Need to consolidate team's toolboxes

[roguerower]

I'm currently the head coach for my schools rowing team and we've run into a bit of a problem. We have a large number of tool boxes that hold the teams tools, each with a different purpose. One is for travel equipment, one is for metric tools, one is for imperial tools, one is spare parts, one is spare hardware, etc. I want to combine them all into a single toolbox but have a couple of requirements:

-Waterproof: current toolboxes have been left in the rain and end up filling with water which requires me to thoroughly clean everything inside.
-Multiple compartments: Just because it's the same toolbox doesn't mean I want to throw everything in together.
-Easily transportable: wheels, carrying handles, etc.

Does anyone have personal toolboxes that they'd recommend? I'd put a price ceiling of no more than $200 but preferably about $100.

 

[MotionMan]

I'm currently the head coach for my schools rowing team and we've run into a bit of a problem. We have a large number of tool boxes that hold the teams tools, each with a different purpose. One is for travel equipment, one is for metric tools, one is for imperial tools, one is spare parts, one is spare hardware, etc. I want to combine them all into a single toolbox but have a couple of requirements:

-Waterproof: current toolboxes have been left in the rain and end up filling with water which requires me to thoroughly clean everything inside.
-Multiple compartments: Just because it's the same toolbox doesn't mean I want to throw everything in together.
-Easily transportable: wheels, carrying handles, etc.

Does anyone have personal toolboxes that they'd recommend? I'd put a price ceiling of no more than $200 but preferably about $100.

How big does it need to be? How many tools are we talking about? What is the length of the longest tool? How many square inches of space are the current boxes in total? Get the idea?

MotionMan

 

[BoomerD]

$200 max for a toolbox? Are you fucking kidding?

Unless you're talking about some small plastic box that can be carried by hand...no quality toolbox will be that cheap.

 

[lxskllr]

5 gallon buckets with drop in trays.

Edit:
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...code=cii_9324560&locStoreNum=2579&marketID=43

 

[Triumph]

^ how is that waterproof?

In 2008 I spent 3 months traveling around Afghanistan with about 120 pounds of tools, flying around the country on helicopters and airplanes in, uh, less than ideal conditions. Trust me, get yourself a Pelican case. They make many different sizes, some are made specifically for tools, you can buy inserts for them. Nothing I could find at B&M Sears, Home Depot, or Lowes was big enough for me. If you can't find a Pelican specifically for your tools, I'd still recommend one with a generic open cavity. You could make your own separation walls. Or at the very least, your tools would be guaranteed to be dry, in a lockable case, that can't be destroyed.

http://www.pelican.com/
http://www.pelican.com/0450/
http://www.pelican.com/cases_detail.php?Case=0550 (not sure how much room you need, this is HUGE)

I don't know exactly what you're transporting, but they're actually not that expensive when you consider that you may be protecting thousands of dollars of tools from damage, the elements, and theft. That 0550 is ~$700. If you're moving around a lot, it is definitely worth it. A cheap toolbox is very easy to overload with heavy tools, and it will simply not be up to the task of continuous transport.

 

[Triumph]

$200 max for a toolbox? Are you fucking kidding?

Unless you're talking about some small plastic box that can be carried by hand...no quality toolbox will be that cheap.

I didn't even see that. Yeah, you're not going to get anything of a suitable size or quality for that price. You could get something small and rugged, or large and cheap.

This may be all he needs. If you're talking something like a mechanic's "portable" toolbox, you're talking $500 for something barely decent, many thousands for something really good. *edit* why the f won't that link work? It's the Sears Craftsman 25" Sit/Stand/Tote Truck.

Remember what I said above OP - your toolbox is protecting your investment in your tools.

 

[Vette73]

^ how is that waterproof?

Its called a lid. Its how paint and many other liquids get to stores and sold.

 

[Triumph]

Its called a lid. Its how paint and many other liquids get to stores and sold.

That idea is terrible.

 

[lxskllr]

That idea is terrible.

How so? It's about as cheap as it gets, will float if light enough, and is absolutely waterproof. As a bonus, it's environmentally responsible. Other than the drop in trays, it's 100% recycled material, with 100% post consumer content.

Edit:
It's also theft resistant. I'd rather have some crappy looking 5 gallon buckets sitting in the back of a truck instead of an expensive looking toolbox.