If there’s one thing I can never get enough of, it’s storage bins, boxes and containers. I picked up a few of these Quantum dividable grid containers, and find them to be highly recommendable. They are extremely sturdy, stack nicely on top of each other, and perhaps most importantly, these boxes are very affordable.
Dividers and lids are available for these boxes, but I didn’t feel that they were worth the additional cost for what I intended to use the boxes for.
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Quantum dividable containers are available in a variety of sizes and colors. I ordered my stack of 14 containers from MSC Industrial Supply Co., but most of the other larger industrial suppliers should carry them as well.
Quantum Dividable Containers via Amazon
Product Info via Quantum Storage Systems
Joe says
Stu Stu Stu ….while I own a Construction co. and make a fantastic living. I’m thinking you may have reached a level of comfort (and more power to you ,I’m all for capitalism…)
That may put you out of touch with the more avg guy. Now ,I love this blog,channel,site, I actually look forward to it everyday.
BUT to say these storage containers by Quantum are affordable is literally,off the chart. Now I’m the type of guy that is considered a tooljunky, an aficionado of high quality tools and affordable ones..like buying Mafell no problem ,but $185 for a box ? $85 for a small box without a lid or means to separate items ?
You can buy an entire Festool line of systainers for less at much better quality.
Stuart says
I don’t know what you’re talking about. What prices are you looking at? Maybe you’re looking at case quantities?
I placed a second order, following this post, at the end of March 2011, I bought tried new sizes: 6 small boxes for $4.87 each, 4 shallow large bins at $6.32 each, and 8 more of the deeper large bins for $8.58 each.
Those bins are still in use today, 7 years later, holding everything from precision tools to machine vises.
Looking at current prices, MSC has them for $11.87 before 25% coupon. If you use the current 25% coupon, it’s $8.90 each. As a former Enco customer I see lower pricing when signed in – $7.24 each.
Buying the same 14 boxes right now would cost me $101.36 plus tax and with free shipping. If I wasn’t getting “former Enco customer” pricing, it would be $124.64.
Each one can hold up to 60 lbs (maybe more, I’m seeing conflicting specs). I’ve stacked them on the floor, loaded them on wire shelving, and am currently building a slide-in rack for them. These boxes are awesome, and still very much affordable.
Do you know of any competing products that can hold more than 50 pounds that are more affordable than these?
The only possible thing I can think of is that you’re seeing some kind of bulk pricing. I bought my first 14 bins when on a starving grad student income. They were affordable then, and I absolutely still consider them affordable.
You could save maybe $1 each if you buy the cheapest consumer-grade tote bin. But these are thicker, sturdier, and more versatile.
Stuart says
I tried to find the pricing you were talking about.
Amazon has $86 for (8) boxes.
I can get the same (8) boxes from MSC for $58 with free shipping.
That’s less than the price of just (1) Festool Systainer of similar size. Lids for these are sold separately, but I only need lids some of the time, so that’s good. I have never bought the dividers. On the rare occasion where I need the volume broken up, I use foam core board and make my own. I think hardboard or 1/4″ plywood might also work.
Mike says
That was either a long time ago or a sale. MSC is now charging $12 for one of those DG92060GY containers you linked to at amazon.
Too bad, because the ability to stick in some plywood dividers sounds like it would come in real handy.
Stuart says
The “you used to be an Enco customer, so here’s special pricing that makes it hurt less” price I see is $10.37 each.
MSC’s current coupon code is for 25% off $199, and brings the price to $9.62 each. That’s not as good as the pricing I saw last year, but I guess the “Enco price matching” promo ran out.
Amazon’s current price is $91.74 for (8) with free shipping, or $11.47 each.
Another industrial supplier has them for $9.42, and you must buy 8 at a time. They have 20% off $199, but it doesn’t work on this category.
At Amazon, the blue boxes are a little less expensive than grey, but still more than $10 each.
Getting them for $6 each from MSC might require waiting for sales flyer promo pricing. A 25% promo from Zoro, which has them in case quantities for $9.42 each, would bring the price down to $7.07 each.