Looking for a small, American made, all metal toolbox. (2024)

Hi!

Does anybody have recommendations for where to look for a small, USA made, all metal toolbox?

The toolboxes they have at the hardware store seem pretty delicate (even the USA made ones).

And by small, I mean approximately 26" X 10" X 8", more or less. Maybe a little smaller.

Thanks!
-Robroy

#50 Project Thread: 1972 F250 4x2; 8,100lb GVW; FE+T18

Hey thanks Fordman that's a good suggestion. I guess I could look for the Snapon or Mac toolbox online too.

-Robroy

#50 Project Thread: 1972 F250 4x2; 8,100lb GVW; FE+T18

you might wanna also check out montazuma tool boxes as well i have one of these in black and use it as a secondary too box at school
http://www.montezumamfg.com/30-19-steel.php

The box accually hold quite a lot in fact the box below is mostly empty except for 1/2 inch drive stuff and a few specitaly tools Its the top box
.

I don't really care about brands Chevy Ford Dodge ...as long as it doesn't sound like two old dudes farting in a coffee can.
http://s169.photobucket.com/albums/u223/imabaka70/ Projects listed on the left side

WOOOT!! i passed my mechanics classes. Now working as a mechanic and waiting to go for my ASE certifications.

1967 f-100 4x4
1969/72 f100 351w EFI m5r2 5 speed
1988 ford f150 xlt lariat
1961 VW Beetle (wifes car)

Check out Waterloo. They actually make most of the boxes for Snap On, Mac, Matco, Craftsman, etc. these days. If you buy one straight from Waterloo they cost about 1/3 the price and you can get them with better options. They're made in USA. Should be able to buy Waterloo from an industrial distributor that sells retail (like Grainger).

I picked up most of my big boxes from auctions. I got a couple new large bottom craftsman boxes that were forked in the back probably for less than the cardboard boxes they were in cost. From the front you couldn't really tell anything's wrong with them. Not sure what exactly retail would be on all my boxes, but likely atleast $10K for all my bigger ones. Got less than $500 in all of them Snap on, Matco, Proto, Waterloo and Craftsman.

Also, if you want the beefiest large toolbox you can buy keep an eye out for Stanley Vidmar cabinets on craigslist and at auctions. They're built like tanks and most people don't realize the old set of drawers they have actually cost the government or a large corporation many thousands of bucks. I bought two 60" X 60" X 30" Vidmars full of tools from Techtronix for one tenth of a cent on the dollar of what they cost new. In one of them alone I probably have more than a ton of nuts, bolts and brass fittings and the drawers open and close like they're empty.

Hey Dustin and Steve, thanks for the great suggestions! I'll check out those sources and see what I find.

-Robroy

#50 Project Thread: 1972 F250 4x2; 8,100lb GVW; FE+T18

I don't really care about brands Chevy Ford Dodge ...as long as it doesn't sound like two old dudes farting in a coffee can.
http://s169.photobucket.com/albums/u223/imabaka70/ Projects listed on the left side

WOOOT!! i passed my mechanics classes. Now working as a mechanic and waiting to go for my ASE certifications.

1967 f-100 4x4
1969/72 f100 351w EFI m5r2 5 speed
1988 ford f150 xlt lariat
1961 VW Beetle (wifes car)

Go to your local John Deere store. The tool boxes that come with tractors is a decent size. Heavy construction. I keep several sets of tools in the one I carry in my truck.

Keith

Robroy,.............. You might want to look for a company called Kennedy. If they are still in business, they will have exactly what you are looking for. I have had one sence 1966. And yes, they did have electricity back then. And no, I didn't walk five miles to school. Oh, and gas was 24 cents a gallon for premium.

Try this link if it works.

http://www.toolboxesdirect.com/tool-box ... oolbox.cfm

Hey SuperMike, thanks for the reply!

That's a good suggestion regarding the silica gel. It didn't come with any but I can probably buy the stuff. It wouldn't do any harm sitting down in the lower compartment for sure.

It's funny that you'd mention having the same box. When I brought the box up to Hugh's (my father), he said that he also had the same box for years and years! He picked mine up and said that it was totally unchanged--even the latches felt exactly the same.

One minor downside to the box seems to be that the latches feel a little rattly; they don't have a nice snug fit. The middle latch at least. But this is a very minor complaint compared to the box's overall sturdiness and simplicity.

It's nice to have a box again. For four or five years all the tools up at Hugh's were being carried around in five gallon plastic buckets! And sometimes I'd leave one of the buckets out in the rain--the result wasn't pretty.

Thanks SuperMike!
-Robroy

#50 Project Thread: 1972 F250 4x2; 8,100lb GVW; FE+T18