Gerstner has two lines of boxes. One is called "Gerstner International". These are imports but pretty well-made compared to the cheapie wood boxes like at HF, etc. You can find these as seconds on Gerstner's web site.
The regular line is made in the USA, and of first quality (and priced accordingly).
Both use finger-jointed connections in places, but I doubt you'd find anyone claiming they are poorly made for all that. Mine is as old as I am (which is old) and the box joints are all tight as a tick. But it was never allowed to get wet, either.
As to the larger issue, I feel your pain. I have two mechanics stacks, one very large and one merely large, for SAE and metric mechanics tools, respectively. I have another base cabinet that is part of a bench for bench-repair small tools, power tools, supplies, and polishing stuff. Then, there's the base cart full of metrology stuff, drills, and end mills. The Gerstner box on the bench has more metrology stuff in it, along with the Kennedy mid-box it sits on. There's another largish Kennedy machinists box upstairs with clock and watch tools in it. I have a drawer unit that has brass instrument repair and other supplies in it. And then there's the rolling cart on which I put an Armor Tool bench top for woodworking assembly. I need a set of drawers that nicely fill up the space under the lathe's chip tray for lathe tooling, and I think I'll end up making that myself.
Rick "have you seen the prices of machinists drawer units these days?" Denney
