TSTAK Tool Box, Extra Large Design, Removable Tray for Easy Access to Tools, Water and Debris Resistant (DWST17806)

Good case but not I want to have

This is a review for the DeWalt TStak Deep Toolbox with Long Handle (DWST17814) known as TStak vii in their TStak product line up. This Deep Tool Box has a top compartment that has fixed dividers for organization of screws, drivers bits, drill bits, etc into seven rectangles. The black plastic top cover has plastic tabs that latch to the yellow plastic main top cover but there is not weather sealing protection when the lid is down. I am not a fan of this design because I see the plastic tabs as a potential point of failure. I had this happen to other plastic tool boxes from other manufactures over the years so it's not specific to just this product line. The good news is that if that does happen, a box stacked on top will keep that top locked in place. The main compartment of the box has metal latches on the body of the box that securely latches the yellow top cover. The box is deep and will hold a good amount of tools. The box is rated to carry 66 lbs and I think it will carry it without issue. With the yellow plastic top design, there's not your typical tool box handle but a very large handle that is easy to grip. Because this is a deep box, this model does not have the smaller suitcase handle like the shallow boxes do. The box does come with a removable tray that can be positioned one way onto plastic tabs on the inside of the box. This tray the same one they use in their mobile deep storage box. It's ok but there's a hole between two sections of the tray below the tray handle. For my purposes, I did not need it and removed it. There is a plastic rings for a lock so it is conceivable lockable, but it is plastic with no metal reinforcement, so if someone wants break in, it would not be too difficult. DeWalt states that it is not lockable unit. One complaint for the US version is that it does not have a water seal gasket and is not IP54 rated like the version sold in the UK and EU. This was easily solved by purchasing 5mm EDPM Rubber gasket that I purchased on Amazon. It took less than five minutes to install with no glue (see picture attached). The gasket fits perfectly in the groove on the top cover. I started and ended at one of the plastic top tabs that connect to the back hinge so I know it is well sealed. I do not know if this conforms to IP54 rating, but this works for me to add an extra level of protection from dust and moisture. I spent less than $20 for 18m of gasket and was able to use it on 7 boxes, 3 cart boxes and 3 organizer boxes. I am very impressed with the overall build quality of this product line based on its price. I think it is perfect for the homeowner, DIYer and specialized trade person. I love how it all interconnects together. I could see trades people customizing their van with different TStak boxes and pull out the boxes for the tools they need for a given project. With that said, I don't think TStak system is suited for big construction sites where your equipment would take abuse carrying it over rough terrain or using it as a step stool (unless you're real light). The boxes are not of the same strength and thickness as DeWalt's Tough System 2.0 nor Milwaukee's PackOut, nor is it priced the same as those products. The TStak is significantly less expensive. I think there may be an adapter to mount TStak onto a Tough System set up, but I can see people in the Construction Trades wanting an indestructible box that can take abuse. I am invested in DeWalt's TStak system. When I was trying to figure out the best way to store my recently acquired tools, there was an incredible deal the TSTAK™ 3 pc. Modular Mobile Tower system and I picked up three of them. I was so impressed with the build that I knew it was perfect for me, so I have been adding additional boxes with the current discounts Amazon is offering. My plan is to customize each of these tools for my different power tools. I customized this box I purchased with Kaizen Foam for my router, jigsaw and several batteries (picture attached). This is the third box I have customized so I am getting better at cutting out the foam. The box easily handles the weight of these tools inside. I like the idea of having to cut your own foam over the cube product DeWalt is selling. I love the fact that this box can easily clip onto other TStak boxes as well as boxes clipping on to this box. DeWalt has upgraded the box connectors with small metal rods on each end to give it added strength. These boxes are also compatible with Craftsman Versastack which is also owned by Stanley Black and Decker with different colors and different products. In fact, I was leaning toward picking up one of Craftsman version of a 3pc modular mobile system due to a sale going on at one of the big box hardware stores when the other deal fell into my lap. Craftsman has a couple of tool bags that can lock into this system and I think DeWalt for the European market has the same but in the DeWalt colors. Additionally, I just purchased the FLEXTORQ IMPACT READY Impact Driver Bit Set 100 -Piece and it looks like it could lock into the top of the TStak system. I don't think it has the clasps to be in the middle of the stack, but I have not picked mine up yet. I think you can't go wrong with this Long Handled Deep Tool Box nor other TStak components. I hope DeWalt and Craftsmen continue to innovate this product line for years to come. There's a niche for it and it's perfect for me. I'd give it 4.5 stars because of the lack of weather proofing (easily solved), the plastic latches on the attic top and the somewhat lame tray so rounding up it shows as 5 stars.

Topíssimo!

solid construction, seals well. Pricey for a storage container but seems like it will last

I use these (yeah, I have multiples!) to store retro gaming consoles, retro computers, and some rPI-400's with the associated peripherals. The case is perfect to put some closed cell foam into and forming custom packaging that you can see into. It is not moisture tight, but I put 1 standard unit of desiccant in each box as condensation kills old electronics. (I store in temperature/humidity controlled spaces too, but better safe than sorry as I don't nitrogen purge/etc...). Since the controllers/peripherals don't usually fit into this box with the console, I pair it with a DWST17806 for larger setups, a DWST17807 for medium, and a second one of these if it'll fit--again, using the closed cell foam and plastic anti-static bags (not necessarily ESD) to keep things from getting more scratches or destroying other things if their cables go to sludge. The extra height of the '07/06 boxes is often required for odd shaped controllers or larger peripherals. I find these are the perfect size and they stack great or go on shelves. There are other options for the tstak series too, like roll around/etc...Plus, you can use them as a stool/seat if needed too. I don't have much use for the storage cups, but every now and again they are useful... especially as, similar to the pro/tough ones, you don't have to use them all at the same time. Right now, I use the cups mostly as organizers in other places... so really a great value all around. The competing setup I looked at was to use pelican cases, but they are very expensive and waste a lot of space relative to these... the pelicans were also much tougher and ship-able.... Tstak is not really ship-able--these are transportable--they'd need extra packaging to ship (and one was damaged in shipping, and that sort of makes the point) However, I don't need a ship-able solution that is waterproof... these are more space efficient and lower cost while still providing excellent performance.

