Grizzly Wood Tool Chests?

I'm looking for opinions on the wood tool chests that Grizzly is offering in their latest flyer:

and in particular the oak 7-drawer unit (H7715) near the center of the page as that one would just fit in a spot that needs a roll-around tool chest in my basement shop. Are there any owners of similar units here or folks that may have seen them in person? Grizzly is far enough away that it would have to be bought on faith from. I'm in the Chicago area, though, so if anyone knows of comparable units available from stores in that area, I'd like to hear about it.

Mike

It's veneer over particle board... AFAIC Import crap..

I've had a genuine "G" (That's "G" as in Gerstner) 10 drawer (including the "book" drawer) for 15 years (yeah I'm a newbie) and it's as good as the day my wife bought it for me (eat yer hearts out guys she buys me machine tools too)....

I stuck mine top of a nice solid oak roll around "microwave" cart I bought at CrudCo for $50 (has 2 shelves and a drawer) and have been happy as a clam ever since...

If that's what yer gonna buy save yer money and wait till Horrible Freight has them on sale (they do about twice a year)...

--.- Dave

"G" box is a new term for me - what's it mean? Unless it refers to "government" job...

The fit and quality of wood were a couple of concerns I have. I'm not expecting Gerstner quality but it would be nice if the drawers open smoothly, fit pretty well, and can hold a few tools without falling apart. The cheap import machinst's chests (the small ones with a handle) I've seen up close are mostly what prompted the question here. I wasn't too impressed with those and a friend's is already splitting at a seam a year or two after he bought it.

Kennedy sells a somwhat comparable small roll-around chest that might work, but I've heard that they are shutting down operations. Lista and Vidmar are out of my price range, even assuming they have something comparable.

Mike

I never even noticed that description at the top and just assumed it was solid "real" wood, so thanks for that vurtual dope slap. I wonder how long it would be before the veneer starts to peal off.

It would mostly hold end mills and small tooling for a small CNC mill so racking probably wouldn't be much of a problem, but for a couple hundred more I should be able to find something that will still look decent in a few yeras.

Mike

"Mike Henry" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@news1.newsguy.com:

Time for a road trip

Gerstner Annual Warehouse Sale June 8, 9 & 10th, 2007

This page hasn't been updated but should give you a good idea of what it's all about:

Oh - that sort of "G"! Mice stuff. My wife doesn't buy me tools, but she did help move an 1100-lb mill into the basement - does that count?

CrudCo = CostCo? A friend has a membership and has been after me to check out their SS roll-around chests, but there's not enough room for that where this one is needed.

Or maybe Gerstner International:

That's only a couple hundred more than the Grizzly and is made of solid wood, according to another page on the Gerstner web site. It's a bit too high and wide though maybe it could be shoehorned in with some re-arrangment and it looks like they are sold through Sears at $449 with pickup available from a local store, which is a major consideration.

Mike

On 23 May 2007 04:12:33 GMT, with neither quill nor qualm, D Murphy quickly quoth:

I've suddenly lost all respect for Gerstner, having just found out that they stain cherry (and oak) wood. Feh! Heathens.

- Yea, though I walk through the valley of Minwax, I shall stain no Cherry. ---

NoteSHADES(tm) laptop privacy/glare guards

I stained a few cherries in my youth. sigh.

Mike Costco and Sams both sell a pretty nice-looking large machinists chest. Last I looked, the Sam's was a well-built oak thing. Costco had something made with a fine-grain blonde wood which looked real good. Each were about $100.

I wonder if any good plans for a Gertner style box exist on the net. I got a bunch of wood seasoning away in the shop.

Wes

Sure does :-)

Correct assumption. I'm not a real fan of all the "Kirkland" stuff, but they do ocassionaly have things worth buying.

Hey If you can get at "G" on sale do it. you won't be dissapointed. All the drawers are hand fit and hand numbered on the back to match the serial number of the chest and the guy who built mine was proud enough of his work that he signed his name inside it.

Solid wood isn't the word.. it's quarter sawen oak ( or walnut if you want) and looks better than most peoples furniture.

--.- Dave

My comments are interspersed

No, it's not. It's "constructed of solid hardwood and select hardwood veneers."

I just bought a 10 drawer 26" chest (top box) #H7716. The only particle board in mine are th' felt lined drawer bottoms. If one wanted to replace those, it's a simple matter of pulling a few staples, sliding those out and replacing with whatever.

AFAIC it's a good box for th' money, and I'll be buying their 9 drawer

26" cabinet (roll around) # H7717 next. A friend of mine has had these boxes in his home shop for about 7 years now and they still look/function as good as new... particle board drawer bottoms and all.

I looked at Gerstners as well, too much money for my budget... maybe someday, maybe not.

They're on sale (Grizzly) right now. $145.00 for my top box.

Well Mike, overall I'm real happy with mine. There's no stops to keep th' drawers from pulling all th' way out, but I don't believe Gerstners have those either. A little silicon lube periodically on th' drawer slides is recommended, as well as a high quality furniture polish on th' surfaces.

Th' lock and hasps are kind of cheap, but thieves gotta get in, and back out of my shop *alive*, to steal anything. And Grizzly's shipping dept. did a great job of packaging. It arrived as promised and when they said it would. For th' money, I'm a happy camper and expect that with proper care this box will last longer than me.

Snarl

And yet more advice from someone else who admittedly doesn't have one... let alone ever even looked at one.

In another post I replied to I mentioned a friend who's had a set of Grizzley's top box/roll around for about 7 years. He had a set of similar Gerstner boxes that were stolen. He loved his Gerstner boxes, but isn't at all unhappy about chosing Grizzly for replacements.

Snarl

I already replied to a couple of other posts about this, but yes, I'm pleased with mine. And no, I don't have any affiliation with them... just a happy customer.

Grizzly is having their Summer tent sale in Springfield, MO on June

23rd, 8am-3pm. Not exactly close, but it might make for a nice road trip if you have th' time.

Word I got is that hotels/motels book up fast for these and bargain hunters leave smiling. I'm going to th' one in Bellingham, WA to see if I might be able to score a vertical mill.

Snarl

The real G boxes :

I have a war period one in black silk. Yep - black lacquer paint with silk within it.

Dad and I bought it together in 1952. The tool salesman loved us! Lathe, fixturing, tools, cutters.... Machinery's Handbook....etc in a trip to an out of town town. Had the Lathe delivered with most of the tooling. Our little 2 door handled some of the goodies and me. I have it now - Dad gives it a pat when he visits.

Martin

Mart>> Man - those look like "G" boxes to me. Made overseas.

Staining of Cherry and Oak is not only common it is standard.

If the Cherry isn't lightly stained most would not have it in the house. The light pink wood just doesn't cut it and when it is mixed brown and pink it isn't nice. Minwax is more a light to medium transparent paint. It isn't the soup that is put on violins or Grandfathers.

The real trick is understanding the type of coloring and protectorate.

The fine furniture industry always does a colored varnish of sorts. The Cherry glows through. I know. I have a tall grandfather clock that I bought back in the early 80's. It is glowing nicely. It looked nice for years.

Oak is the same. Depth of finish takes time. But it has to be protected and the customers demand tinting due to the blond nature of newly cut wood.

Martin

Mart> On 23 May 2007 04:12:33 GMT, with neither quill nor qualm, D Murphy > quickly quoth:

Thanks - that's the first report from an actual owner AIR. It sounds like one of the Grizzly's might be acceptable unless quality has dropped since your friend bought his.

A road trip would be real pleasant right now, but work just won't cooperate.

Mike

Uhhhh------Rex-----I think it's not the same cherry. :-)

Harold