Tool boxes?

[Dman033189]

I am shopping for a toolbox for christmas somewhere in the $150 range. So I am looking at craftsman I am wondering if anybody has one like this ? And those of you that have used a "professional quality" friction tool box how did they pull? I am gonna try to go look at them this weekend.

[arcdawg]

they are not bad but make sure you get the BALL BEARING ones.check around online before you buy the craftsman box though.....better off buying somthing a little MORE then getting something that you arnt going to be happy with.

d-

[Tom Zachman]

Take a look at this one. It might not suit your needs, but it has a great history in the farming world. Mennonite made.
http://www.cpltoolbox.com/cpl_home.htm

[Dman033189]

Maby I will have to chip in a few dollars and get one like this. Thanks for the link Tom but they are out of my price range.

[Marcus]

Don. I have one box that is very similar to the first one you posted. The one you posted has the quiet glides, which is a new feature for the ones without ball bearings. They are a little nicer than the old system. I still think the ball bearings are worth the extra money, even though I have had mine for about 18 years without any problems.
The experience that I have tells me to avoid the 12 and 16 inch deep top boxes. Get the 18 inch deep one. It will maximize the available space when you get a roller cabinet to go under it.
I realize my advise breaks the budget of $150.

[Dman033189]

How about that one I just posted it meets all of your suggestions except it is only 16 inches deep.

[chumly2071]

I'll add to the go ball bearing bandwagon. definitely worth the money... at the same time, my Dad has a craftsman roll around that is about as old as I am, and it is holding up pretty decent considering... not sure the current crop is as beefy, though.

I am probably wrong, but I had heard somewhere that the craftsman roll around sets are made by waterloo.

HF has what appears to be a decent roll around with ball bearings that I have seen in some recent sales flyers, but I have not seen them in person.. also out of the price range though...

[cutter]

Originally Posted by Dman033189

How about that one I just posted it meets all of your suggestions except it is only 16 inches deep.

That one only has the 5 wide drawers; I think you'll find the 3 small ones in an 8 drawer to be real handy.

Don, When you head over to Sears to place your hands on whichever box you think will best serve you remember that Sears will deal...maybe not as readily in this price range, but deal they will. I was going to buy one of the 40" chest, middle chest and rollaway sets several years back when they were listed around $1100-1200. Called over to the nearest store in Rapid City, SD and the young saleman gave me a price of around $890 without my even asking for a break. When I asked if he had any in stock he indicated that they had and I hightailed it over there before his shift ended. Also remember that these guys are on commission, so the more they make the more they bring home.

[big rig guy]

I bought one of my sons a couple years ago a top box, we went to Sears and I thought their models were really light duty. Ended up with one from Princess Auto, a unit called International, made somewhere in Quebec, thicker metal and made well. No bearing slides, but from what I seen in the cheaper boxes with the bearings, that they are too light duty as well. It all depends on what your putting inside the drawers and how much weight. Those Waterloo boxes, I just bought the other son one upper and lower box for under 200.00, it works well for him, but he is only 10. For anything close to daily or regular use, I would avoid Waterloo.

I buy the Mac/Snap Off big units, very heavy duty. My socket drawer is over 400 pounds of sockets in it alone. Slides with the push 0f a finger. If you can afford the better boxes, I suggest going for it. I use mine daily for work, and that makes a difference for me to pay the extra. Years ago, I had the cheaper boxes, and as I added more tools/weight to the drawers, they pretty much fell apart, and those boxes years ago, were built better than the ones available today for sure.