Show me your tool chest/cart and your tools
 

I'd like to see what size and type others are using. Im thinking about getting a 40 inch Craftsman. I can't fill it yet but once I have it, I will be buying tools left and right.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1227547202.jpg

I don't have any pics of mine but I have two cheap Craftsman rollaways. I like having a small chest to pull up to the car with sockets, screwdrivers, etc. and the other cart I rarely move because it holds the air tools, specialty tools for one particular type of car, etc. My Dad has a really nice Snap On tool chest but it is too big to roll around between cars....and it cost about as much as a car.

Forgot to mention in the last post, make sure to get the ball bearing slides. The slides make a big difference on the heavy drawyers.

Because of sidways space limitations, I bought the Craftsman 26" wide ball bearing griptlatch stuff. 3 chests, 15 drawers high. Tools a mix. Mostly craftsman...but also snap-on, gearwrench, stahwillie, SK, etc.

Ron & John found the contents useful when they stopped by.

Kept most of the tools when I sold the car, but gave away the P-car specialty stuff to friends.

(edit) Sorry, don't know how to use a digital camera & do downloads...Looks like you've selected a good 40" model...If I'm seeing the pic right, it's ball bearing/griplatch. IMHO, the only way to fly when buying from Sears. A big plus? One of the few things made in the USA these days...

the bigger the roll-away, the less likely you are to roll it anywhere...


________________

How to Use a Digital Camera:

1. turn camera on
2. point at something
3. push button on top

How to post a pic taken with a digital camera...

1. Read instruction booklet

2. Toss booklet and camera in a drawer

(Edit) To keep on topic...the Sears "grip latch" feature allows one to roll the cabinet around with drawers firmly closed without locking the cabinet first...this, I like.

$950 @ CostcCo

It's a great toolbox, but the large drawers on the far right have turned out to be useless. They have a pegboard-style vertical mounting surface, and it came with clips to hang tools in there, but the toolbox would have been more useful with a proper set of narrow drawers.

http://vintagebus.com/gallery/mod/image/2103527.JPG

Mine:D

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1227559501.jpg

I have a 7 drawer 33" cabinet, 9 drawer 33" chest, 7 drawer 26" cabinet, 9 drawer 26" chest, 2 shelf 26" cabinet w/ door, another 9 drawer 26" cabinet on top of that & a 4 drawer work bench... all are full... need more space or sell some stuff!!! lol

oh yeah, I'm still not organized!!! lol

Interesting. I was looking at a 26" and maybe a top chest to go with it. I figured that it might be more usefull to have a 40" and skip the top chest for now. One of the features that drew me to the one I pictured above is the big drawer. I thought it would be a good place for extension chords, a drop light, and other large things. I also have a good collection of wookworking tools that will probably be stored in whichever one I purchase.

I just bought a 3 piece set from Sears for the house tools. I got all 3 pieces on sale for $180.00. Not the best quality but ok for the purpose I need.

I would think that the 40" would not be too big to discourage me from moving it around where I need it. Only the 26" is smaller and for the same amount of space, Id rather have a bigger roll away than a smaller one with a top chest because I like the idea of a flat top surface as a work area.


Also, I have looked at all the drawer slider types: friction, compound, ball bearing, ball bearing griplatch, and professional, and I have definately decided on griplatch. Professional models are too expensive and I dont like the way normal ball bearing drawers lock into place. Too much force. The griplatch action is very smooth.

I've seen that cart you are looking at and you are right that it will still be small enough to roll around. When you are checking out what type of drawyer slides to get at sears grab some hammers or something heavy and fill the drawyer to get a good idea of how it slides/latches with weight in the drawyer.

If you are considering a Crafstman box, you might want to check out Waterloo to save a few bucks. They are the OEM manufacturer for Craftsman boxes, and their Traxx and Pro line are pretty identical to the Craftsman units:
http://www.waterlooindustries.com/products.asp

Oh, and their main distributors are Grainger and Fastenal.

SmileWavy

The test of the drawers is to try and pull them open from one side, not from the center. Put your finger under the outer edge and pull. If it binds up, the drawer will be a problem when it is full of tools.

Try this with a cheap toolbox. Then try it with a Snap-On. Not saying it's worth upgrading to a Snap-On, but a toolbox should last you the rest of your life, buy a good one.

All my boxes are made by Waterloo. The factory (one of three) was in my hometown of Pocahontas, AR. The TRAXX series is a really good economical box that has decent ball-bearing slides. All 4 of my 26" boxes are this series. The only bad thing is that they are extremely TOP heavy and difficult to roll with ease even with the larger casters. My 33" box is a pro series. It's heavier built and loaded down more but still easier to roll. It's 24" deep vs. 18" plus being longer.
If I was going to start over with just one box I would buy the 40" or 42" cabinet and build up from there. I would surely get one with roller bearings.

FYI - All Waterloo boxes are import now... but what isn't?

I just looked at Fastenal for Waterloo and comparable size chests were a few hundred dollars more than the Craftsman. Maybe because Craftsman has good black friday sales. The one I pictured is on sale now for $650 and wont get any cheaper between now and Christmas.

Porsche monkey, I did the test you described in store and anything below ball bearing bound up when opening or closing from one side. Im not skimping on quality because I will have this for a very long time. Going with ball bearing griplatch.

Wise choice.

I've purchased ball-bearing craftsman boxes and tools from the snap-on trucks very inexpensively. They take them in on trade.

I dont see anything!!:D

More excellent advise. The local Snap-On guys here have had deals on boxes they have taken in on trade (Craftsman, Mac, Matco, etc.), as well as ones they had repossessed. Probably worth a call to your local reps. Also, CL and pawnshops sometimes have good deals.

Here's one that might be worth calling on:
http://burlington.craigslist.org/tls/899796194.html


One last tidbit, or at least my personal preference:
Try and find a model with at least one full-length drawer.

I have a bunch of boxes in my shop (Kennedy, Mac, Craftsman) along with a non pictured Craftsman in my garage.

The only one I move around often is my main Mac box that contains most of my standard hand tools for working on cars and airplanes. All work OK, but if I had to pick a favorite, I would say the Mac wins as it is very solid and the drawers slide very easily even though they are packed with too much junk.


Craftsman with misc measuring equipment, drill/mill/lathe stuff and a few basic tools
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1227572739.jpg

Kennedy with welding supplies, sheet metal & riveting equipment.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1227572809.jpg


No name cabinet with aircraft specific test equipment
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1227572859.jpg


Mac with hand tools and electrical stuff
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1227572924.jpg

Ok, so after comparing all the chests on the Craftsman (Sears) site, the one I originally pictured I like the best and happens to be the cheapest. However, after reading the reviews for it, it seems there have been many problems of damaged tool chests from Crafstman from shipping. This lets me know that I should look at it before taking it from the store. Anyone had any experience with damaged Craftsman tool chests?

oops wrong thread.... I just saw chest

This thread is a euphemism on who has the biggest tool......... box.

Similar threads:

Who has the biggest engine?

Who has the widest and largest diameter Fuchs wheels?

Who has the largest torsion bars?

..... and strangely enough; Who has the lightest 911?

Typical guy stuff.

Sherwood

:d

No problem with any of mine, but if there had been a dented one, I'm sure I'd have received a replacement. Damn...the way they were packed, somebody would have to work really hard to ding one inside it's packing carton. (edit) I did pick up my chests at the store...1st bought the top and bottom chests, then added the center chest later. Hauled all home myself. I'd have made an instant trip back to the store if any had been damaged.

Have you looked at Costco? I don't go too often, but last time I was there they had some nice Chinese stainless toolboxes that were depressingly nice.