Cheap 26" Rolling Tool Boxes?

[Ryan]

Hey fellas, I'm in a market that I haven't been in for over a decade. Essentially, I am sort of re-organizing my 3D printer space and need two 26 or 27" wide rolling tool boxes. On top of each will sit a 3D printer and the drawers will be used for the light duty tools required. Nothing here calls for high quality ****... I just need smooth opening drawers and a decent enough top surface.

My first thought was to check Harbor Freight. I found this: https://www.harborfreight.com/27-in...YGZTwH7y-18f6HcBujZiAy-oJdEtnkBAaAmcaEALw_wcB

The day I spend $800 on two tool boxes at Harbor Freight is the day I just give up... But, don't you guys do some coupon deal? I know nothing about HF shopping.

Right no, I'm leaning towards Kobalt: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt/501...-Oaryp8jX7ebGk7XkkcaAtTgEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Should I be looking anywhere else? Any suggestions?

I guess the smart move would be to find a couple of cool old vintage boxes, but not sure I have the patience for that right now...

 

[wandrur]

How deep do those need to be? I'm a fan of Husky, and you can often find chests on local sale.

Maybe not the most robust solution, but it's affordable: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-2...-Cabinet-in-Gloss-Black-HKST98066BK/309580736

 

[shakenfake]

I was not a fan of the Husky box personally. I liked the Craftsman a little more.
Obviously user preference though.
Also that HF box is crazy expensive. I’d definitely be going Kobalt.

Thanks for bringing this up. I really ought to buy a box for my 3D printer as well. Would keep everything together a lot more.

 

[mike93lx]

Harbor freight doesn't do percentage coupons on boxes, so you have to wait for a sale. The boxes are legitimately good, but if HF is a no-go for you, it is what it is.

Anything from husky, Kobalt, craftsmans will be of same or lower quality.

 

[Firebrick43]

Many of you know I am no harbor freight fan.

But I did buy a series 2 26” roll cab for my lathe tooling and it’s actually pretty decent.

Sadly it’s better than the waterloo(craftsman) 26” roll cab next to my table saw that is made in the USA.

 

[GrayFlattop]

The Harbor freight series 3 boxes are ok-ish, but I like the price of the series 2 boxes better. The only time to buy is when there is a sale, IMO. They are deeper F-B than the Craftsman, but not as deep as they could be. Likely made in China. The series 2 are just ok, but I did get one a few years ago for the basement workshop. It's fine and I think I paid something like $269 when it was on sale, but that was pre-covid / supply chain problems.

I did pick up a 27" Kobalt last year as I had a small space in the woodshop that needed optimization. click As a bonus they offer them in white - so it sorta matches some of the other steel cabinets in the woodshop. $269 and the quality is fine for the $. I think they are made in Vietnam. This is a shallower cabinet at a touch over 18" F-B. 50" drawer capacity in this small one. I have no animus for Vietnam at this time.

Husky - pretty sure all of them are from China, but they do offer a wide assortment and they have the lowest price. Limited selection of colors if that matters to you. Same 50# capacity as the Kobalt, but the overall weight is ~8% less. Cheap, black, Husky

I did change the casters on the Kobalt as the ones supplied (and the ones on the Husky) are ****. I also wanted 4 swivel casters so I could park the tool cabinet in a narrow spot. Amazon has a sh!t ton of swivel casters for low $ that are several orders of magnitude better than the ones supplied by Husky or Kobalt.

In a perfect world all of my tool cabinets would be Lista, but in a perfect world, I would have a 8 figure bank balance...

 

[Etchase]

I’m happy with my 4 year old Craftsman. Slides work like new. The slides are the global material people worry about. Hard to buy an American slide. I like that the rest is made in the Waterloo plant in Missouri.

 

[joe_padavano]

I'm cheap. I only buy used older Craftsman boxes when the prices are low enough. Typically base units can be found for $50 - $100 on ebay, C-list, and FB Marketplace. Of course, all my tools are old (US-made) C-man that I get at swap meets.

 

[65ranchero]

Try this

white seville classics 26 inch - Google Search

Hard wood tops
Looks like it comes in white, light and dark grey and I think red

Clean look and has many cabinet and drawer configurations
not HD by any means but will stand up to printer needs

 

[driftpin]

I have four Craftsman roller cabinets, two are drawers, two are doors w one shelf. 26" W X 18" D X 36" H. Bought years ago, they were around $100 apiece, on-sale. They fit perfectly side-by-side under my 8' X 24" deep Craftsman frame workbench, topped w/a 8 ft X 24" X 1-1/2" solid wood top, covered by 3/16" steel sheet.

