So I've got a toolbox problem

[crane operator]

I run a heavy equipment business (cranes obviously). I have a full time mechanic/ rigger/ driver, a couple other operators and me. I supply all the shop tools.

I'm a sucker for buying tool boxes with tools, $500-$800 bucks. Off craigslist usually. I've got a few tool boxes, but now I've got multiple sets in multiple boxes scattered through the shop, and I end up walking circles looking for tools.

The craftsman double I've owned since the early 90's, bought new by me, not heavy enough for daily use, one bad drawer.

The black husky is the main box. 10 years daily use, it's overloaded, never moves, has some bad bearings in the drawers. Bought new myself

Yellow matco- nice little cart, but won't hold everything- bought used with tools

Old red snap on- great old box- 2 messed up drawers, won't hold everything, bought used with tools

Black mac choppers box- small and hate the right side pegboard/drawer. bought used with tools.

I'd like to bring one toolbox back to the house, and a set of tools. (either the craftsman or the snap on)

Been thinking about building a metal frame, and frankensteining the other boxes together into one huge setup. painted alike.

Or Snap on heavy duty big box (are kra the heavy deep ones? I prefer a bottom only and wood/steel top)- I like the looks of the mac mb1500/1700. Sell the smaller boxes? I don't like spending $, but don't like wasting time either. I could use a little more order in my life.

Advice? I know- a great problem to have too many tool boxes.
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[scissorman]

How big of a box do you think you need? I bought the 72" toolvault box from www.strictlytoolboxes.com and have been very happy with it over the last 2 1/2 years I've owned it. It's a great value at only $2975 delivered and IMO is just as well built as a Snap-on box. Sell off all the other boxes and buy one of these and you might be a lot less out of pocket and much happier.

FYI, your attachments links don't work.

 

[Richard Cranium]

buy one good box and get all your tools in one box so you stop wasting time looking for tools.

 

[CJM8515]

Id just grab a harbor freight box. Maybe several 44's or a 44 and a few carts? Why got to the trouble of spending big bucks on boxes?

 

[woody 73]

For some reason I am not able to see your pictures any way to fix that ?

 

[pi_guy]

I have Krl1032 loaded with hand tools
KRL1033 loaded with measuring tools and other tools
Taco cart loaded with fabrication tools
243 cart loaded with diagnostic tools
Transmission cart with 3in1 on top and filled with machine tooling
KRA 2 bank filled with press tools

All my boxes are overloaded by my dealers comment. The taco box has close to 40 years of abuse nothing stands up like a Snap On.

 

[Cypherian]

I run a heavy equipment business (cranes obviously). I have a full time mechanic/ rigger/ driver, a couple other operators and me. I supply all the shop tools.

I'm a sucker for buying tool boxes with tools, $500-$800 bucks. Off craigslist usually. I've got a few tool boxes, but now I've got multiple sets in multiple boxes scattered through the shop, and I end up walking circles looking for tools.

The craftsman double I've owned since the early 90's, bought new by me, not heavy enough for daily use, one bad drawer.

The black husky is the main box. 10 years daily use, it's overloaded, never moves, has some bad bearings in the drawers. Bought new myself

Yellow matco- nice little cart, but won't hold everything- bought used with tools

Old red snap on- great old box- 2 messed up drawers, won't hold everything, bought used with tools

Black mac choppers box- small and hate the right side pegboard/drawer. bought used with tools.

I'd like to bring one toolbox back to the house, and a set of tools. (either the craftsman or the snap on)

Been thinking about building a metal frame, and frankensteining the other boxes together into one huge setup. painted alike.

Or Snap on heavy duty big box (are kra the heavy deep ones? I prefer a bottom only and wood/steel top)- I like the looks of the mac mb1500/1700. Sell the smaller boxes? I don't like spending $, but don't like wasting time either. I could use a little more order in my life.

Advice? I know- a great problem to have too many tool boxes.
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Vidmar used pay as much as a Snap on or Mac big box but and I may get **** for this Vidmar makes a much heavier duty box then either of them or any other maker for that matter. I say that with over 20 plus years of use of them . Buying new will be sticker shock buying used not so much still pricey but they will out last you and most likely your children.

Cypher

Examples first one is a non wheeled unit though you can put them all on wheels it is not recommended by vidmar with out lock out drawers IE the drawers wont open while moving it around . These one do not have lock out drawers

http://www.ebay.com/itm/USED-STANLE...RIAL-TOOL-BOX-STORAGE-812-GREEN-/272472303768

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Stanley-Vidmar-Lista-10-Drawer-Cabinet-Wheels-Casters-/252815204328

This is one with lock out drawer note the catch on the side :
http://www.ebay.com/itm/USED-VIDMAR...205165?hash=item3ad6c2f92d:g:-44AAOSw2xRYbl8~

This has a lock bar which is ok faster then the side lock drawer:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/USED-VIDMAR...837714?hash=item3f6bc255d2:g:m5AAAOSwLF1X6Pbo


Lista is also a decent manufacturer but .. I consider them a little lighter built then vidmar based on amount of spot welds and thickness of material used.

