Big rolling tool chests [Archive] - The Home Shop Machinist & Machinist's Workshop Magazine's BBS

Weekend_Scientist

03-03-2011, 07:59 PM

Howdy HSMers! My name is Mark. I work on scientific equipment by day and make chips in my workshop by night. I've been lurking around HSM for about five months now. I must say I'm quite impressed with the creativity and the talent of the posters. The shop made tools thread almost made me fall out of my chair.

I'm about to spend an obscene amount of money on two rolling tool chests and I want to make sure that I lay down my Benjamins for the best product possible. This is where I need your help and I'm calling on the many years of experience that I can tap through HSM. Who makes the best, highest quality, last a lifetime, rolling tool chests?

What am I looking for?

1) Maximum numbers of shallow drawers. I really need surface area. I need space to lay out lots of things that just don't lend themselves to hanging on my pegboard.

2) No refrigerator or built in radio. The big box home improvement stores all thought it would be cute if they put a radio and cooler in their tool chests. Maybe it is cute but that's not what I'm looking for. I need maximum amount of surface area for all my store bought, hand me down, and hand made tools.

3) I need at least some of the drawers to have an inside width in excess of 24 inches. I have some rather long objects I intend to store away. And, did I mention the need for mass amounts of horizontal storage area?

Guys and girls, share your experiences with me. What works and what doesn't? Where can I get the highest quality sturdiest free standing tool chest?

Pherdie

03-03-2011, 08:18 PM

Mark Hockett

03-03-2011, 08:20 PM

Lista makes a very high quality cabinet and they can be ordered in just about any configuration, with or without wheels,
http://www.listaintl.com/files/cabinet.aspx

Stanley Vidmar makes nice cabinets,
http://www.stanleyvidmar.com/

Kennedy makes quality tool boxes,
http://www.kennedymfg.com/Kennedy/

There are also the usual tool dealers like Snap On, Mac, Matco and Cornwell that sell high quality large tool boxes but expect to spend $6000 to $10,000 for a box.

Most of the boxes at the big box stores and places like Harbor Freight feel like they are made from tin foil in comparison to the companies I listed.

I have a huge Mac tool box, large Matco box, small Stanley Vidmar cabinet and medium size Snap On box. They have all been great, the Mac and Snap On boxes are over 15 years old.

Arthur.Marks

03-03-2011, 08:27 PM

This topic will surely bring out many opinions---hopefully we can all chime in amicably! :) I don't have much experience with anything but Kennedy and the modern Craftsman ball-bearing Griplatch line (IOW the top-tier) boxes. I find them comparable. If I was forced to nit-pick, I would say I prefer the Craftsman ball-bearing slides over the Kennedy ones. At the same time, I prefer the paint and sheet metal gauge of the Kennedy over the Craftsman. To be honest, though, I'm not really sure if it truly is a thicker sheet metal gauge on the Kennedy or just the hearty paint coating they use. If you bought either of the above mentioned lines I highly doubt you would ever regret it.

Arthur.Marks

03-03-2011, 08:33 PM

With the mention of Lista, Vidmar, etc. above a good point is raised. If you truly just need low-profile, wide drawers those modular suppliers may very well work the best for you. I'm not familiar with any of their rolling boxes---I really only know them for stationary storage applications. They are the only place you're gonna get a full box of, for example, only 1-1/2" depth drawers. Could be worth it for you?

Black_Moons

03-03-2011, 08:44 PM

I find the 27"x16" or so box size to be the cheapest, largest box you can get.
the bigger 42" size is $$$$$

http://www.sears.ca/product/craftsman-md-standard-series-chest-and-cabinet/609-33555-33555

Is what I got.. I got mine on signifigant sale however.. Check around for a similar form factor and cheaper price.. Should be able to find it around $500, maybe $600

It suffered some mild damage when I moved... But overall its been quite good.. Technicaly, you can take it apart and theres spots for rails at every possable height, So you could replace the bottom thicker drawers with more thin drawers, If you could find them sold seperately... or buy another box to swap with.

Word of warning: Ball bearing slides are OK for daily stationary work, But if they don't have locking drawers, they will all roll out when you move the cabinate, especialy if you need to cross unlevel ground and forget what way to move it. If they don't have detents, Maybe only the really heavy drawers will roll out unexpectly.

