| Author |
Message |
joenovak6
Samba Member
Joined: May 17, 2007
Posts: 17
|
 Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 1:48 pm Post subject: tool chest comparison |
 |
|
anyone know a good resource for comparing metal tool chests for your home shop? i'm looking for a multiple brand view where i could see price, steel gauge, tray hardware, consumer satisfaction, etc... thanks,
- joe |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
beetleboy58
Samba Conquestador
Joined: February 27, 2006
Posts: 1073
|
| Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 2:56 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Go to Sears and get a middle-of-the-road Craftsman. Best value for what you get. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
BrockGrimes
Samba Member
Joined: September 18, 2006
Posts: 1015
Location: Clovis, NM
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
vwluver74
Samba Member
Joined: February 29, 2004
Posts: 889
Location: at the buffet in the fetus room
|
| Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 11:04 pm Post subject: |
|
|
sorry, dont know of a site that lists pros/cons of multiple various styles of tool boxes. but i got a nice big stainless steel box from costco. it has roller bearing drawers and it came with the shelf liners. cost about 600 dollars. it is really well built and can house everything i have. i dont care to much for new craftsman boxes. they feel kinda cheap, i like the old (i mean 1970's and older) craftsman boxes. they just feel like they are built better. i have my dads and grandfathers boxes and they are very solid, not tinny like the new ones ive looked at (craftsman).
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
joenovak6
Samba Member
Joined: May 17, 2007
Posts: 17
|
| Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 6:45 am Post subject: |
|
|
| thanks for the replies. i'm guessing that your vintage boxes had quite a bit more steel in them then those today... i guess i'll need to hoof it to a few outlets and see whats up. i'l share my findings later. - j |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Glenn 
Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001
Posts: 80390
Location: Sneaking up behind you
|
| Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 7:01 am Post subject: |
|
|
| beetleboy58 wrote: |
| Go to Sears and get a middle-of-the-road Craftsman. Best value for what you get. |
I agree, the middle line is decent value for the home hobbist.
_________________
Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare
עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל חַי |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
notchback
Insensitive Jerk
Joined: December 16, 2003
Posts: 7024
Location: Behind the Zion Curtain
|
| Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 7:44 am Post subject: |
|
|
This box was nearly $6000 of the truck when I bought it, but I paid less than $800 at the local pawn shop.
_________________
| zeen wrote: |
| Arguing with johnnypan is like mud-wrestling a pig. After a while you realize he just enjoys playing in the mud, winning the contest is not the point. |
FU#3 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Gary
Person of Interest
Joined: November 01, 2002
Posts: 17069
Location: 127.0.0.1
|
| Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 7:55 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Glenn wrote: |
| beetleboy58 wrote: |
| Go to Sears and get a middle-of-the-road Craftsman. Best value for what you get. |
I agree, the middle line is decent value for the home hobbist.
|
I disagree. I have a Craftsman tool chest that my ex-wife bought for me about 13 years ago. Two of the larger drawers have fallen apart at the slide rails and the build quality sucks. I can't wait to toss that thing into my scrap metal pile.
_________________
West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624 (1943) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
joenovak6
Samba Member
Joined: May 17, 2007
Posts: 17
|
| Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 8:10 am Post subject: |
|
|
| notchback - your snap-on for $600 is the winner by far... has anyone checked out Lowe's Kobalt cabinets? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
BrockGrimes
Samba Member
Joined: September 18, 2006
Posts: 1015
Location: Clovis, NM
|
| Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 8:29 am Post subject: |
|
|
You have to understand that craftsman makes various tool chests as far as quality. Cheap means cheap.
If you can find a sears outlet look at the cheapy chest near the pricey ones. The metal is thinner.
I made the mistake of buying a cheap chest out of the store, that thing, wobbled and the tin was to thin any hit and it dented.
The chest I have now is Black not one of those Red pieces of crap.
I also bought it from a craftsman outlet and not sears store. I inspected it, then bought it.
_________________
Selling the SB:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=557335 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
oly29
Samba Member
Joined: August 21, 2002
Posts: 55
Location: Sparks Nevada
|
| Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 8:32 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Check out Harbor Freight. All of the drawers have bearing sliders, and the deep ones have 2 per side. $400.00. You can then add an extra cabinet on the end for more drawers. $200.00. Like the one from Costco on their web side you can see the drawer sliders from the picture. Try and find that on a Sears model for the same price. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
coW
Samba Member
Joined: September 21, 2004
Posts: 2096
Location: New England
|
| Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 8:48 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Icy wrote: |
| Glenn wrote: |
| beetleboy58 wrote: |
| Go to Sears and get a middle-of-the-road Craftsman. Best value for what you get. |
I agree, the middle line is decent value for the home hobbist.
|
I disagree. I have a Craftsman tool chest that my ex-wife bought for me about 13 years ago. Two of the larger drawers have fallen apart at the slide rails and the build quality sucks. I can't wait to toss that thing into my scrap metal pile. |
I had one less expensive Sears top/bottom combinations that wasn't very good - once it got loaded up, the drawers just felt cheap and were harder to open and the cabinet would flex when it was rolled around - I got rid of them but replaced them with the middle of the line Sears.
Right now I have two bottom/top combinations of their middle of the road cabinets and they work great.
