Harbor freight roller cabinet?

[biggsean]

Anybody use one of these babies yet? What's your general opinion of this cabinet? How does it compare to a CSPS costco box?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90320

I was considering getting a workbench, but don't have a lot of room. Do you think that the surface on this cabinet could double as a light duty workbench?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/photos/90300-90399/90320.gif

[nissan_crawler]

If you search, there are quite a few threads on that cabinet. The general consensus seems to be that it's well worth the sale price.

[biggsean]

I'm well aware of the search function, I own and operate 5 different bulletin boards myself. I tried searching using various search strings including:

"us general cabinet"
"us general rolling cabinet"
"us general rolling cabinet harbor freight"

All of which yielded this message:

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d14/BiggSean/search.jpg

Now that we are past the obligatory "search noob" response, can somebody point me in the direction of a relevant thread regarding this cabinet, or give me an objective opinion on this box based on the questions that I asked?

[mtwaterguy]

Probably get more help here if you save your attitude for the 5 sites you own.:headscrat

[biggsean]

I figured out why the search query wasn't working. It didn't like "us" because it only contained two characters. Sorry for the perceived attitude, but I was frustrated after searching for several minutes without any results.

[Fedwrench]

Try Harbor freight tool chest, box, cart etc. It's been discussed more than a few times here. I think the concensus was that if you had a discount coupon, weren't planning on moving it around much, and didn't try to overload it, it was a decent buy. Your results may vary. Oh, and alot of people didn't care for the wrinkle finish.:)

[biggsean]

I'm currently watching a local ebay auction for a 55" KRA series Snap On box. If that doesn't pan out, I'll go into the store and take a look a this. I would only use it to occasionally work on cylinder heads, intake manifolds, etc. Nothing too crazy.

[T56 Impala]

The HF box does not compare to the SO box at all. If you have been around, used or "sampled" a Snap On box you will not like the HF one.

IMO...... The current line up at Costco/Sam's Club is the lower end of the CSPS line. The HF box will look great compared to them. Some of the older Costco/Sam's Club boxes were actually very good. Still, they can not compare to a SO box. (or other high end boxes)

If you are used to a Craftsman box, the HF will feel very good.

For the money, I don't think you can beat the HF box. As for the top as a work surface? Well, maybe you should top it with a sheet of 3/8 plywood or something. It will dent, and depending on the head/intake and how you handle it, you could damage it easily.

[biggsean]

Believe you me, there is nothing that I would rather have than a nice shiny SO roller cabinet. I just don't want to spend an arm and a leg right now. I was originally contemplating buying a Sams Club workbench for $200, so the prospect of buying a Snap On roller cab is a huge jump for me. Hopefully things work out and I can pick up the SO box for a reasonable price. I know it's a purchase that I'll never regret.

[eschoendorff]

I guess it all boils down to how much toolbox you will need. In my garage, the tool storage doesn't see heavy abuse, so just about anything will hold up. however, I was at the local shop today and a tech was unhappy with his tool cart. The cart in question was something that would be plenty robust for my needs, but in the shop setting it's lighter-duty construction really showed.

Again, it all depends on your needs. The best thing to do, if possible, is to go and look at the US General box and see what you think about it...

[eschoendorff]

Believe you me, there is nothing that I would rather have than a nice shiny SO roller cabinet. I just don't want to spend an arm and a leg right now. I was originally contemplating buying a Sams Club workbench for $200, so the prospect of buying a Snap On roller cab is a huge jump for me. Hopefully things work out and I can pick up the SO box for a reasonable price. I know it's a purchase that I'll never regret.

Oh, that's easy. Sell the Harley truck, buy a sensible F-150 and use any money leftover to buy your Snap On box. :thumbup:

[biggsean]

For my purposes, the U.S. general box would probably hold up, but I just can't stop thinking about that damn Snappy box. :)

I'd just like to hear a few more opinions on the U.S. General box before I make the trip to Harbor Freight, since the closest store to me is 35 miles away.

[biggsean]

Oh, that's easy. Sell the Harley truck, buy a sensible F-150 and use any money leftover to buy your Snap On box. :thumbup:

LOL, there's no way I'd part with this baby. They only made Supercharged Harley Davidson F-150 for two years (2002-2003) and I was fortunate enough to finally acquire one. It's like a luxury four door lightning. :)

[OldCarGuy]

For the money, and being able to put up with the wrinkle finish, the Harbor Freight box would make a nice workbench / tool box. I would recommend bolting a 3/4" piece of plywood for a working surface.

A cabinet whose quality is better than a Harbor Freight, take a look at a Waterloo TRX5213. It’s 52" wide, 20" deep, 42" tall, and has 13 full extension ball bearing slide Posi-Lock drawers. It will cost you more than a Harbor Freight; but less than a Snap-On Model. With the quality more toward the Snap-On spectrum...

This is what one looks like with a top box...
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/OldCarGuy_1955/DSCF1621.jpg

[nyjets53]

Just picked up the HF chest/top box/side box and think they are great...and the 14/16 gauge metal used in the construction is actual 14/16 gauge....WOW

[Uncle Buck]

For the money, and being able to put up with the wrinkle finish, the Harbor Freight box would make a nice workbench / tool box. I would recommend bolting a 3/4" piece of plywood for a working surface.