 

[KSJeff]

You should be able to get a couple of Home Depot roll cabinets for ~$150 each. Might check your other hardware stores as well.

 

[gleman]

How much do the printers weigh and how deep do the boxes need to be?

Are looks more important than ruggedness?

Do they need to be metal? You can make or buy a pretty nice wood cart for less.

I agree with the others, the US Generals are much nicer than the Kobalts and Craftsmans and the prices reflect that.

I looked on Wayfair and they sell Homak and Gerstner rollers but don't look there if Harbor Freight prices shock you.

Around here people think vintage rollers are made of gold and price them that way.

I've been shopping for a 26" stack and still haven't found one I liked.

 

[Ryan]

Printers only weight 20 pounds or so... Depth of 18" is fine... a little deeper would be a bonus.

I'm finding plenty of 60's era cabinets around me in the $100 range, but I really would like a pair of matching boxes.

 

[Ryan]

If only I were in Vegas:

(3) Snap-On Tool Boxes

LTL

www.govplanet.com

 

[mike93lx]

If only I were in Vegas:

(3) Snap-On Tool Boxes

LTL

www.govplanet.com

Dude, road trip.

 

[Ryan]

Dude, road trip.

I just got back from a roadtrip. I did something crazy...

Shop infrastructure is something I take super seriously. When things are in order, I feel like I get more **** done and I'm happier while doing it.

Anyway, part of my infrastructure deals with bins. Let's say I have three projects going on. Each project has its own bin. In the bins, go parts to be installed, parts taken off, etc... For the past decade, I've used the 27-gallon HDX bins (black with a yellow top) from Home Depot.

When the project is done, these bins go up in my loft... So each project sort of has a lifetime bin. I have one or two for each of my cars, others for tech projects, etc...

And these bins have been fine, but I hate the way they look... And I don't love the idea of all that plastic in my shop. I'm weird.

So... A few weeks ago, I heard about a guy that had 100 of these:



They are military surplus from god knows when, all aluminum, and while far heavier than the HDX bins, they aren't as heavy as you would think.

Anyway, the guy was selling them singularly for a ton of money... I made an offer for his remaining inventory and got em for about the same price as the HDX bins. I have a ton of work ahead of me building racks and what not for them, but I am super excited.

But yeah, don't think wife would be down for me leaving on another road trip for some ******** storage thing.

 

[bassJAM]

My only concern with using a toolbox is if you leave the wheels on, would there potentially be enough movement from the printerhead to "shake" the whole toolbox and mess up your prints? I don't really know, I've only used my 3D printer at work a handful of times and it sits on a solid countertop.

But in the world of roller tool boxes:

US General > Masterforce (Menards) > Husky Commercial > Kobalt/Craftsman/Regular Husky

Best way to save money on the US Generals is to wait until they go on sale and then sign up for the credit card when you check out and save 10%, but from what it sounds like I think any of the boxes from the big box stores will be fine for you.

 

[WhoWhatNow]

A cheaper option from Harbor Freight are the side cabinets. Build an angle iron frame with caster around the bottom and they are moble. I have my mag drill station sitting on top of one and it is pretty stable. You may need to build a wider top it fit the printer but that is easy.

15 in. End Cabinet, Series 3, Red

Amazing deals on this Red 15 Inch End Cabinet at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

 

[Poolshark314]

My only concern with using a toolbox is if you leave the wheels on, would there potentially be enough movement from the printerhead to "shake" the whole toolbox and mess up your prints? I don't really know, I've only used my 3D printer at work a handful of times and it sits on a solid countertop.

But in the world of roller tool boxes:

US General > Masterforce (Menards) > Husky Commercial > Kobalt/Craftsman/Regular Husky

Best way to save money on the US Generals is to wait until they go on sale and then sign up for the credit card when you check out and save 10%, but from what it sounds like I think any of the boxes from the big box stores will be fine for you.

