Decent cheap toolbox

[64C10]

Does anyone know who makes a half decent 26” rollaway at a decent price anymore? I acquired a US General cart, but really need something lockable for all the stuff that isn’t regularly used. Right now I’ve got most of it stuck in a 48” gangbox that is really a giant headache.

Been scouring Craigslist for something and everything within 100 miles of here either needs a complete overhaul or is insanely overpriced.

I’ve got the double whammy of limited space and limited budget, so any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

US General 26 inch box. They also make a top for it too if you wanted it. Their boxes can’t be beat for the prices. I’ve used them professionally for awhile. The 26 inch is easily rollable. I’d recommend it.

 

[txvwnut]

I bought a Craftsman from Lowes thats been pretty decent so far.

 

[Alienbaby17]

I explored this topic recently as well.

I guess the real question has to do with your budget.

I almost always shop around and buy used. Seems like if you are patient you can usually find a very nice condition lightly used box for half or retail or less.

I did buy one of the new Craftsman boxes hoping they were still the quality that they used to be years ago. I was pretty disappointed. In addition to having minor damage on the bottom corner upon opening it I thought it was a lot more light duty than I remembered. It felt flimsy to me. But honestly what an you really expect at that price point? I ended up reselling it within a month.

With limited funds I’d be looking at a used Craftsman box from the 80’s/90’s.

 

[Firebrick43]

It pains me to say it, but the US general 26"

I just bought one to put next to my milling machine to hold tools and tooling. Its better than the 2008 ish craftsman in my basement wood shop or the ones I looked at lows a few weeks ago

 

[Thesian]

It pains me to say it, but the US general 26"

I just bought one to put next to my milling machine to hold tools and tooling. Its better than the 2008 ish craftsman in my basement wood shop or the ones I looked at lows a few weeks ago

I’m gonna go with these guys on the Us General boxes. Trust me when I say that I don’t take buying China lightly. These really are the best budget boxes widely available and the quality is there for the price point.

 

[Mr_B]

I explored this topic recently as well.

I guess the real question has to do with your budget.

I almost always shop around and buy used. Seems like if you are patient you can usually find a very nice condition lightly used box for half or retail or less.

+1
Used is way go on boxes for those willing put bit of time in source them, I done 30+ years professionally with used boxes from snapon mac and current setup all being Matco and from fliping few along the journey I got hardly any coin in it .
26 to 36" older style boxes can be a steal used, do need make proper effort looking around all potential used sourcing channels though and plan in advance rather than last minute rush try source something .
You can find older mac good option in this size along with waterloo offerings under many brands .
I've had few nice single bank older mac boxes in nice order at sensible coin and the old stuff was proper stout .
HF US Gen is an option but it not the value of past super coupon times but pending on individuals preferences/needs it may be viable path to follow .

 

[Cairo94507]

I just bought a 72" US General toolbox for about $1,400 OTD. Regularly $1,599 plus tax. I had to "work" the Harbor Freight store manager for about 30 minutes to get to that deal. Got it in green. It is a nicely constructed box. I had one in my other garage, before I remodeled and did a built-in tool box, but now we are in a new home and I needed something for my tools until I get the next garage built. I never had any trouble with the box at all.

 

[64C10]

As much as I hate saying it, at $360 the US General is pushing the limit of what I can work with.

I went last night to look at a used Craftsman, but it turned out to be the “homeowner” grade that had already taken on a parallelogram shape under the weight of the hundreds of rusty pipe fittings and Ace Hardware paint can openers that were included as a bonus, and the guy still thought it was worth $250.

 

[64C10]

Other than Craigslist, are there any worthwhile places to hunt for something used?

I’m not overly brand conscious or picky about anything other than the ability to get to things when I need them, and lock them up when I’m done. The current gangbox system does great for security, but fails dramatically on the front of finding things before I forget what I was looking for.

 

[WWheeler]

Other than Craigslist, are there any worthwhile places to hunt for something used?

Depends on your area really. In my area Craigslist is dead dead deader than dead, and so is OfferUp and every other site like it. In other parts of the country CL still has plenty of life left.

The ONLY classified type site that is thriving and where listings for whatever you are looking for can most likely be found in my part of the country is Facebook Marketplace.

 

[64C10]

Thanks! I will try Facebook out.

 

[Mr_B]

yep marketplace has done me well .
You got be quick though as good items and anything silly cheap gone FAST .
No time ponder, you got be organised knowing what you want along with realistic price and ready go look/buy it fast .
Other routes for me been word of mouth via friend and trade contacts .

 

[lolaetype]

Occasionally our local HF, and I assume other HFs as well, will put a floor sample on sale with a 20% discount. The only real problem is you have to be there since they don't advertise them.

You might keep an eye out for estate sales and auctions for companies going out of business.

 

[Bockscar]

This weekend HF has a 25% coupon for Monday....that would knock 90 dollars off....making it $270

 

[david3921]

This weekend HF has a 25% coupon for Monday....that would knock 90 dollars off....making it $270

Coupon doesn't cover storage cabinets and a whole list of other items.

 

[WWheeler]

I wish Harbor Freight wouldn't always have all these same exceptions. I'd drop at least $1000 there on Monday if they didn't. As it is I have no use for their coupon.

 

[Kscardsfan]

I wish Harbor Freight wouldn't always have all these same exceptions. I'd drop at least $1000 there on Monday if they didn't. As it is I have no use for their coupon.

