The Lotus Cars Community banner
1 - 20 of 21 Posts

· Registered
Joined
·
1,032 Posts
Discussion Starter · #1 · (Edited)
I got an email that Sears is having a tool sale and have been thinking about getting a new tool chest. I went to there web store and low an behold I discovered the Sunburst Orange Metalic tool chest. Here's a pic of the set I'm thinking about. 26" 4 drawers on the lower, 6 drawers on top. I'll have to add the Lotus logo. I have a serious weakness for orange but my only hesitation is that they're aren't more shallow drawers on the lower portion. I hate digging through deep drawers looking for stuff. $368 for the set and 26" is about all I can fit in my wee garage and sadly no fridge or boom box built in. Thoughts before I pull the trigger?
 

Attachments

· Registered
Joined
·
6,586 Posts
Go on Craigslist and check out all of the Snap On, Mac, and Matco toolboxes that are in great condition and similar prices to new Craftsman stuff.

I use Craftsman tools, but their boxes are flimsy...
 

· Not the admin anymore
Joined
·
11,154 Posts
Can you add a center section? Might not be matching orange though....but center sections usually have shallow drawers.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
5,088 Posts
they are always having a sale.
join the craftman club for some good discounts, its free.
also i have been looking at boxes there as well. i wouldnt touch any of thier boxes other than the ball bearing ones, the rest are cheaply built and flimsy as said earlier.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
2,366 Posts
I have the same chest in grey. It works well for me. It is certainly not tool snob approved, but functions fine and is sturdy enough for a home garage....
 

· Registered
Joined
·
424 Posts
I was eyeing this one. :crazyeyes I have out growm my Craftsman. Not sure about the quality, still researching it.
 

· Banned
Joined
·
7,592 Posts
Probably fine for home use. Just don't load the drawers up with like 80lbs in them. Yeah the ball bearings are def. better but if all your tools fit in that box, I'm betting it's fine for what you are using it for. Also you may be able to add one of those boxes that hangs on the side later on, or get a workbench with a few drawers or a roll around cart with drawer too for your other stuff.

Plus it's ORANGE! (which I'm sure you noticed)

Oh- and adding the logo.... no problem ;)
 

· Registered
Joined
·
433 Posts
You can save one shallow drawer by using an intermediate (top drawer, bottom box) for plier type tools utilizing a nifty rack that stands the pliers on edge. Very efficient for those of us with too many of these tools.
The Pliers Rack
 

· Banned
Joined
·
7,592 Posts
You can save one shallow drawer by using an intermediate (top drawer, bottom box) for plier type tools utilizing a nifty rack that stands the pliers on edge. Very efficient for those of us with too many of these tools.
The Pliers Rack
Whoa! I need that. And something to organize my mess of a screwdriver drawer too!
 

· Registered
Joined
·
12,214 Posts
The biggest disadvantage to that particular box is the depth of the top drawers. Note that the front edge of the top chest sits in quite a bit from the front edge of the bottom cabinet. They make top chests that sit essentially flush with the front of the bottom, adding a couple of inches to the storage space in each of the top drawers - important when storing long things like screw drivers and pry bars, and just plain handy for the space.

As for the tool boxes with and without ball bearings - the reality is that it doesn't make that much difference. I have two Craftsman roll around tool boxes - an older one with the short top drawers (and a center add-on stack) and a newer ball bearing box. Yes, the ball bearing drawers are nice, but I'm not sure I'd pay extra for it. I did pay extra for the deeper length drawers. I keep most of my tools in the new box, and still have plenty of less used tools in the old box.

The biggest thing to look for is lots of deep (not to be confused with height) drawers. The more drawers, the more you can organize your tools. Remember, you want lots of square inches of storage space, not cubic inches of storage space. Square inches let you spread things out, cubic inches means you have to stack things in the drawers.

Pay extra for more tool box than you need, you will need more later (that's why I have two boxes). The center add-on boxes take up extra space that could be another drawer, and actually make the whole thing too tall - it's harder to use the top for anything more than just a place to toss things "for later".
 

· Registered
Joined
·
215 Posts
Also look at the amount of weight that it is capable of handling. If you plan on jamming it to the limit this will matter, you dont want the wheels/frame to break.

The width of the drawers matters as well if you plan on putting things like pry bars in them or you could put a rack on the side of the box to hang them
 

· Registered
Joined
·
1,032 Posts
Discussion Starter · #17 ·
Thanks for all the comments everyone, all helpful thoughts :up:

I've been out of town for a few days and managed to resist the impulse buy on the orange craftsman box. I'm going to take all your comments into consideration before pulling the trigger on anything.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
7,130 Posts
i like having a few "tall" drawers, i keep cordless drills, small electronics tool box, kits, etc... down there. just depends if you have LOTS of flat tools, or al ittle bit of everything. get something bigger/mor ethan oyu think you need. line the drawers, i like a mix of a few small drawers, lotrs of flat drawers and some deep drawers. ball bearing are nice, its worth a little extra, not a lot extra.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
1,679 Posts
Get the Snap-On Lotus Edition. It is only $14,000 and you can put the car in the bottom drawer. -poke-
Where is a link to this? I couldn't find one online. I only saw the limited edition GT-R toolbox that they have.
 
1 - 20 of 21 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top