Tool Chest, Tool box, any recommendations?

[Pinion]

I have the big stainless 48" deal from Costco which I bought ~4 years ago. Not a single regret. Works pissah, all ball bearing drawers with powdercoated inners. Holds all the important tools and for the $, its worth MUCH more IMO. I dont know if they still sell them there or not, but if you are looking at Mac and the other ones, I cant see the sense in paying extra for something that just has a label on it.

 

[firetruck41]

I have heard the Costco boxes from several plus years ago were really good, but that they are not quite as good these days. The 27" one I saw at the local Costco did not impress me, though it may have been abused since it had been on display. I am going with the Extreme box, I should have it in a week or so, and will report back.

 

[Joe_E]

I'll tell you what I happened to be at Lowes today getting my grill and stopped in my tracks at the tool section where they had the big stainless Kobalt chests. Damn I agree they are pretty sweet! I decided i'm gonna get the Kobalt bottom insted of getting the Craftsman one I planned on.

 

[firetruck41]

Did you see the Kobalt with the refrigerator, pioneer headunit/stereo w/ipod connection, led lighting, and power strip? A pretty penny for that one

 

[Joe_E]

Did you see the Kobalt with the refrigerator, pioneer headunit/stereo w/ipod connection, led lighting, and power strip? A pretty penny for that one

Heh, yeah that's the one that caught my eye first.
The one i'm thinking of getting is -

$614.00

11-Drawer Ball-Bearing Rolling Tool Cabinet
Kobalt 11-Drawer Ball-Bearing Rolling Tool Cabinet Item #: 258180 Model: LW41SS07-BT1 4 heavy-duty, sealed, ball-bearing casters (2 swivel with brakes) Full-width, aluminum extruded drawer pulls with comfort grip Electrical power strip built into cabinet Accessory fold-out hook Extra-tall bottom drawer for power tool storage Construction Materials: Number of Drawers:

 

[Junk]

You can read up on all the different brands at garagejournal.com . I've had it with crafts****. I found a great deal on craigslist last year but it required a long drive to pick it up. It was well worth it though. Keep an eye on some locations that aren't big cities and you'd have to drive too. Folks may be more desperate for cash there.

 

[fj40charles]

I have heard the Costco boxes from several plus years ago were really good, but that they are not quite as good these days. The 27" one I saw at the local Costco did not impress me, though it may have been abused since it had been on display. I am going with the Extreme box, I should have it in a week or so, and will report back.

I think those are the Hammerhead brand tool chests. I have one of those in our home garage for small tools for the wife.

 

[firetruck41]

Freight company just called to schedule delivery for Thurs morn, that was pretty quick, since I just ordered 1 week ago. These are shipped via LTL, the two boxes (and packaging) total 450lbs.

 

[spressomon]

Freight company just called to schedule delivery for Thurs morn, that was pretty quick, since I just ordered 1 week ago. These are shipped via LTL, the two boxes (and packaging) total 450lbs.

I'm anxiously awaiting your feedback before placing my order: Thanks in advance!

 

[agomez]

I like the Kobalt at lowe's been eyeing it for awhile think I will take the plunge.....

 

[spressomon]

OK firetruck41...its been almost 24-hours since you should have received the tool cart and no pics or follow up. Slack'n on your responsibilities to the group here?

 

[firetruck41]

OK firetruck41...its been almost 24-hours since you should have received the tool cart and no pics or follow up. Slack'n on your responsibilities to the group here?

Yes, I am slacking. I did get it on Thursday, but the (local) delivery truck broke down, and I ended up driving to the warehouse in the evening to pick it up. I have had a few problems, which I classify as mainly my own fault. The lower chest had some cardboard crushed on two corners, on the back/side of the chest, it didn't look too bad, so I signed for it without noting damage (I was too excited to get the thing and take it home). When I got home, I found one corner of the chest was banged and dented pretty good. I should have refused shipment. However, I would probably end up banging it up eventually, and the frame/structure actually was not effected, regardless of how it looks. There is one problem I will be contacting the vendor about, one drawer slide has a manufacturers defect, it should be replaceable.

