You Can Bet Your Butt on the Milwaukee Work Box – And Inkzall

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Milwaukee. ICONIC. My youth was spent lugging red steel tool boxes, emblazoned with the lightning bolt logo, up and down innumerable flights of stairs in New York apartment buildings. The Sawzall is legendary, the Magnum is what all other drills aspire to. I still hang drywall with my 30 year old Screw Shooter… the first top-of-the-line tool I ever bought.

So here I am, in my shop. I just unpacked a plastic tool box sent to us by Milwaukee. A red, plastic tool box, with the iconic white lightning bolt across the front. My heart sank a little. Really Milwaukee? A funky, tall, top heavy looking plastic tool box? Why do I want to throw my gear in this, rather than a compound bucket, which I have plenty of? Okay, I’m being judgmental, I thought. Let’s check this thing out.

At first glance, I actually thought it was a cooler. It is definitely perfectly sized for a 6-pack (plus ice and a hoagie), but there is no insulation. Nope. Instead, it has tool caddies inside. Definitely a tool box. Aha. The top doubles as a seat, and the height makes it the right size for a work stool. Again, I’m thinking compound bucket. It does have a nice handle though, that makes it easy to carry, even completely full. The handle doubles as a lock, keeping the lid secure. No more taking fast corners only to hear the hardware bucket dumping over in the back of the truck. Hmm, I’m starting to like this idea!

The tool caddies are ...unimpressive.
Tool caddies can help you organize your gear

The tool caddies inside act as dividers, and are a little funky. The screwdriver holders are square, and pretty deep in the box. I think the upper tray could have been a little deeper, too. For a home tool kit, it is probably a good size. For guys and gals who need to carry a lot of hardware, screws, anchors, caulk and other sundries on the truck, it is a really great size and shape as a single use box. Like tubes of caulk, all standing up and nicely organized. Or boxes of screws, nails and anchors. Or plumbing fittings. Perfect!

The caddies and organizers are minimal, but functional.
The caddies and organizers are minimal, but functional.
This thing is perfect for packing hardware and supplies.
This thing is perfect for packing hardware and supplies.
The locking lid keeps caulk tubs from rolling all over the truck.
The locking lid keeps caulk tubs from rolling all over the truck.

In some ways this box may be a hard sell because of its unique configuration, but after thinking about it, I can see a lot of uses for it. And, if you were wondering…yes, I could not resist… I stood on it. It says clearly on the top “DO NOT STAND ON THIS BOX”, so please, don’t try this at home. Let’s just say, in a pinch, it will hold up to a 200 pound carpenter at least as well as a compound bucket. AND FINALLY… wait for it… It’s made in the good ol’ US of A.

milbox4

Bonus Inkzall Review

Milwaukee…markers? C’mon you guys, how can you improve on a good ol’ Sharpie?! Well, Milwaukee has come out of the box with another non-power tool that surprised me greatly.

Inkzall markers...goodbye old Sharpie!
Inkzall markers…goodbye old Sharpie!

As you may have discovered, if you drag a Sharpie permanent marker across a greasy or dusty surface, it can pretty much kill them in one shot. The tip is never the same again. So, here comes Milwaukee with the Inkzall. No, I’m not kidding! Inkzall! Available in fine, medium and chisel points, they really do work head and shoulders above my dear old Sharpie. Plus, they feature a hard hat clip and lanyard hole. Sorry Sharpie… you’ve been served!

You can find the Milwaukee Jobsite Tool Box for a bargain $32 at Home Depot.

Buy Now - via Home Depot

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About Rich

Rich Dana loves to build things, to tinker on things, and to grow things. After more than a decade as a historic building remodeler in Brooklyn, New York, he and his wife Ericka moved to their back-to-the-land dream home (and fixer-uper nightmare), an 1870s farmhouse on 15 acres in eastern Iowa that they call “Catnip Farm.” For the last 18 years, Rich has specialized in super-efficient historical renovations and solar PV installation. He is working to convert much of the farm into perennial food crops like nut trees and berries, and he helps Ericka out with her heirloom seed project. His latest passion is learning to sew.

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2 thoughts on “You Can Bet Your Butt on the Milwaukee Work Box – And Inkzall”

  1. I like the Inkzall, but I can’t seem to keep the cap on the back of the marker while I use it. A loose marker cap floating around the jobsite is a no-no.

    Reply

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