Just my opinion and yes I own 7 vidmar cabinets bought through military auction.

Cypher

 

[pooterguy]

Advice? I know- a great problem to have too many tool boxes.

There is no such thing as too many tool boxes.

 

[ez-duzit]

Id just grab a harbor freight box...

I'm very impressed wit their boxes.

 

[B_Bimmer]

There is no such thing as too many tool boxes.

This guy is right, it does sound like you need one bigger box to consolidate all the regularly used stuff.

 

[crane operator]

Sorry the pictures didn't post The black husky is really full, the matco is too. The craftsman, chopper, and snap on are probably 1/2-3/4 full.

All my big 3/4" and 1" drive stuff stays under the bench, as do the big air guns and electric tools.

 

[crane operator]

Also- I don't like the yellow matco with the opening lid, I much prefer my black box where I can just lay the tools down on it when I'm done, and clean the grease and oil off before I put them away.

I like the black husky- I never move it because I worry that it will collapse.

We do have a lot of tools, I usually have multiple projects going, and its not unusual to have a pile of tools scattered on the deck of a crane and something else going on too, so multlple sets of the same thing are nice (wrenches/ 3/8" sae sockets etc.)

 

[Packard V8]

I'm a sucker for buying tool boxes with tools, . . it's overloaded, never moves, has some bad bearings in the drawers. . . not heavy enough for daily use, one bad drawer. . . won't hold everything. . . . Black mac choppers box- small and hate the right side pegboard/drawer. . . 2 messed up drawers, won't hold everything,

More like a problem with impulse control, plus the tendency to defer maintenance, resulting in crappage overload ;>)

I'd go with one large long bottom with a wood top for the user tools and repair the rest to store rarely used stuff, parts and hardware.

jack vines

 

[WhiffySpark]

The way those vidmar cabinets are laid out would **** for a mechanic.

 

[crane operator]

More like a problem with impulse control, plus the tendency to defer maintenance, resulting in crappage overload ;>)

Are you my neighbor and know me?

I find it easy to drop $500 on a used tool box and tools, I don't buy used junk (cheap chinese tools), but I've been struggling with the idea of dropping $2,000 on a better (used) box.

It looks like the KRL series is the heavier deeper snap on box, I'm thinking if I could find one that's the 30" deep one, I could get by with just a bottom box.

Defered maintenance happens with the boxes- the cranes come first. The shop was robbed a couple months ago- they damaged the black husky box drawers when they pulled them all the way out loaded and jammed them back in loaded (meth heads- I found my tools on craigslist and got most of the stuff back), but now it bugs me that the drawers are jacked up, and I get mad all over again about being robbed....

The snap on box came damaged, and I don't have a snap on man, but I've been thinking of fixing it and taking it home, with a good set of tools, and some of my older sentimental stuff (grandpa's tools).

I don't see myself buying a new HF box, I've bought some HF stuff and am always disappointed.

HF is like a bad girlfriend- I keep thinking this time it will be different- things have changed, it will be better- but I end up in a corner crying and swearing never again.

Mostly probably looking for confirmation that a Old krl or mac 1700 will be worth spending the $ on. I know I won't spring for 10k for a new one, but I might do 1,500-1,800 for the right box.

 

[CJM8515]

The HF box is light years ahead of anything craftsmen or husky. I looked at both before I bought mine.

 

[Cypherian]

The way those vidmar cabinets are laid out would **** for a mechanic.

Visit their site you will find they are easily customizable the ones I posted are just available for an idea . I used them for over 20 years as an aircraft structural repair mechanic if military folks can't kill them then even the worst mechanic can't .

Cypher

 

[ianguilly]

Geez and I thought I was bad with 9 toolboxes. Knew there was a reason I like this site.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Geez and I thought I was bad with 9 toolboxes. Knew there was a reason I like this site.

Nine toolboxes? Ha! Amateur!

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Id just grab a harbor freight box. Maybe several 44's or a 44 and a few carts? Why got to the trouble of spending big bucks on boxes?

Because not everybody thinks HF is always the answer.

 

[WittHay]

The way we organized the tools in our shop, there was one friction slide box for cheaper or rustier tools that any body could grab and use for field use or to beat on. A better box held good tools that were to never leave the shop.

The extra tools were stored away from the shop, in case of theft and for better organization. Too many tools is sometimes a problem. ie 20 ratchets or 15 wrenches of the same size

 

[crane operator]

Well hopefully I've found a answer to the toolbox problem. I brought this home today- Mac mb1700.

Pretty good shape- came from a body shop. Some of the drawers need lubed up, they seem like they were never used. A few of the drawers have metal dividers in them, I haven't decided on the layout for sure, but this thing seems like it will hold twice what my old husky does.

I'm liking the tall shape-lots of storage with still having the flat top. The spring casters look heavy duty also.