Other than that, it is a very solid unit, The drawers and slides definitely seem stronger than what I saw at the stores. Going from memory, I would say it was comparable to/or better than the Craftsman Pro (top of the line, not usually in stores) stuff, in regards to thickness of metal, and slides. The casters are very heavy duty and the swivels are greasable. There are no rivets, everything is welded. I have never touched a snap-on/mac/matco chest, so not able to compare to those. It came with drawer liners and keys for top and botton chests. The drawers are a little stiff, when pushing and pulling them out of the detent (fully closed position). Other than the shipping issue, I would say it is definitely worth the money.

If you buy, I would consider picking it up at the local depot, instead of adding one more rough handling of the shipment, and you would save lift gate or residential delivery charges. I didn't even pursue this when I purchased, so not sure how the vendor could accomodate these ideas. I would try to remain "detatched" and willing to reject the shipment for damage. After that, I would enjoy a smoking deal on a high quality cabinet.

I do have pictures at home, and will try to get them posted in the next day or two.

 

[firetruck41]

To reiterate from last nights post, I love the tool box and believe it is a great value for a quality box. Shipping damage was the only real problem.

Here are some pics. The gloss black powder coat seems to show dust pretty well, so keep in mind that in a couple of pics the box looks a little dusty, that was my doing from removing drawers, etc. It was spotless on arrival. The only thing to assemble are attaching the handle on the bottom box, installing the casters, and putting the liners in all the drawers. In the closeup pics of the casters, they were loosley attached to the box, I just had them finger tight while I took a couple pics, so they are crooked.

 

[firetruck41]

Some more:

 

[firetruck41]

more, the last two show the shipping damage. The "frame" is not in the corner, so it is still intact, and did not affect the open/close of the drawers or anything. Fortunately this side will not be visible, except when I pull out the toolbox to roll it around.

Again, I had only finger tightened the caster bolts at this point.

 

[firetruck41]

I just got back from Lowes, while I was there I took a look at the Koblat boxes again. I just reconfirmed to myself, the "Extreme Tools" box uses heavier gauge metal, heavier duty slides, and there are no rivets, like the Kobalt has. Over all, this makes a significant difference between these boxes.

 

[-Spike-]

Yet they find it necessary to make the drawers about a half an inch shallower than they could be, with that lip on the bottom of the face. That's a big complaint I have with my Sam's Club box. My Craftsman and Husky boxes have maybe a 1/8" lip, making them quite a bit deeper. Seems like a small thing until your sockets won't fit in some drawers standing up, or some tool just won't quite make it in there.

-Spike

 

[Joe_E]

Nice looking box! other than the dent

Crossing my fingers on a sweet used but minty 40" Mac top bottom and side I gave a guy an offer on.

 

[firetruck41]

Yet they find it necessary to make the drawers about a half an inch shallower than they could be, with that lip on the bottom of the face. That's a big complaint I have with my Sam's Club box. My Craftsman and Husky boxes have maybe a 1/8" lip, making them quite a bit deeper. Seems like a small thing until your sockets won't fit in some drawers standing up, or some tool just won't quite make it in there.

-Spike

It does half exactly a 1/2" lip on the bottom. I think it is there in order to fully support the front of the drawer, since, when it is full extended, there is nothing to really support the front, while the rear has some help from the slides and the frame the slides are attached too. Also, each drawer is rated for 100lbs. Not to say I wouldn't love a little more height. My sockets fit upright in the second to bottom drawer which is also the second deepest drawer. I have the sockets upright in a hansen socket tray, and the 1/2" drive socket tray, is very tall, but it fits fine.

 

[krzyabncanuck]

I have the nice kobalt one from Lowes and the only real complaint i have with it is finger prints. Do not touch it with greasy fingers, as they do not come off easy.