotten used to it over the years. I know it's an old thread but for anyone else considering them, I agree with the others that said 36" should be your minimum. Any smaller and you won't be able to fit some of the common drawer organizers in it.