While friction slides seem lame, they are much less prone to this, And if you take the toolbox apart, lightly grease all the slides, even a very cheap toolbox will glide easily with a drawer full of heavy stuff. So don't be afraid of friction slides if you plan to move the box around the shop. And cheap ball bearing slides can start to loose bearings and get messed up... or bind a little at times. Cheap ball bearings can be worse then cheap friction slides for sure.

Arthur.Marks

03-03-2011, 08:59 PM

Great point on the friction slides. I own Kennedy boxes with both, and, to be honest, I somewhat prefer their particular friction slide assemblies. They are very sturdy, open with ease and are easy to remove/reinstall if you need to. Word to the wise with ball-bearing drawers: If you need to remove them or re-install them always empty them no matter what. They're more delicate than you think if your drawer has the least amount of weight in them. I had to completely replace two drawers' worth of bb slides on mine once by not heeding that small warning :(

Dr Stan

03-03-2011, 09:20 PM

I have a couple of Sears Craftsman boxes, there will be no more of those. I consider the current Sears offerings primarily garbage. It is my belief that Waterloo makes/made boxes for Sears. Waterloo has a variety of grades, as does Sears. I find Snap On, Mac and other similar brands overpriced for the home shop.

As much as it pains me to say it, I believe the best box for the buck are some of the higher end offerings by Harbor Freight, with heavy gauge metal, roller slides and a good variety of accessories.

Good luck with your purchase.

As much as it pains me I have to agree with you. I'm certainly no fan of most Chinese imports, but when I went looking for a new roll around I ended up at HF buying their largest & best box. I discovered most, possibly all, of the Sears top boxes are made in China so if I had to buy Chinese I may as well find the best buy.

I also looked at a very nice stainless steel roll around at Sam's Club, but decided against paying the premium for stainless. If Menards has a store near you I recommend looking at their boxes. I almost went with the Mendards box instead of HF.

IMO even the used Snap On, etc boxes on Craig's List are still way over priced.

gambler

03-03-2011, 09:28 PM

I have snapon at work and they hold up to much abuse. pricey but lifetime warranty. I replaced two roller slides that were 8 yrs old, free. they were on the lower drawer, I stand on that drawer to reach above my box, daily. I don't think you would be disappointed with them.

gary350

03-03-2011, 09:36 PM

I like shallow drawers too and lots of them. I did a lot of research on tool boxes before I bought my Kennedy tool box.

You can get a Kennedy roll around box with anything from 4 drawers to 9 drawers. Get one with roller bearing pulls it makes the drawers pull out and push in very easy especially if it is loaded with heavy tools.

I got a good deal on a used Kennedy roll around box $250 with 8 roller bearing drawers and the width is about 27" wide but you can get them about 14 to 36 inches wide. I also like the brown color the best.

I bought 4 used Kennedy tool boxes off ebay $30 to $35 each 9 drawers by 26" wide each. I keep one on top of my roll around box all the others are on the work bench fulled with drills, taps, cutters, tools, etc.

Check craigslist for used tool boxes. Call your local Snap-On dealer for used trade in tool boxes. Do not buy cheap junk tool boxes from Home Depot, Lowes, Harbor Freight, etc. or you will be sorry. I do not like Snap-on or Sears stuff either but they have some ok stuff I just do not like paying extra for the NAME. I like Quality and a bargin 1/2 price or less is what I want.

http://cgi.ebay.com/KENNEDY-KITS-NO-526-MACHINIST-TOOL-DIE-TOOL-CHEST-BOX-/290539679625?pt=Tool_Boxes_Storage&hash=item43a583af89

http://cgi.ebay.com/KENNEDY-MACHINIST-TOOL-BOX-11-DRAWER-/170609512397?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27b91e8fcd

http://cgi.ebay.com/Kennedy-Machinist-Tool-Box-/250782096259?pt=BI_Tool_Work_Holding&hash=item3a63c71b83

http://www.alltimetools.com/m-35-kennedy-tool-boxes.aspx?gclid=CIv-98j8s6cCFYrs7QodXxy0gA

Mark Hockett

03-03-2011, 09:45 PM

With the mention of Lista, Vidmar, etc. above a good point is raised. I'm not familiar with any of their rolling boxes

There are quite a few Lista rolling cabinets. Here is an example,
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/LISTA-7-DRAWER-SHALLOW-DEPTH-MOBILE-CABINET-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem45e89e4b47QQitemZ30025 5431495QQptZMotorsQ5fAutomotiveQ5fTools

