Tool Box...Torin/HF or Craftsman??

[Tom R]

Hi All...first post after reading alot of threads.

I am looking to purchase a tool box...likely a base and top unit...maybe 26" or 40" general size range. Well it may not be used alot...I like solid quality...but not at the Snap-On price/quality level...at least until I show I use it for more than storeage.

It seems that Craftsman...(say level below "professional")/HF as discussed in recent threads and Torin might be good choices?

Question...how would you rank the three on quality alone...not price.

One other consideration is that my son is works in the Northern Tool home office here in Minnesota so I would probably buy the Torin if it is at least as good as the HF and Craftsman "premium" level below their "professional" level. BTW...seems like the Craftsman Professional is very expensive...not sure I wouls go that route IF I were paying that much.

Thanks Tom R

 

[Tom R]

Anybody? Guess it is kinda slow at Easter...our family arrives in 30 minutes...Happy Easter...Tom R

P.S. Or...Maybe you are all just tired of "tool box" questions... TMR

 

[Kenwc]

I went through this pain as well (but ended up getting the Waterloo Trax 5213). But from the ones you mention I'd rate them as:

1. Craftsman
2. Torin
3. HF

I looked hard at the large Torin and I liked it and went to the store many times to ponder it.

In the end and after analisys paralisys on the net I odered the one I mentioned above...no tax...free shipping..made in the USA.

 

[Tom R]

The Waterloo Traxx looks a bit more expensive than the three I mentioned? Is it for sale at any retail locations or do you have to order direct?

Also, there seems to be a couple of levels of Waterloo?

Thanks...Tom R

 

[Kenwc]

The Waterloo Traxx looks a bit more expensive than the three I mentioned? Is it for sale at any retail locations or do you have to order direct?

Also, there seems to be a couple of levels of Waterloo?

Thanks...Tom R

I think the Traxx is second from the bottom in their line of boxes. I odered it from:

http://www.asedeals.com/tool_boxes.html

I'm sure that at least 2 of the 3 you mentioned above would work well for you for the level of use you mentioned. Personally (and my opinion only of course...I didn't like the HF box)

 

[Chris Adams]

The trouble is you are comparing apples to Fords.

There is no real comparing of the toolboxes in your list because the pricing is so varied.

The Waterloo boxes are good boxes but way more expensive than Torin or HF, as much or more than Craftsman.

Sears even on sale is WAY out of line on pricing.

The HF boxes are fine for home use, fine for entry level shop use.
You can get the bottoms for as little as 280 on sale.

Top and Bottom HF only retail for about 700 bucks but mostly are sold for lots less.


The Torin like at Costco is a major large box. Comparing it to the HF is like comparing a 3/4 ton dually truck to an S10. Price is just a little more that the HF, but do you need that much storage and space? It is also a LOT sturdier.



If you have lots of small tools you want lots of square inches.
If you have lots of big tools you want lots of cubic inches.


If you want a serious box the 56 inch Torin holds more than a Craftsman at twice the price.
It holds about twice what the HF unit holds, maybe a little more than twice.


Look through your tools, and the tools you are going to get and figure your space requirements.
Lots of narrow drawers are fine if you like to spread your tools out.
Big long drawers are more efficient if you have a lot of tools.

Sears has few models with long drawers.
HF has ONE long drawer.
The big Torin has a slew of long drawers.

If I upgrade I will probably go for the Torin, not that I have anything against Waterloo, Husky or Craftsman (I own and use all three brands) but price over results the Torin seems the easy winner, at least of the ones I have access to.

 

[Tom R]

The trouble is you are comparing apples to Fords.

The Torin like at Costco is a major large box. Comparing it to the HF is like comparing a 3/4 ton dually truck to an S10. Price is just a little more that the HF, but do you need that much storage and space? It is also a LOT sturdier.
If you want a serious box the 56 inch Torin holds more than a Craftsman at twice the price.
It holds about twice what the HF unit holds, maybe a little more than twice.

If I upgrade I will probably go for the Torin, not that I have anything against Waterloo, Husky or Craftsman (I own and use all three brands) but price over results the Torin seems the easy winner, at least of the ones I have access to.

Seems like the 42" Torin that Nothern Tool has might be a good choice for home use...bigger than the 20"-30" units but smaller than the 50" units. Price on Base is $550 and my son can buy it for me as a Northern Tool employee. I don't need a 50" unit but I think the 20-30" units a pretty small.

Tom R

 

[engnerdan]

Tom,
I just bought a bottom box in the 40" size. I went with the HF box on sale. The Torin boxes look almost identical in construction to the HF boxes and have the same wrinkled power coated finish (if that means anything). I would say either the HF or the Torin, and base it on the drawers (as to how many you want of each size). My sister works for NT too so my prices I was working with were the same. I think with coupon you can get the HF for less then the Torin but both are going to be of equal quality, the only problem I could see with either are the drawers lock in hard, which is easily fixed with some silicone grease on the drawer locking plastic do-hicky.

BTW- I love my HF bottom box, it is better built then my old husky top box. Not nearly as nice as a tool truck box but for teh home guy its more then enough.


-Dan

 

[nissan_crawler]

Have you checked International?

