Tool cabinets come in all shapes and sizes. From portable models to fixed units, tool cabinets are the best protection for your tool assets. A good tool cabinet can be a considerable expense. But when you consider that it can last a lifetime if well cared for, it’s money well spent.

You can find tools cabinets in a variety of materials. While plastic tool cabinets are available, metal tool cabinets are preferred shop equipment. They are able to hold up to the wear and tear of daily use, plus they can withstand temperature variations that you may find in a shop setting. Aluminum tool cabinets are a good choice for tool carts because they are lighter to move. But for stationary cabinets, steel is a good option.

Consider the following as you look at tool cabinets types and styles to purchase:

1. Popular styles: find out what tool cabinets work best in shops similar to yours.

2. Features: determine if you need drawers or shelves or a combination of both.

3. Cost: shop around for good deals, closeouts or even used tool cabinets.

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Pick pre-configured, stationary tool cabinets

This is your basic stock tool cabinet. You buy one and you set it up in your shop. These tool cabinets are either freestanding or they attach to walls. Be sure you know where you want to set a stationary tool cabinet because you don't want to move it after you load it with tools.

I recommend: Grainger has a selection of preconfigured tool cabinets. You could also find a stationary tool cabinet to meet your needs from Rousseau Metal.

Choose mobile tool cabinets

Bring your tools in close to your work area with tool cabinets on wheels. Because of the weight in the tool cabinets when loaded with tools, it's important that you find a model that has wheels that move easily, yet lock securely.

I recommend: Choose one of the many mobile tool cabinets types and styles available through MSC Industrial Supply. As you read the information from Lista International, you can find what to look for as you purchase mobile tool cabinets. Check out its section on "Available Sizes and Configurations" to get more information about its tool cabinets.

Create custom tool cabinets

If you use specialized tools or if your tools are an odd size, you may need to create a custom tool cabinet for your shop. While these units can be expensive, there are basic modular packages available that are not too expensive. You then customize these units to fit your needs.

I recommend: Find a custom tool cabinet from ModuLine. You can choose a variety of drawer configurations, and select the right size and shape tool cabinet for your needs. You can choose a Stanley Vidmar tool cabinet in a custom configuration to suit your needs. Choose the height, width and depth you prefer, as well as the color. You can also pick the drawer sizes and the security features you wish the tool cabinet to have.

They don't have to be clean, they don't have to be tidy, but having functional, secure tool cabinets is the hallmark of a productive business. Having the right supplies on hand just when you need them is critical for efficiency; choosing and locating your storage units carefully can help streamline your employees' use of space and time.

It's not hard to find the right tool cabinets. You can start by taking inventory of what you need to store and the dimensions of what you expect to fit in tool cabinets; list your current needs in a place you can refer back to as you shop, using the following suggestions to get started:

1. Which of your business supplies need to be stored in tool cabinets?

2. What sort of supply/inventory expansion do you anticipate in the coming years?

3. Where should you locate the tool storage cabinets for quick, convenient access to the right supplies?

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Narrow down your choices by finding the right tool cabinets information

Which tool cabinets you purchase will be decided by two primary factors: which tools need storing and where there's room to put them. When you're shopping for tool cabinets, directory listings may be helpful, but it's usually less confusing to go directly to large manufacturers and shop their detailed inventory for the appropriate supplies.

I recommend: Sears offers a wide variety of tool cabinets, chests and carts to fit almost any size of tool and available space. Some of them also double as workbenches with integrated bench tops. The Tool Box Store offers a wide variety of garage, warehouse and other functional storage cabinets for tools of various sizes.

Find tool cabinets to fit your present and future needs

When purchasing an item as large and expensive as tool storage cabinets, you must take into account any expansion you expect in the foreseeable future. Factoring the necessary space and flexibility into your purchasing plans now will save you time, money and a lot of frustration in the long run.

I recommend: AKRO-MILS sells modular tool cabinets for small applications. AKRO-MILS cabinets readily stack or fit side-by-side on standard 36" shelving, giving you ample options for expansion. The Car Guy Garage modular two-door storage cabinet is intended for larger tools, but can easily be stacked with other cabinets of appropriate size and weight or docked beneath a workbench when ready access isn't necessary.

Choose your tool cabinets provider according to environmental needs

Not every tool cabinet is built the same. Specialty applications in medical or laboratory settings require ready access to and visual inventory of tools, in a cabinet that is sturdy, easy to clean and compliant with applicable safety regulations.

I recommend: Shark Stainless' Elite Series Stainless Steel Tool Cabinets are designed specifically for use in clean room or anti-corrosive environments, making them appropriate for use in high-security, high-risk environments like medical settings, wet processing or cleaning areas. Terra Universal also offers stainless steel storage and tool cabinets suitable for clean room and anti-corrosive environments.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Alcohol can damage some tool cabinets, even those designed for use in anti-corrosive environments. Make sure to read your product literature fully, and, if in doubt, contact the product manufacturer before installing tool cabinets in an area where they can or must be cleaned with alcohol.

