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Tool box time!

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PTsideshow

Here is a bit of news for Harbor freight shoppers!

  • PTsideshow
  • Replies: 14
M

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  • mweiman
  • Replies: 4
JR. Those HB General boxes are really good. I'm building a new workbench using two of the 44" models.*
 
Biggest item with a roll around tool box is the drawers....do they open smoothly....and what happens if too many drawers are open at same time loaded with tools....is there a detent to stop drawers from opening if box is uneven
It's not pretty to see all your tools on floor with the drawers all folded up
 
JR said:
Do you have any experience with the US General boxes? The price and reviews look really good on them and they have a better weight rating than any of the box store tool boxes around here. I'm due for one as well but afraid to pull the trigger until I put my hands on one. Unfortunately the nearest HF is an hour from here and I've been too busy to make the drive down.
Click to expand...

My son has one it is a super value for the dollar.the model he bought has drawer slides that look just like my high dollar Snap on.I think he paid like $600 range,mine was around 12k
 
One of the night techs just bought a Harbor Freight box. I believe it is the 72" lower. It is built fairly well, nice drawer slides. I think it is fine as long as it stays close by once you load it. But if you start rolling it long distances I believe that the drawer releases could be a problem especially on the longer drawers. Only have a catch on the RH side instead of on both sides. that could be a real issue during a bay change with a drawer full of 3/4 drive stuff.
Probably could be prevented by using the key locks before moving it around.

BUT that's the only thing I noticed that was questionable, the rest is first rate.
 
Went to HF, costco and sears today. Home depot too....
The HF is about same quality etc plus the top box is an added 240. So it's the same price as the costco.
Sears and costco are rated for 100 per drawer. I think the hf is rated the same....not sure.
I liked the sears box the most because it's 52". I need those few extra inches. It also has regular locks, not those round keys, plus it has a power strip inside. I know....I know . "You can ad that for a few bux" But it's already there!
I'm not too concerned with moving it full of tools. As far as I know, it'll never move, or not more than a few feet at most.
homedepot had a 41" for 498
 
phantomusa said:
Biggest item with a roll around tool box is the drawers....do they open smoothly....and what happens if too many drawers are open at same time loaded with tools....is there a detent to stop drawers from opening if box is uneven
It's not pretty to see all your tools on floor with the drawers all folded up
Click to expand...

I've seen a couple flip during my career and your right, it is NOT pretty. What a disaster!!!!

One tech flipped an upper and a lower unit not too far from the back parts counter. I'm pretty sure that the sound of cascading tools lasted for a strong five minutes....

Dad flipped a few in the back of his service truck, all it took was a drawer full of 1" drive stuff to come open on a twisting road and it was all over. Big crash and the truck would literally shake like a dog....
 
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That's reassuring, I'm looking at the 56" set (top and bottom). On paper they look much better than the Home Depot/ Lowe's brands but sometimes that can be deceiving.
 
The patriot said:
Went to HF, costco and sears today. Home depot too....
The HF is about same quality etc plus the top box is an added 240. So it's the same price as the costco.
Sears and costco are rated for 100 per drawer. I think the hf is rated the same....not sure.
I liked the sears box the most because it's 52". I need those few extra inches. It also has regular locks, not those round keys, plus it has a power strip inside. I know....I know . "You can ad that for a few bux" But it's already there!
I'm not too concerned with moving it full of tools. As far as I know, it'll never move, or not more than a few feet at most.
homedepot had a 41" for 498
Click to expand...

Did you decide on anything?

I'm very interested in your input/decision. We don't have a Costco locally within a few hours but I've looked at both Lowe's and Home Depot and am not exactly sold on their boxes based on value vs cost.
 
Just went out to the shop on a fact finding mission...

Consensus is...

(1) The Harbor Freight box has far better construction that the Home Depot, Craftsman or Lowes offerings. The single drawer lock design is a concern with the techs as well and they all say it would not survive many trips from one end of our building to the other when fully loaded. Locking with the key would help but still worrisome with heavily loaded drawers.

(2) Just for comparison there are major differences between this level of box versus Snap-On or Mac. For example the day T/K tech owns an 88" MAC Maxximiser box. That weighs in dead empty at 1500 lbs. Three large I-Beams in the top and another three down bottom. The 72" Harbor weighs 650 lbs dead empty. So long term for a truck tech the more expensive boxes will hold up better when being transported fully loaded. For home or light duty use there is no shame in having the Harbor Freight box.

That's the view from Bangor, Maine....:D:)
 
I'd love to have me a Snap On box but it's dang hard to justify the cost when you don't work out of it.

Then again, if I did buy one I'd probably be living out of it once the wife saw the bill :eek: :-laf
 
Snap-On and Mac both sell used boxes that they take in on trade. Just have to let the guys on the trucks know what you are looking for and they will contact you as they get them. Can be anything for a box, not just Snap-On or Mac.
 
mwilson said:
Snap-On and Mac both sell used boxes that they take in on trade. Just have to let the guys on the trucks know what you are looking for and they will contact you as they get them. Can be anything for a box, not just Snap-On or Mac.
Click to expand...



+1 on this. My partner swapped a 70s vintage Snappy setup for a not-too-old Snappy KR??? It is slightly smaller than my KR1000(?) that is going on 30 years old and was a decent buy, relatively speaking, but still more than others mentioned here. Though it is painful sometimes, I view my tools as a lifetime investment, so I have stuck with Snappy and Mac, even through periods when it was just sitting in my garage at home. We have also been visited by a Cornwell truck, and their stuff is very nice, but priced less than the "majors".
 
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If I had a budget of- say $500, I would get a major league used box off a tool truck any day.*
3 things about a box.*
The wheels have to be good,
The drawers can't bow with a load of 1/2" drive sockets in there,
And that loaded drawer has to be able to open and close smoothly and with minimal effort.*
 
The wheels on all the ones I've been eyeing look economy....as expected.
I'm still leaning towards the Craftsman because of added capacity.
HF is a close 2nd and would be #1 if it was a little bigger.
 
Snap-on.jpg
*:-laf:-laf:-laf

Snap-on.jpg
 
Wayne M. said:
If I had a budget of- say $500, I would get a major league used box off a tool truck any day.*
3 things about a box.*
The wheels have to be good,
The drawers can't bow with a load of 1/2" drive sockets in there,
And that loaded drawer has to be able to open and close smoothly and with minimal effort.*
Click to expand...

I think I need to go to New York to buy a box! Used wrench sets and socket sets on CL can easily approach $500. A used snap on box in the size I'm looking at easily goes for $2000+.

https://akroncanton.craigslist.org/tls/5997885806.html

https://akroncanton.craigslist.org/tls/5999543440.html

https://cleveland.craigslist.org/tls/6009137819.html
 
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Buyer's Guides
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