I have decided to get either 3 or 4 drawer portable tool box.

I don't need something big and heavy to keep inside, as I frequently like to keep my stuff with me, on long trips. Nor do I have that many tools, but the collection is rapidly growing. Should I get the 4-drawer to begin with? What are the pros/cons of the one with the carry handle and without, the ones without are 27" wide instead of 20".

 

Costco has a nice Stainless one for about $80, bigger than the usual single handle/3 drawer ones.

 

Get a handle on it. If you are going to move it around you have to be able to lift it. Your tool collection will grow to just a bit more than you have storage for no matter what you do. If its a toss in the back of the truck kind of deal get a cheaper box to start with.

 

First off, I have five Craftsman boxes in my shop, and woill eventually have more when I find sales and have some money, so I like them fine for my shop. They are not the top of the line or ball bearing, but rather the cheap "Premium Friction" (they don't go less than premium, other than Companion, I believe. My concern is they will not stand up to being lifetd and dropped with tools in them. The stresses are going to twist and mis-align the drawers. I'd look at a heavy duty box and cough up more bucks, but ten years from now, you'll still be using it, and you will have toissed twp or three cheap ones by then. Look at the heavy boxes for contractors like Greelee to seewhat I have in mind for you.

 

I want something like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...303842704&rd=1

I am not sure I ever want to be anything other than backyard mechanic, so I don't expect my tools to grow to the point where they occupy one of these full size on the floor chests. Really, most of these tools are specialty tools you use once in a blue moon - (but when you need them, you really need them)

I got most of my tools packed in a 1000 cub inch box right now...and I anticipate that a 1800 cubic inch tool chest with 4 drawers will be sufficient for a few years.

This one is a better buy, with more space, but it's not very mobile.

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00965144000

 

My main box that I use all the time is a Sears brand, it also does not have the roller bearings is a 3 drawer unit with a top opening lid and a handle. Screwdrivers/misc in the top, pliers, vice grips, wire strippers etc in the top drawer, wrenches in the second drawer, a set of 3/8" sockets in the bottom drawer. It's big enough to hold my most frequently used tools, but small enough to carry around if I need to.
To keep the drawers from binding, I removed them and put axle grease on the sliders that hold the drawers, it makes a huge difference. Another thing I need to do but haven't gotten around to yet is to put a sheet of rubber in the bottom of each drawer. There are little holes in the bottom of the drawers that a small screw will inevitably find it's way into and prevent the drawers from closing.

Trail Rider