Toolbox quality hierarchy

[mercracing]

Fellow GJ peeps, in a previous life I was a mechanic for 15 years or so on various things. I’ve owned Craftsman, MAC, and SnapOn boxes. I am no longer wrenching for a living but do a little here and there at home. For heavy daily use I would have kept my Snappy box, but for the sporadic use at home I can’t justify having one there. I currently have a 52” craftsman top and bottom. I’m not super impressed with the quality of the boxes. My question is in your opinion what is the next step up? My biggest complaint about the Craftsman is the drawers feel cheap. If I was going to step up a level or two, where should I look?

Thanks for your input and Merry Christmas!

 

[rust in the eye]

You were spoiled by a pro box. For "sporadic use" live with the Cman or cough up for another pro box. If you were in the trade you ought to be able to snag a used one.

 

[JazRedGT]

I'm happy with my Husky boxes. I upgraded from a mixture of Craftsman and Proto. Drawers are soft close and ball bearing smooth. Both came with a built in surge suppressor and the one on the right actually has 2 of them and came with a hutch LED light. Both together cost me about $2600 shipped to the house.

 

[pelletman]

Used Matco, Mac or Snappy, Harbor Freight has some good stuff too.

 

[bassJAM]

Craftsman, Husky, Kobalt are pretty "meh".

Husky has a "commercial/professional" line that's a step up.

Menard's line of Masterforce is a little better and I was real close to buying a set to step up from my 20 year old Craftsman 3 tier.

US General from Harbor Freight is really good for the price and what I settled on and have been really happy.

Then there's used boxes from the brands you're used to like Snap on.

 

[Colin Len]

IMO, you really can't beat the US General stuff from Harbor Freight. Prices have gone up quite a bit from years back but still seem like the best bet unless you want to fork over $$$$ for the tool truck brands.

US General is much higher quality than the Husky/Kobalt/Craftsman stuff but only costs a fraction more.
US General is only slightly lower quality than the tool truck brands but way less expensive.
That's the sweet spot IMO.

 

[jblnut]

I've had a MasterForce set for 10yrs or so and really like it. Solid built and it's holding together nicely.

I had a 36" MasterFOrce setup in two different work vans at my last job that got 250,000 backroads miles and all drawers and locks still worked as if they were new. Other things went to **** but they were all inflicted by me so I don't think that counts.

 

[Nutria]

If you were in the trade you ought to be able to snag a used one.

There are some really good deals out there on bomb-proof older boxes, particularly if you are ok with friction slides.

 

[ColoradoMech]

I recommend "Extreme Tools" toolboxes all day long! Ive been a tech for almost 10 years now and had this box the whole time. I saw everybody else at the dealer with their snapon and matco boxes with car payments to go with them and didnt want that at all but wanted more than a Harbor Freight quality and longevity. After searching I landed on the extreme tools 55" box that's 30" deep. I love how its taller than most boxes at 47" so its really nice for writing on while standing. A large factor was the stainless top that comes with it standard, ive used it as a workbench in a few desperate situations and it took it pretty well but I definitely wouldn't do it often. It has 300lb & 600lb drawer slides and they are smooth but also a nice stiffness to them at the same time so they slide very well with weight in them. Its traveled with me across the country 3x and has been used and abused in a diesel shop setting and its as smooth as day 1. I paid like $3,300 for it 10 years ago so who knows what their at now but I would absolutely buy one again. Only regret is not getting a bigger one. If your worried about people judging, just pop the emblems off and nobody would every know.

Here is a link. Seriously, I cannot recommend it enough if you want quality but not tool truck prices.
Extreme Tools Roller Boxes

 

[Black300zx]

When I was box shopping, all of the HD/Lowes big-box brand boxes (CMan, Milwaukee, Husky, Kobalt) they all had thin sheet metal drawers that felt flimsy, even empty.

I ended up with a USG from HF for a bit less than what was available at HD/Lowes at the time. Drawers were thicker sheet metal and noticeably more rigid. Slides aren't great, but 4yrs later it still works good as new and I have zero regrets.

 

[richfinn]

If I was in North America and wanted a good value for money "pro level" toolbox, I would be buying a Tekton.

