SB&D continues to go heavily into tool boxes and storage products. The Stanley FatMax Rolling Tool Case was one of the more interesting ones they brought to the recent STAFDA tradeshow. It’s the tool box version of a carry-on size rolling suitcase. The shell is made from glass fiber reinforced polypropylene and is attached to a telescoping handle and ball bearing skate wheels. The interior is broken into multiple compartments. On the underside of the lid is a double-sided panel with pockets and rubber combs for storing and holding tools. The panel accordions out so you can get at both sides. The bottom of the case contains a deep main compartment with adjustable dividers and is covered by a removable plastic panel with slots that can be used to hold the accordion panel at the angle of your choice.
Stanley makes two versions of this case, one with wheels and one without. The hand-carry version (FMST21060 Tool Case) has the same interior as the case shown here—it just doesn’t have wheels or a telescoping handle. According to the manufacturer, the wheeled case is rated to carry 66 pounds. If I had to haul that much weight I would definitely want wheels.
These cases can be used to carry anything that will fit inside but are best suited to storing hand tools and small supplies (nuts, bolts, etc.). They are what I think of as technician’s cases, what a repair person or someone who makes heavy use of hand tools would bring to the job. I’ve been more conscious of this kind of storage lately because repair techs have recently been to my house to fix problems with a dryer and microwave. It was interesting to see how they carried their gear. Both had gate mouth style bags crammed full of tools. The tools were well organized but you could only see them from the top. Their tools would have been easier to see and to get at if they’d been stored in cases like these.
FMST20165 Specs Weight: 17.5 pounds
Dimensions: 21.2 x 9.4 x 15.8 inches
Includes: 3 removable storage bins
Country of origin: Israel
Price: $149 (non-wheeled version $89)
