I will be starting the auto tech program at my local vocational school and I need to get a tool box. I want to get something big enough for the tools I have now and might reasonably acquire during the next 5 years or so. I intend to buy whatever tools I need along the way, but not go overboard. I want to get a quality box that will last and don't want to have to swap it out for something bigger too soon. I'm looking at the Lista boxes and since they don't really stack, the roll cab alone will have to do the job. Of course, I will consider the Snap-On's, etc. where adding a chest to the roller is easy. Still, it seems from the posts and pictures I see, rollers with a worktop are a popular setup. How about box width, depth, height, drawer arrangement? What are the pros and cons? I know a lot of you guys have been wrenching a while - what works best for you?
Tool Box Size?
- Thread starter dgoro
- Start date
GoBlue
Well-known member
A good used Snappy, Matco, or Mac will be the last box you will ever need providing you dont get a small one. I would recommended a KRL if snappy, Matco 6, or Macsamizer. I like to have 1 deeep long drawer across the top for my sockets as i stand them up. Also like deep bottom drawers for kits like ball joint presses flare kits etc...I used a craftsman forever but recently upgraded to a Snappy KR1001a. If i had known what i was missing i would never have waited so long...but keep in mind all it does is hold tools. It doesn't fix cars. Buy what you can afford and wait for the right deal.
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bobcatdan
Well-known member
If you are just starting out and going to school, start with a standard 40" of your choosing. It will get moved a lot from school, to work, home, ect. A 40 by 18 box is about as big as you want to be moving form place to place. I'm not going to recomannd a brand, for the weight you can put in a 40", it don't matter. A lot of guys love the hf. Craftsman are not terrible. If you get 50% off on an SO at school, it will still be more than a Craftsman. If you get a discount on larger boxes, I would wait until your almost done with school. No reason to beat the **** out of a 400 lbs Matco 4s moving it a half dozen times, when a Craftsman of hf will hold your tools. My opion is based on my tech school experince of moving my box every three months from school to work and back. A roll away is pain to toss in the back of truck, and it got digged up every time. That was an old SO I paid $200 for so I wasn't to bothered by it.
CamarosRus
Well-known member
www.strictlytoolboxes.com
Buy just enough to get you buy through ??? years of school. IF and when you graduate
and get into the trade, then buy the USED Mega Roller.
Buy just enough to get you buy through ??? years of school. IF and when you graduate
and get into the trade, then buy the USED Mega Roller.
SpiderGearsMan
Banned
I recommend a box MADE IN THE USA ..good luck with class
Racr350
Well-known member
Theres a lottttt of box for the money when going Montezuma. I just recently bought the 72" Elite with Hutch. Incredible deal and unreal amounts of storage space. Plus customer service with Strictly is A+
You can buy this or you can buy that. We really don't know what your financial situation is, what might be affordable to one, maybe well out of reach for another.
Local vocational school, is this a high school program or a post high school trade school ? Is this something you're definitely doing as a career ?
To start with, I'd buy a HF box, they seem to have a decent rep. Some will say no way, buy something better. Spend a few hundred, buy the box and spend more money on the tools you'll use. Once you get into the position of making money after school, then step up and buy a better box. Take the HF box home and use it in your own garage.
Some of us can't afford to big the big dawg toys in the beginning, sometimes we have to take the baby steps to get going, nothing wrong with that.
Local vocational school, is this a high school program or a post high school trade school ? Is this something you're definitely doing as a career ?
To start with, I'd buy a HF box, they seem to have a decent rep. Some will say no way, buy something better. Spend a few hundred, buy the box and spend more money on the tools you'll use. Once you get into the position of making money after school, then step up and buy a better box. Take the HF box home and use it in your own garage.
Some of us can't afford to big the big dawg toys in the beginning, sometimes we have to take the baby steps to get going, nothing wrong with that.
I'm not a mechanic, but I'll echo what others have said. I'd skip the high end toolbox for now and put the money into the things that will make you money...tools. Pick up a craftsman or something decent and inexpensive on CL. It will do the job, and I'm assuming you'll have a modest collection of tools for the first year or two anyway. Don't buy for forever, buy for the next 1-2 years. When it's time to get the bigger box, you have two choices, resell the cheapie on CL for close to what you paid for it to begin with, or put it in your home garage. And BTW, keep an eye out on CL for that used high end box. I'm looking for a Lista or a KRL right now. The Lista doesn't come up, but the KRL's do in abundance. Eventually I'll find someone that will part with it for 30% of what they paid, but I'm in no hurry to part with my money, so it's a waiting game.
