What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

SPG Toolbox...Build

CGT80 said:
have you guys looked at the Kobalt stainless boxes from lowes? They are made in china, but they beat anything else that is out there that costs less than snap on, mac, etc. I have had my 42" set for a few years now. I am just a home mechanic, but I am very particular about my tools. I see that now you can get the 50+ inch box without the refrigerator, but with the stereo. That wouldn't be bad. My box was less than $1k on sale. I looked at the craftsman boxes before but wasn't impressed.

The plastic caps on the handles of the kobalt boxes are a bit fragile and the drawers don't pull out completely. Other than that, I can't complain too much.
Click to expand...

I have the one wit. The fridge and stereo.
It's very convienant to have jams and beer right handy. Of course I got mine for free as a bonus from a company I used to work for. But it's held up great to my abuse. I've got a few drawers where it seems like the slide stops are not equal so it pulls out at an able. But other than that no complaints
 
I think it's hard to say you want to spend $1k on a box and have it be the last one you buy. Frankly unless you find an amazing used deal it's not going to happen so here's how I look at it...

My friend has an absolutely freaking HUGE Mac box that has an insane amount of tools in it and the side carts and I'm absolutely amazed how smooth it opens and closes. It's obviously the last box he'll ever want/need. BUT he paid for it.

My setup... I have a really old (no ball bearing old) Snapon box that was/is my dad's. He traded for it years ago when I was little and it's holding up just fine. I use that along with the cheapo black harbor freight service cart for stuff I use all the time and I'm really happy with the setup. Big and odd-ball stuff goes in the big box and all my sockets, wrenches, air tools and screwdrivers go in the little service cart I wheel around.

Anyways that's my take on it all. I'd love to have a box like my friend's but I just can't afford/justify it so I took what I had and made it work. For $1k you could get a used name brand box and a little service cart no problem.

EDIT:

Oh and in regards to craftsman boxes make sure you feel them in person first! I was really disappointed the other day when I was at OSH getting some stuff and took a stroll through the tool corral. The quality of the big craftsman boxes was really poor. They slid ok but not great and the material was really thin so I could see it bowing/warping once it's all loaded up. Not saying craftsman is top top top of the line but it definitely surprised me that the materials weren't any thicker than my cheap harbor freight service cart.


Found a picture of my little cart I use all the time. For the money I think you just can't beat it for something to drag around as a supplement to your fullsize toolbox.

IMAG0096.jpg
 
Avery4jc said:
I think it's hard to say you want to spend $1k on a box and have it be the last one you buy. Frankly unless you find an amazing used deal it's not going to happen so here's how I look at it...

My friend has an absolutely freaking HUGE Mac box that has an insane amount of tools in it and the side carts and I'm absolutely amazed how smooth it opens and closes. It's obviously the last box he'll ever want/need. BUT he paid for it.

My setup... I have a really old (no ball bearing old) Snapon box that was/is my dad's. He traded for it years ago when I was little and it's holding up just fine. I use that along with the cheapo black harbor freight service cart for stuff I use all the time and I'm really happy with the setup. Big and odd-ball stuff goes in the big box and all my sockets, wrenches, air tools and screwdrivers go in the little service cart I wheel around.

Anyways, that's my take on it all. I'd love to have a box like my friend's but I just can't afford/justify it so I took what I had and made it work. For $1k you could get a used name brand box and a little service cart no problem.
Click to expand...

Fair enough. I think my point is that if I buy a large, nice box, it will keep me from having much motivation to upgrade. My tool purchasing has rapidly slowed, and other than building a garage set, and a mobile set ( a lot of my work is done on boats or for friends out of the back of my truck), I could see not running out of room in a big box for a long time to come. What I don't want to do is cheap out, and spend $4-500 on new crappy stuff.

Want to find a used deal, but haven't seen much recently. Rally want to see that Big craftsman set in the first post in person, as I haven't been impressed with much of their stuff in person. The cash producing event is this weekend, so I'll probably look for a few more weeks, then decide what to do if I end up going new
 
Avery4jc said:
I think it's hard to say you want to spend $1k on a box and have it be the last one you buy. Frankly unless you find an amazing used deal it's not going to happen so here's how I look at it...

My friend has an absolutely freaking HUGE Mac box that has an insane amount of tools in it and the side carts and I'm absolutely amazed how smooth it opens and closes. It's obviously the last box he'll ever want/need. BUT he paid for it.

My setup... I have a really old (no ball bearing old) Snapon box that was/is my dad's. He traded for it years ago when I was little and it's holding up just fine. I use that along with the cheapo black harbor freight service cart for stuff I use all the time and I'm really happy with the setup. Big and odd-ball stuff goes in the big box and all my sockets, wrenches, air tools and screwdrivers go in the little service cart I wheel around.

Anyways, that's my take on it all. I'd love to have a box like my friend's but I just can't afford/justify it so I took what I had and made it work. For $1k you could get a used name brand box and a little service cart no problem.
Click to expand...

I don't know about that, I never had a box for my tools, and a few years ago I saw the toolboxes at Costco and thought maybe that will help me organize my tools, well it is awesome, has ball bearing slide and cost me $600
 
Well, finished my toy money deal, and made almost 3x what i thought i was going to!

Looking to keep this box purchase in the $1000-1500 range still.

Still scouring craigslist, but still eyeing this craftsman box. Just want to find it local to touch and feel before i drop the cash:

http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/p_10...Cabinet+Combos&prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=L2

Coincidentally, i was browsing the costco stuff, and it seems SPG is probably making this box for craftsman, because this one looks IDENTICAL:

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Produc...lang=en-US&Sp=C&ec=BC-EC10623-Cat3327&topnav=

Have heard good things on SPG, and i save about $500 going with their brand on it, instead of crafstman.