Bill736

03-03-2011, 09:49 PM

My main recommendation is to actually examine whatever tool boxes you buy before you buy. I took a long time to select my last new toolbox, since I discovered so many differences among brands . I actually found the one I liked best at a hardware store. The chest below the box is Craftsman, and it's held up well for 15 years or so. Since that time, however, I've bought several extra used tool boxes and chests for cheap, and cleaned and/or painted them. My main box, however, is still the hardware store one. One thing I don't understand about some expensive boxes and chests is how high the top compartment is. I'm 5 foot 11, and I can hardly even see into the tops of those tool boxes. I'd never buy one that high.

mechtech32

03-03-2011, 10:29 PM

I bought the 13 drawer 45" wide harbour fright roll away a couple years ago to replace my clapped out friction slide craftsman at work. I am more than happy with it. it has held up to industrial abuse better than most of the "crapsman" boxes my co workers spent twice the money on. griplatch is a nice feature but not worth the money when the rest of the box is crap.

tsmartin_98

03-03-2011, 10:35 PM

If you've got the space Lista's and Vidmar's win in my book.

TS

PixMan

03-03-2011, 10:44 PM

The most recent buy of mine was in 2009 I bought a Kennedy 52611 "Professional" machinists box. I don't feel that their quality had changed at all in the years since I bought the used 297B roll around that it sits on. Seen here, the brown stuff on the left side of the photo:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v466/kenm10759/Dads%20shop/IMG_0277-r-1.jpg

I read carefully your post about the features you are looking for. I truly believe you would be VERY happy with a Kennedy Versa Bench setup. Go to their site, download the catalog and see what I mean. There are a number of different configurations, but most very much like your description of big working space, but lots of flat drawers. I had been given one to use at one place I worked, and I absolutely fell in love with it. I wish I had the room for one! I had the use of a 6006, but I'd love to have a 6012.

The Versa Bench is not inexpensive. It is also not a 5-figure chrome-plated, highly polished jewel that you'd be afraid to scratch. I believe their better ones are about half the price of an equivalent size Snap-On and very nearly as sturdy.

S&S_ShovelHead

03-03-2011, 10:53 PM

http://www.harborfreight.com/13-drawer-red-industrial-quality-roller-cabinet-90320.html

On sale right now and has stellar reviews at a very affordable price.

Mcgyver

03-03-2011, 11:03 PM

I'm about to spend an obscene amount of money on two rolling tool chests and I want to make sure that I lay down my Benjamins for the best product

List or Vidmar imo. it will be obscene, enough so that you should figure out how to get a look at some first, call them, maybe they local reps or customers who help them out that way. If you want the best I don't know that you can do better, no radio or fridge thou

I just looked, the 13 drawer 60" high Lista is 3200 (without wheels) :eek: is that obscene enough? :D

hardtail

03-03-2011, 11:58 PM

Personally I would go with the better China offerings, they come under multiple brands these days and colour/metal choices, heck the 41" are practically what I paid for beach years ago.......one area where your spending strength is actually stronger these days BUT if $$$ where no object and I could squeeze in good used I would go Lista, Vidmar or these.....

http://www.rousseaumetal.com/cart/NcTool.aspx?lg=en&Cat=NCTO

Forrest Addy

03-04-2011, 12:48 AM

You say you want 24" internal width. No Sears, Waterloo, SnapOn, etc chest will give you that. You're in Lista and Stanly Vidmar territory. They can be damn expensive new but sometimes you can find used for an affordable price if you call ~$1K affordable. They also have versions with the many shallow drawers.

If you do buy used take the time to clean them up and work over the drawer suspensions. It's time well invested. The suspensions collect debris and sticky drawers can often be resurrected so they're smooth as new by expending only a little elbow grease.

Ever work with wood? A little wood butchery can result in a set of tool chests the equal of any in sheet metal except for fire resistance.

BillDaCatt

03-04-2011, 02:10 AM

Funny you asked, I just bought some rolling toolboxes a week ago. If you live in the mid-west I would check out the toolboxes they have at Menards. That is where I bought mine.

I looked all over town and for the same money that it would have taken to get the top and bottom box in the 40" wide range, I bought a 41" top and bottom box, a 36" bottom box to put my 9X20 lathe on, and a 24" wide top box to put on the small rolling chest I already had. Out the door with sales tax was just over $1300. The best part is I still would have bought them even if they were the same price as the other stores. They have the same or heavier sheet metal, all the drawers have thick beefy pulls on them, and the casters are large and wide. And yes, there are plenty of wide shallow drawers in all of the boxes. They are not Kennedy toolboxes, but they are quite respectable for the money.