I've looked into getting an equivalent Rousseau (the OE) from a UK distributor and they are almost double the price

Tekton Rousseau Tool Chest Overview & Thoughts

Hi GJ, Wanted to share a hodgepodge of thoughts regarding Tekton's (Rousseau OEM) relatively new tool chest and why I took a leap of faith on a ~$3K box sight unseen. Apologies in advance for posting a novel! I was in the market for my first large toolbox, moving on from the chaos of living...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[oldwino]

Check “strickytoolboxes”. Great bang for the buck. Tool Vault or Gatorbuilt are both worth a look/see.
strictly is also a sponsor of Garage Journal and helps to pay the bills here

 

[Shocker]

So I love these Tekton boxes - https://www.tekton.com/tool-storage/cabinets

Made by Rousseau in Canada. The 60x27x41.5 box with full length drawers would be my choice. I think I would sell my Cornwell Classic and my Matco 4s to get a couple of these.

The fact that pro box prices are really soft keep me from doing anything like that.

Having said that, you can find amazing deals on Craigslist on pro tool boxes.

 

[ZRX61]

These look pretty damn good:

Get the Best Automotive Toolbox at the Best Price

Looking for the best automotive toolbox at an affordable price? Call us to buy an auto toolbox or auto workbench with free shipping and a five-year warranty.

dragonfiretools.com

 

[ItwastheChad]

+1 for Tekton (They have a promotion with a free top going on right now)

I have the 48" 60/40 box and love it

 

[F-22]

If you want a workbench-style, it's hard to beat welding a 2"x2" tube metal frame, a 1.5 inch hard plywood table top, and some 5 or 6 inch caster wheels. Then get a fixed cabinet inside the frame. Completely different level of quality when compared to any mass produced toolbox. The sheet metal construction isn't remotely as sturdy.

 

[Draftpick1]

If I was in North America and wanted a good value for money "pro level" toolbox, I would be buying a Tekton.

I've looked into getting an equivalent Rousseau (the OE) from a UK distributor and they are almost double the price

Tekton Rousseau Tool Chest Overview & Thoughts

Hi GJ, Wanted to share a hodgepodge of thoughts regarding Tekton's (Rousseau OEM) relatively new tool chest and why I took a leap of faith on a ~$3K box sight unseen. Apologies in advance for posting a novel! I was in the market for my first large toolbox, moving on from the chaos of living...

www.garagejournal.com

+1 on Rousseau I picked up 2 used boxes one 11 drawer roller, and 7 drawer non roller. They might not be exactly laid out like an auto tech box they are very well built 400 pound drawers and i would buy again if I needed another box.

 

[getbentMUSTARD]

Check “strickytoolboxes”. Great bang for the buck. Tool Vault or Gatorbuilt are both worth a look/see.
strictly is also a sponsor of Garage Journal and helps to pay the bills here

+1 on this. My 55" x 30" Toolvault at over 2 years old is like the day I bought it. Not a single regret.

 

[bobg03]

I've had a mish mash for years of different boxes, but never a "professionally priced box". The best consumer box I had previously was a Kobalt I believe it was 36" top and bottom chest, it really looked good and functioned well. They don't make it in the Stainless Steel version anymore.

I outgrew it when I came south and unpacked the majority of my tools that had been in totes when I moved from a house with a 2 car shop into a condo with only a 1 and 1/4 car garage and a motorcycle from a house before building my new house here.

Last year I downsized my collection as I aged and settled on a Milwaukee 56" Bottom with a wooden top. It was pricey in my eyes @$1k but I was patient and got it on sale for $600. It's pretty durable and well made and is the perfect size for the things that I wanted to keep while downsizing my tool collection.

 

[Renegade1LI]

For home use really comes down to shopping price and features. I just bought these two husky boxes to build my wife's craft table. They're ok, for her use they'll be fine, in a working environment they feel a little cheap. I would pick the us general over husky, and I have both. The us general has a solid feel, husky just doesn't have a solid feel, just my opinion.

