Gone are the days when your tool chest was an old box where you could just throw your tools instead of organizing them properly. Today, a tool chest is a significant part of your arsenal, regardless of your proficiency level. Whether you are a DIY expert or a professional mechanic, having a modern toolbox is important to keep your tools organized and safe. In this guide, we are going to shed light on some crucial factors you need to take into account while looking for a tool chest.
What Should You Consider Before Choosing the Best Tool Chest?
Storage Capacity
The number of tools you own will play a significant role in determining which toolkit is best for you. If you have a few small tools that you use for your DIY projects, then you need an average-sized chest with multiple drawers of different sizes. However, for storing large power tools, you need a tool chest with a large cabinet to easily keep your equipment.
Drawers
You should purchase a tool chest of 4 to 10 drawers depending on your choice. Besides the number of drawers, you should also ensure their size is big enough to accommodate large tools perfectly.
Materials
Tools chests are usually made of hardened plastic and metals like aluminum and steel. Since aluminum tends to be lightweight, it is used to manufacture portable toolboxes. Though aluminum products are more pricey than plastic ones, they generally promise to last longer.
However, the steel-made tool chests are ideal for professionals who need more robust, durable, and easier to maintain toolkits. For home use and DIY projects, plastic is a good option because it is lightweight and affordable.
Drawer Slides
Tools chests are mostly reinforced with two types of slides, i.e. non-ball bearing and ball-bearing. Non-ball bearing slides will make it difficult for you to pull a drawer out. However, the smarter and easier ball-bearing slide system makes even the heavy drawers function smoothly.
Lock System
Tool safety is one of the key reasons for investing in a tool chest. Make sure the toolkit you purchase is fortified with a well-design lock system. Some chests come with an internal locking system and separate locking codes for the special drawer containing your personal valuables, while others have a key-operated lock to keep unwanted hands out of the box.
Wheels
A tool chest with wheels will allow you to easily transport it to the workshop if required. For more stability and control, make sure the wheels have locks on the caster. Caster locking will make the wheels unable to spin so that you can transport and steer the tool chest hassle-free. A handle is also important for the portability of the toolkit, but you will find it on every product.
What Type of Tool Chest is Best For You?
Stationary Tool Chest
Stationary tool chests are too large and bulky to move around easily. They are ideal for use in garages and workshops as they have plenty of space to accommodate various tools and equipment. These toolkits have several drawers of different sizes where you can keep your tools organized. Though they are stationary, they still come with wheels to allow limited movement and keep them out of reach of spilled liquids that can result in rust if made of metal.
Portable Tool Chest
Portable or rolling tool chests are reinforced with durable and robust caster wheels that facilitate transporting them from one place to another. Most portable tool kits feature more than one box fitted on top of each other along with the bottom one attached with the wheels. The bottom box is designed to store large tools, while the upper ones have several drawers to organize small tools. Since these tool chests are usually made of hard, molded plastic, they are a perfect fit for DIY experts, carpenters, and plumbers.
Hand-Carry Tool Chest
Hand-carry tool chests are smaller in size and used by homeowners who like to do DIY jobs and repairs at their house. They are not only easy to carry but also easy to store in places like the basement, closet, or even workbench. These toolkits are available in different sizes. Some look like a small tin box, while others can be as large as a tackle box.
These toolboxes come with multiple small compartments that allow you to store screwdrivers, hand tools, nails, and bits. This type of chest is usually made of metal and hard plastic, so it is durable and can endure harsh treatment like portable tool chests.
Mounted Tool Chest
Mechanics who travel to remote places to do their jobs often have a toolbox mounted on their truck or van. It not only allows them to organize their tools in their vehicle but also eliminates the hassle of searching everywhere to find a specific tool. Thus, it also saves time.
Final Words
It is always a good idea to go armed with a lot of information when purchasing a significant product like a tool chest so that you don’t end up wasting your money on the wrong item. Taking the above-mentioned factors into account will help you find the best tool chest to serve you for a long time.
Tool Chest FAQ
Q: How can I save my tools from rust when stored in the tool chest?
A: Most people store wet or dirty tools in the tool chest. This is not a good idea because the dirt and moisture can cause rust to form. So, you should always wipe your tools with cloth and oil before storing them in the tool chest to save them from rust.
Q: What is the most significant benefit of a tool chest?
A: When you put tools in a bag or a traditional box, they will jostle around most of the time and get damaged eventually. Using a tool chest will allow you to keep your tools organized in order to protect them from damage and find them easily when you need them.
Q: Are tool chests spacious enough to store all tools?
A: Yes, tool chests are designed to store all the tools easily. Typically, they have 4 to 10 drawers of different sizes. Determining your number of tools will help you decide how many drawers are suitable for you.