Cheap tool storage

[4g64gs]

Aight, so im trying to find a tool cart/cabinet for around 400. I'm on that budget because mechanical engineering school isnt cheap. I have looked all over this forum, and found alot of threads answering this question, but the majority of the items that you guys suggested have been discontinued. i know this has been asked quite a few times, but im not a big fan of having piles of tools laying around my garage. thanks

Joe

 

[Ray-CA]

How large of a cart do you need? This one is on sale now at Harbor Freight (http://www.harborfreight.com/five-drawer-service-cart-95272.html) for $200. I have a smaller version (http://www.harborfreight.com/580-lb-capacity-four-drawer-roller-cart-95659.html) that I found on sale for $99 a couple of months back.

I know that it's not Matco or Snap-On, but these are actually pretty well made and I'm happy with mine.

It's worth taking a look at.

Ray

 

[Roman G]

Harbor freight 13 drawer cabinet.

Thread closed

 

[diesel research]

How large of a cart do you need? This one is on sale now at Harbor Freight (http://www.harborfreight.com/five-drawer-service-cart-95272.html) for $200. I have a smaller version (http://www.harborfreight.com/580-lb-capacity-four-drawer-roller-cart-95659.html) that I found on sale for $99 a couple of months back.

I know that it's not Matco or Snap-On, but these are actually pretty well made and I'm happy with mine.

It's worth taking a look at.

Ray

Don't forget 20% off coupon worth $40 off.

 

[Avgas]

Welcome to GJ,
If you are really looking to save money on tool storage, I suggest building your own tool cabinet, there are a few project threads on here of people doing just that, you are going to engineering school anyways right?
Your second option would be to find a second hand box, craftsman, us general, husky, etc. I suggested searching locally on craigslist.

 

[LEVE]

but im not a big fan of having piles of tools laying around my garage. thanks

I've five Craftsman stacked boxes/roll-arounds that I picked up on CL and one new HF four Drawer tool cart. That's more than enough for all my hand tools like sockets, wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, gauges and miscellaneous hand tools. The total cost was < $350.

Those boxes/carts don't house tools like skill saws, jacks, jack-stands, etc.. For that storage I built, from scrap lumber, an 8' workbench with three storage shelves underneath. Even that wasn't enough, so I built a stand for the garage computer with four shelves underneath it to house things like cans full of nuts and bolts. A place for everything and everything in it's place. Now if you believe that, you'll believe anything. In my family, any horizontal plane gets piled upon... but I know what's in the piles.

My questions are:

• How many tools do you need to store?
• How much space is available in the garage?
• The term "Cheap" is relative, what's your budget?
• Do you have a champagne taste and a beer pocketbook?
• Do you need new, or will used do?
  • Is it function, or
  • fit
  • fashion or a combination of the above, or
• Do you have your heart set on Snap-On, Matco, or will something of lesser name brand/quality do?

The sky's the limit on boxes and carts. For my use, an above average shade-tree mechanic kinda guy the HF and Craftsman boxes do just fine and left a budget for more tools.

 

[cj610]

Craigslist is a good place to find tool storage units........you just have to be patient.

Good luck!

 

[4g64gs]

my tools are pretty limited to anything it takes to turbocharge a motor, some diagnostic, some specialty tools, but mostly air/hand tools. I'm really looking for a service cart since its not easy to move those craftsman stacks around form one garage to another. if anyone has the craftsman black four drawer utility cart, some pics/opinions would be great.
thanks for the help.

 

[4g64gs]

I've five Craftsman stacked boxes/roll-arounds that I picked up on CL and one new HF four Drawer tool cart. That's more than enough for all my hand tools like sockets, wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, gauges and miscellaneous hand tools. The total cost was < $350.

Those boxes/carts don't house tools like skill saws, jacks, jack-stands, etc.. For that storage I built, from scrap lumber, an 8' workbench with three storage shelves underneath. Even that wasn't enough, so I built a stand for the garage computer with four shelves underneath it to house things like cans full of nuts and bolts. A place for everything and everything in it's place. Now if you believe that, you'll believe anything. In my family, any horizontal plane gets piled upon... but I know what's in the piles.

