ToolGuyd: In a somewhat surprising move, Ridgid has come out with their own line of modular and stackable tool boxes!
I’m a big fan of these types of connectable tool cases, and utilize many Bosch L-Boxxes, Dewalt ToughSystem cases, and Festool Systainers to house tools and supplies.
11 comments:
I have now been a part of a couple organizations that were in the middle of trying to figure out how to keep all their tools and hardware both portable, but also highly organized. The first, my high school robotics club, settled on the DeWalt modular stacking system for all our hardware and fasteners. It was great because although everything was highly organized and in its own compartment, the whole case could be grabbed at a moment's notice and be put into the trunk of someone's car, which happened fairly often.
I think the Ridgid Pro's entry into this product concept is pretty cool. It certainly has a solid featureset, and they look pretty durable. I can see how the lack of a top handle might get a little annoying though. I'm also a little confused as to the point of the tubular box is.
This storage system reminds me a lot of the one that comes with Festool products, which to me experience have stood out amongst the rest. A big plus for me is that you can modify the amount of tools that you are bringing to a job by easily leaving sections of your tool box behind. I envision myself having a kit like this in which I would have multiples of each storage type and for specific job requirements. Then, assembling the right combination of hand tools and power tools and even hardware can be quickly assembled for each job, custom.
The only negative for me is that the tube box is not able to latch or interact with the rest of the kit. MAybe there could be some latches on the top of the small organizer case to attach the top tube. Then it all wheels together!
For $165, I would buy this kit for myself. Good value.
There is a trend between a lot of these companies in their attempts at tool boxes. Dewalt, Bosch, Festool all try a modular stacking system that while robust and efficient on their space I personally can not stand the fact that you have to unstack the boxes in order to get anything from the boxes not on top. First order of retrievability, I do not want to have to move something out of the way to get the tool I need because it is a major infringement on my time. Stanley Modular tool box has done a great job with a modular tool box with great front load access that allows for a light weight and easy to use tool box. I still am a great fan of the Pelican Tool box 0450, tough and durable but again the access to the drawers is done through placing the pelican on its appropriate side and unlatching the side of the box and then accessing the tools.
We've got another company jumping on the modular tool box bandwagon. I don't know who was first, but it feels like everyone is going off festool. I sadly have never used a festal sustainer but from reviews i have read and videos i have watched they are clearly well thought out and engineered/designed to perfection. Bosch's model looks uncomfortably similar to festal but if that is the best way to do it, I don't blame them. Dewalt and now rigid's model have a little bit of a different take on the concept. While festal and bosch's cases blend together to pretty much make one big tool box, dewalt and now rigid's model look more like a series of toolboxes that you can stack for ease of carry. I personally like the rigid/dewalt version better because it feels more like the typical tool box. But that cylinder tool box, or should i say tool tube, just seems weird.
Many of the big tool names are coming out with these new durable tool storage systems, but I worry about making any sort of investment in them. I feel like I want to wait for a while to make sure that the company continues to maintain and expand the line.
So what do I like about the Rigid boxes that I don’t like about the other styles? The metal handles seem to be much more durable than the competitors plastic handles. The handles are also responsible for locking the boxes together, so I think they will hold up a little better than the other.
I think the material looks to be a little less rigid (no pun intended) but much more impact resistant than the Bosch stuff.
I really like the gasket to keep dust out of the box. Not that I care much about dust in the box, but it makes it seem like they put a decent amount of thought into the product.
I see what Sean is saying about retrievability, but overall this looks like a really good set. I've never owned/had a need for a modular tool box system, but I can see how they can be very valuable. I have two large tool boxes at home that hold most of what I need, and although they stack for transport they aren't intended to be used as a modular system. I really like the attention that Rigid paid to design, and I'm a big fan of the orange. When I first saw the tubular toolbox, I thought it looked really cool but had not purpose, but the idea of making something that could open fully is really great. The thing I hate about working with my tool box is that one I'm using a hammer and a clamps, I have to keep it closed or it tips over. Although, I feel that they could execute the same thing with a slightly more efficient shape.
I like the design of the tool tube, but otherwise the system looks a little under supported so far. With only three components that have to be completely unstacked to be used, the versatility seems to be a little minimal to me. I am still trying to decide exactly what I want out of my tool boxes, but I don't think this is it.
Having worked at a few places over this past summer that have benefitted from several different types of organizational and stackable tool boxes, I definitely see the use for this type of product. I'm not overly impressed though because we've all seen this before with many different companies. I want to see some true innovation and creative solutions to accomplishing the same thing, not just another company to jump on the bandwagon and mimic other's in order to boost their sales. I think that Ridgid has done a fine job with these, but can do much much more. As can many other companies.
I am commenting it as a person who rarely have any interactions with these stuffs. It looks huge, but somehow look practical and well organized. I just stunned a bit by how huge it is and wondering about their weight. It looks like a stack of ice buckets to me. Still, I think I've seen something that looks like this before so I was just wondering if we can called it "new"? unless that means it's the company new launched product. I have no idea about the price. Is this quite a reasonable price for these kind of things or is it cheap? or expensive? Are you gonna use every single thing contained in those boxes? I assumed yes.
There is a trend between a lot of these companies in their attempts at tool boxes. Dewalt, Bosch, Festool all try a modular stacking system that ... dewalttool.blogspot.com
Post a Comment