I spent a few afternoons browsing tool boxes at local hardware stores and a few afternoons browsing their online selections as well as searching Amazon. I was looking for a hard case, sturdy enough to be used as a stool in a pinch, so all cloth cases and bags were out. And I was looking for something I could organize screws and similar small items in. Having previously used tool boxes with built in subdivided trays in the lid, that was my first choice, though drawers were another option. I did, however, need a fair sized open bin to keep my larger tools, and most drawer units did not have that option, or were in my opinion too big. I have used Dewalt power tools, and have loved them, but have not been impressed with the construction of their small tool storage systems, so I was a little concerned as to how this box would turn out, rather than biased towards it. I saw other Dewalt boxes in the same line at Home Depot, and was even more concerned, as some seemed well built while others felt cheap and fragile. I bought this box anyways, as it was the closest to what I needed, and was little more expensive than the cheapest, weakest boxes I could find in store. This box, overall feels sturdy. I would not worry about breaking it using it as a stool, though the lid for the subdivided top section is thin enough to noticeably flex; compared to most tool boxes with subdivide tops, with their brittle clear plastic lids, the flex is much preferred. The metal latches for the main bin close securely, and I expect they will last as long as the box itself. The aforementioned flexible lid to the subdivided top does not latch in a convincing manner: It has stayed closed so far, but I expect it will be the first thing to go. As I am no longer working construction, I doubt it will ever go, but if I used the box on a daily basis, I wouldn't expect that top lid to last more than a year, maybe not even half a year, before the latches wear and no longer stay closed. The hinge to the main bin extends almost the length of the case, just an inch short on either end, and has a metal, presumably stainless steel, pin. The subdivided top has 4 plastic nubs acting as hinges. This tool box can either be carried by a long metal handle, as shown in the pictures, or by a small plastic handle like a briefcase, which is not shown in any of the pictures. The long metal handle appears to be aluminum, and I thus expect it to tarnish over time, resulting in dark gray aluminum oxide marks on anything it touches. It is corrugated, resulting in added strength as well as a functional grip. The smaller plastic handle has a mildly rubberized coating; I do not like rubberized coatings as they quickly get dirty and are much harder to clean than smooth plastic, but this one is not sticky enough to concern me. While I prefer to carry it like a briefcase, I was surprised by how unobtrusive the box felt while carrying it by the long handle; it took little effort to ensure I did not bang the tool box against my knees as I carried it. Both handles are very sturdy, and lock reassuringly into open or flat configurations. I would expect both to last as long as the box even if I were using it on a daily basis. The tool box also balances on end, like a briefcase. Inside, the main bin is 16"x11"x4" deep, with another 1" of clearance in the lid. The small bins built into the top are another 1 5/8" deep, with negligible clearance in the lid. I can fit my socket set, screw drivers, hammer, and measuring tape in the main bin just fine, though I cannot also fit my power drill. I am not as pleased with the subdivided top: the compartments are typically too big or too small. There are four small bins, in which I can put driver tips or wire nuts or whatever itsy bitsy thing I want, but they are only just too small to fit a normal sized measuring tape (considering how hard it is to find a normal instead of "fat" measuring tape these days, or that Dewalt makes only a fat version, this is not surprising), nor are they big enough to fit other common small tools, like allen wrenches, or even 2" screws in any useful quantity. There is one large bin, but at 5 3/8"x6 3/8", it is far too large for even a fat measuring tape, while being only just too small for Dewalt's sets of drill bits or driver tips. There are two more long bins, which would conveniently hold loose drill bits, or sawzaw blades; I have a Stanley utility knife in one, and while it is nearly the perfect length, it is wide enough to fit two or possibly even three such utility knives. This does make it easy to extract your tools, but it also feels like a lot of wasted space, and considering the namesake long handle is recessed into the lid, subdivided space is at a premium. I can fit all my tools and accessories in the tool box; just not in as organized a fashion as I would have liked. Overall, this is a quality built tool box. If you are looking for a reasonably large main bin with a subdivided section, this will probably fill your need. The box is sturdy except for the lid on the subdivided top, but even that is sturdy enough for home use. If I were to change anything in a new model, it would be to ditch the long handle and use the freed up space to add more and better thought out subdivisions. I have now considered buying the two drawer tool box from this same set, but as I don't at present have a need, I haven't yet. I would buy this box again for family of friends. While searching,I came across one other box that almost won me over, a Husky cantilever box/organizer. It was just as sturdy when closed, except that the clear plastic lid for its subdivisions was rather brittle. I would probably have bought that one instead had it not been for that brittle top and my not liking cantilever tool boxes. If you are looking for the same things I was, this may be a good option for you as well.