 

[pvanderlugt]

I recommend "Extreme Tools" toolboxes all day long! Ive been a tech for almost 10 years now and had this box the whole time. I saw everybody else at the dealer with their snapon and matco boxes with car payments to go with them and didnt want that at all but wanted more than a Harbor Freight quality and longevity. After searching I landed on the extreme tools 55" box that's 30" deep. I love how its taller than most boxes at 47" so its really nice for writing on while standing. A large factor was the stainless top that comes with it standard, ive used it as a workbench in a few desperate situations and it took it pretty well but I definitely wouldn't do it often. It has 300lb & 600lb drawer slides and they are smooth but also a nice stiffness to them at the same time so they slide very well with weight in them. Its traveled with me across the country 3x and has been used and abused in a diesel shop setting and its as smooth as day 1. I paid like $3,300 for it 10 years ago so who knows what their at now but I would absolutely buy one again. Only regret is not getting a bigger one. If your worried about people judging, just pop the emblems off and nobody would every know.

Here is a link. Seriously, I cannot recommend it enough if you want quality but not tool truck prices.
Extreme Tools Roller Boxes

I can 100% agree with this …Extreme toOls EX series is pretty fricken awesome … truly build like a tank… not even in the same league as anything bought at a box store, including the HF ICON stuff.. and IMHO a steal compared to any tool truck stuff… bought mine from Rockintoolboxes, Brian is a cool dude!!!

 

[I teach stuff]

So I love these Tekton boxes - https://www.tekton.com/tool-storage/cabinets

Made by Rousseau in Canada. The 60x27x41.5 box with full length drawers would be my choice. I think I would sell my Cornwell Classic and my Matco 4s to get a couple of these.

The fact that pro box prices are really soft keep me from doing anything like that.

Having said that, you can find amazing deals on Craigslist on pro tool boxes.

I have three of these boxes, under the wurth label. Mine are of the cabinet type, not roller type. I love them, strong drawers, no flexing, I am middle aged and these will be family heirlooms for my children.

 

[IRQVET]

Another vote for US General. (USG)

I currenty own Cman, Husky, and USG. My USG are the better built boxes IMHO as the build qaulity feels more substantial.

 

[rmack898]

In my shop I have 3 SO boxes 3 Vidmar boxes,2 USG boxes, 1 Lista box, 1 Blue Point 5 drawer cart, and wife has a Kobalt box in her garage.

I just retire working as a full time tech and I spent the last 3 years working 6 days a week out of a USG 44” and can’t say anything bad about that box. It held up as good as any SO box I have.

As far as hierarchy goes:
1. Vidmar or Lista. They are bulletproof period.
2. Snap On, Mac, Matco, take your pic.
3. USG, it’s a damn good box and cheap.
4. Kobalt, Husky, CM, store brands, take your pic.

My .02

The USG 44 is still my everyday use, go to box.

 

[Ricky Joe]

.

 

[ogtrek77]

Fellow GJ peeps, in a previous life I was a mechanic for 15 years or so on various things. I’ve owned Craftsman, MAC, and SnapOn boxes. I am no longer wrenching for a living but do a little here and there at home. For heavy daily use I would have kept my Snappy box, but for the sporadic use at home I can’t justify having one there. I currently have a 52” craftsman top and bottom. I’m not super impressed with the quality of the boxes. My question is in your opinion what is the next step up? My biggest complaint about the Craftsman is the drawers feel cheap. If I was going to step up a level or two, where should I look?

Thanks for your input and Merry Christmas!

@mercracing
I started w/:
1)HF US General 4Drawer ToolCart (Home)
Gave it to my dad…
Then moved up to:
2)HF US General 5Drawer ToolCart (Home)
I bought:
3)MacTool Edge 54” Top/Bottom box (work)
Brought it home…
UpGraded to:
4)SnapOn Classic 54 (work)
I added Husky TopBox on it(got spoiled w/TopBox use)
5)SnapOn PowerCart (home)
Replace USG 5drawer w/it & gave to my dad also

1)Work: SnapOn Classic 54 w/Husky TopBox(on top)
2)Home: MacTool Edge 54 Top/Bottom box
& Home: SnapOn PowerCart
3)Dad: USG 5drawer
& Dad: USG 4drawer

I love USG for price & build quality (no problems)
I like MacTool for space & build (UpGradableNess)
I do believe SnapOn is superior (but those prices tho!)
Ouch