If you were starting fresh - what would you buy?

[kevinculle]

100 shares of Berkshire Hathaway in the early 1980s would have been just about perfect.

 

[woodwise]

This ^^ 

Thought this was a great example using the Sys3 and rails:https://www.festoolownersgroup.com/workshops-and-mobile-vehicle-based-shops/sys-rails-in-a-van/

 

[Crazyraceguy]

If cost isn't an issue I like the Systainer boxes with drawers. I'd also splurge on those combi systainers if they're still available to hold a tool and have a drawer for consumables.

I can't really stomach the price of systainers in the US so I tend to only buy them every rare once in a while when they're on a significant sale. 95% of mine came with tools. I'd love to have more of the Sys 4 sortainers but boy are they expensive. I've settled on having Dewalt T-stak drawers in my shop for most of my storage needs as they're way cheaper.

Agree with others the Packout drawers are nice but really bulky. Advantage is the drawers are larger for bigger tools.

I really like the Combi Systainers too, but I only have one of them, for the same reason you stated.
It is one of only two Systainers that I have bought empty. The other was a Sys2 for router bits. I didn't get the "proper" Festool one because it is only a Sys1, too short. The rest came with tools.

 

[semenza]

I am based in Europe and am starting out in Finish/Trim carpentry and need to kit out a new van. I have some Festool, Mafell, Milwaukee tools but lack any real storage system to speak of other than the systainers that shipped with the Festool / Mafell tools I already have.

Just thought I would ask the question here for perspectives on what storage system and combination of systainers (or Milwaukee Packouts) people would choose if starting from scratch.

Note: I get horribly confused when it comes to the naming conventions on the various Festool / Tanos systainers !

Hi,

    I do finish and trim work I think it is hard to beat Systainers. If starting over I would thoroughly look into other systems. Most of which did not exist when I started with Systainers (at least in the US).  But from what I have seen I would probably end up with Systainers again.

      Don't confuse Sys - III with Sys3.  Roman numerals are a size (height three) for T-Loc and Classic. Sys3 is the name for the whole third generation range (heights in mm)

    Classic Systainers = the four latch type which includes the four latch drawer systainers (AKA Sortainers).

    T-Loc Systainers = single rotating front latch, no Bott rails. This generation includes the single latch drawer systainers.

    Sys3 (third generation) = rotating T-Loc style latch with Bott rails. There are no Sys3 / Gen3 drawer systainers yet.

  The three generations can all be used together with some stacking interaction limitations between them. I use all three in order to get the most variety of storage and transport units. In particular the Classic drawer units because they offer different drawer sizes compared to the T-Loc drawer units ( I use those too).

    The exact make up of your system will depend greatly on how you work.

Seth

 

[Prizen]

Thanks Seth. That is the clearest explanation I have seen. Very helpful. Unfortunately I have already gone out and bought some SYS3 and then some drawer units which I now know are a previous generation. I hope they are compatible!  [embarassed]

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Thanks Seth. That is the clearest explanation I have seen. Very helpful. Unfortunately I have already gone out and bought some SYS3 and then some drawer units which I now know are a previous generation. I hope they are compatible!  [embarassed]

Compatible as in attaching to each other, yes.
There are more sizes of the newer Sys3 than there were in the previous generation (T-loc).
The functionality of the latches is the same, they just look slightly thinner/more sleek on the Sys3.
The biggest differences you will notice is that the top handle folds in the opposite direction and the Sys3 has a handle on the front that the older ones don't have.

 

[bidn]

Beware of 2 pitfalls with the gen 1 classic drawer Systainers:

(1) (saw)dust and other dirt can get inside, stuff will not remain clean and will also rust more quickly (more exposure to humidity).

(2) Major issue: if things move, like screws, they may end up against the ceiling of the drawer, preventing its opening = super, mega irritating!!! drove me mad!

I first bought 2 classic drawer systainers and was so disappointed that I stopped there.

Then the gen 2 T loc drawers arrived, I found them so excellent and was so happy that I have purchased a huge number through the years. (though I always had wished for them to make bigger versions, this is why I have jumped on the packout drawers, when they arrived to Europe, for my bigger stuff which does not fit in the Systainer drawers.)

 

[Peter_C]

These are vids from a couple of trim carpenters and why they chose tool boxes with drawers. Spencer from Inside Carpenty has stacks of Festool Systainer's filled with Festool's. FWIW they both produce excellent tips and tricks videos.

