If youโve been in the construction industry for any amount of time, youโve either had tools stolen from you, or youโve known someone whoโs had that happen to them. Itโs a terrible thing, but it happensโand sometimes offsite storage of tools simply isnโt possible or practical. For that, your options are to use a trailer (which itself can be stolen), or secure an on-site job box with your tools and accessories stored within. The advantage of a job box is that itโs made out of very thick gauge steel and can be secured to the job site in a number of ways.ย The Knaackย 79-H StorageMasterย Piano Box is one of the companyโs larger steel job site storage boxes, and we got an opportunity to check it out along with its newest optional feature: ThermoSteel.
Theย Knaack 79-H StorageMaster Piano Boxย isย 48 inches wideย and slightly taller than that in height (with the lid closed). Itโsย internal volumeย isย 36.2 cubic feet, and itโs the perfect solution for anyone wanting to store tools and important items on-site.ย Like most of the Knaack job boxes, you can order optionalย casters, and the form factors include options for shelves and/or front drawers depending upon your particular needs.
Knaack ThermoSteel Job Boxes
The big deal with this Knack job box is that it comes with their new ThermoSteel technology. This is aย heat radiatingย โelectric blanketโ of sorts which keeps everything at the optimal temperature. That helps your lithium-ion batteries stay ready for use and also helps maintain the condition of your power tools, accessories, and adhesives so that they donโt freeze on the job site. The idea is that you would plug in the ThermoSteel heating system once the temperature drops to 40 degrees or below. This not only protects your equipment, it keeps adhesives and other materials in a โready-to-useโ state. While itโs never really snowingย here in Central Florida, we do have our share of cold days where the temperature hits near freezingโmaking this a handy solution (albeit one that our northern Pros will appreciate on a much more regular basis!)
The Knaack 79-H StorageMaster piano box is a rugged, but simpleย design with aย bi-fold lid that allows it to raise completely and fold flat out of the way. That means you donโt have to worry about clearance for either your head or your tools when you store and remove things from the StorageMaster job box.
Unboxing theย Knaack 79-H StorageMaster Piano Box
Since theย Knaack 79-H StorageMaster Piano Box is just 48-inches wide, we were able to get it loaded onto the bed of a 2015 Ford F-150 and take it to the Pro Tool Reviewsย Shop whee we unloaded it and prepped it for photography and use as a catch-all for our larger equipment. The Knaack 79-H came on a pallet with plenty of corner protection and thick corrugated cardboard wrapped around it to keep it safe.
The steelย casters for the Knaack 79-H came in a separate box and installed easily enough. There are two fixed wheels and two locking swivel wheels. We liked the presence of grease points on the wheels to keep them running smoothly.
Knaack 79-H StorageMaster Piano Box Specs & Features
- ThermoSteel heated storage
- Watchmanย IV Lock System with recessed lock housing
- Optional wheel casters
- Four-way skid access from any side
- Recessed side handles
- Piano box lid supported with dual gas struts
- Heavy-duty hinges
- Powder-coat finish
- Improved ball stud bracket
- Height (closed/open):ย 49 in./78 in.
- Width: 48 in.
Using the Knaack 79-H Piano Box
The Knaack 79-H has the same thick gaugeย steel youโve come to expect from a good quality job box, and theย dual gas struts provide a nice assist whenย opening the box lid.
The Watchman IV latch system isย designed to be used with a Master Lock No. 1, No. 5, or American Lock No. 50.ย You can useย an equivalent sizedย lock, but pay attention to the installation guide for the required dimensions. The Watchman IV design is such that a properly-sized lock prevents the Knaack 79-H latch from physically being able to slide into the open positionโthus securing the lid from opening. If youโre like me, wheeling the entire job box away isnโt going to be practical either (plus, you can chain it in place or keep it indoors, further securing your tools). While not foolproofโno solution isโitโs a great system that makes it hard to get into unless you actually pick theย lock itself (you canโt access the steel of the lock to use bolt cutters or a saw).
We stored all of our larger tools in the Knaack 79-H StorageMaster piano box along with some items that donโt do well in freezing weather. We loved the design of this boxโthereโs a ton of storage, and the shelving and ventedย steel door is a great design. Thereโs also plenty of access to run power and splitters between the top and bottom sections, so you can keep battery chargers in the box as well to recharge your tool batteries on-site overnight. If you want a bottom drawer (or โjunk trunkโ as they call it), opt for the slightly heavier 79-D or 79-DH model.
Even for corded tools or battery powered products with modern lithium-ion batteries, keeping yourย valuable tools secure and warm when stored will increase their usefulness and life expectancy. Going from freezing to 100-plus degrees within a span of seconds isnโt really good for anyย toolโฆand if youโre trying to use frozen adhesives, well, forgeddaboudit. With the Knaack 79-H and other job boxes they sell with theirย ThermoSteel option, you wonโt have to worry about this any longer. You can pick up the Knaack 79-H for just overย $1,400 at Acme Toolsโฆthatโs a lot cheaper than having to replace all of your tools because youย didnโt properly secure them.
