Speaking of Ridgid: Stacking Tool Boxes

[-MIKE-]

Robert's recent Ridgid cordless drill review reminded me of their portable stacking tool boxes, which I've been using for quite some time now.

They have a "base" box which has wheels and a telescoping dolly handle. A medium box with a tray insert, and small box that comes with removable dividers and several separate cube-like cup containers for small parts and fasteners.

They all have these clips on the top which snap into receivers on the bottom which latch them together, tightly. So you can have 3 or 4 stacked together, forming one solid (dare I say, rigid!?) tool chest which rolls around like a dolly.

They will often put them on sale for $99 for all three (buy the large and medium, get the small for free). Since Fathers' Day is coming up, look for this sale soon.

I originally bought one set of 3 when they had the sale. After checking them out, I went back and immediately bought another set of 3. I think I'm up to three sets of 3 along with a couple "basket" versions, which also stack and lock. The baskets are great for throwing in the job-specific extras that you might not use regularly. I use one for the circ-saw with extension cord, blades, rip guide, etc. Then I have a basket for bulk boxes of job-specific fasteners/nails-- you know, the big 5lb boxes of deck screws and nails and such.

The baskets are great for this kind of temporary mobile storage because they also latch together on the other tool boxes, but are see-through and open on top so you can see what's in them without having to open them up.

I have one of the base boxes for plumbing tools. Another has my hammers, pry-bars, tool belt, squares, stuff for framing. A medium box has hand saws and files, chisels, grinder, cutting stuff. Another medium box has other themed tools that are usually used together or for specific types of jobs. You get the gist.

The small boxes are probably my favorite, though. I have one that I fitted out to hold my Ridgid drill/driver combo with charger and assorted drill bits and driver bits. Another for a huge assortment of fasteners. Another dedicated to a huge assortment of wall anchors. And I'm starting to convert some others to cases for other power tools, like my Fein oscillating tool with attachments, the jigsaw with blades, etc. I'm thinking of making a whole stack dedicated to pneumatic nail guns and trim tools.

They are all labeled with black sharpie on white gaffer's tape. They fit two wide, and 3-4 high in the space behind the back seat of my minivan. They also can go behind the seat of my pick-up truck. When latched together, you only one strap to tie them down.

It's so nice to be able to keep all the regular, commonly used tools in the van, behind a seat and smoked glass (away from prying eyes), and then be able to grab any job specific tool box to throw in the van/truck knowing they will all lock together and not be sliding all over the vehicle or tipping over and spilling.

I haven't even mentioned the obvious benefit of being able to roll 3-4 boxes at one time, like a dolly, into a building, up/down stairs and back out again.

Oh, and by the way... they're water-proof! They have a gasket that run around the perimeter of each lid, so no problem stacking and tying them in the bed of the truck and driving in the rain. I haven't checked whether or not they float, yet, but maybe I will.

All they need now is a version that is an insulated cooler!

[-MIKE-]

As soon as I posted this I got a Ridgid email highlighting their new Drill/Driver Combo pack that comes in a specially outfitted latching, stacking case.

Hmmm... guess I'm not the only one who though of it. :-)

[krw]

I have the top box shown there, and four of the open crates that match it. I leave the crates across the back of my truck, with bunji cords anchoring them to the side anchors. They're great for small stuff and shopping trips. The tool box *STINKS*. I mean _literally_ *STINKS*. I've had it in my garage, open and empty, for six months and it still smells like, well.... Well, it smells like nuclear powered Xelite socket wrenches. Yech! I thought it would air out in a month or two, but as I said, it's been six now and I wouldn't think of taking it into the house.

It's a slick system, except...

I certainly wouldn't even think of putting food in one.

[-MIKE-]

The baskets are great for this kind of temporary mobile storage because

If it's any consolation to you, I've had mine for at least a year and they don't smell anymore. Not even up close.