41" Top toolbox - 8 drawers: $339
41" Bottom rolling cabinet - 11 drawers: $ 449
36" Bottom rolling cabinet - 7 drawers: $359
24" Top toolbox - 4 drawers: $95
Grand total: 4 toolboxes, 30 drawers: $1317 w/tax
(note: the 41" toolboxes are a little more expensive if you buy them separately)

Ian B

03-04-2011, 04:30 AM

Shallow drawers, lots of area - how about secondhand drawing storage cabinets? I have one with about 12 drawers, each one 3" deep, and big enough to take a sheet of A0 paper - which is a square meter.

They tend to be well made, you'd just need an angle iron frame and some castors. And no, they don't have built-in radios, coffee makers etc. Not even a USB port...

Ian

Ian B

03-04-2011, 04:32 AM

Oh, forgot to mention - mine cost me €100.

Ian

Ed P

03-04-2011, 06:55 AM

I'm about to spend an obscene amount of money on two rolling tool chests and I want to make sure that I lay down my Benjamins for the best product possible.

Well if you have lots of Benjamins, why not get the best?

Rack Engineering: http://www.rack-eng.com/index.html

Ed P

PeteF

03-04-2011, 06:56 AM

It's ironic this thread has come up now as I was just looking at these chests myself with the idea to put a small table top on one and use it as a mobile work bench. I sometimes use my welding table (also on wheels) like this, but wonder if a tool chest would be stable enough? I wonder if it wouldn't just wobble around so much it would simply be frustrating to work off. Has anyone done anything like this?

Pete

madman

03-04-2011, 07:49 AM

I have 9 Toolboxes. General Brand, Craftsman and Kennedy. The General and Sears are JUNK. Over time the centres sag SO BAD you will have trouble opening them. Mind you this may take some time BUT it will happen. Now if you roll youre toolbox around like working in a die shop or job shop it wont last even as long as it would not ever being moved much. Good Modification is to make a heavy angle frame with decent wheels for the Box to nest In. Also with Kennedys ball bearing glides is the way to go period. I have had the drawers just fall out of my kennedy so many times till i converted it to Ball Glides. NOW the problem is if it sits on a uneven section of the shop (near drain in floor where theres a incline) you have to make sure you always lock it or hold the drawers shut (new ones have a detont on them so they cant slide open) I have had my drawers glide silently open until i hear a crash and my entire roller cabinet tips over .This is Without a box on top of it. I also added a fold up Kennedy Table attachment to one side, Helps with more space when machining, Made up a tool cart on nice wheels with a sled out tray inside to hold over 100 tools collets, Works nice. Its tough to find one box will hold all youre Tools especially if you like tools and have a bunch of them. You may pay more initially for a Good Box but you will have it for Life ,Invest Wisely. Mike

rmuell01

03-04-2011, 08:11 AM

Lista's and Vidmar's . but get them at auctions. they will run from 500 - 1500 but they are usually full of stuff.

get them from bidspotters or others.

rob

rockrat

03-04-2011, 08:14 AM

A few thoughts, then my experience.

As Forrest noted, if you have any woodworking skills at all and you have time, you might be better off making exactly what you want. Boxes are expensive and personally I would rather save my cash for tools. If I needed another box today, I would make one from wood and enjoy creating the fixturing for cutting and assembling the shelves and drawers. If you make the cabinet, it can be exactly what you want. 24" wide drawers? Heck make them 28" so you have a little extra space.

If you dont have the skills or the time, take a look at Harbor Freight. Opinions vary on their product but the last time I was in there and checked out that big roll around that they have on sale every other month, I was surprised. I thought it felt more solid than the new light weight Sears stuff. Just go and take a look so that you can make a judgment call for yourself.

The used tool box market around here is booming. I see them on Carigslist nearly every day. Kennedy, Sears, Waterloo and many other brand names.

My opinion based on use. - I can tell you that I have owned Sears, Waterloo and Kennedy boxes.

I sold the Waterloo because the one I had didnt meet my needs. Although out of all the places that I have worked, there have been Waterloo cabinets rolling around and the owners are happy with them.

My Sears boxes are the old style that seem to be built much heavier than what I see in Sears now days. About 5 years back I purchased a middle Sears box to finish my set. It was an old store display and was the heavier type in my opinion. This is currently my daily use box. The only drawback to them is they dont have the bearing slides and the drawers with the heavier tools in them are difficult to pull out. Do not buy the lightest of the Sears product. My father has one of the "competitive market" Sears boxes and it has fallen apart over the 5 years he has owned it. It did feel like a tin can and for a bottom roller, he was able to load it into his car with a bad back and not strain anything. But I doubt it will get passed down to anyone other than the scrapper or trashman.

