Tool box question

[cj3a]

For a mechanic’s rolling tool chest what is a good height
41, 47, 53? For the top draw what’s a good depth 4 or 5 inches. Sockets usually go on the top right? Is a 2 inch depth draw useless? So many options and my setup now dumped in a pile so I have no frame of reference.

 

[Benny]

The height of the top would depend on how tall you are and what you plan on doing with it.

2" deep drawers are good for wrenches, especially of you have wrench racks.

I typically use the 4" deep top drawer for air tools and pry bars and put my sockets in a lower 4" drawer.

Are you gonna build a box from scratch and are just looking for ideas?

 

[cj3a]

Looking for ideas. This will be my first box and after looking and I am questioning the configuration available.

 

[total newb]

Depends on your socket stach and racks. 2" is fine for flat racks and wrenches. If you like the stand up racks its not gona work for deep sockets.

I have 4" for my very top drawer and my specialty deeps just fit. And 2" wouldnt work because theyre so wide. I keep my 3/8 stuff all flat in metric/sae drawers. If i had 1 4" i could easialy fit them all in one.


My last snapon box i wound up pulling 2 and replacing them with 1 deep drawer.


I really like having my 42" tall boxes but im also 6'2"

 

[GLTHFJ60]

IMO it depends what you're using the rolling toolbox for. Is it going to get wheeled around to the cars, or be wheeled into/out of a shop bay once every few years?

I suggest go as big as possible. 53", with 4" depth for the drawers for larger tools/sockets. The 2" drawers are good for tap/die sets, wrenches, various pliers, schaller bins with smaller items organized, etc.

 

[reklund5]

You want a 5" top drawer with double slides so you can put sockets on upright trays for easy access. I prefer the 42" height if you use the top as a work surface. I've got 2 Matco boxes and a Mac box, all double-bay with the big full width top drawer and they've been great. Keep an eye on Craigslist- there are deals to be had! Many dealerships are remodeling to "built in" toolboxes for their techs, and techs are off-loading boxes sometimes.

 

[TrikeKid]

Roll cab like a main stationary box or one you'll drag car to car? My Macsimizer is about 48" tall, wide top drawer is 5" deep 60" wide. Before I went back to a normal multi-drawer service cart that was where I kept all my sockets and most of my wrenches. There's a narrower top drawer that's 7-8" deep, that's where my impacts and air tools etc... lived. I wouldn't want it to be any taller than that, if I were doing heavy work on it it'd be too tall. Light duty/detailed jobs are about all I do on my box because it was fucking expensive and I would like it to stay nice, I have plenty of bench space to beat on though.

That box also only moves if I switch jobs, I don't roll it around the shop. My service cart where my daily use tools live is closer to 40" tall, which is a good height for the job. I wouldn't want to go back to my sockets living in a drawer. All my common use sockets are in the top of my cart for fast/easy access. This is the closest thing Cornwell sells to the cart I have. Mine is a 4 drawer though, so basically this with the top drawer split down the middle. The stuff I constantly use all stays in my cart so I'm not walking back and forth a bunch.

http://corporate.cornwelltools.com/...-%2d-3-Drawer-Flip-Top-Cart,-Matte-Black.html