My questions are:

• How many tools do you need to store?
• How much space is available in the garage?
• The term "Cheap" is relative, what's your budget?
• Do you have a champagne taste and a beer pocketbook?
• Do you need new, or will used do?
  • Is it function, or
  • fit
  • fashion or a combination of the above, or
• Do you have your heart set on Snap-On, Matco, or will something of lesser name brand/quality do?

The sky's the limit on boxes and carts. For my use, an above average shade-tree mechanic kinda guy the HF and Craftsman boxes do just fine and left a budget for more tools.

My budget is 400, and i could care less about it being new. As far as fashion, this is pretty immature, but i hate red tool boxes! lol

 

[ibedayank]

the color can be changed very easy and for cheap.....

 

[LEVE]

I'm really looking for a service cart since its not easy to move those craftsman stacks around form one garage to another.

How often do you move from garage to garage?

if anyone has the craftsman black four drawer utility cart, some pics/opinions would be great.

Do you really need the Craftsman cart? The HF black four drawer cart is an excellent buy ($100 w/coupon), similar to the Craftsman, and may fit your needs.

 

[gnx547]

Don't forget 20% off coupon worth $40 off.

Where do you get the 20% off coupon at?

 

[LEVE]

Click --------------> HERE <------------

 

[american lockpicker]

I use an American made footlocker I got for $25 at wally world. Lots of room for little cash.

 

[84bimmer]

Where do you get the 20% off coupon at?

Pretty sure you can't use 20% coupons anymore on boxes. It's been a couple months since I've been there. But I doubt they've removed the signs and retracted this policy.

 

[treasureseeker]

For a rolling toolbox I suggest you pay attention to how the slides are attached to the drawers. On the value price boxes some use just pop rivets while others the slides have tabs that hook into the side of the drawer giving it more support. I have the Harbor freight US General and am very happy with it. At this point I would rather put the money into the tools than the box.

 

[joshthedieseltech]

Harbor freight 13 drawer cabinet.

Thread closed

agreed, I have it and roll it to every job, doing great!

 

[Butters]

Harbor freight 13 drawer cabinet.

Thread closed

+2

There's a coupon where you can get it for $349. It's better than, and half the price of, a comparable Craftsman (and I'm neither a Craftsman hater nor a Harbor Freight groupie, but this is just a flat out value). Note: This is the red US General one, not the cheaper black one ($169ish) which was not impressive at all IMHO.

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q304/rbrtawhyt/HF%20Coupons/13Drawer5-4-11.jpg

Other than that, used will be your best option.

 

[dumper]

as others have mentioned, check craigslist for cheap- I got this 5-drawer cart for $50, then made the side and top storage from scrap wood, and of course, $1 black spray paint. Works great.

 

[diesel research]

Pretty sure you can't use 20% coupons anymore on boxes. It's been a couple months since I've been there. But I doubt they've removed the signs and retracted this policy.

The red/black tool CART is not a tool BOX

It's a tricky play on words, but harbor freight acknowledges this fact, even while signs are posted for their 26, 41, and 56" boxes. I have used one recently (within this year) while the sign and policy is in effect. The computer does not recognize the carts under that policy.

As long as you do not have tools over 26" in length, you may actually get more storage by buying 2 carts. Then use the $50 you saved over the rough looking paint job red 40" box, to buy material to close in the bottom sections.

 

[84bimmer]

The red/black tool CART is not a tool BOX

It's a tricky play on words, but harbor freight acknowledges this fact, even while signs are posted for their 26, 41, and 56" boxes. I have used one recently (within this year) while the sign and policy is in effect. The computer does not recognize the carts under that policy.

As long as you do not have tools over 26" in length, you may actually get more storage by buying 2 carts. Then use the $50 you saved over the rough looking paint job red 40" box, to buy material to close in the bottom sections.

Good to know. Thanks

 

[Gregg33]

Gray (made in Canada) and Waterloo (made in U.S. and sometimes Mexico) are reasonably priced.

