When shopping for a tool box there are many things to consider. If you're a professional technician based in a repair shop or a person in one of the many trades, and you make your living turning wrenches you probably have different needs than being just another regular guy.
There are a whole lot of people that need tool boxes, and a number of reasons why people need to own them. There are many suppliers to choose from. The quality manufacturers listen to their customers and build products that include features with the end user in mind.
Tool boxes come in many variations: roll cabinets, top chests, hutches, side boxes, lockers, roll carts, and road boxes.
They also come in different widths, depths, and heights.
It can be difficult to gauge one brand of tool box against another because only a few manufacturers make all the specifications readily available. It is important to know what you are buying when shopping online.
If you can, we recommend you access complete specifications and features such as: • drawer configuration and drawer interchangeability
• full extension drawers that pull out to the back of drawer
• multiple long drawers that offer deep socket storage and long bar or long extension storage
• thickness of steel used in cabinet frame
• drawer dimensions and thickness
• drawer pull type and latch type
• drawer under supports for heavy loads that prevent drawer from buckling
• type of drawer liners
• weight capability of ball bearing slidez
• locking and security
• caster size and type
• accessory boxes available for future add on (top box, side boxes, hutches etc.)
• price and availability
• free shipping
• warranty and service
• NET WEIGHT
when comparing equally sized tool boxes (similar width, depth, and height) this is an important tell-tale sign that the tool box is built well. When you are not able to find answers to all the specs of a tool box, the net weight (not the shipping weight or gross weight) will be a very good indicator of quality construction.
Suppliers consist of mobile distributors, many independent manufacturers, and even big box stores. Higher quality products are usually associated to the mobile distributors Snap on, Mac, Cornwell, Matco and independent manufacturers such as Extreme Tools, Lista, and Shure, to name a few.
Really making an impact is Extreme Tools, a manufacturer of tool storage boxes, based in Illinois. Extreme Tools started in 1999 and began selling tool storage products in 2004. Extreme offers a very well-built tool box for a very low price. Like most tool box manufacturers, they offer a professional series and a standard series. They are the best bargain I know of if you are shopping for a tool box.
Having sold Snap On--and now Extreme-- these would be my first two choices. Although there is a wide difference in pricing between the two, there is very little difference in quality and appearance. We thought so much of the Extreme Tool Box product lineup that we now sell it through our store and website at NHProEquip.com and RollCabs.com.
We also sell tool storage toolboxes manufactured by Extreme Tools with our RollCabs.com logo. We have taken the RX series from Extreme Tools and added a few extras: • Part number (Extreme's "RX" Series) change to CRX to designate the following changes. • All boxes with the CRX prefix are labeled RollCabs.com and follow the same warranty as Extreme Tools products. • The CRX series (improved features) in 55” and 72” sizes with the Rollcabs.com label come with heavy duty 150 pound ball bearing drawer glides. • On all CRX series drawers 4” high or more, where two ball bearing glides are used, the load capacity is 300 pounds. • CRX series use rubber drawer liners in place of foam drawer liners • CRX series roll cabinets include new, thick protective work panel in place of foam pad. • All CRX toolboxes are not only reduced in price but have added benefits compared to the RX Series Extreme Tools' tool boxes!
