Anyone have any complaints about your HF tool box?

[cummins12ver]

I've been looking into a bigger box's to replace my famous US General 5 drawer roller. But have been having a hard time. I loved the box when I first got it and had very few tools at work in it. But as I started building tools up and cramming them into every available place I soon realized I was going to have to get a bigger box. But I also realized that the "100#" drawer slides were sagging and rubbing the sides of the drawers with MAYBE 50 pounds in them. It doesn't affect anything, drawers still open and close very very nicely. But it just bothers me every single time I see the scratch marks on the drawer sides. I was looking into the 72" bottom cabinet from US General but when I pulled the drawers out in the store and pressed my hand into the drawer with weight I found them to have the exact same problem. Which I don't know that I can live with. Maybe I'm just picky. My co-worker has the HF 44" box and it's slides are set up different and seem to hold the weight much much better. But I want a big box, lots of room to organize things. Plus more of a train to get more tools haha. So what have you guys been getting about these boxes? I've heard lots of rave reviews... And I still think mines a great box for the price. But it just gets to me a little. I've since been looking at my available options and noticed my buddies Husky box is built very well. And the slides work great with weighed down drawers. Plus a 56"x22" 11 drawer husky bottom cabinet is a steal of 475$ to my local store. But I wanna here your guys input. (Also been looking at tool vault boxes to.... Just can't put my hands on one which bothers me...) Anyway, picture time.

You can see where it's been rubbing


Close up



Without weight on the slides



And it only has a hand full of wrenches in it....[emoji6] the blue roll is a small SK metric set going from 6mm- 30mm

 

[Tatsuya]

The only problem I have with my 44" box is that it isn't a 72".

 

[Blazinzuk]

Buy 2 of the 44" boxes?

That's what I have and only a couple complaints.

 

[cummins12ver]

Care to share your complaints?

 

[chris142]

Mine is older and has the rough paint that can't be cleaned

 

[jakemac]

Mine is older and has the rough paint that can't be cleaned

Try WD40, a soft nylon brush, and a lint free cloth to wipe with.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

Bend the sides in 7 or 8 thou, and thy won't rub.

 

[Loscaldazar]

I don't like that the 44" has no form of drawer latch. While the plastic drawer latches on the 56" and the 72" aren't the best (compared to like craftsman griplatch style where you can lift the lip anywhere on the drawer to undo the latch), I still would love those on my 44". I have them on my 5 drawer cart.

 

[Blazinzuk]

Care to share your complaints?

They don't always latch securely is my main one. When shutting a drawer you have to make sure it shuts. Actually that's about it. It's a pretty solid peice

The drawer arrangement is not my favorite but that is very specific to me as I have never really seen one I like. Lots of wasted space in alot of tool boxes

 

[archirelic]

I have 2 of the 5 drawer carts and their 44" box...my only complaint is that they're not offered in anything but red...

 

[GeorgeFromPa]

my 44 could use deeper draws.. 1/2 in drive sockets dont fit . just a half inch deeper would work.

 

[ovrrdrive]

I have a 44" with no complaints at all. I'm actually glad it doesn't have the latches.

 

[fury9]

Only complaint I have is the drawers are a little hard to open, it's getting better with usage and I use the hell outta this box. I have the bottom left drawer loaded full with random nuts and bolts and it still works just fine, no rubbing.

On a side note, if you open your drawers and the back of the drawer isn't flush with the front face of the box, pull it out harder to get the full extension of the glides. You only have to do this once

 

[PelicanPines]

Huge issues here.... Huge... I don't have enough space for more of them.

 

[Ditchdigger]

I have a 56 that I use daily at work. Other than the wonky drawer latches I have had one issue. I managed to damage a drawer slide. It has a dent in it and is very stiff. Something must have jammed in there. It isn't a manufacturing flaw.

Anyway my complaint is that I am on week 8 of waiting for the replacement slides and I still have probably another 4 weeks to wait. HF headquarters stated it would take them a minimum of 10 weeks to receive them and they would send a postcard when they arrived with instructions on how to pay and then they will mail them to me.

It's been a long wait. Slides were inexpensive though.

 

[BK13]

my 44 could use deeper draws.. 1/2 in drive sockets dont fit . just a half inch deeper would work.

That's my concern.... I have a fair number of 1/2" drive deep sockets but laying them on their sides would drive me crazy.....

 

[brandyspaw]

I sold my Snap-On KRL series boxes and needed some cheap tool boxes. I had a set of Snap-On BelAir boxes but was always paranoid about moving/using them and, since I retired, I needed the cash.

One replacement box I bought was a Harbor Freight 56" 11 drawer roll cab. All seemed to be OK except the top drawer won't latch unless you pick up on it when you push it in. At first, I thought it was because I had too much weight in it since all my sockets, ratchets and bars are in that drawer. However, even with most of the weight removed it has to be picked up when pushing in or it won't latch.

Bottom line, I think the boxes are a good value for the money but the drawer slides are sloppy making them a weak point. Bottom line---you get what you pay for but I did have low expectations when I bought this cheap box. You have realize it costs hundreds instead of thousands of dollars like the KRL Snap-On.

 

[Richard Cranium]

I guess I have the same problem, not enough room for another one. I think I only have 1/4 inch to spare.

 

[jlipsky14]

my 44 could use deeper draws.. 1/2 in drive sockets dont fit . just a half inch deeper would work.

Where do the 1/2 inch drive sockets not fit? Had 2 of the 44s before i bought the 72 and never had any issues with sockets fitting.

 

[jlipsky14]

I have a 72 bottom that is pretty loaded especially the top drawer that has well over a hundred pounds of sockets. Not used professionally but does get used pretty much every day.

 

[speed bump]

I don't like the 41" box drawer catches, when it is cold as they are very difficult open and close.

