tool cabinet recommendations?

[Ted Hoppe]

I finally recognized my need for a multi drawer tool cabinet in my garage. My ADD has threatened my safety, reduced floor space and most importantly made my wife park outside the last few days... Furthermore, the well thought out peg board solution is not working for me as it seems like five steps away too much from my tasks with the bikes, cars, outboards ectera.

I think I would like a 4 or 5 drawers, sizable wheels for rolling and tool storage which would fit inside a 4 foot nook in my 1.25 car garage.

Got any suggestions?

[TimH]

This a most excellent book:

http://images.rockler.com/rockler/images/23372-01-200.jpg

In this guided tour of some of the world's best tool-storage solutions, you'll learn how the toolbox evolved as an essential tool and how the site boxes of today have their roots in long-ago journeyman's tool chests. But this book also provides practical advice on how to develop a tool-storage strategy of your own. Jim Tolpin guides you through creating an individual tool storage system best suited to your needs - from planning, through selection of materials, construction and finishing (including special situations like waterproofing the lid of a box intended for a job site).

[JimConlin]

If the objective is to house tools rather than be a craft project, there are reasonably priced manufactured chests around, like this one at Costco for $559.99
http://content.costco.com/Images/Content/Product/285512.jpg

[Bob Cleek]

I've found the Costco tool cabinets, apparently made for them, to be excellent. I have a big stainless steel one that ran about $700. It's about five feet tall with a gazillion drawers. I have it full of machine tools, big lathe chucks, and whatnot. It's stood up to that with no problems. While I think you are paying a premium for the "Snap-On" or "Matco" labels on the professional mechanics' chests, do make sure you buy a good, high quality and STRONG one. Tools are very heavy when you start filling a chest with them. The bottom of the line Craftsman and Big Box store knock-offs "look" like the real deal, but aren't up to the task. Also, all metal ball bearing drawer slides are a MUST. It's really easy to load a large drawer with a couple hundred pounds of tools, if you've got 'em, and any drawer hardware that's plastic will break under that load and anything other than ball bearings will bind.

[Ted Hoppe]

I hope costco got some on the floor...

Thanks!