$20 Saw Box

[olyeller]

I know many of you think it's a sissy thing to do, storing your chainsaws in a box or case. I want to keep my saws cased for two reasons: To protect the saws, and also to prevent the saws from tearing up my other gear in the back of the truck. So I was at the dreaded Home Depot this past weekend when this $20 storage box caught my eye. As you can see by the label, it measures about 31 x 17 x 14 and it has a top you can fasten closed with latches, and there's also a hole so you can lock it shut if you wish. The box is wide enough to accept my 95cc Dolmar 143 with a full-wrap handle and I cut a slot in the end away from the wheels so the 24-inch bar can stick out. With the saw inside, there's still room for extra tools, oil, etc. I'll probably put my chaps and earmuffs in there too.

All in all, the $20 is a deal for this setup, which is pretty slick. Also, multiple boxes will stack for easy storage in the garage or shed. And when it's time to cut, just slide the boxes into the truck, grab you gas cans, and away you go!

 

[wigglesworth]

I know many of you think it's a sissy thing to do, storing your chainsaws in a box or case.

Yep.















j/k Nice job on that box.

 

[rmh3481]

Sweet! Especially when working with larger power heads. Too many times they get all scratched up rolling around in the back of a truck. How many times have you been asked to loan a friend one of your saws to finish a job? Also, like the lid and the clasp closure to keep small children out. Will hold more than a couple chains and even a small gas and oil can. Kudos to you olyeller!

Best wishes,
Bob

 

[dingeryote]

yeller,

Did you get your Hillbilly permit renewed?
If not, ya better get busy filling it out! LOL!

I LIKE IT!!!!

Thanks for the tip.

Mines gonna be uglier than yours though, just so it blends in with the rest of the truck. Some stickers and some duct tape combined with a couple handfulls of sand mixed with Bar oil should do it.

Nothing says "Steal me" like a shiney new box in the back of a beat up farm truck.



Stay safe!
Dingeryote

 

[olyeller]

My son-in-law and his brother kid me about being a redneck although there's not many to be found in Southern California--maybe an endangered species around here. My hobbies: guns, chainsaws and bikes, and after we're done for the day with all of those, adult beverages, seegars and a campfire with meat over the coals. Hmmm... maybe my neck is a touch sunburned...

But mainly, I got this box because I'm CHEAP!

 

[motosierra]

I know many of you think it's a sissy thing to do, storing your chainsaws in a box or case. I want to keep my saws cased for two reasons: To protect the saws, and also to prevent the saws from tearing up my other gear in the back of the truck. So I was at the dreaded Home Depot this past weekend when this $20 storage box caught my eye. As you can see by the label, it measures about 31 x 17 x 14 and it has a top you can fasten closed with latches, and there's also a hole so you can lock it shut if you wish. The box is wide enough to accept my 95cc Dolmar 143 with a full-wrap handle and I cut a slot in the end away from the wheels so the 24-inch bar can stick out. With the saw inside, there's still room for extra tools, oil, etc. I'll probably put my chaps and earmuffs in there too.

All in all, the $20 is a deal for this setup, which is pretty slick. Also, multiple boxes will stack for easy storage in the garage or shed. And when it's time to cut, just slide the boxes into the truck, grab you gas cans, and away you go!

Inovative Idea!....I like it!...keeps everything from getting beat up and keeps the dirt of of it..plus room for all your other supplies... thanks for sharing it with us...:greenchainsaw:....

 

[BarkBuster20]

hm its an alright idea but i dont like it, far to big. if you go out to cut wood thats gonna take up alot of wood space. it would be better if you just took the bar off the saw and put it in the box so theres nothing protruding (even more bulk) be better off to just build your own box big enough for the powerhead out of wood. IMO but if it works for you then itss keep the saw from getting scratched :monkey:

 

[BobL]

I like it! My saws are usually held in mills tied to ally rails that are bolted along the sides of my van but I was going to make a box for my 441/660 that usually rattle around in the back of the van. I like making stuff but this looks like a quick easy solution to me.

 

[gallegosmike]

My son-in-law and his brother kid me about being a redneck although there's not many to be found in Southern California--maybe an endangered species around here. My hobbies: guns, chainsaws and bikes, and after we're done for the day with all of those, adult beverages, seegars and a campfire with meat over the coals. Hmmm... maybe my neck is a touch sunburned...

But mainly, I got this box because I'm CHEAP!

In Southern California there are rednecks! LOL You just got look hard and wide to find them! Now that cali-stan has become a politically correct socialist state. You must be a good socialist and ship all your politically incorrect chainsaws, guns and motorcycles to a good AS member in a "FREE" state like me! :monkey:

But really, nice chainsaw carrying case. I need to pick on up for my husky 385xp. No away I am going to squeeze that sucker into a husky power box!

 

[Philbert]

Great box. The pre-made plastic box saves a lot of weight, and a lot of building time, over plywood. Plus, the chainsaw in the laundry hamper gives you the Tommy-Gun-in-the-violin-case chic.

I tried something similar with a tool box and one of my electric chainsaws, but I 'missed it by this much . . . ' (just a few inches too short).

