What makes for a good toolbox?

[trenchfoot]

First time poster, long time lurker.

I recently finished the 2 year Toyota program at my local community college and am currently working on the lube line at a local dealership, working towards a position as helper to one of the experienced techs. I am now currently in the market for my first toolbox and would like to get something in the 41" range to store my growing collection and to stop having to bring a bag of tools to work every day.

At $10 an hour, a truck brand box is likely out of the question, but I am willing to spend in the $1000 range. I know a few of the junior techs at work have the Costco Kirkland boxes and a few have Trinity boxes. The 3 I am looking at right now are the HF Pro 44, the Extreme Tools 41 from StrictlyToolboxes and the Homak H2Pro 41.

My question is, when looking at the construction, either in person or by specs, what should I be looking for to give me an indication of quality? I am hoping to get something that will serve me for a few years until I can buy a truck box and then come home with me and be the home box.

Thanks in advance for any input, and if you have any box suggestions, please share

 

[gdocktor3]

The weight capacity of the drawers is most important IMO. You also need to look at drawer depth. Most people prefer deep top drawers to fit socket racks and what not. You also want a good set of casters to support all the weight and still roll around if needed. I've purchased two Mac boxes used off craigslist, one 2 stack 26" for $250 and one 34" or something 3 stack for $500 and they hold more weight than any other big box store brand tool box will. Snap On's big boxes can support the weight of a 200lb man hanging on them. A cheapo Craftsman can barely hold a full set of 1/2" sockets without the drawer bending.

 

[Jamie V]

Buy a used tool truck box if you can. I just sold this one for $750



And bought this one for $1,500



You'll likely be able to sell a used one for close to what you paid for it down the road too.

 

[Buckgnarly]

Look on CL with your 1000, that can get you a lot of used truck brand box if you do not mind some dings, dents, and over spray.

 

[Shippy95]

+1 for the Kirkland 42" box, love mine especially at the price

 

[a52-830]

if you can find one at a reasonable price, i would certainly go with a used "off the truck" tool box. around here the smaller (40" and under) boxes are still expensive, but are not outrageous. you can certainly find some good boxes for less than a thousand. craigslist.org is a good place to start. ebay is OK. trying to haggle with craigslist is a mixed bag, some people huff off, but what you are willing to pay is your decision. what the seller thinks it is worth is only right if they can get it.

while you might spend a bit more, i think that the resale value of a snap-on box, as an example, will be much higher than your friend's costco box. it might be less flashy, and the paint might be a bit worn, but it will hold up a lot better, and the people "above" you will understand that you are not just buying something flashy, you are interested in the long term, and getting something that will be a good investment. you'll be surprised who will notice, and the subtle benefits it will bring.

also, if you start buying off the truck, the driver might be able to offer some help with the old box, offering "warranty" support. actually, you should ask him if he has any deals on trade in boxes from people who upgraded. he might offer you a pretty good deal. doesn't hurt to ask.

lastly, dont rush for the first thing you see. check the dates at the top of the ads, some of them have been on sale for months, likely because the seller has an inflated estimate of the worth. try an email explaining who you are, your limited budget, and how you are trying to get established. that might loosen a few stuck sellers.

starting at the bottom can be difficult. show up 15 minutes early. take care of your tools. keep the box clean, and your tools organized. clean up your area when the shift is over, and dont be the first one out the door. volunteer for the shifts no one else wants. when it is time to move someone up, you'll be first on their minds.

good luck. we're pulling for you.

 

[Finky198]

I think this is very good advice>>>

if you can find one at a reasonable price, i would certainly go with a used "off the truck" tool box. around here the smaller (40" and under) boxes are still expensive, but are not outrageous. you can certainly find some good boxes for less than a thousand. craigslist.org is a good place to start. ebay is OK. trying to haggle with craigslist is a mixed bag, some people huff off, but what you are willing to pay is your decision. what the seller thinks it is worth is only right if they can get it.

If you cant find a great deal on a used truck box just buy the HF box and spend the rest on

MORE TOOOLS.......

 

[bobcatdan]

I was just at Sears last night and overall was sad to see what craftsman is coming to. The one bright spot I thought was their grip latch boxes. I played with the 52" model which I feel is a usable drawer arrangement and overall quality seemed pretty good. Now many people **** on Craftsman boxes, but I work in a plant with about 50 guys who have them, many are pretty new and I have heard nothing complaints. 100 lbs drawer slides, double slides on the lower drawers.