Say something to their corporate side. They're capitalists despite sourcing the entire store from communist china.

 

[Nutria]

+1 on used. It sounds like you aren't set on a given brand, which is a big help when going used. If you aren't looking for some Gucci recent box, you should do great on the used made in USA market. Some of the older non-ball bearing boxes are tanks, slide just fine, and go for low prices, particularly if you don't mind cosmetic damage.

 

[Mr_B]

I wish Harbor Freight wouldn't always have all these same exceptions. I'd drop at least $1000 there on Monday if they didn't. As it is I have no use for their coupon.

yep it a pretty sucky coupon and being one item means need helpers and be in/out store 2 or 3 times if got a few items you want .
all right for some higher priced tools and store managers can be lenient on some of the rules .
Reality is HF US General is hard get at super value prices & the future is looking like further price increases .
For those really wanting a proper value deal the used market is unbeatable value for tool boxes but compromise for this is some patience and effort .

 

[Bockscar]

Forgot to read the small print.....the US General is still a good bang for the dollar..... its not like HF is the only company raising prices....Even used prices are going up....hell its hard to even find great deals at the auction....people are paying a lot more for things then several years ago and some of it is very head scratching.....buying used can take a very long time to find that sweet deal along with a lot of driving for busted deals

 

[consti2tion]

I just bought a 72" US General toolbox for about $1,400 OTD. Regularly $1,599 plus tax. I had to "work" the Harbor Freight store manager for about 30 minutes to get to that deal. Got it in green. It is a nicely constructed box. I had one in my other garage, before I remodeled and did a built-in tool box, but now we are in a new home and I needed something for my tools until I get the next garage built. I never had any trouble with the box at all.

It's just crazy to me that these boxes have gone up so much in just a year or so, but that's everything. The 72 used to be had for 1,199 then throw the 20% off coupon or sale on it and could be had for about 1,000 OTD.

 

[Mr_B]

It's just crazy to me that these boxes have gone up so much in just a year or so, but that's everything. The 72 used to be had for 1,199 then throw the 20% off coupon or sale on it and could be had for about 1,000 OTD.

Indeed, I remember it under 1k with coupon .
I learnt this years ago by not buying a tool when silly cheap then paying more or struggling find it or quality/design gone to **** and try plan in advance and when see the sily good prices, nicely made items I make most of it as nothing going get cheaper thanks to covid, russia and general bad intent globally means prices, quality and availability more changeable than ever ...

 

[64C10]

Thanks all for the help and advice.

I think I got pretty lucky today. Found this little Mac for $200, came with both pull handles and actually has the key with a functioning lock mechanism.

Drawers are smooth and no rust to speak of. Just going to clean it up, give it a coat of wax and put it to work.

 

[Nutria]

Perfect-- those are great boxes! If you feel like putting more time in on it (sounds like it isn't necessary), cleaning and regreasing the slides can make the drawers like butter, even loaded. Awesome that you have a working lock and key.

 

[64C10]

I think tomorrow I’m going to pull the drawers out, give it a thorough wash and wax job, then lube all the slides and linkages.

I swung into Horrible Freight and bought some liner material as well to keep the drawers from getting scratched up for another 30 years or so.

 

[Mr_B]

Thanks all for the help and advice.

I think I got pretty lucky today. Found this little Mac for $200, came with both pull handles and actually has the key with a functioning lock mechanism.

Drawers are smooth and no rust to speak of. Just going to clean it up, give it a coat of wax and put it to work.

Better than throwing money at chinese metal ...
The old MAC boxes are pretty stout and last well ...
Is pretty easy find 26" boxes at cheap money as no longer the size that that popular .
Have fun cleaning it up and enjoy using it for decades to come .

 

[Nutria]

I think that your box will be good for more than 30 years. I have 33" top, middle, and bottom Mac boxes that are maybe ten years older than yours that are still going strong. The previous, original owner was an aircraft mechanic who had used them out on the tarmac, so the boxes don't blink an eye at garage use.

 

[64C10]

I was shocked on this one that it doesn’t have a single scratch inside the drawers, and only one small dent on the very top.

At some point it ended up with one Matco drawer pull, which I think I’ll leave alone - I’m sure there’s a story behind it somewhere.

Considering it will virtually never move again (except for cleaning), it should last forever.

 

[Walkers]

Nice score man!

 

[64C10]

Thanks! I got it pretty well cleaned up today, starting to “move in” now.

 

[consti2tion]

That's a very nice stout box. Money well spent sir. Throw some pictures up of how you set it up when you're moved in.

 

[64C10]

Got it all polished up - so far I’ve got it mostly loaded up with the stuff I rarely use (metric and powered stuff). Definitely going to need a top or top and mid so I can eliminate the HF cart.

 

[64C10]

 

[consti2tion]

Looking good! time to get a matching chest for the top!

 

[64C10]

I got a Craftsman top that I’m working on fixing up….keeping my eye peeled for a matching Mac

 

[Mr_B]

^
you on a roll ...
surprising what used boxes can be had if keep looking and prepared haggle/travel a bit .

 

[64C10]

The Craftsman is going to take some work - the slides on the bottom drawer are rusted solid, which has been giving me fits. It’s too good to abandon though, so it’ll get finished before taking anything else on.

 

[64C10]

Thanks, but doesn’t meet the cheap, or 26” requirement.