 

[MAD]

If you like big drawers and this box is available for pick-up in your area it a great deal. With the 15% off online sale it is around $325 after it is in your cart.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00959626000P?vName=Tools&cName=Garage+%26+Tool+Storage&sName=Chests+%26+Cabinets

 

[Tom R]

If you like big drawers and this box is available for pick-up in your area it a great deal. With the 15% off online sale it is around $325 after it is in your cart.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00959626000P?vName=Tools&cName=Garage+%26+Tool+Storage&sName=Chests+%26+Cabinets

Thanks...I think I prefer the thinner profile drawers...but that does look like a good price...I am going to take a closer look in the catalog. Thanks...Tom R

 

[Chris Adams]

If you like big drawers and this box is available for pick-up in your area it a great deal. With the 15% off online sale it is around $325 after it is in your cart.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00959626000P?vName=Tools&cName=Garage+%26+Tool+Storage&sName=Chests+%26+Cabinets

Since I'm also interested in a box with longer drawers I checked your link.
Price only drops to 424 after discount, but the big problem is shipping.
207 bucks.
None in my area. I extended the area to cover all of Los Angeles and the surrounding five counties and still none in stock.
Without shipping it would be a good deal.

 

[MAD]

Since I'm also interested in a box with longer drawers I checked your link.
Price only drops to 424 after discount, but the big problem is shipping.
207 bucks.
None in my area. I extended the area to cover all of Los Angeles and the surrounding five counties and still none in stock.
Without shipping it would be a good deal.

You are right about the price. I would swear it was $399 before the discount when I looked at it yesterday but I could be mistaken. Anything is possible with Sears. I was going to post it yesterday but my three year old daughter had other ideas.

I bought this box this past summer and I am happy with it. The all wide drawers format is a good complement to my other boxes which are all 26" wide.

 

[dps]

I just posted this on the "see my new tool..." thread, but I just bought that identical chest and they threw in free shipping because of some problem getting it delivered to a local store for pickup. My total w/tax was $443.67

 

[Sparkland]

I just bought a new Torin 56" combo unit-retail price $2000 for $699. Do you think that was a good sale?

I considered the Craftsman 40 inch combo but for the same money I could not pass up the Torin.

Brad

 

[G-Man]

I just bought a new Torin 56" combo unit-retail price $2000 for $699. Do you think that was a good sale?

I considered the Craftsman 40 inch combo but for the same money I could not pass up the Torin.

Brad

This thread was pretty old, but sounds like you made out well. Where did you purchase the box? Costco? NT? or?

 

[Sparkland]

This thread was pretty old, but sounds like you made out well. Where did you purchase the box? Costco? NT? or?

Got it at Costco--only had one in stock.

That is one heavy box 950 lbs for the combo.

Brad

 

[TRDon]

Awesome! If I could get that one for that price I would bring back my new husky box. I have wanted the torin ever since I bought my first one 4 years ago. The 42" base was only 400 then but now it is almost 800 at northern.

 

[billymade]

Which one did you buy? http://www.costco.com/Common/Category.aspx?whse=BC&Ne=4000000&eCat=BC|114|76424|28175&N=4034960&pos=5&ViewAll=25&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&cat=28175&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&ec=BC-EC26245-Cat76424&topnav=

 

[Tom R]

Which one did you buy? http://www.costco.com/Common/Category.aspx?whse=BC&Ne=4000000&eCat=BC|114|76424|28175&N=4034960&pos=5&ViewAll=25&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&cat=28175&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&ec=BC-EC26245-Cat76424&topnav=

The 56" Torin he is referring to does not appear to be in the internet link you posted. I have been watching the same box which has been in stock at local CC but now appears to being closed out. It opiginally was priced at $999 for a number of months but my local store had last unit on close out at $799.

There have been other posts of $699 and $799 close outs.

This appears to be the same combo that Northern Tool sells (I also went to compare at Northern) for nearly $2000.

I decided not to buy even though it is a GREAT deal...too big and too heavy to deal with. I wish they would have the 40-41" Torin box instead of the stainless boxes they now have...would fit better for my needs...Tom R

Tom R

 

[Sparkland]

The 56" Torin he is referring to does not appear to be in the internet link you posted. I have been watching the same box which has been in stock at local CC but now appears to being closed out. It opiginally was priced at $999 for a number of months but my local store had last unit on close out at $799.

There have been other posts of $699 and $799 close outs.

This appears to be the same combo that Northern Tool sells (I also went to compare at Northern) for nearly $2000.

I decided not to buy even though it is a GREAT deal...too big and too heavy to deal with. I wish they would have the 40-41" Torin box instead of the stainless boxes they now have...would fit better for my needs...Tom R

Tom R

Tom is exactly correct. It is not advertised on the Costo website but is the same model as advertised by Northern Tools.

Here is the update on the toolbox purchase. I did not end up getting the box even though it was a great price. I made the purchase and then came home last night to see if it would fit in the place I had allocated for it in the garage. Only one place to put it, unless I get rid of my wife's refrigerator/freezer--not going to happen.

Turns out the 56" chest has too large of a footprint. I had planned to get the 41" chest and actually purchased the Craftsman combo unit, but when I got it home did not like the grip latch handles so returned it. Plus, there was some minor damage on the upper cabinet.

I would agree wholeheartedly with Tom's statements about the weight of this tool box. I was really dreading trying to get it loaded and unloaded at home. I also would much prefer the 41" size.

If you live in Colorado they still have one at the Westminster store.

Brad

 

[charlie_nj]

I bought the 56" Torin when it was being closed out at Costco, got it for $489 You are right it has a huge footprint and is very heavy. It took up most of the bed on my pickup and I had to disassemble the packaging and remove all the drawers, I was then able to drag it off my truck.

It's a decent box, especially for what I paid. Don't think I'd ever pay the $2000 that Northern wants for this box. I'm not crazy about those large drawers with pegboard, I'd rather have regular drawers there, but for the price, I couldn't pass it up. It appears to be well made, and all of the larger drawers have four slides. And it does have lots and lots of storage space. I consolidated both of my older Craftsman 27" cabinets and still have a lot of room left.