 

[crewchief888]

used truck brand box(s), or the HF 44 if you want a new box.

it's ultimately up to you what you spend your hard earned money on.

my thoughts would be what condition is the HF box gonna be in 3-5 years?
i'd be willing to guess the used truck boxes will still be going strong... who knows what condition the HF boxes will be in.

 

[K-Dog]

Whatever box you get take good care of it. It will be a trade in sometime in the future.
That said I would absolutely maximise the time between now and the time you buy your next box. Security is number one ( good locks ) and total volume is priority number two.

A used box is a GREAT idea.

 

[seber]

About 40 years ago I bought a used SO roller cabinet for work. Very shortly after I found I needed a second box. That time I went with Craftsman. The Craftsman lasted around two years before it had so many problems I scrapped it. The SO with essentially identical use is still with me today. Along side that cabinet have been Huot (pretty good), Kennedy (decent boxes but worthless caster system), and several of the popular brands (not always new). None of them held up to rolling around on uneven floors. The racking destroys poorly designed and welded structures pretty quick. I've not had a Mack but the second box was finally replaced with a Lista and casters added. Problem solved.

 

[yamaha0343]

Buy a used tool truck box if you can.

Fully agree.

I unfortunately live in an area with high unemployment right now due to the oilfield downturn. Tons of nice boxes on Craigslist. I picked up a mint KRA with a portable top box for $400 last year.

 

[GTO]

Buy a used KRL with the newer full width drawer layout.
You will love the 30" deep drawers too.

 

[sanddan]

I think this is very good advice>>>



If you cant find a great deal on a used truck box just buy the HF box and spend the rest on

MORE TOOOLS.......

I would second this. It's not the box you store tools in but the tools that do the work (at the hands of the worker of course).

I have a Craftsman that I bought in 1980 and a HF 44" box. I'm thinking of getting another HF box and moving the bulk of my tools into that one. I'm busting at the seams in some drawers and not being BB they are getting hard to move.

 

[OHMS LAW]

I agree with the used truck brand. Craigslist. Or ask around in the shop someone always wants to sell one.

 

[Rileysan]

+++ on the Harbor Freight 44" box for a new tech. If you're into vintage, look on Craigslist for just about any vintage toolbox that dates from the 1970s and older, or any tool truck brand. There are a lot of boxes to choose from so be patient!

Edit: If you want to know what a bad toolbox feels like, take a visit to your local Sears and check out any toolbox under $500. They are all ****.

Brian

 

[Richard Cranium]

There is nothing wrong with a harbor freight box, I have a 72 inch box, plus a couple of older snap on boxes in my garage.

 

[IRQVET]

Buy the nicest one you can afford, Craigslist is a great place to start looking.

 

[Know Wosad]

The people who rant about drawer weight ratings **** at basic math. Unless you fill it with punches, chisels, nuts and bolts there isn't room for 100 lbs of tools.
Drawers that go in and out without causing a hernia are nice.Roller slides are nice. Slider style(frictiona) are fine if maintained.
Lastly the casters may be extremely important........or not at all in a small shop or if you work out of a cart too.
I'm far more concerned with whats inside than some slow rider looking hotrod box.
Take all the tools away and that $6000 cart won't earn you a nickel.A 6000 lift, iron worker, forklift,air system or Mig welder damn sure will

 

[zkling]

At $10/hr, go buy a HF44" box and fill it with decent tools. If you happen to come across a very good deal on a used truck brand box, great go for it. Otherwise the HF44" will offer minimal loss when you do happen onto a good deal on a good used box.

The people who rant about drawer weight ratings **** at basic math. Unless you fill it with punches, chisels, nuts and bolts there isn't room for 100 lbs of tools.

Uhm, sockets, air tools, ratchets, gauges, pullers, flaring kits, hammers. 100lbs per drawer is easy to hit for a machinist with 1-2-3 blocks and the like.

 

[phule]

I purchased a hf 44" to start in the field. Love it! It holds all my non essentials. I keep my most frequent used tools in my sercice cart. If i had all the tools i needed and a grand to blow inwould have bought a used snap on off craigslist. I had to purchase alot of tools tonmake money so i went cheaper on a box so i could sink more into tools. Honestly i still want a 30" deep tool truck box, however when its time to upgrade i may just purchase another 44.

