Buying quality shop cabinets - Lista, Stanley Vidmar, Equipto, Rousseau, Oh My! · Jun 1, 21:31
So, this is an article we’ve been wanting to write for many years. Invariably, if you’re a home shop machinist, and just getting started, you’ll most likely need a tool chest of some kind. If you’re somewhat new to machining (as we once were), there are two places that you frequent – Harbor Freight and Sears. One for the machines and one for the better quality hand tools, workbenches, and tool chests.
You start amassing quite a bit of tooling here and there and soon realize that the Sears Craftsman tool chests are binding and don’t appreciate the many pounds of tools you’re putting in there. Additionally, you’ve already used the plastic parts separators from Sears and realize that those are somewhat limiting in the way they divide the drawers.
Now frustration starts to set in…
Well, if you’re like us, having not started in a nice machine shop environment with nice tools, tooling, machines, and all the support equipment, you’re kind of left with a big question in your mind – “Aren’t there more rigid tool chests that can handle heavy loads and easy to use in more ways than just the pull/push?”.
Yes!
It’s now time to start shopping on eBay… Look for Lista, Stanley Vidmar, Equipto, Rouseau, and various other quality vendors. There are even cheaper versions of these that can also handle a stated 400# per drawer capacity, have ball bearing drawers, have higher gauge metals, and are durable and made to last.
We’ll post an in-depth review of both types since we’ve now had the pleasure and displeasure of owning some really cheap (not inexpensive) as well as used but very durable quality cabinets. It may sound strange to say this, but your life will change when you get quality cabinets. Yes, they’re as much as 10x more than a cheap one, but count the smiles you have each time you use a quality cabinet and it’ll soon pay for itself. But, do yourself a favor and buy them used – after all, they’re built to last!
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