A cabinet whose quality is better than a Harbor Freight, take a look at a Waterloo TRX5213. It’s 52" wide, 20" deep, 42" tall, and has 13 full extension ball bearing slide Posi-Lock drawers. It will cost you more than a Harbor Freight; but less than a Snap-On Model. With the quality more toward the Snap-On spectrum...

This is what one looks like with a top box...
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/OldCarGuy_1955/DSCF1621.jpg

Man that is a very handsome box. :thumbup:

[biggsean]

I really wish I could find a black box at a harbor freight. Seems like all they carry is the red model. Do you know if most harbor freights will order a unit in store for you, and not charge shipping?

[PoorOwner]

I don't think it will be a very good work bench due to the small area it offers.. I have a couple of 5 ft x 19" deep bench top areas.. not alot of room depth wise..
I prefer a real bench with legs and a vise and then roller cabinets that can slide underneath and come out as needed.

[billymade]

A good price for the Waterloo seems to be around $1,315.02. http://www.tooldiscounter.com/ItemDisplay.cfm?lookup=WATTRX5213
Craftsman makes these boxes (made by waterloo) for $649 isn't too bad:
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00965590000P?vName=Tools&cName=Garage+%26+Tool+Storage&sName=Mobile+Tool+Cabinets

[T56 Impala]

I know you can order the HF boxes in different colours. Not sure about the shipping though. I thought about some of the yellow side boxes. I didn't get them because my main box has no provisions for mounting the. I knew that anything I got would have to be modified and I didn't want to spend too much money on an experiment. So, I picked up a red one at the local HF on sale. Think I paid $79 for it? I have a coupon so I know I didn't pay the listed price. Now that it is mounted, I may just get another for the other side. It actually turned out pretty well IMO. One day I'll figure out how to post pictures and show everyone.

[maximus96]

anybody know how often the coupons come around? i've been looking for a box this size but unfortunately the couple of costcos around my house no longer stocks the csps boxes. craftsman boxes this size are all way over $1000. so my next option is to look at the HF boxes.

do the coupons apply only to the bottom box or can i buy both the top and bottom with the coupon?

thanks

[biggsean]

I'm also curious about the coupons. Do you get them via email, snail mail, etc?

[timgr]

do the coupons apply only to the bottom box or can i buy both the top and bottom with the coupon?


From the short time that I've been following this, it seems like the top goes on sale, then the bottom goes on sale, then nothing's on sale. If you sign up on the HF site, you'll get flyers in the mail with the sale prices. I've only seen the red cabinets on sale.

At least around here, it seems like the word is out on the HF boxes - I called the "local" store in RI about 2 weeks ago and they had a waiting list for the bottom cabinet at $299. I visited the store last weekend and all they had was the top cabinet, even though neither the top or the bottom are on sale now.

Sunday I bought the Sears 26" wide 10-drawer combo for ca $400, item 59706/9 in the Craftsman Club flyer http://www.templarfirearms.com/CC_April_20-26.pdf It's made by Waterloo, pretty nice. This is the more expensive "10 drawer combo" and the difference between it and the less expensive "10 drawer combo" was significant. Build quality is nice - pretty finish; seems fairly sturdy. Only worry so far is that the drawer latching seems a little stiff and clunky. Maybe the latching will improve with use. It'd be fine if you can leave the top open and don't need to lock the cabinet every night.

[Underdog]

[QUOTE=T56 Impala;207223]The HF box does not compare to the SO box at all. If you have been around, used or "sampled" a Snap On box you will not like the HF one.

I agree with Impala. I looked at this same box at HF and while its not a bad box it does have allot of plastic parts in the slides that may cause trouble in the future from what I've learned from plastic from China. I was all set to buy it then a nice SO KRL box came up on Craig's List locally and I bought it for about what the HF box cost. It's definitely a much better box.

[SteveU]

Has anyone done a direct comparison between this and the 56" international? Wonder how the two of them compare as they seem to be in the same price range.

[biggsean]

I wish I could find another bottom section identical to my 41" CSPS box.

Does anybody have any pictures of their HF rolling cart that I could see?

[maximus96]

i'd like to see some pics of the HF box too, especially this "crinkle finish", please.

[biggsean]

Has anybody seen this 41" U.S. general stainless steel cart in person?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=91469

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/photos/91400-91499/91469.gif

[eschoendorff]

I saw the Craftsman stainless steel box in person (similar to the HF one)... and it's just as flimsy as the other boxes, but with the added advantage of looking like hell in a few years due to a low grade stainless steel construction.

[maximus96]

my local store is having the roller cabinet on sale for $379. with the 20% off its only $303. I plan on going to check it out in the store and probably buy it. too bad they don't have the top box in stock. and the other problem now is unloading it off the truck when i get it home. the product description says its over 300 lbs...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v632/maximus96/harborfreightcoupon.jpg

[biggsean]

HOT DAMN, thanks for posting that coupon. I'm going to call around and see if I can track down a black one.