The Kennedy boxes are a treat. Ball bearing slides that work flawlessly and with little effort. In fact, if I dont push them shut all the way to the little speed bump that holds them shut while unlocked, they will roll open if I am pushing it around. The roller box has sat in one spot for over a year loaded and there is barley a noticeable flat spot on the wheels.

I have seen Tracer tool boxes and they do look nice and feel like the operate well. I have no idea what they cost. And by the looks of their website, Jay Leno likes them as well. Tracer Tool Box (http://www.tracertoolboxes.com/?page=testimonies) But I would say find one in use and see what you think.

In the end, let us know what you went with. I'll be curious to see if you found something new and exciting or how you set it all up.

rock~

Dr Stan

03-04-2011, 08:50 AM

Harvey Melvin Richards

03-04-2011, 09:17 AM

Just thought of something. What about a flat file like architects, map makers, artists and others use? You may want to look at this: http://evansville.craigslist.org/for/2230604271.html

no connection to the seller
I have the same map file as one of my treasure containers. The drawers are 2.5" X 25.5" X 37", a nice size for a lot of stuff. Their major drawback is the lack of full extension slides.

I have also have a Kennedy 275, which I turned into a 277 (not a cheap way to go). The box is over 10 years old and I haven't had a bit of trouble with it. It has side extensions, a mid unit and a 3611 chest on top. All of it full, and it's not real happy being rolled, but it's primarily a stationary unit.

saltmine

03-04-2011, 09:49 AM

I used to have a problem with the sheet metal bottoms of tool boxes caving in under the weight of my huge collection of air tools and mechanics' tools.

Most places I worked preferred we each had only one box. It wasn't unusual to see a brand new toolbox in my work area with the wheels slowly folding up into the bottom of the box, after only a few months of use.

To solve the problem, I purchased a Snap-on "aircraft carrier". This box is over six feet long, and three feet wide. It rolls on sprung wheel assemblies that have replaceable tires on them that are designed to carry 2400 lbs.
I bolted my "normal sized" top box onto the top offset to the right side, giving me a nice bit of bench space.

Well, that was thirty years ago. The box, then, cost me a princely sum of $1800. After three sets of hard rubber replacement tires ($100 apiece), it saw me through my retirement. Sure, it's scratched and dinged up, and the drawer tracks are pretty well worn, the key is broken off in the front lock, but it's worth more now than what I paid for it back then.

You get what you pay for.

bborr01

03-04-2011, 10:05 AM

Scientist,

Welcome to the forum and thanks for the kind words about the "shop made tools" thread. That thread is enough to keep most of us in ideas for projects. When I started it, I had no idea there would be so much response. If you have anything to add, feel free.

Stanley Vidmar's and Lista's are pricey but if you have the $, they are hard to beat. I like the fact that many of them are vertical and save floor space. They are great for storing tooling. Many commercial places use them. As mentioned in an earlier post, auctions sometimes yield good used ones.

Brian

Arthur.Marks

03-04-2011, 10:08 AM

You say you want 24" internal width. No Sears, Waterloo, SnapOn, etc chest will give you that.
Wow. I simply never noticed that. In fact, I didn't believe you and had to check! That is a poor oversight on the brands you mention. Not even the Waterloo Toolroom (TR) series gives you a 24" internal width---and they are "specifically designed for machine shop tools and precision measuring instruments."[Reference (http://www.waterlooindustries.com/pdfs/WaterlooCatalog2008.pdf)] Another vote for Kennedy, I guess! My 29" wide rolling box has an internal drawer width of 25". I figure that is why I never considered it an issue with all the other standard cabinet configurations. Bizarre~

Arthur.Marks

03-04-2011, 10:15 AM

What about a flat file like architects, map makers, artists and others use?
For those that might consider this route (I did)---the slides hold weight ONLY fully distributed evenly across the full drawer surface evenly. Place a piece of metal sorta toward the middle and it bends enough to derail the slides. There is a reason they are inexpensive in comparison to proper "toolboxes". I tried to live with one for a couple years. It simply doesn't work... no matter how much you would like it to ;)

justanengineer

03-04-2011, 12:25 PM

Ive found several Vidmar cabinets on Craigslist for around $200 each and theyre worth every penny. Quite often you can find a store or factory closing and get them even cheaper. Even if you have to pay a bit more, I would consider them worth it. Ive got one on a heavy duty cart that I built with large casters as a roll around box and a few others that remain stationary for storage. I bought these after having every other "toolbox" I owned, including a fancy $4000 SnapOn one bend sliders and drawers and eventually become tough to open. Now, I just use the tools instead of fighting to get to them. Theyre ridiculously tough and can handle a ton of weight...you can literally stand inside the drawers without issue if you dont have a stepladder.

