If you have been researching toolboxes for any amount of time, you may be overwhelmed at the staggering variety of choices out there.
Regardless of which style or type of steel you choose, there are a few key things you should look for when shopping for tool storage.
Childrens Storage Chest
Size & MobilityThat 72" monster chest sure would look good in your garage, wouldn't it? As Americans, we are all about 'bigger is better'. But do you really need that giant tool chest? Are you going to be able to move it when it is full of tools? A fully stocked 60" box can weigh upwards of 1500 pounds. Do you really want to push that behemoth around? Will you have room to move it to where you are working? If it is going to be a stationary tool chest that you are going to leave in one spot, this won't be as big of a concern for you. But if you will be rolling it around, consider the room you have to move around in and how much weight you want to be pushing around.
Casters
Small casters will catch on uneven surfaces, resulting in a toppled tool chest, or even injury. You want at least 4" casters, preferably 5" or 6". You will also want to make sure the tool chest you purchase has at least two locking casters to prevent roll-aways.
Drawer Sizes
The type of tools you own largely will determine what sizes of drawers you will need. Along with size, it is important to ensure the drawer's weight rating can handle what you plan on putting in it.
Drawer Slides
You will want two on shallow drawers, four on the deeper drawers. Again, the weight rating is an important factor. Ball bearing slides aren't a necessity, but once you own a tool chest with ball bearing drawer slides, you will never buy one without them.
MaterialThere are two main choices of materials to choose from, Stainless Steel and Mild Steel. We will look at these here and break them down into a couple more sub-choices:Stainless Steel. These have really become popular in the past five years or so, and it's not hard to see why. A nicely appointed garage with a Stainless Steel tool chest is an impressive sight. But these can be a pain to keep clean, and the look isn't for everyone. Most Stainless Steel tool chests are constructed with a mild steel frame and drawer inners with Stainless Steel outer walls and drawer fronts.
All Stainless Steel. Same as above, but the frame and drawer inners are also made of Stainless Steel. There are very few of these on the market. If the manufacturer doesn't specifically say the tool chest is ALL Stainless Steel, it probably isn't. You really only need one of these if you are in a sterile, high humidity, or salt water environment.
Powder Coated Mild Steel. These are the ones to get if you are concerned about all the smudges that would typically show up on a Stainless Steel tool chest, or if you have magnetic tools and accessories you plan on using. Powder coating is a baked-on finish that is tougher and longer lasting than paint. The finish I really like is the wrinkle-finish powdercoat. It is tougher, resists scratches, and looks professional.
Painted Mild Steel. This is usually only seen on cheaper and low-end tool chests. These will scratch and fade much easier than the powder coated variety. After tearing up a few of these, I won't even buy one anymore. Spend your money and get a tool chest that will last. That brings us to the final point:
Warranty
This should go without saying, but make sure you find a company that stands behind their products. I personally won't buy any tools or tool chests that don't offer a lifetime warranty.
So when choosing a tool chest, first decide between Stainless Steel or Mild Steel, then make sure it has the features you want before purchasing.
You may want to ask yourself, do you really want a stainless toolbox? If you work in a high humidity or sterile environment, you will probably want a completely stainless toolbox. If you are building a show-quality garage, a standard stainless box will fit your needs.
One thing to remember about stainless is that it is not magnetic. This may not be a big deal to most people, but I have many magnetic accessories and tools that I use quite often, and I like to be able to stick them to the side of the box while I'm working on something. Also, fingerprints and smudges tend to show easily on a stainless toolbox. You know how your stainless refrigerator door looks after the kids make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich? Well, imagine what your nice stainless toolbox will look like when you're done changing your oil!
You are now armed with the knowledge you need to fill that empty space in your garage. Now go out there and find that tool chest you have been dreaming about!