Philbert

 

[olyeller]

hm its an alright idea but i dont like it, far to big. if you go out to cut wood thats gonna take up alot of wood space. it would be better if you just took the bar off the saw and put it in the box so theres nothing protruding (even more bulk) be better off to just build your own box big enough for the powerhead out of wood. IMO but if it works for you then itss keep the saw from getting scratched :monkey:

I agree with you Bark, but I'm not transporting a big load of wood often; I do this just for fun, mostly at the hunting camp. So space is not that big of a deal, and I can just transport the saws all set to go. I made a box for my MS 260--full saw with 18" bar, not just head only as per your thinking--and even with thin plywood that box turned out to be a heavy mother. Doing likewise for any larger saw would get way too big, heavy and cumbersome.

So after standing around in HD for 30 minutes with a tape measure trying to figure out which box would work best, I now have a storage/transport method that is cheap, quick and easy to do. This box is about half price compared to the Stihl or Husky saw cases. Just thought you guys would like a storage tip if it works for you and your situation/conditions.

 

[KMB]

This box is about half price compared to the Stihl or Husky saw cases. Just thought you guys would like a storage tip if it works for you and your situation/conditions.

Your idea might help another guy get another idea for his saw situation. Good stuff! For my extra saw (currently the 970) I have a suitable sized plastic tote (I think it was $7 at FRED'S) that fits the powerhead and the 20" bar standing sideways. It's mainly for storage in my leaky-roof shed...I know, I know, fix the roof. The other 2 saws are in Stihl cases. One I got with my first saw (260) and the second fairly recent one was from a dealer that was selling them for about $27 (incl. tax). If the 970 would have fit, I might have bought one for it also.

Kevin

 

[Ma Barker]

Great solution. I'd like it better if the handle was on the top. Seems like you'd load it from the top but then pick it up from the side, which would cause some serious load shift. Cutting the bar slot so that loading/unloading is done from the side might be another feasible configuration, if there's enough clearance to open the top when the box is on its side . . .

Are the wheels practical to use w/the bar sticking out the front?

 

[olyeller]

Great solution. I'd like it better if the handle was on the top. Seems like you'd load it from the top but then pick it up from the side, which would cause some serious load shift. Cutting the bar slot so that loading/unloading is done from the side might be another feasible configuration, if there's enough clearance to open the top when the box is on its side . . .

Are the wheels practical to use w/the bar sticking out the front?

I'm thinking they didn't put the handle on the top because they can't make that lid area strong enough; the side area is stronger thanks to that indented area. Also, the handle is not super-strong in construction. There are two handholds on each of the long ends, and it's an easy enough reach for two-handed carry. The wheels are small and cheesy, but OK for scooting the box around the garage. And yeah, it is possible to just keep the box on its side if you want, but the box is a little wider than it is deep (when the top is up) so my full-wrap 143 would not fit in that orientation. That would work fine with a narrower saw. Good ideas--go pick one up and try it out--what's 20 bucks for an afternoon of fiddling with saws in the garage?

 

[Ma Barker]

I'm thinking they didn't put the handle on the top because they can't make that lid area strong enough; the side area is stronger thanks to that indented area. Also, the handle is not super-strong in construction. There are two handholds on each of the long ends, and it's an easy enough reach for two-handed carry. The wheels are small and cheesy, but OK for scooting the box around the garage. And yeah, it is possible to just keep the box on its side if you want, but the box is a little wider than it is deep (when the top is up) so my full-wrap 143 would not fit in that orientation. That would work fine with a narrower saw. Good ideas--go pick one up and try it out--what's 20 bucks for an afternoon of fiddling with saws in the garage?

Agreed -- I figured there were structural issues that would limit design modification. You can only get so much box for $20. I'm just thinking in best-case (pun) terms. Hadn't considered the width of the box/height of the saw thing, though.

At any rate, an elegant & inexpensive solution!

 

[Philbert]

Are the wheels practical to use w/the bar sticking out the front?

(It's a step away from self propelled . . . )

Philbert

 

[olyeller]

(It's a step away from self propelled . . . )

Philbert

Now that's funny! Maybe put a snorkel in the lid so the saw can breathe, then start the saw and let the brake off so the spinning chain will let the saw, box and all, creep along behind you. Maybe give it four wheels, a lift job and mags too! Sure would look funnier than heck until something grabbed and sent the whole works flying. Anybody up for a whirl?

 

[alderman]

I went to home depot..

And picked up a couple this afternoon. I just wanted to get my larger saws off the floor and I'll slap the bars back on them when I need them.

I've been wanting to do this for awhile but hadn't found the right size tote. The chain brake handles just clear with enough room to close the lid.

I think these will work just fine.

Thanks for the tip...


757 & 695

577 & 500

 

[REJ2]

Looks darn decent! Half the price of my Husqvarna powerboxes.REJ2.

 

[olyeller]

That works out to be very space efficient with the bars off and two powerheads per box--way to go! The boxes feel pretty sturdy, so stacking them up with two powerheads per box should be just fine for getting your saws off the floor, out of the way and ready to go.

You guys with 30 or 60 saws might need a 3-story shop to stack all your boxes if you go that way!