Wanted to comment the same thing. What kind of printers are we talking about? You really want the most stable surface possible for the best print quality scenario

 

[Ryan]

Wanted to comment the same thing. What kind of printers are we talking about? You really want the most stable surface possible for the best print quality scenario

You would think, right? But I've been testing that and can't see any discernible difference between prints made on my work bench and those made on top of a rolling cart I have... The casters are lockable, but that's the first thing I thought about as well.

I have a Bambu Carbon X1 and a Prusa Mk3S.

 

[Zeke]

Around here HF is not the only game in town for import tools. There are several so called independents that primarily sell to swap meet sellers. In the city of Paramount which is the next city north of me, you can buy anything from boots, tarps, tools, cooking gear to clothes and much, much more. All less than Walmart. Tools are 25% less than HF. Sure, you can use a coupon for one item at HF, but you can buy all day long at these places. Open an account and spend a minimum and they take another 15% off. So you know HF is killing it.

I had one seller tell me that he doesn't sell one item at a time and don't waste his time. Back your truck in.

I bought a big *** 8" buffer/grinder for $65. It gets hot in 10 minutes but I can wait at that price. And it's super quiet. You have to have some places like that around your urban areas.

 

[gleman]

If only I were in Vegas:

(3) Snap-On Tool Boxes

LTL

www.govplanet.com

I'm curious what that lot goes for. 5 days out and 109 watchers. @rayra is in Vegas maybe he could get that pickup.

 

[manwithtools]

You would think, right? But I've been testing that and can't see any discernible difference between prints made on my work bench and those made on top of a rolling cart I have... The casters are lockable, but that's the first thing I thought about as well.

I have a Bambu Carbon X1 and a Prusa Mk3S.

I actually have my Bambu sitting on the cardboard box it was shipped in for now. Results are pretty stunning. I'll have to move it to a more stable surface and see what the difference might be...

 

[rayra]

I'm curious what that lot goes for. 5 days out and 109 watchers. @rayra is in Vegas maybe he could get that pickup.

I'm close. But 110 watchers they'll go for too much. One of the pictures said unit price (new presumably) of $800+.
They'd be a great deal at what, $100ea? Tops look really rough and you can see rust in the inboard faces of the top lip, those beat up matts are hiding some severe wear. Looks like the drawer interior liners did their job.
I presume they are from a hangar at Nellis AFB.

They'd make a good base for a full workbench.

If I needed a restoration project (or had time for three), I'd throw a low bid at them.

Brand new US General Service Cart is $600.

If someone in the Southwest wants to win them but can't get them right away, I'm willing to discuss making the retrieval. I'm a Veteran as well, I won't have any trouble getting aboard to pick them up. And a uhaul trailer to do the job is $30/day.

 

[regguy1]

HF emails me 25% off coupons and takes them for tool boxes, I bought 3 at 25% off

 

[Ryan]

I'm close. But 110 watchers they'll go for too much. One of the pictures said unit price (new presumably) of $800+.
They'd be a great deal at what, $100ea? Tops look really rough and you can see rust in the inboard faces of the top lip, those beat up matts are hiding some severe wear. Looks like the drawer interior liners did their job.
I presume they are from a hangar at Nellis AFB.

They'd make a good base for a full workbench.

If I needed a restoration project (or had time for three), I'd throw a low bid at them.

Brand new US General Service Cart is $600.

If someone in the Southwest wants to win them but can't get them right away, I'm willing to discuss making the retrieval. I'm a Veteran as well, I won't have any trouble getting aboard to pick them up. And a uhaul trailer to do the job is $30/day.

They are cool… but I bet they go high too…

HF emails me 25% off coupons and takes them for tool boxes, I bought 3 at 25% off

I could always go with one wider box I guess… Are these “Yukon” boxes worth a ****?

46 in. 9 Drawer Mobile Storage Cabinet with Solid Wood Top, White

Amazing deals on this 46In Mobile Storage Cabinet, White at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

And next time you get one of those coupons, holler at me!

 

[mike93lx]

They are cool… but I bet they go high too…



I could always go with one wider box I guess… Are these “Yukon” boxes worth a ****?

46 in. 9 Drawer Mobile Storage Cabinet with Solid Wood Top, White

Amazing deals on this 46In Mobile Storage Cabinet, White at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

And next time you get one of those coupons, holler at me!

Yukon boxes are cheaper quality, but maybe they're good enough for the purpose. I have a buddy with one, but he's a really light user. You should swing by a store and check them out in person.

 

[Ryan]

Yukon boxes are cheaper quality, but maybe they're good enough for the purpose. I have a buddy with one, but he's a really light user. You should swing by a store and check them out in person.

Ugh… I guess I’ll have too…

 

[mike93lx]

Ugh… I guess I’ll have too…

Lol. Dragged kicking and screaming into harbor freight, finally. You'll love the smell

Get your free flashlight or tarp!

 

[csp]

If only I were in Vegas:

(3) Snap-On Tool Boxes

LTL

www.govplanet.com

You might not find them to be a good deal at all on Feb 7th at 8:30am.

I would suspect that regguy1 used his 25% off coupons on toolboxes many years ago. They have specifically excluded them in the fine print for quite some time now.

 

[rayra]

I have a Husky-branded cabinet bought from Home Depot and have inspected the Yukon and I believe they come off the same assembly line. Seem identical. Decent glides, good capacity.
I got the Husky for about $400 2yrs ago, less my 10% discount, which basically made it the same price as the Yukon then.
I'd buy the Yukon when their infrequent unrestricted coupons come out. Which is usually around major 'Dad' holidays. I'd expect the next to be ahead of Memorial weekend

 

[regguy1]

No, it was in April and May of 2023. The coupon specifically said no exclusions

 

[PugetDude]

If COO is of any concern, Craftsman 5 drawer chests are manufactured in Sedalia, Missouri. I built my welding cart around one. Heavy duty enough for drawers full of clamps and grinding discs. And, a HF flip up shelf from a tool cart fits perfectly on one end.

 

[Mesozoic]

I have a bunch of Craftsman cabinets and they're all either US or Canadian made. They are reasonable quality for hobbyist work, for sure. I have lived in a few different countries and have moved these Craftsman cabinets around a fair bit. I will say that their construction leaves a little bit to be desired in terms of rigidity, but even despite the knocks experienced while moving they still function adequately for me albeit dented in a few spots. For the money, they're a good option and probably one of the few options that is still manufactured in North America.

If something heavier duty was needed, there is a brand called Icon sold by Harbor Freight which is good quality. It may be off-shore, but it is not junk - and the price is commensurate with that as well, but not as elevated as a Matco or Snap-On cabinet. I have good friends who own and run their auto shops who have seen some of their junior staff come into work with these Icon units. The field results have proven that they are basically the same quality as the higher end Matco and Snap-On parts. Might be food for thought for a hobbyist, if they have an appetite for an off-shore cabinet.

 

[Joe Reed]

Deleted.....I see you're already considering what I was going to suggest in your post #26....

 

[bassJAM]

You might not find them to be a good deal at all on Feb 7th at 8:30am.

I would suspect that regguy1 used his 25% off coupons on toolboxes many years ago. They have specifically excluded them in the fine print for quite some time now.

I've heard of recent emailed "no exclusions" 25% coupons but haven't seen one in my inbox yet.

 

[Fixr]

I've heard of recent emailed "no exclusions" 25% coupons but haven't seen one in my inbox yet.

It's my impression that they are typically "We've missed you" coupons sent to customers who haven't bought anything for quite some time. It's pretty rare for me to go more than a month or so between visits, and I've never gotten one. If I did, I'd likely buy one of the larger inverter generators to replace my old bellowing fuel hog.

 

[bassJAM]

It's my impression that they are typically "We've missed you" coupons sent to customers who haven't bought anything for quite some time. It's pretty rare for me to go more than a month or so between visits, and I've never gotten one. If I did, I'd likely buy one of the larger inverter generators to replace my old bellowing fuel hog.

I wonder how long you have to wait? I pretty much only go there once or twice year.

 

[Fixr]

I wonder how long you have to wait? I pretty much only go there once or twice year.

No clue. Just speculating, but it may also depend on how much you have spent there in the past.

 

[Snapped-off]

Harbor freight doesn't do percentage coupons on boxes, so you have to wait for a sale. The boxes are legitimately good, but if HF is a no-go for you, it is what it is.

Anything from husky, Kobalt, craftsmans will be of same or lower quality.

You might not find them to be a good deal at all on Feb 7th at 8:30am.

I would suspect that regguy1 used his 25% off coupons on toolboxes many years ago. They have specifically excluded them in the fine print for quite some time now.

Some of the holidays will get the no exclusion coupons.

I wouldn't be opposed to Husky or Yukon for this task. The Husky includes a power strip on the box for $50 more.