Tool cabinets are a necessity for organizing your work space, whether you operate a small workshop out of your home or own and operate an auto repair or other larger scale business. If you don’t have somewhere to store your tools and keep them organized, then you are likely to waste precious time searching for that pesky monkey wrench, instead of getting the job done.

Tool cabinets pricing and costs reveals that these are no small investments. You may have to save your income in order to purchase enough units and pieces to fit your storage needs. However, making the purchase will definitely be worth it. Consider the following options for style of tool cabinets as you determine what’s in your budget:

1. Portable tool cabinets are great for larger businesses.

2. Stationary tool cabinets are perfect for smaller work spaces.

3. Hundreds of tools indicates you may need to purchase a whole set of tool cabinets.

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Mobilize your operation with portable tool cabinets

There are two specific instances where roller tool cabinets are extremely beneficial. First, if your company has a number of employees that share the same set of tools, such as a mid-size auto repair shop, then a roller unit can help with easy transfer of the tools available. Smaller roller tool cabinets are also great for someone that travels to do repairs, but still needs a number of tools on hand.

I recommend: Northern Tool + Equipment has roller tool cabinets in a variety of sizes from $700 to $5,000. Compare the features of the units offered by ToolBoxesDirect for $300 to $2,000.

Save money when you purchase stationary tool cabinets

A stationary unit is great for almost any business. While a portable tool cabinet may have the convenience of movement, you don't always need that feature. Stationary tool cabinets provide great storage and organizational benefits and are ideal for smaller business operations that don't necessarily need portability, but do need to save a little money on their tool cabinet investment.

I recommend: Get a Craftsman stationary tool cabinet from Sears for about $350. Production Automation Corporation (PAC) has a wide selection of stationary tool cabinet heights and number of drawers so you can find exactly what you need for $450 to $4,200.

Store every tool you own in full sets of tool cabinets

One roller or stationary tool cabinet may not be enough for your storage needs. If that is the case, you may want to invest in a full tool cabinet set. Most sets come with a variety of cabinets put together to form one cohesive unit, with varying drawer sizes, cabinet heights, storage space and even some portability.

I recommend: Build your perfect tool cabinet set by choosing each piece individually for $200 to $3,200 from BrandsPlace. Select the units you want in order to build a full garage storage system from Car Guy Garage for $100 to $450 per cabinet.

If you are preparing to purchase a tool cabinet for your business, you need to be familiar with some key terms. There are many different styles of tool cabinets available, and each model offers different features. Some of the more common tool cabinets terms you may find deal with construction materials. Other terms refer to parts and accessories available on tool cabinets. Knowing the difference will help you find the right model for your needs.

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Chest/cabinet combo

A chest/cabinet combo means the tool cabinet is going to have drawers on the top portion of it and larger storage shelves below. The shelving portion of the tool cabinet may or may not be open, depending on the model you choose. The tool chest, which usually rests on the top, may be detachable. A check/cabinet combo may also have side shelving attached to it.

I recommend: You can see a chest/cabinet combo with a side cabinet at Wesco Tools.

Preconfigured

Preconfigured tool cabinets come with a set number of drawers in specific sizes. The advantage to preconfigured tool cabinets is they are ready for you to put your tools in them when you get them. But if you have odd-shaped tools, they may not fit in preconfigured tool cabinets.

I recommend: See the preconfigured tool cabinet options at Stanley Vidmar.

Ball bearing drawers

Ball bearing drawers allow you to easily open the storage portion of your tool cabinet. Running on small metal balls, ball bearing drawers are capable of carrying heavier loads. They cause few problems and require minimal maintenance.

I recommend: Read about ball bearing drawers at ToolSource.com.

Casters

Casters are the wheels that make tool cabinets portable. You want to find tool cabinets with casters capable of supporting the weight of the tool cabinet, plus your tools. The easier a caster works, the easier it is to move your tool cabinet.

I recommend: You can see casters on a tool cabinet at Car Guy Garage.

Tool cabinet mats

Tool cabinet mats keep the tools from rolling around if the tool cabinet moves. Tool cabinet mats also act as a protective cushion for expensive tools. They help keep tool cabinets organized and clean as well.

I recommend: You can order tool cabinet mats from W.W. Grainger.

Project center

A project center tool cabinet functions as a workspace. Depending on the style and configuration, there is usually a flat work surface on the top of the tool cabinet with storage drawers underneath. A project center usually has wheels so you can take it to wherever you need to work.

I recommend: See what a project center for tools looks like at ToolBoxesDirect.com.