Modifications to the HF 4 and 5 drawer service carts - what changes have you made?

[Bryanthegreat]

Those new badges look nice enough to leave on the cart

 

[MushCreek]

I like the cordless tool holder. I need to come up with one that locks so I can use it at work. I brought my old M18 drill to work for deburring holes, but my little 5 drawer is packed pretty full. If I don't lock things up, they get 'borrowed'. I brought in a cheap little radio, and the very first night it went missing. I had to search all over the shop to find it. Someone just took it and used it somewhere else. WTF? Not exactly stolen, but not returned, either.

 

[Project_shadow]

I like the cordless tool holder. I need to come up with one that locks so I can use it at work. I brought my old M18 drill to work for deburring holes, but my little 5 drawer is packed pretty full. If I don't lock things up, they get 'borrowed'. I brought in a cheap little radio, and the very first night it went missing. I had to search all over the shop to find it. Someone just took it and used it somewhere else. WTF? Not exactly stolen, but not returned, either.

All of my stuff is locked as well, I even put a lock through the plug of my radio before I got a hutch so it couldn't be plugged in lol

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[Floridaboy]

I may play around on lunch time one day and try to make a locking cordless tool holder


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[Bob Heine]

I have a few old head bolts that are long enough to span the small holder and with single-use head bolts today they should be easy to find. Two bolt holes on the diagonal, a hole through the bolt big enough for a padlock and it should slow down the casual "borrower."

 

[Floridaboy]

I have a few old head bolts that are long enough to span the small holder and with single-use head bolts today they should be easy to find. Two bolt holes on thee diagonal, a hole through the bolt big enough for a padlock and it should slow down the casual "borrower."

That would work


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[Snakebyt]

makes it very problematic when people borrow without asking, or forget where to return it.

 

[mbshop]

I absolutely hated borrowers. I would always go on a rant, bat **** crazy. one day I went off, just insane. then someone asked if it was like the one in my back pocket.
that stopped my rants, for a while.

 

[Floridaboy]

I go on he if I have to barrow it twice I need to by one for my self rule


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[Project_shadow]

I go on he if I have to barrow it twice I need to by one for my self rule


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Unless it's a stupid expensive tool, then you start asking the shop to purchase one lol

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[Floridaboy]

Very true there are some tools that just are a give me you need to own. I work in a fab shop so some I make the company buy and some I gust get myself


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[78C-10]

The change I made was changing my mind in buying one today. I went to HF today with the intent of buying a blue cart. I left without one and felt $200 richer. Maybe it was that particular blue one but what a p.o.s it was. The welds were separating where the lower gas struts for the lid mount. The lid hinge rivets were all loose. I'm just looking for a decent box for the basement. I'll consider a Masterforce or Husky box, or wait until one of the tool guys has a decent SO used cart.

 

[Loose Ctrl]

The change I made was changing my mind in buying one today. I went to HF today with the intent of buying a blue cart. I left without one and felt $200 richer. Maybe it was that particular blue one but what a p.o.s it was. The welds were separating where the lower gas struts for the lid mount. The lid hinge rivets were all loose. I'm just looking for a decent box for the basement. I'll consider a Masterforce or Husky box, or wait until one of the tool guys has a decent SO used cart.

The display carts are not a good representation of what a fully assembled at home cart will be like. The display carts get beat up by people passing by and their kids. I've been to HF and seen new displays put out. Come back a week later and they look like they're years old and falling apart. I don't know why, but the HF I go to seems to be a magnet for rowdy kids between 5 and 10 years old with no parental supervision.

 

[Floridaboy]

So my cart found it new home. I used some old hangers I used for my plastic cart before to hang the drop cord on but will make a differently up soon.


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[JFeeney]

I pulled the trigger on the Black 5 Drawer - putting it together things went OK - a couple of scratches but OK... I got the main unit into the frame and base with the wheels and now the lid doesn't open.

I tried to pull on lid and it's secured at the lock. I can't move the key - and I've tried all 4.

So what are my options? The only think I can think of is drill out the lock.

Any suggestions would be most appreciated! Thanks.

 

[Fly YX]

Try shaking the drawers and moving them in and out the locking mechanism is probably stuck. I have the same thing happen

 

[Youngguns]

I pulled the trigger on the Black 5 Drawer - putting it together things went OK - a couple of scratches but OK... I got the main unit into the frame and base with the wheels and now the lid doesn't open.

I tried to pull on lid and it's secured at the lock. I can't move the key - and I've tried all 4.

So what are my options? The only think I can think of is drill out the lock.

Any suggestions would be most appreciated! Thanks.

I locked mine before I lifted it into the frame; damn thing came open as I was holding it! Maybe a little twist will open it up?

 

[PelicanPines]

I recently got a new roller from HF with the new tubular lock... it was a bit stiff at first... perhaps... put some muscle into it... it's probably the latch is sticking. Drilling it out will only fix it if the lock is malfunctioning. It wont effect/fix a sticky latch...

 

[drc42]

Technically this isn't a modification but something custom built for my new 5 drawer. I built a socket organizer sized to fit the top shelf. Shot a howto on building it for my youtube channel:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Nzb-4KbGCC0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The organizer is cut from 3/16" acrylic using a laser cutter that I have access to at my local maker space. I put the drawings I used for the laser cutter on my website for anybody who might be interested in making one themselves: http://chappysgarage.com/2018/03/29/socket-organizer/

 

[Snakebyt]

I use some trays similar to those, i have about a dozen of these in different drawers, for them for a buck each at dollar tree

 

[Motorman55]

I posted this on another thread earlier today, but what the hell I'll put here too.