Any thoughts?
 
When I realized it was the one i was eyeing, and was significantly cheaper than the Craftsman one, it was a no brainer. If it sucks, i'll return it and get something else.
 
Ordered the few tool sets that I need to duplicate to get this box outfitted.

Now, i'm just waiting for the screwdriver set i want to come available.
http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/p_10...driver+Sets&prdNo=21&blockNo=21&blockType=L21

Ordered:
http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/p_10...enches&sName=Combination+Wrench+Sets&prdNo=26
http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/p_10...enches&sName=Combination+Wrench+Sets&prdNo=27

These sets come with roll up pouches. The pouches you buy from craftsman aren't large enough for this set, so this is the only way to go. These roll pouches will end up in the truck, and my current plastic case setups will get put into the box.

For sockets:
http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/p_10...s+Tool+Sets&prdNo=32&blockNo=32&blockType=L32

Spent a bunch of time comparing sets, but this ended up being the best value, and is the same set i have. This set will end up in Hansen trays, in the toolbox.

Ended up in the $400 range, but truthfully, this is the majority of what needed to be duplicated. I'll add a tool here and there, of course, but the idea is that i won't rely on the box i carry in my truck for general wrenching.

I'm stoked!
 
1 Wk past order of Box and Tools, no shipping updates on either :(
 
Well, that was wierd. Absolutely no Shipping confirmation, tracking, etc. from Sears.

Received the wrench set, and first socket set (that i plan on returning).

What i didn't realize was that the wrench set I ordered isnt' continuous on the metric side.

Luckily, its all returnable at sears. Thinking of just getting one of the big sets of combination wrenches, and being done with it.

The free shipping promotion is over, so we'll see what they have in the store.....
 
I found it kinda weird that the metric set did not include a 14mm as that's a VERY COMMON size wrench.
 
4X4HIGH said:
I found it kinda weird that the metric set did not include a 14mm as that's a VERY COMMON size wrench.
Click to expand...


I did not look at the specific part lists, and did not realize that there were quite a few metric sizes between 10-20mm that were skipped. Didn't give me the warm and fuzzy feeling.

Think i'm going to buy the big standard/metric set from Craftsman, and be done with it. That way i have a continuous set, and don't' have to spend $$$ later to add just the larger ones the small sets lack.

These little issues are EXACTLY why i didn't try and setup a garage toolbox until i had some toy money. Easy to spend way more on "while i'm ordering" items and upgrades :haha:

Should be sweet when i'm done. :waytogo:
 
4X4HIGH said:
I found it kinda weird that the metric set did not include a 14mm as that's a VERY COMMON size wrench.
Click to expand...
Well if they are selling the metric with the SAE they drop the 14mm because it's almost identical to a 9/16" although it's not as close as a 16mm to a 5/8" it could still work.
I agree though they should have them included in their respective sets especially if you are sticking with one set only.
 
imiceman44 said:
Well if they are selling the metric with the SAE they drop the 14mm because it's almost identical to a 9/16" although it's not as close as a 16mm to a 5/8" it could still work.
I agree though they should have them included in their respective sets especially if you are sticking with one set only.
Click to expand...

They were "online only" sets that included a pouch that would accommodate all the wrenches in the set (up to 32 mm ). You can't buy this pouch from craftsman alone, and i liked that idea for keeping in the truck, so this is the set I ordered.

The really odd thing is that they drop some of the "teens" metric sizes, but the standard size wrenches are continuous in the regular size denominations.

Yes, a 14mm and 9/16" may be very comparable, but when i'm working on metric stuff, i don't want to have to remember that, and grab for standard sized tools. I may be obsessive, but that falls into the "use the right tool for the job" category.
 
imiceman44 said:
Well if they are selling the metric with the SAE they drop the 14mm because it's almost identical to a 9/16" although it's not as close as a 16mm to a 5/8" it could still work.
I agree though they should have them included in their respective sets especially if you are sticking with one set only.
Click to expand...

Darren was buying 2 seperate sets, one SAE and one metric. We all know that a 10mm and 3/8" are close and will "sometimes" work either way and also that 13mm and 1/2", 14mm and 9/16" the same but there really is no reason to leave out a common wrench. I can see why lots of sets don't have the 11mm and 16mm wrenches but a 16mm is becoming more of a common wrench as well. When I buy tools I want EVERY wrench size available from the smallest to around at least the 1" or equivelant metric.
 
4X4HIGH said:
Darren was buying 2 seperate sets, one SAE and one metric. We all know that a 10mm and 3/8" are close and will "sometimes" work either way and also that 13mm and 1/2", 14mm and 9/16" the same but there really is no reason to leave out a common wrench. I can see why lots of sets don't have the 11mm and 16mm wrenches but a 16mm is becoming more of a common wrench as well. When I buy tools I want EVERY wrench size available from the smallest to around at least the 1" or equivelant metric.
Click to expand...

Right on. My last set wrench/socket purchase lasted me about 10 years. The only reason I am purchasing additional stuff is that I now want a dedicated garage/toolbox set. And I can truthfully say I won't have to buy these ever again. So if I'm doing it, it makes sense to get the FULL set, and not discover i need those missing wrenches. Also, I plan to purchase a few sizes past 1". 1 1/16" or 1 1/8" is a standard prop nut size on the boats i work on, so going a few sizes past is a requirement for me.

I'm so stoked to finally be putting together a real garage toolbox :woot:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom