Hello. Rookie mentor for 9721. Looking for most cost effective tool and part storage for both classroom and pits. Easy to transport. Thinking a milwaukee packout stylr.
Thanks!
We have used DeWalt Tstak boxes as our pit toolboxes for many years. A lot cheaper than Packout, especially for the drawers.
We have bought them from Amazon, and also Zoro.com (often have 20% off coupons).
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Lots of great ideas in this thread: We are looking for solution in storage
This was part of a pit design thread, but I think it’s relevant here as well
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We use multiple carts like these to store parts and tools, and with the wheels they’re easy to take to competitions and be a part of our pit set up.
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Do you have a budget in mind? And how much space do you have in your workshop? Asking because pit storage and workshop storage can be done on the extreme cheap by stacking totes/boxes or all the way up to superpit. Doing a custom option could be a good learning experience as well, but it all depends on your goals and capabilities.
1727 has a good write up on a dual function pit and shop storage option here:
SuperPit But We Have It At Home - Team 1727 REX - FIRST / General Forum - Chief Delphi
If you are trying to save money you can edit the battery cutouts for a non-Husky cart since those are on the pricey side.
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+1 for Tstak
Craftsman Versastack is also the same thing as Tstak just in red. Craftsman also has Tstack compatible mechanic style tool sets:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/CRAFTSMAN-VERSASTACK-Mechanics-Tool-Set/5014463547
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I’m a big fan of Milwaukee Packout as shown here:
I like this style of plastic travel boxes because they pack in normal cars and don’t require pickups or trailers to bring to competitions but also work just fine in the shop.
But if you are looking at cost effective that is not the best way to go, while they have the best assortment or options they have Milwaukee tax on the price. Dewalt Tough System is probably the next best choice for options but they are only slightly cheaper than Milwaukee.
Several brands sell various versions of these systems now each with their own special items.
Also FYI a company in Israel called Keter is who actually manufactures all of these systems no matter what the name on them or the color of the box.
Ryobi:
Husky:
Rigid:
Dewalt:
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We bought two of these a year ago and are very happy with their function both during build and competition season. We take one with us to competition and the ease of simply rolling out of the trailer is very nice. For getting both a workbench and overhead cabinets, the price is good.
Toughbuilt just came out with this product line:
They have not launched their drawer unit so not really a viable option yet but defiantly worth keeping an eye on.
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We have all 3 dewalt versions that don’t work with each other and hate it. They have released an adapter to fit either of the smaller ones to a toughsystem box this year. I think Milwaukee is the gold standard but the tough built that just released will eventually over take that spot when they release more of their leaked boxes. We also have some Husky boxes that are decent for the money but they keep changing styles that don’t work with each other which is annoying
I have the same single and dual drawer setup that I’m contemplating using for the team but I’m worried about the dividers not having any lid to keep things from mixing or falling out. Are you using sealable containers within the dividers or some other trick?
Nothing, we just try not to turn them over. We only use them for tools for the most part. The single drawers came with internal containers with lids.
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