Forrest Addy

03-04-2011, 12:44 PM

Plagues with droopy drawers? What do you expect of 22 ga flat sheet metal. See your local sheet metal shop (SM workers take pains) and have them shear up some 10 or 12 ga bottom liners. You lose only 1/8" in drawer depth but it prevents the center of the drawer bottom from sagging.

May not work on drawers already deformed from years of heavy tools tossed in them. You might have to cut out the center of the drawer leaving a couple inches all around and use the liner for thenew bottom.

hardtail

03-04-2011, 03:03 PM

http://cgi.ebay.com/Lista-Seven-Drawer-Rolling-Tool-and-Tooling-Box-Cabinet-/300532413736?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45f920b528

huntinguy

03-04-2011, 09:26 PM

It depends on what you want to do with the box.

May I suggest, laying out the drawers and seeing what you really need.

I agree, lots of small drawers are a good thing... unless you are trying to put in power tools or welding gear.

I am a believer in full extension ball bearing drawers. my Waterloo has neither :mad:

If you are laying out your shop... Lista is a plan (layout your drawers and order exactly what you want/need)

If you are really looking for a rolling box and you do not want to go the List et.al. way. There are some good rolling work carts around... but, when you get into the wider drawers... they get a little saggy. Keep in mind you can put dividers in a Lista type drawer and stiffen it up a fair amount.

Weekend_Scientist

03-04-2011, 10:38 PM

Hi Everyone,

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to respond!

I'm so glad I posted this question. My wife and I just finished reading every response so far.

You have suggested several manufacturers that I never knew existed. I'll be researching Kennedy, Vidmar, Lista and others soon.

As Forrest Addy suggests, I like the idea of a rigid bottom liner and I wouldn't mind sacrificing an 1/8 to a 1/4 inch to get it. It seems like it could get extravagant but maybe fiberglass, G-10, or even thin plywood might make a nice shield between the drawer bottoms and the tools. Though I think I would only consider rigid drawer liners for a few choice drawers with clunkier tools.

The drafting/map drawers are a cool idea. I don't think they are the perfect solution for my tool storage needs but they are also big with my other hobby, mineral collecting.

My ultimate goal is to have two matching tool chests supporting opposite ends of a large work bench. I will be very careful to take into account the max load that the tool chests can carry relative to the weight of the work bench.

You've given me a lot to think about.

Thanks,
Mark

steve45

03-04-2011, 11:01 PM

I've got several Remline tool chests that will be 40 years old this year.

They're worth looking into.

gda

03-05-2011, 06:00 AM

Another vote for used lista - vidmar style. I use them - super full and sometimes to reach higher I pull out a draw and step on it - they can take it. I would never do that with the kennedy or matco roll-arounds I have now (or the proto or snap-on I had in the past.)

philbur

03-05-2011, 06:39 AM

Has anybody built their own in wood and would be prepared to post some photos showing the design features with pros and cons comments.

Phil:)

Ever work with wood? A little wood butchery can result in a set of tool chests the equal of any in sheet metal except for fire resistance.

PixMan

03-05-2011, 08:04 AM

My ultimate goal is to have two matching tool chests supporting opposite ends of a large work bench. I will be very careful to take into account the max load that the tool chests can carry relative to the weight of the work bench.

You pretty much just described a Kennedy Versa-Bench. And you could probably get a 25" long piece in one of the drawers if you laid it in corner-to-corner.

The Kennedy Versa-Bench cart assembly is 11 gauge welded steel with 1/8" thick steel tops, not the same 18 gauge used for the cabinet drawers and side panels or 16 gauge for cabinet bases and tops. Vidmar and Lista use mostly 16 gauge with some 18 gauge parts.

I'm just a bit confused about whether you want to be able to roll the whole thing around or not. With a Versa-Bench, you can move it easily as it's on casters. If you get two Lista drawer units and place a work surface across them (maple butcher block top?), you may have to fix it place.