Over last summer also stumbled into a sale one of their expensive top chests that is just excellent. Someone had brought it back as one of the drawers wasn't secured correctly - got a $400 cabinet for $90.
The latest sears cabinets just look moist to me, with a radio and clock in the top. They don't look particularly strong. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Air-Cooled Head
Samba Member
Joined: October 15, 2002
Posts: 4070
Location: Chicago Suburbs
|
| Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 9:50 am Post subject: |
|
|
| BrockGrimes wrote: |
| You have to understand that craftsman makes various tool chests as far as quality. Cheap means cheap. |
Almost right. More like the company that makes various tool chests FOR Sears. The rest is spot on.
They also make "Custom" tool cabinets for Sears (& others) that can cost $2000. 
Makes me wonder just how "custom" a tool box can be? 
_________________
Everything known to man has been written.
Readers are Leaders! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Foxx
Uncle Meat
Joined: August 27, 2001
Posts: 4897
Location: at the computer,.......DUH!
|
| Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 9:54 am Post subject: |
|
|
i have a mac top and bottom box, had em for over 20 years.
i'm good to go.
_________________
Frank
OG JHC
59 panel
Sarcasm is the body's natural defense against stupidity. i seem to use a lot. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
SquareTone
Samba Member
Joined: July 10, 2003
Posts: 1204
Location: Jenks, Oklahoma
|
| Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 12:43 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| vwluver74 wrote: |
| sorry, dont know of a site that lists pros/cons of multiple various styles of tool boxes. but i got a nice big stainless steel box from costco. it has roller bearing drawers and it came with the shelf liners. cost about 600 dollars. it is really well built and can house everything i have. i dont care to much for new craftsman boxes. they feel kinda cheap, i like the old (i mean 1970's and older) craftsman boxes. they just feel like they are built better. i have my dads and grandfathers boxes and they are very solid, not tinny like the new ones ive looked at (craftsman). |
Is this a subliminal ad for Craftsman or something?
I've been think of just building my own wooden chest. It's too hard to find quality for a decent price these days. Actually, I guess that's the same reason I'm driving a 37 year old VW.
_________________
Tony
'70 Fastback AT/FI (daily driver (exept when the starter won't work, or it's out of gas, or I don't go anywhere, ...))
"...it is a well known fact, that those people who most want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to it."
Help Improve TheSamba |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
BrockGrimes
Samba Member
Joined: September 18, 2006
Posts: 1015
Location: Clovis, NM
|
| Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 3:20 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I saw the new plastic digital box today at sears, I stopped and was like WTF
When did Auto Mechanics get geeky???
But hey I did find a good point at least I'd know the temp. in the garage. 
I wonder if it talks: "Your neighbor Bob hasn't returned the 3/16 box end you loaned him on Mon."
_________________
Selling the SB:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=557335 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
70 140
Samba Member
Joined: September 22, 2002
Posts: 8471
Location: Ontario Canada
|
| Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 6:06 pm Post subject: |
|
|
There are lots of deals on these things. Watch the papers for auctions at farms or garages that are closing. Set some money aside for a cabinet, and wait for something to come up.
Last year I was at a gas station/garage auction. There was a Mac chest with a bunch of tools in it that went for 5 or 6 hundred bucks. I bought a huge floor jack for 10 bucks - starting bid. And a pail full of tow/logging chains for 2 bucks. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ach60
Samba Member
Joined: May 14, 2001
Posts: 4137
Location: Santa Maria
|
| Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 11:32 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| notchback wrote: |
This box was nearly $6000 of the truck when I bought it, but I paid less than $800 at the local pawn shop.
|
Holy Freaking Christ!
The owner, and the Pawn shop owner must be on crack.
I love going to used tool stores & pawn shops when I travel.
I got a gear drive saw in LA for $20, and created quite a stir in check in line @ Southwest Airlines baggage trying to check it in.
I found a 36" wide Snap On bottom box in Philly for $800,
but no chance of getting that home.
_________________
Good Luck
Al |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
vw76westy
Samba Member
Joined: May 06, 2007
Posts: 1583
Location: so cal
|
| Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 2:22 am Post subject: |
|
|
I have a craftsman tool chest. & I think it’s great,
Everything you guys said, the drawers don’t open correctly, it is thin flimsy metal,
that applies to there lower end boxes which I don’t have
Craftsman boxes are a great buy if you get the ball bearing modals
You can buy a craftsman for$100 $ 150 $200 $300 $400 all would be same size just different quality
If you go just before x-mas they have a lot great sales
If you go just after x-mas you find even better deals on all the boxes that got returned by husbands because wife bought wrong one during sale
As for Mac & snap-on they are top of the line with top of the line prices
As least 3x or 4x more $$$$ than a craftsman
I would not buy anything that came out of harbor freight everything they have is junk they are the high end of made in china everything in that place came from china & its all crap !!!!!!!!
Husky from home depot kind of sucks I expected better quality for price
I don’t know anybody with a cobolt from Loews
The Costco one seems decent but looks bulky [to much tool box in one spot for me]
Just my 3 cents |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
KaferKnight
Samba Member
Joined: May 25, 2006
Posts: 137
Location: Yolo CA
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
