Since I, too am in desperate need for a chest at work I e-mailed Rousseau to get a quote on one of their cabinets I can't afford:

http://www.rousseaumetal.com/cart/Pr...rawer_Cabinets

I'll let you guys know how badly I can't afford it when they get back to me.

Choosing a box can be a big event. Nearly 20 years ago when I was starting out in my trade, I found that my storage needs were increasing with each tool purchase. I bought a nice used Snap-on mechanics set for ~ $1500. I thought it was a bit rough for the money, but I wasn't making much then either. A few tool purchase latter and it was getting a bit full. It was my wife who pushed me into splurging and buying a $6000 dollar box from the snap-on guy. It was six feet long with 19 drawers. I couldn't quit grinning for a week. The Snap-on guy gave me $1500 for my used box (wish I still had it). Would I do it again? Probably not, I would look for a used one. They can be had by looking in the paper. Would I buy another box like this? Absolutely!

There is a difference in quality in this box compared to a Craftsman. The quality is not in line with the price however. I do have problems with slides. The new ones are much "beefier".

What I look for in a box - Full extension roller bearing slides, quality casters (I have upgraded mine twice), a warranty is nice if there is a slide failure. I would also look for a heavier gauge steel. This is usually seen in older mechanics boxes. When looking at the box, picture what tools would go into the drawers. If all the drawers are 3" deep, you will loose a lot of space if only screw drivers and pliers live in those drawers: a few shallow drawers are nice.

I also keep my top open for books, laptop, parts, etc. A pair of Kennedy526 boxes sit on top as well for my precision tools. Now on the flip side of this, since my job is more mobile in a factory setting, this thing has gotten a bit heavy and large over the years and I just purchased a small service cart and love it. I only keep my most reached for tools in it and easily roll it to where I'm needed.

Good Luck

The only toolbox that I've ever owned that suffered from weld failure is a snap-on..

I hope your local distributor is better than mine. I sent in a request to Rousseau a couple weeks back and got an immediate response. However, they forwarded my request to their NW distributor out here and he has yet to contact me on the matter.

There's nothing better than great customer service, and Rousseau provided it. Unfortunately, I won't buy their product based on the non-action of their distributor. :mad:

Hess,

Write the mfr and tell them. If THEY did a good job, you can do them a good turn and help them either improve or fire their distributor. Tell them you are about to buy a (whatever) instead. You may get a quick quote that is favorable.

Even if not, maybe the next guy WILL get good service from the distrib. Or the new distrib, if you will.

Voting with your dollars is slow, anonymous, and not effective to help you get what you need now. More fun to mess with folks that aren't giving you good service. And all it takes is a three line email, cc to the mfr!

My opinion,

Jim

What weld on the chest/ cab failed ?

Wouldn't your local dealer take care of it?

My first Snapon chest/cab set a 1978 model 537/557? suffered 2 popped spot welds on one end, non structural cosmetic only 6 months after purchased.
Snapon offered me the choice of a free replacement of the roll cab or a 20% credit of its $2,100 value at the time towards future tool purchases.
Needless to say I took the tool credit and 4 years later traded up and came out way ahead.

Uh oh. I'm also NW.

Someone at Rousseau called me like twenty minutes after I sent an email, and for the rest of the day no reply from the distributor. Weird. I hope I get a reply.

We have one of those Costco 42" combos, and it's a million times better than I expected.

I actually vastly prefer it to a 26" 10 drawer Craftsman set we have. It feels much sturdier, the slides are smoother, etc.

I was very skeptical anything from Costco could be anything other than a POS in a shop environment, but we've been pleasantly surprised.

I am retired now and my thirty year old Crafstman,still gets used daily,usta run mostly boring mills.never had a problem.some of the boys really disliked the red tho.
I did make a cart for in to sit in with 8"swivel casters,(4)i made the cart with a low slung middle so as to not make it too tall.side benifit was it had serious bumpers now for collisions.it also will roll over airhoses very easy.
I never liked the large bottom areas in my work mates boxes,so i got mine with all drawers.
happy i did.
So has craftsman cheapened their boxes?prolly a stupid ?,Eh?
A roll around that will not roll around sucks,easy to say ,hey my box has wheels,i can leave?
I am thinking a box for some is a state of mind?I always thought it was the finished job hanging on the crane,deburred,chips cleaned away,ready for next op.
maybe thats ole school?
respect
GW

I work for a Tool & Die shop and about 15 years ago, I arranged a pretty large buy of Kennedy tool boxes. We had two choices to choose from - either ball bearings or regular drawer slides. The difference was about $50.00 per box for the large roll around bases. We ended purchasing about 60 of these at the price of $250 for the regular slides and $300 for the ball bearings slide units. These retailed for around $900 each but they were discontinuing the krinkle red paint.

The Kennedy has a tool outlet in Van Wert, Ohio which is close to one of our manufacturing plants. We had our truck driver stop twice to fill up the trailer. If you are going to buy a box spend the extra money on the ball bearing slides and you never will regret it.

Why not consider buying the Costco/ SPG Int style auto cabinets now when your career is in it's infancy and you can switch to a better cabinet later if you find they don't quite cut it, just do it before you wreck it and you'll have a nice box for home.

In the powerplant due to numerous operators the old style auto boxes like Beach used to have a single central placed handle, using this location these boxes lasted forever, now almost all with possibly Gray they have gone to the full width lip pull and it screws up more slides than anything else, you have a 150# drawer and someone gets pissed off and reefs it open from one side, keep that in mind with your own stuff, open and close from the middle no matter what style handles.

Just for the record we have 2 SnapOn mid boxes and they're the worst ones onsite, their tools are nice the prices aren't.

First off, thanks for all the opinions and advice. The rousseau boxes look really appealing, and I've never heard of them before.

The re-occuring themes seem to be that the Costco boxes are alot better than you'd expect for the price, and that a quality box really is worth it. I don't know why I'm surprised about the second, considering I've come to the same conclusion with handtools, measuring tools, and cars (just to name a few things). On that note I'm going to try to re-organize and find some extra space in my box (maybe even remove less used tools) while I save up for a box that will last my career. While I'm saving I'll keep an eye open for used lista, vidmar, and rousseau boxes (nothing against snap-on or mac, but I feel the need to differ myself from my mechanic friends).

The one point I'm still unsure about is what width & depth would be best in the long run. Right now I think a 42" seems most appropriate, but I'm concerned I'll fill up a 42" expecially if I don't buy a topper. It seams like the good boxes all have quality work surfaces on the top that I'd likely be happiest keeping that way, so even if I did get a top chest I think I'd stick with a smaller one.

Pat