Opinions on this Craftsman tool chest

[Nugent1021]

Hey, this Craftsman ball bearing tool chest is on sale:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_009H0367000B?keyword=Craftsman+10+Drawer,+26+in.+Combo

This combo comes with a 26" wide 6 drawer ball-bearing chest and a 26.5" wide 4 drawer ball-bearing roll-away. The roll-away has 4" casters and a 600 lb. load rating. The combo is priced at $286.65 but coupon code: ExtraTenAug9 drops the price to $257.98 with free shipping.

(posted on Fatwallet.com)

What do you guys think? I've been leaning toward the HF US General 42" box and was going to wait til Black Friday to see if it goes on a ridiculous sale. Would this set be worth it (probably less than $250 with Bing cash back)? Money's a bit tight right now, but I'd hate to miss a great deal.

I appreciate yall's opinion...

 

[vartz04]

thats a damn good deal, if you won't overload it then I say go for it, My 4 drawer cart has a 540lb weight rating, and im maybe at half of that with just 4 drawers and the top tray.

what are you using now? does this give you room to expand on your current storage?

 

[Diesel-Mech]

I hate to say it but those craftsman boxes **** even with the ball bearing drawers and even at that price, wait for the HF box the quality is better and they are both made off shores anyways.

 

[vartz04]

another thing i would look at even though it will cost you more is the kobalt boxes at home depot (way better than the cmans) and if you can get to a menards and get past the green color the masterforce boxes are awesome, when I upgrade my service cart (read when i have a garage) ill be getting one of those 2 options.

I think the full 26" combo is about 500 bucks for either one

 

[pipehack]

I hate to say it but those craftsman boxes **** even with the ball bearing drawers and even at that price, wait for the HF box the quality is better and they are both made off shores anyways.

If you're talking about the U.S. General box I say +1 I have the same box. All three pieces. Car Craft and Popular Hot Rodding have 20% coupons in them.

 

[brwbier]

For what its worth, I have used a Craftsman box daily for the last 29 years. Counting everything in my life this is the one thing that has NEVER failed to preform as expected. Would I buy Craftsman again? Absolutely. I would think you will never be disappointed with it.
Brwbier

 

[Nugent1021]

See that's tough, since I could literally get 2 of the Craftsman sets for $500 (well, not including tax). I guess that doesn't make them function better, though. We don't have Menards down here.

My current set up are (gulp) shelves and a 300+ craftsman mechanics toolset. I've never really had an actual tool chest, just a work bench with a couple drawers and peg board. Oh, yeah, and a box-o-wrenches. I drilled a piece of 2x4 multiple times and put the screwdrivers in the holes and screwed the 2x4 to the wall. That's getting old, too.

It's just tough to spend hundreds of dollars on a toolbox I suppose. But, I appreciate quality and really appreciate a good deal. I think it's time to step up and get a box, just not sure when to pull the trigger. I'm leaning toward seeing what's available on Black Friday after Thanksgiving if this Craftsman deal doesn't sound good enough?

 

[Diesel-Mech]

For what its worth, I have used a Craftsman box daily for the last 29 years. Counting everything in my life this is the one thing that has NEVER failed to preform as expected. Would I buy Craftsman again? Absolutely. I would think you will never be disappointed with it.
Brwbier

The new boxes are nothing like the old boxes quality wise unfortunately.

 

[MotoDave]

I have that exact setup, except all in red, and am very happy with it. The ball bearing drawers move much nicer than the plain ones, and with the drawers not being that big you won't overload them. I also have one of the 300+ piece mechanics sets in it, along with an extra set of ratcheting wrenches, ans still have plenty of room to grow. I got mine a few years ago on sale after christmas, and paid around what you're paying.

I suppose eventually I'll outgrow this box and get something nicer/bigger, but when that happens this will just become my machining tool box to go in between the mill and the lathe

 

[tdkkart]

What do you guys think? I've been leaning toward the HF US General 42" box and was going to wait til Black Friday to see if it goes on a ridiculous sale. Would this set be worth it (probably less than $250 with Bing cash back)? Money's a bit tight right now, but I'd hate to miss a great deal.

I appreciate yall's opinion...

I was just at HF the other day, and had been at Sears earlier in the week. As much as I hate to say it, I liked the look and feel of the HF 42" box better than the Craftsman. I too have Craftsman stuff that is nearly 30 years old, but the stuff that's in the stores lately looks and feels like ****.

Now, if the HF box came in anything but red(or yellow) I'd seriously consider it, I'm getting sick of red toolboxes. I can ALMOST get past the green ones at Menards.

 

[veedubman91]

i have that exact same box in my garage, granted i do not work on my or others cars all the time so it does not get heavy use but for the price i paid for it i am very pleased so far. it works well for what i need and does the job just fine

 

[Mike83]

I prefer square inches over cubic inches. In other words, more shallow drawers are more valuable to me than a few deep ones. Just my .02.

fwiw I bought a 12,000 ci c-man professional top chest for $315. Granted this was a rare offering (70% off retail) but the deals are out there. I would wait for something a little better. Have you checked out the new C-man 40" wide stainless steel top chest? It is a nice box for roughly $400. That was my second choice but the other deal was too good to pass on.

