I have been slowly collecting some machine tools, and need something to store them in as i am running out of room in my rollaway mechanics box. I think a big Kenedy box is what most use, but I don't think i an there yet. I couple of micrometers , dial calipers, thread gages, A 3 inch and a 6 inch machinist square feeler gages, ect. Can anyone recommend a starter box to be repalced as my collection grows?
box for machine tools???
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JSH
Gold $$ Contributor
If you get one of the little roll around boxes like described above, get one with the solid top NO LID.
Mine has a lid. Makes no difference open or closed it seems to be a catch all. I would way rather have the solid top and not the lid. At least you don’t have to take a half dozen or more items off the lid to get it open.
Mine has a lid. Makes no difference open or closed it seems to be a catch all. I would way rather have the solid top and not the lid. At least you don’t have to take a half dozen or more items off the lid to get it open.
tac284
Gold $$ Contributor
Are you looking for something like a Gerstner International? That is there import line of wood boxes, which is less expensive. I don’t personally own an international one so I can’t attest to their quality.
I watched the market places, craigslist & antique stores trying to find a genuine Gerstner, until one day I was contacted by a gentleman I kinda knew from church. Turned out he had a model 052 he had bought new in 1977, it had history and a story that came with it which really sold it for me.
I watched the market places, craigslist & antique stores trying to find a genuine Gerstner, until one day I was contacted by a gentleman I kinda knew from church. Turned out he had a model 052 he had bought new in 1977, it had history and a story that came with it which really sold it for me.
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Starter boxes will come up short fairly rapidly. All of us in the firearms business collect tools like they're going out of style. This requires thinking further ahead to avoid duplication.
I agree that lids do nothing for me in my shops so I will sometimes look for the 'intermediate' type boxes with 3 or 4 drawers. Same brands stack easily. I have a couple of different brands including Kennedy but you don't necessarily have to pay their price for a functional but good quality box. Be sure to use a liner for the drawers.
Gerstner's are terrific, again if you want to afford them.
The General brand at Harbor Freight will work as well.
My tool requirements out paced my storage space so I added this to augment the room I needed for a couple of tool intensive machines:
Toolbreaker
Gold $$ Contributor
Unless you want a Kennedy or wooden box (nothing wrong with that), I'll 2nd or 3rd the above US Generals. They seem on par with my other Craftsman boxes at work & home.
BTW, I've used a 26", 8-drawer Craftsman bottom with a 4 drawer intermediate box for tool & die work for well over 20 years now. I keep all of my precision tools in the intermediate and everything else in the bottom. I like the flat top, too.
BTW, I've used a 26", 8-drawer Craftsman bottom with a 4 drawer intermediate box for tool & die work for well over 20 years now. I keep all of my precision tools in the intermediate and everything else in the bottom. I like the flat top, too.
Judd
Gold $$ Contributor
Husky 46 in. W x 24.5 in. D Standard Duty 9-Drawer Mobile Workbench Cabinet with Solid Wood Top in Gloss Black H46MWC9V2 - The Home Depot
The all new Husky Extra-Deep 46 in. 9-Drawer Mobile Work Bench has arrived. This work bench is 24.5 in. D, which creates 36% more storage capacity than traditional 18 in. D units. The extra-depth also
www.homedepot.com
I’m using this and I really like it.
Bang for the buck, the harbor freight stuff on sale is very hard to beat. On a pretty good sale these were only about $200 each. I take the wheels off and mount them like cabinets with a tripled up plywood top and rolled on white epoxy for a finish.
Ive had them over a year, but labels are still masking tape since contents keeps getting moved around.
Ive had them over a year, but labels are still masking tape since contents keeps getting moved around.
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DRK
Silver $$ Contributor
Look for a quality used box, either Snap On, MAC, Matco, from a guy retiring, leaving the trades, etc. I bought a box from a guy this was a few years ago for a song stuffed full of tools.
I have a 66" Proto 550 box, aka a Macsimizer. I bought it from Zoro on sale, same box as the MAC truck for less $.
Find a used Kennedy box if all you are looking to do is store mics, indicators, etc. I have enough room in my box I sold my Kennedy roller when I got it. I have two drawers for machinist tools.
These have many uses and I have 5 of them, For the money they can't be beat. For my mechanics tools I have a triple bank Snap-On box that I paid $11,000 for years ago, If I had it to do over I wouldn't have made that choice again. The Snap-On is better made no doubt, But they are way overpriced.Husky 46 in. W x 24.5 in. D Standard Duty 9-Drawer Mobile Workbench Cabinet with Solid Wood Top in Gloss Black H46MWC9V2 - The Home Depot
The all new Husky Extra-Deep 46 in. 9-Drawer Mobile Work Bench has arrived. This work bench is 24.5 in. D, which creates 36% more storage capacity than traditional 18 in. D units. The extra-depth alsowww.homedepot.com
I’m using this and I really like it.
On my welding/machinist/Gunsmithing table in this pic, There are 2 of them back to back.
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I just scatter the stuff around the shop, in various boxes, so I can spend some time looking for it. This kind of down time is beneficial as it gives me time to reflect. Sometimes, this reflection takes me in unexpected directions, and often ends in a nap. On second thought, you'd best get a dedicated box and organize the stuff!
On boxes: I bought a Kennedy machinists chest at an auction one time. It was locked up and was plainly full of a lot of stuff. I figured, a box like this wouldn't just be full of a bunch of junk, so I bid up to roughly what the box would cost new; with visions of all the micrometers, gauges, and special tooling I would be getting as a bonus. It was full of junk. The best piece in there was a worn out file. It's full of chambering reamers and other tooling now, so the next guy will get a better deal! WH
On boxes: I bought a Kennedy machinists chest at an auction one time. It was locked up and was plainly full of a lot of stuff. I figured, a box like this wouldn't just be full of a bunch of junk, so I bid up to roughly what the box would cost new; with visions of all the micrometers, gauges, and special tooling I would be getting as a bonus. It was full of junk. The best piece in there was a worn out file. It's full of chambering reamers and other tooling now, so the next guy will get a better deal! WH
Kennedy boxes may have been the Schidt back when, But the ones I have don't come close to what U.S. General is offering today.
BobT
Gold $$ Contributor
I like Kennedy, they make a nice little 8 drawer machinist top box that would probably meet your needs for a while. I just retired from my machinist job and swapped my Gerstner set to a young fellow that seems to be interested in the trade for his vo-tech issue Kennedy 277X, it's a nice cabinet.
Adapter plate? WH
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