If you move it a lot get different casters.

I had the 26" tall drawer completely full of pipe dies and ratchets and I wouldn't recommend that much weight in drawers if you get in and out of them a lot. The slides (with that much weight) don't inspire a lot of confidence.

Overall it has been a good box (especially for the poor college student me who $260 paid for it) but if I did it again now I would get the 56" or a deeper 41" from someone else

 

[SMKS]

my 44 could use deeper draws.. 1/2 in drive sockets dont fit . just a half inch deeper would work.

What?

I have 1/2" deep sockets standing up on socket organizers in the top drawer if my 44" HF box and they fit fine.

 

[BK13]

So deep 1/2" sockets will fit upright on Hansen trays or VIM Magrails?

 

[jlipsky14]

So deep 1/2" sockets will fit upright on Hansen trays or VIM Magrails?

Yes with no issues, have sunex, craftsman, SK, and some proto all the way up to almost 40mm and all fit no issues. Have the hansen trays full as well as some socket rails.

 

[BK13]

Yes with no issues, have sunex, craftsman, SK, and some proto all the way up to almost 40mm and all fit no issues. Have the hansen trays full as well as some socket rails.

Sweet! Thank you, sir!

 

[Greg85mcss]

Bottom line, I think the boxes are a good value for the money but the drawer slides are sloppy making them a weak point. Bottom line---you get what you pay for but I did have low expectations when I bought this cheap box. You have realize it costs hundreds instead of thousands of dollars like the KRL Snap-On.

Best unbiased statement about these boxes I've seen in a while. I have 2 5 drawer carts & sold my 4 drawer to a coworker. They have all been great. I was honestly a little iffy about spending over a grand on the 72 especially since my wife oked the purchase less than 2 years after I was going to buy it & cheaped out on a husky. I figured it would be better to spend a little more on a used truck box than have to have the conversation with her again if the hf wasn't sturdy enough. I'd have no reservation buying any of their boxes if I had the money to take a chance with or it was going to be somewhere I didn't have to worry about locking it.


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[lauver]

Maybe I'm just picky.

cummins,

You are right. It's just you, and you're just picky.

 

[lightning02]

i have a tool vault and my drawers dont do that. not sure if that helps or not.

 

[Loscaldazar]

As I've thought about it more, I also don't like that they aren't that deep (front to back). I think the 44 has like 18" deep drawers and the 56/72 are 20" or so? I would greatly like a box that was 30"

 

[bobcatdan]

Buy once, cry once.

 

[Axis]

I have a 44" with an 18" side cab. I wish the depth was more in line with some of the higher priced boxes, then I wouldn't have needed the side cab.

Still, I'm into my box for 1/8 the cost of what the other guys are paying.

 

[Marcm157]

Only complaint I have is the drawers are a little hard to open, it's getting better with usage and I use the hell outta this box. I have the bottom left drawer loaded full with random nuts and bolts and it still works just fine, no rubbing.

On a side note, if you open your drawers and the back of the drawer isn't flush with the front face of the box, pull it out harder to get the full extension of the glides. You only have to do this once

If you remove each drawer and bend the detent in the back of the track just slightly towards straight the drawers open and close with no resistance. There is a YouTube video that shows exactly how if want to see it done. I did mine and it is flawless.

 

[NFH2740]

At 17" or 19", the drawers are far too short.

 

[DanInVA]

I am not crazy about how shallow the drawers in the HF44 are front to back. Like you, I had a fully loaded 5 drawer cart, and I got a good deal on a 44 inch. I was shocked when I attempted to move everything over that a full 5 drawer cart translates to a nearly full 44 inch box.

If you need more space, you may want to consider keeping the 5 drawer and keeping it stocked with everything you find yourself using most. Then buy the 44 or similar and use it for tools you don't reach for as often.

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[BK13]

Buy once, cry once.

As much as I'd love to have a couple of KRLs and a KRSC in my garage, as a DIY hack, it's not very likely I'm gonna be able to swing better than $5k on boxes....

 

[cummins12ver]

I have found a local snap on master series box that if 53"long x29" deep. I really would love deep deep drawers. The box is like new and the guy only wants 2300$ for it but still...for a box at work where I'm not a professional mechanic it's very hard to justify that kind of cost. I wouldn't mind a tool vault if I could simply check one out and get all touchy feely with it. I just don't want to be hating the box I get. I know that a tool box doesn't do anything but hold things that you can make money with but I still want it to last and fit my needs. I've been veerrryyy picky about drawer layout to. I'm probably over thinking and just need to commit and get the best I can afford and justify.

 

[mr.speaker]

Some complaints . Drawer depth,color choice,side cabinet door will open by itself,casters **** if you move boxes around a lot .. However, at the price point,I can live with these issues

 

[GeorgeFromPa]

What?

I have 1/2" deep sockets standing up on socket organizers in the top drawer if my 44" HF box and they fit fine.

top draw yes... but i need that draw for other things.. the other draws need just a hair more.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B6uugbdNxmBfSUE4NV85NFpCbkwwRm1kRUxyRnlfWWpCQ0E0

 

[pepi]

Would not own one, so no I do not have any complaints.

 

[Al Borland]

Not a HF box but, I've had a craftsman box 25 years or so, and no, the deep well sockets can't stand up as most of the drawers are too short. All the sockets are lying sideways on rails with the sizes facing up. I like them like that. I can look and see which socket/rail I need to grab without any fuss. never occurred to me to want them standing up (although they do look cool like that in the pix here!). The box is old, and the drawers are shallow, so the rails run front to back in neat rows with no wasted space. I also have a few magnetic socket caddy trays, but mostly use them for the box in my truck (Socket sticks to tray, tray sticks to box, box stays neat).