 

[agfisher]

I have had the same box for about 8 years now and haven't had a single gripe about it. Still in great condition and working well.

 

[Nugent1021]

I think I'll take a look at that stainless 40" box, if I can find it for $400. I think I'm leaning more toward waiting and seeing if the black HF 42" tool chest goes on sale around Christmas.

 

[vartz04]

nugent that is your best bet, its a great lookin box

 

[knudsen]

If you or someone close and special to you is a Sam's club member, you might pop in and look at their stainless tool boxes with ball bearing rollers. They are nice and priced well. That being said, I have a cheap HF, but hey, at least it's brown crinkle finish! LOL

 

[rsanter]

the bottom makes a good welding cart to sit a small MIG on and you can keep your clamps and supplies in the drawers.
also makes a good stand for some benktop power tools

bob

 

[Mike83]

I think I'll take a look at that stainless 40" box, if I can find it for $400. I think I'm leaning more toward waiting and seeing if the black HF 42" tool chest goes on sale around Christmas.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00910595000P?keyword=stainless+steel+tool+chest

On sale for $423 right now. This is a high quality box. The grip latch on this is larger/deeper than the other boxes so your fingers can actually fit behind to open it. The clear coat on the stainless is also nice. For as much as display boxes get fondled in the store, there are no smudges or staining on the one I saw.

 

[vartz04]

theres the 52" pro model (just the top) on clearance at my sears for $420.

I wish i had a spot for a box that size right now.

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

tdkkart,

You can order the 42" at HF in black. I have their top and bottom combo with a short side chest for my reloading supplies.

 

[lawfarm]

I also recommend the HF toolboxes. I have craftsman boxes and HF boxes. My Craftsman boxes are pre-griplatch, but one is ball bearing and the other is not. The HF 42" boxes are much, much nicer. I have the bottom and a side cabinet, with a Craftsman box on top. I wish it was all HF. (I can't believe I just said that). The 42" boxes are far more useful than the 26".

 

[gte718p]

I'll have to say I like my HF box. With 20% of coupon and on sale I payed 410 for my lower 42" cabinet. Its a much better deal, and strangely better built then the Craftsman boxes I've seen lately.

 

[rburke65]

Got a Crapsman Aluminium Jack and I hard to take apart the cylinder to change the rubber "o" rings after using it 3 times.....leaking all over. POS.....I know it was made in China.

 

[Flathead Red]

Sorry to hijack this thread but I have two questions.

1) What is Black Friday?
2) Where is the coupon in Car Craft and Pop Hot Rodding?

Thanks, I'm on an extremely tight budget and would like to get a new box as well and if the HF model is worthwhile and on sale I might be able to convince the frau.

Flathead Red

 

[Born_Annoyed]

I bought the full size locker from HF to mount on my lowes stainless box. I like it very much.

 

[Nugent1021]

Hey Flathead, last Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) Harbor Freight had a sale on:

US General Stainless Steel Roller Tool Chest $299.99
US General Stainless Steel Top Chest $249.99

U.S. General 26" 5-Drawer Rolling Tool Cabinet $199.99
U.S. General 26" 6-Drawer Tool Chest $99.99

Pretty cheap. Problem is, my Harbor Freight only stocks like 1 set of the tool chests, so those will be gone to that guy that waits at the door when they open. I really want the black set of HF tool chests (42"), and I really don't want to pay their already-low price. I think patience will pay off (crossing my fingers). The black ones aren't ever on sale, the red ones seem like they are about $350 for the bottom part and $199 for the top part (on sale).

If you want coupons from Harbor Freight, sign up for their mail ad at harborfreightusa.com and give them an email address. Also, they have a 20% coupon almost every week (for one item) that you can print out. Those are usually linked at:

http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/hot-deals/772012

I'm going to roll the dice and see what's available on Black Friday. If the black set isn't cheap at that time then I'll wait until after Christmas. It's gotta go on sale.

 

[Flathead Red]

Thanks, I was thinking after the fact that it was the day after Thanksgiving but wasn't sure if they had their own day some other time of year. I'll be looking this year though. I get the coupon through my Classic Truck and Custom Classic Truck mags.

Flathead Red

 

[Chris Adams]

Sorry to hijack this thread but I have two questions.

1) What is Black Friday?
2) Where is the coupon in Car Craft and Pop Hot Rodding?

Thanks, I'm on an extremely tight budget and would like to get a new box as well and if the HF model is worthwhile and on sale I might be able to convince the frau.

Flathead Red

Got no idea on the coupon, but will take a second to explain Black Friday.
Do look it up, even Wiki will tell you all you want to know.

Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving.
Biggest shopping day of the year.
People will sit at stores from Thanksgiving night on, to be first in line.
Sale prices are usually the lowest they will be all year.
Laptop computers to toolboxs, will go for half to a third retail.
Hard drives to shoes, lamps to GPS devices will sell for a fraction. Everything that is popular will be on sale somewhere at a killer price.
Downside; IT IS NUTS.
Go to Frys for a 200 dollar Laptop, maybe with a free printer and and you can expect to spend 4-6 hours in line to possibly get it. Wal-Mart has had people killed trying to get in at opening.
Fun, crazy, cheap.
Black Friday has been an American shopping sport for many years, but the last ten or so it has gone insane.