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[GTA Matt]

At $10 an hour, a truck brand box is likely out of the question, but I am willing to spend in the $1000 range. I know a few of the junior techs at work have the Costco Kirkland boxes and a few have Trinity boxes. The 3 I am looking at right now are the HF Pro 44, the Extreme Tools 41 from StrictlyToolboxes and the Homak H2Pro 41.

Out of the boxes listed, the 41" h2pro is the best imo. It's deeper then the other boxes, the 3 inches in length it gives up on the hf is more then made up for on depth over the hf 16" deep drawers. Build quality is excellent, it offers more bulk storage with the side cabinet but does give up some drawers for it. In my area, a used truck box asking price is typically higher then what I can purchase them new for, and I know most still have a lien on them. I bought a 41 h2pro a few months ago to use as a roll cart, replacing the cart I built out of a hf box. If it can last under the conditions I use it under, it should last forever as a primary box that doesn't move.

 

[trenchfoot]

Thanks for all the replies and advice. I lurked on these forums for over 2 years before making my first post. A lot of knowledge in here. I'll keep doing my research and checking Craigslist for a used truck brand option, but from what I have seen so far, used truck brand boxes are still quite a bit above what I can afford to spend, at least in SoCal.

 

[Tinner]

Out of the boxes listed, the 41" h2pro is the best imo. It's deeper then the other boxes, the 3 inches in length it gives up on the hf is more then made up for on depth over the hf 16" deep drawers. Build quality is excellent, it offers more bulk storage with the side cabinet but does give up some drawers for it. In my area, a used truck box asking price is typically higher then what I can purchase them new for, and I know most still have a lien on them. I bought a 41 h2pro a few months ago to use as a roll cart, replacing the cart I built out of a hf box. If it can last under the conditions I use it under, it should last forever as a primary box that doesn't move.

I have a Homak h2pro 36". The ************* is falling apart after 3 years. Both slides on one drawer have fallen apart, rendering it useless. One slide on another drawer is going. The locking mechanism has failed. Communication on the warranty is ongoing.

The box itself is heavy and well constructed. The casters are sturdy. The slides and hardware are cheap junk. I should have known better than to buy a cheap Chinese box. I have a Kennedy incoming. The Homak is headed for the dumpster, or a new owner if they honor the warranty.

 

[Jim Diesel]

I also vote for second hand truck brand tool box. With that type of money you could get a real quality box for a fraction of the original price.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

I stopped even looking at boxes in stores a long time ago. They all feel pretty flimsy and I've seen too many destroyed in service trucks or falling apart in customers fleet shops I go to.

So it's snother vote for used tool truck brand box on CL or e-bay.

Another example of what you can get: I bought a used SO KR657 w/top box stack for a little over 500 bucks on e-bay for the home shop that I'd bet would be plenty as a starter box for a new tech. I even got the damaged top lid prop bracket warrantied out by they SO man and brand new locks fit just fine.

1000 bucks could easily get more / bigger like a KRL box that way.

 

[zendriver]

Buy a nice Harbor freight tool box, and then get a snap on sticker to put over the US General logo.

Pocket the difference $$ and be good to go professionally.


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[valentine]

A fancy box won't earn you a dime. It's the tools that are in your box which pay the bills. Harbor Freight = best bang for your buck in a new box. Used truck band? Maybe, but you can't always find what you want when you need it. For the dough you'll spenfd on it, the Harbor Freight won't let you down. You'll still have a bragworthy box but you'll be bragging about all the money you still have in your pocket because you made a smart/frugal purchase. Good luck.

-Valentine

 

[pcmeiners]

"The people who rant about drawer weight ratings **** at basic math."
General strength/quality of drawers goes hand in hand with the drawer rating, a 100lb rated drawer is a piece of **** (which requires very careful handling) compared to 400lb drawers which a 300lb man could use as a step ladder and will last generations. A small 400 rated 28" by 28" cabinet drawer can easily have 100 lbs of tools.

 

[Jo Diesel]

Start out with a nice big tool cart. They are lockable and you need a cart anyway. Had a couple of exhaust techs that worked for me and that was all they had.

I keep looking for this one to go on sale for less than $169 at HF but it hasn't happened

 

[Trey T]

Your main tool box is primarily there for organization but for day to day tool storage, you need a cart style because that's what a lot of tech uses these day.

I believe high density drawer boxes are the way to go and Snap-On makes various boxes that are 1.5" tall drawer in combo w/ taller and wider main drawer. I recommend looking into tool truck brands. I believe they have a good financing program.