To me the question is less about needs as it is how to make the most effective use of your money when you're starting out. I understand the buy it once and buy it for life philosophy (and subscribe to it myself), but I'm sure there are other factors you can't ignore. Good luck.
To me the question is less about needs as it is how to make the most effective use of your money when you're starting out. I understand the buy it once and buy it for life philosophy (and subscribe to it myself), but I'm sure there are other factors you can't ignore. Good luck.
keep in mind also, that small cheaper tool box now is not going to be a waste later. Youre going need a tool box at home even if you end up with nice big one at the shop.
Ive still got my first craftsman box and I used it professionally for 5 years. It sits at home in the garage and still works perfectly for holding tools.
IMO start small, move up once you have all the tools needed for just about any job that comes in the door
Ive still got my first craftsman box and I used it professionally for 5 years. It sits at home in the garage and still works perfectly for holding tools.
IMO start small, move up once you have all the tools needed for just about any job that comes in the door
wafrederick
Well-known member
You don't want a Craftsman,the spotwelds are crappy and cheaply built.Look at the number of times the drawers will get opened and closed overtime,will be thousands of times.
csargents1546
Well-known member
Just remember, a toolbox is just a place where the "Tools" that make you money rest. Spend the money on tools to fill it instead of a nice box with little or no tools in it. Waste of space. The tools are what is going to make you money. Good luck in school.
onemore
Well-known member
I will vote on bug what you cam afford now. Used on CL is a good start, and I will second that it will never go to waste. Always need more tool storage later down the road.
crewchief888
Well-known member
first off i'll say
i'm not a fan of double, triple and quad bay boxes.
an older truck brand top and bottom box 33" -36" wide will probably serve your needs for a few years.
single bank boxes are easier to move from place to place, always seems like everyone disappears when it's time to load up.
when it's time for a mega box, those single bank boxes are great for home use, and you wont need a flatbed to move them
just my $0.02
i'm not a fan of double, triple and quad bay boxes.
an older truck brand top and bottom box 33" -36" wide will probably serve your needs for a few years.
single bank boxes are easier to move from place to place, always seems like everyone disappears when it's time to load up.
when it's time for a mega box, those single bank boxes are great for home use, and you wont need a flatbed to move them
just my $0.02
daveblank
Well-known member
Check to see if your school is an approved tech ed school. The truck brands give a heafty discount.
Racr350
Well-known member
Same. I love having a large surface area to use as a work surface. Awesome to have somewhere to put things without having to put them away. BTW...while i was in school, I worked out of the 4 Drawer HF cart (the black one). I still have it and use it as a service cart now. It sufficed me for 2+ yrs before i got an actual box. I honestly would start there, and if you still need more room, well...you've got a nice service cart too!
wornoutoldman
Well-known member
Same. I love having a large surface area to use as a work surface. Awesome to have somewhere to put things without having to put them away. BTW...while i was in school, I worked out of the 4 Drawer HF cart (the black one). I still have it and use it as a service cart now. It sufficed me for 2+ yrs before i got an actual box. I honestly would start there, and if you still need more room, well...you've got a nice service cart too!
This is good advice^^^^ That black cart is on sale this weekend for $99. There is a thread here where someone bolted some additional drawers (i think it was 2 more) sunnex brand bought on tooltopia.com to the bottom of a service cart for additional tool storage. Stick a side shelf on it and your all set with an easy to use/move service cart/toolbox that will serve you well and cost very little.
cdncowboy
Well-known member
Personally I'd go with a 42" HF top and bottom, add a side box and locker later when you need the space. The entire kit should be under $1200 on sale if you got everything at once. A hell of a deal that could be a nice box for your garage if you ever decided to "upgrade" later and pay too much money for a SO/Matco/MAC box. If I was inclined to get a shiny box in that style I'd look no further than strictlytoolboxes.com. Use your hard earned money to fill the box and line your pockets instead of doing the same for the tool truck guy.
Racr350
Well-known member
This is good advice^^^^ That black cart is on sale this weekend for $99. There is a thread here where someone bolted some additional drawers (i think it was 2 more) sunnex brand bought on tooltopia.com to the bottom of a service cart for additional tool storage. Stick a side shelf on it and your all set with an easy to use/move service cart/toolbox that will serve you well and cost very little.
Its actually really impressive how much that cart holds. It served me well & continues to do so now.
Keep them votes for Strictly coming!
I still think Montezumas are the best bang for the buck when it comes to full size boxes. 