 

[jeffinsgf]

I bought the Sys3 promotional pack that was around last Fall. I installed the drawer runners in some cabinets. If I were equipping a van, I would be all over this set-up. The Systainers are locked well and you can install them pretty much anywhere with 4 quick screws.

That said, I'm less of a fan for them in a shop. Most of my Systainers are on sliding shelves that I've built with 14" full extension drawer slides. I can pull the Systainer out, fully open the lid and remove the tool without removing the Systainer. That's not possible with the built in runner system. You have to remove the Systainer completely before you can open it.

 

[Coen]

Thanks Seth. That is the clearest explanation I have seen. Very helpful. Unfortunately I have already gone out and bought some SYS3 and then some drawer units which I now know are a previous generation. I hope they are compatible!  [embarassed]

Compatible as in attaching to each other, yes.
There are more sizes of the newer Sys3 than there were in the previous generation (T-loc).
The functionality of the latches is the same, they just look slightly thinner/more sleek on the Sys3.
The biggest differences you will notice is that the top handle folds in the opposite direction and the Sys3 has a handle on the front that the older ones don't have.

And that the top handle locks... or more; that you have to force it down before you can place the  next Systainer on top.

I just bought another Domino assortiment (the one with 1066 Dominos) mainly so I would get it in a T-Loc instead of a 20mm space waisting Sys³

 

[woodbutcherbower]

I’ll just leave these here …

 

[FestitaMakool]

.. Very nice WBB ..
Clean big lettering, different colour SYS’s and extremely tidy.

A good example of why the Systainers do well at these tasks.
T-Lock in particular, whether being SYS3 or older, opens with one hand motion.
Funny enough, having had many other boxes before (and still) they are almost with no exception any kind of double clasp. The one hand operation is just.. just  [big grin]

 

[woodbutcherbower]

Thanks for your kind words. The pics were taken a few years ago - there’s even more stuff in there now.  [smile] The great beauty of Systainers is the identical footprint which makes racking-out a joy. Anyone who’s interested - I’ll happily upload pics of the build, including routing the lock-in shelves for the boxes.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

That said, I'm less of a fan for them in a shop. Most of my Systainers are on sliding shelves that I've built with 14" full extension drawer slides. I can pull the Systainer out, fully open the lid and remove the tool without removing the Systainer. That's not possible with the built in runner system. You have to remove the Systainer completely before you can open it.

The built-in runner system is not intended for you to "work out of" the Systainer. It is strictly for secure storage in a van/truck/trailer, where you would be pulling out the entire Systainer to take it with you on a jobsite.

This is part of the objection that many of us have with this "upgrade".

 

[jeffinsgf]

The built-in runner system is not intended for you to "work out of" the Systainer. It is strictly for secure storage in a van/truck/trailer, where you would be pulling out the entire Systainer to take it with you on a jobsite.

This is part of the objection that many of us have with this "upgrade".

Isn't that pretty much exactly what I said?

 

[Coen]

I’ll just leave these here …

Very nice!

Are those drawers, or shelves?

 

[Crazyraceguy]

The built-in runner system is not intended for you to "work out of" the Systainer. It is strictly for secure storage in a van/truck/trailer, where you would be pulling out the entire Systainer to take it with you on a jobsite.

This is part of the objection that many of us have with this "upgrade".

Isn't that pretty much exactly what I said?

Yes, I guess that at the time I read that, it seemed like a "bug" rather than a "feature"?
The rails "seem" to be a mobile version of a Sysport, but they definitely are not.

 

[Dane]

I’d do yourself a favor and buy at least one of the Packout drawer units to see if you like them.  I recently a changed everything over the packout drawers because they are so nice to work out of.  That said, they are heavy  and do need wheels to be very practical to move around.  I use a little folding hand truck.  And they aren’t quite big enough for saws and huge routers.  Systainers are good for stacking up and hauling around one handed or keeping in the shop. But if you’re going to use systainers, you are going to inevitably have to build some sort of racking/drawer system for them. I’m which case adding a slot for a few packout drawers won’t be that big of a deal.

 

[Vondawg]

I was going say something simular but because the OP was not here in the US I felt the systainers probably were the direction he’d be going

 

[Coen]

The Milwaukee website is junk. You can't even find the weight of these packout drawers.

It kinda looks heavy and oversized, more suited for US cars and homes.