I noticed today that HF has re-listed the 4 Drawer Black Tech service carts on their web site. Its shown as the Series2 and it lists the new cart as a 30" under the item #64096 @ $149.99.

The old 4 drawer black carts were 26".

 

[Snakebyt]

I have been thinking of buying a couple of these and retiring my blue point box and my black 4 drawer to the house

 

[mike93lx]

The display carts are not a good representation of what a fully assembled at home cart will be like. The display carts get beat up by people passing by and their kids. I've been to HF and seen new displays put out. Come back a week later and they look like they're years old and falling apart. I don't know why, but the HF I go to seems to be a magnet for rowdy kids between 5 and 10 years old with no parental supervision.

If they can't survive a week in the store, why would someone expect them to last at home for years

 

[kctyphoon]

If they can't survive a week in the store, why would someone expect them to last at home for years

I dunno - maybe cause this is an entire thread filled with people that own them and say they will????

 

[PelicanPines]

If they can't survive a week in the store, why would someone expect them to last at home for years

I dunno - maybe cause this is an entire thread filled with people that own them and say they will????

And from what I have seen... the average "Clerk" at HF is not skilled like the people in this thread at assembling things correctly. I have seen carts assembled at my local HF where they tightened each bolt down as they assembled them... causing the end result to be way off square.

They also don't take the drawers out to clean and lube the slides... something every qualified attendee of this thread would do without even being instructed.

It's a no brainer on the value you are getting from a HF tool box/cart

 

[kctyphoon]

By me, One of the brand new series 2 carts is missing half the bolts on the bottom of the display.. only 2 legs are bolted in.. not exactly the carts fault..

 

[ndnchf]

If they can't survive a week in the store, why would someone expect them to last at home for years

As the person who started this discussion thread over 6 years ago, I can say that mine has held up flawlessly through regular use ever since I bought it. If I had the space, I'd go buy another one today.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

And from what I have seen... the average "Clerk" at HF is not skilled like the people in this thread at assembling things correctly. I have seen carts assembled at my local HF where they tightened each bolt down as they assembled them... causing the end result to be way off square.

They also don't take the drawers out to clean and lube the slides... something every qualified attendee of this thread would do without even being instructed.

It's a no brainer on the value you are getting from a HF tool box/cart

The average worker at HF may or may not even be a "tool person" so they may not realize to do things like tighten bolts after it's completely assembled, or they may not care because it's not theirs and they have other things to do in the store.

It's the same way all across retail. I have the Delta hybrid table saw from Lowes, but if I didn't have prior knowledge of that model, there's no way I would've bought it based on the display model. The fence didn't slide smooth or lock easily, the blade guard caught when lowering because it was put on wrong. But a lot of retail workers are purely salespeople, not tradesmen or tool reps. Especially the part time and seasonal workers.

I think it's also been well-established that the HF carts and boxes are a great value for the money, and any nay-sayers are just Snap On fanboys with money spilling out of their pockets left and right.

 

[Floridaboy]

I would say they would last. I know a few people that have the carts for a few years and they put them through hell.


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[PelicanPines]

As the person who started this discussion thread over 6 years ago, I can say that mine has held up flawlessly through regular use ever since I bought it. If I had the space, I'd go buy another one today.

Mine is almost 4 years old. Is slung around often (glad it's 4 swivels)... I have modified it by drilling it... cutting it... hanging things on every side... the lid has more tools on it then my car's trunk... The thing is great.

Only complaint... the chrome drawer trim strips ****... I mean really... they ****.

In response to that... I ordered black carbon fiber film to cover the lip of every drawer. Not sure if I will cover the whole drawer face or just the grab... more on that when I actually do it.

 

[mike93lx]

I am not saying they won't last or aren't quality. just commenting that I can appreciate someone's concern about quality and durability when they see **** on the sales floor.

 

[Slinger646]

Bought these door mats at Lowe’s. They seem to do the trick

Can’t upload pics, “missing a security token”.

Will try later.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

I am not saying they won't last or aren't quality. just commenting that I can appreciate someone's concern about quality and durability when they see **** on the sales floor.

I understand the concern, but you can never judge an item's true quality by the store display model, at any store.

 

[Floridaboy]

I will say you do have a good amount of room in these boxes compared to the 4 draw. Now some of the clamps are being used on a job right now.


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[jon72vega]

I glued a mat to the top of my 5 drawer cart.
The mat is actually vinyl carpet runner from Lowes.

Contact cement drying on both surfaces.

..

..
Completed.

..
Trimmed to size.

 

[cheechi]

I might be stealing that idea.

 

[ptgarcia]

I like that idea, too!

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[mv213]

I like that idea, too!

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Same here! Also, love the Binford badge-where can I get one?

 

[potato]

Same here! Also, love the Binford badge-where can I get one?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/METAL-BINF...052397?hash=item25d8f9ff2d:g:FtAAAOSwcUBYUak1

 

[intillzah]

I've loved this thread, a lot of good ideas on here and a lot of nicely done mods too..