 

[biggie]

hi i just bought a cart like this one for 399.00 plus tax from Napa

 

[Tom2]

I'm tempted by the HF red box..but I really hate that crinkle red finish. I'd like to wait until it's glossy red.

I'm usually not too picky about colors..but the paint finish is just weird to me, and with a smuch work as I do, mine would be covered in grease - and not clean well.

As a result I'm leaning more towards this one:

http://www.harborfreight.com/26-8-drawer-roller-cabinet-with-8-drawer-top-chest-67831.html

But having a wider box would be nicer..

 

[4g64gs]

hi i just bought a cart like this one for 399.00 plus tax from Napa

when did you pick this up? I was on the Napa site and they didnt offer this, a quick visit to the napa store didnt help either. this type of cart is ideal though, i need something with more storage than the HF 5-drawer, but can be moved easily.

 

[Ray-CA]

Pretty sure you can't use 20% coupons anymore on boxes. It's been a couple months since I've been there. But I doubt they've removed the signs and retracted this policy.

I was concerned about that also so I check HF on-line. The exclusion states "tool cabinets" not "tool carts." So, I printed out a page of "cabinets" and another of "carts" and went to HF. The cashier was not going to honor the 20% off and I asked for the manager. Explained that HF specifically stated in the coupon "cabinets" and showed him the web page listing the 4-drawer "cart" and he honored the coupon.

Ray

 

[biggie]

http://gwallace.info/uploads/7_Drawer_Tool_Cart_Retail_Flyer_03.01.10.pdf

check out this link,the part number is next to the cart.tell them at napa the number

 

[Aklass]

I bought the 13 drawer cabinet yesterday, and damn that thing is heavy and has alot of storage, I'm not sure if I'm going to bring it to the shop due to the size and weight, and might just get a tool cart to store my stuff at the shop.

 

[anythingfastxxx]

NAPA tool cart for the win!!!

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=91896

If noone in store can help you, ask for the outside sales reps contact info for your area.

 

[Aklass]

NAPA tool cart for the win!!!

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=91896

If noone in store can help you, ask for the outside sales reps contact info for your area.

while a nice cart, I told myself If I'm spending 400 bucks I might as well get the HF 13 drawer and some clearcoat for 400 bucks

 

[Walterchang]

Same thing happened to me with the red "Cart" te cashier said it isnt a box or a cabinet so they honored the discount.

 

[a***nc83]

Quick question, what about if you have a 20% coupon, without the clause restricting usage towards the purchase of a tool cabinet?

Would they accept it?

 

[84bimmer]

Quick question, what about if you have a 20% coupon, without the clause restricting usage towards the purchase of a tool cabinet?

Would they accept it?

No, you could try. But, they have signs on the display cabinets stating no coupons other than item specific ones can be used on them.

 

[4g64gs]

So i picked up the red HF cart. And now its time for me to complain, i really hate that color. any one got any experience painting this thing cheaply?

 

[Techniker]

So i picked up the red HF cart. And now its time for me to complain, i really hate that color. any one got any experience painting this thing cheaply?

Your money would be better spent on books and tools.

 

[78Bird]

If you wanna paint it, it's not different than anything else. Clean, scuff, and paint with whatever you want to paint it with.

I'd do it before you finish assembling or put it to work...

Or, just call every performance parts place and ask for promo stickers and cover it up ;-)

 

[diesel research]

So i picked up the red HF cart. And now its time for me to complain, i really hate that color. any one got any experience painting this thing cheaply?

Did you buy the shiny one oif the old wrinkle one?

 

[glenmore]

I've called the three HF in town and over the phone they all adamantly refuse to apply the 20% off coupon to the tool cart that is on sale for $200. So it must be a regional thing that may be left up to the individual managers.

 

[TireTracks]

Your money would be better spent on books and tools.

X2..............

 

[premierplayer]

I've called the three HF in town and over the phone they all adamantly refuse to apply the 20% off coupon to the tool cart that is on sale for $200. So it must be a regional thing that may be left up to the individual managers.

Super Coupon, $169, 3/24-28
http://www.harborfreight.com/retail-flyer?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=1111b

Super Coupon again April, $169

There is no longer any Coupon stacking.