This is pure speculation but something I noticed. Try leaving them open and outside in direct sunlight. I think UV may help get rid of the smell. Again... total speculation on my part. But I noticed two of my newer ones, which stunk the way you described, lost a considerable amount of that smell after I had worked a couple days on an outside job where they "baked" in the sun all day.

[krw]

Thanks. It's worth a try. It's supposed to be nice this weekend. Maybe I'll put it out in the yard and try to de-stinkify it. It's definitely less smelly than when new but not enough so that I can use it.

It's strange. The "crates" don't seem to smell at all but the tool boxes all have the smell of death.

[-MIKE-]

My guess would be because they are totally open and not sealed up like the boxes.

[krw]

It may be a different plastic, too. The crates are harder. The boxes are like they're blow-molded(?).

[-MIKE-]

I have the top box shown there, and four of the open crates that

The baskets are great for this kind of temporary mobile storage because

I think you're right about them being harder. Some of the sections on the boxes feel harder than other sections. Perhaps because they are thicker? Maybe the hollow sections just feel soft because they are thinner. Who knows?

I used to work in an injection molding place that made car parts and there was a similar smell to the pellets that were melted down in the injection machines. Of course, that was about 30 years ago.

I have drum cases that are "roto-molded" that have a similar smell for the first year or so. Same black color and same feel to the plastic, so it's likely the same stuff.

[nailshooter41]

OK, how in the world have I missed these? I am in and out of HD a lot duri ng the week. It is no treat for me, in fact, I hate going. I go in, buy wh at I need, and leave.

Those boxes look wayyyy to handy to me. I will be buying a set to put my " door kit" in. The bottom one can hold my router, its bits, hinge template guide, and the uppers my long driving bits, my hole saws, sharp chisels, ex tra screws and trim pieces, a few clips of different sized brads, metal cut ting recip saw blades, etc.

It would be excellent to not only have all that in one place ready to go wh en I need it, but the idea of having it ready to go and organized is too mu ch to resist.

I will definitely look for that, and buy it when I find it. Thanks MIKE!

Robert

[krw]

Dewalt has a similar set. Dewalt didn't have the crate (which is what I was really looking for) but other than that, I thought it was a better system.

[-MIKE-]

You're welcome and that's exactly what I've been doing-- making project specific sets of tools. Heck, I've even gone to buying duplicates of many hand tools to have in different sets. The convenience and lack of "Did I forget something?" stress is worth it.

BTW, it looks like the the "buy two, get one free" deal is in effect on-line thru the 22nd.

One last thing, if you want to spend more money, check out the Dewalt stacking tool boxes. They are much more expensive but also much more versatile. Some of their chests have drawers that pull out, so you can get to the stuff without taking the box off the stack. They also have a dolly system that uses rails to attach the boxes so you don't have to un-stack them, you just pull off the one you want.

[-MIKE-]

Funny, we were probably both typing the same recommendation at the same time. Those are the ones that rival the Ridgids.

These are Dewalt's Cadillac version. They are very cool but more than

3x the price.

[J. Clarke]

Most of that price is the cart. DeWalt has a rolling box in both that system and T-Stak that is similar to the one in the Ridgid system and much less expensive. However, read the reviews on Amazon--the deWalt stuff has some nice convenience features but there's some complaining about lower quality when compared to Ridgid.

Also, note that there is a Stanley-branded version that is compatible with the deWalt T-Stak.

[J. Clarke]

And a further note, if you have deep pockets, there are always Systainers, from Tanos and Festool. And yes, there is a cart for them, at about the same price as the one from deWalt.

[krw]

As much as I like the Festool tools, I've never been impressed with their Systainers. The plastic seems cheep for the big money they get for them.

[Kezbin]

Thank you for mentioning the smell. I went in the store to purchase today and when I opened the boxes it burned my nose it was so strong. Smells like it was made in a really cheap cigar factory. I was wondering if my store just got a bad batch but sounds like thats normal.