 

[maxpower_hd]

Another thing to keep in mind is the depth of the box and drawers from front to rear. A lot of the store brand boxes are several inches narrower than the truck brands. To me it is easier to store stuff when they are deeper.

I would not give up on the used boxes. Keep looking. I got a top and bottom filled with tools for $1000. It just depends on how new of a box you are looking at. Mine is from the mid to late 80's. There are lots out there though for less than $1000.

 

[trenchfoot]

Thanks for all the advice. I ended up buying a 4 drawer Matco cart for $200 from a tech at work who was moving to the parts department. It's definitely in used condition, but it has all new drawer hardware and is structurally sound. I figure I can work out of that for a while because i can fit any of the tools I would conceivably need on the lube line in there. I'll keep my eye out for used truck boxes, but here in San Diego they seem to be almost as expensive as the new ones.

I figure that unless I find a really good deal on a used truck box, I probably won't buy anything for another 6 months to a year because from the guys at work who did the same program as I did at school, the progression seems to be 6mo to a year to get helper status and then another 6mo to a year to get promoted to one of the teams.

 

[gdpolk]

If your looking at boxes, I'd suggest going with either a Harbor Freight box or a used truck brand box. Any of these will have the sturdiness and build quality your looking for. Try to get something that will fit your tools with how YOU want them organized. Lots of thin drawers is better to lay thin stuff flat and spread them out. Deeper drawers are better for turning tools up vertically like wrenches in racks vs laid flat, pliers in racks vs laid flat, etc and of course for deeper tools.

If you go with a more consumer based brand, some of the OLD Craftsman boxes are decent. Now they are all pretty flimsy and wouldn't hold up to daily use for very long.

Features you'll want are:

• Storage laid out how you want to view your tools
• Room to grow in the box and add additional side boxes, tops, etc as needed
• Smooth ball bearing drawers
• Thick steel that isn't flimsy and flexible under weight

 

[Greg85mcss]

Op I think you did well for yourself. It's easy to get caught up in buying every cool thing off the truck but buying **** you don't need clutters up what you're actually using. I'd go with the cart for as long as possible. I went from being a tech at a not so full service shop to hourly in a full service. I have a big truck brand box because I have tons of tools from my old job but I only go into it when I'm picking up slack for the techs & can easily do "my job" out of my cheap hf cart. I'd talk to the guys who have moved up & see what they recommend.


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[Fedwrench]

Durability, mobility, affordability, and a decent drawer layout.

To me I would opt for this or something similar to this:

http://www.nationaltoolwarehouse.com/Full-Drawer-Professional-Duty-Service-Cart-Black-P224597.aspx

Yes, it costs more than the popular Harbor Freight cart but, I feel you gain more usable storage in a smaller footprint that is more maneuverable. I mostly work out of a Cornwell version of this cart, a Model 700. it holds more than enough of what I use regularly 98.5 percent of the time. The advantage of starting out with this style of cart is if you really want the big tool box later, you can get it and still have a mobile cart.
However, as I have aged I feel that a cart like this with a metal two door wallocker with some shelves is the best bang for your buck storage system. The wallocker gives you a place to store seldom used specialty tools, precision measuring tools in blow molded cases, and other stuff you don't use daily. It's not as cool as a giant wall sized truck brand box but, you'll have a lot more money to spend on tools that make money, and you really won't owe anything either Good luck in your future endeavors!!!

 

[77Ford]

If you are near a Menards......check out their Masterforce.

The 72" can be had for $999 in November and the 46" for around $500

 

[K-Dog]

$200.00 is a GREAT entry level box.

 

[rodsnratfinks]

Whoops! Reading comprehension fail...

Thanks for all the replies and advice. I lurked on these forums for over 2 years before making my first post. A lot of knowledge in here. I'll keep doing my research and checking Craigslist for a used truck brand option, but from what I have seen so far, used truck brand boxes are still quite a bit above what I can afford to spend, at least in SoCal.

Keep looking. Deals pop up all the time. I have 16 drawer double bank Mac that set me back $500 bucks and is built like a brick *********. I've seen KRLs for a under a thousand pretty consistently.

 

[freddyford]

Another vote for the HF44 if you buy new. It has a cult following for a reason. Look at the weight of different boxes to help compare the quality. Heavier box means more metal and heavier gauge construction. Like when buying a tractor, greater weight usually means stronger build. The HF44 weighs 245 and has no equal for <$400.