Picked up a Load at Harbor Freight today

Steevo · Sep 4, 2011

I took my trailer down to Harbor Freight today, and picked up a load:

Brought them home and unloaded:

One down, three to go:

I need to open one to document some precise dimensions, clearances, etc, for my workbench build project.
Note the pristine packaging, no signs of any kind of puncture, tear, or damage of any kind:

Now, note the damage to the bottom drawer:

Obviously, they packaged it with the dented drawer.
No big deal, it is easily straightened. But now I wonder what is lurking in those other crates . . .

neonnblack · Sep 4, 2011

OPEN EM OPEN EM OPEN EM! But for the price can you really complain about a small dent, that is obviously fixable (and if it was me wouldnt even care). Now, about the others OPEN EM OPEN EM OPEN EM.

Steevo · Sep 4, 2011

neonnblack said:
OPEN EM OPEN EM OPEN EM! But for the price can you really complain about a small dent, that is obviously fixable (and if it was me wouldnt even care). Now, about the others OPEN EM OPEN EM OPEN EM.

Oh yeah, the price! Out the door for $1,483.96 ($349.99 apiece w/coupon)
And, I got my free multi-meter, too

Chrislols · Sep 4, 2011

Ooohh, I can't wait to pick one of these up with my girlfriends new HF Employee discount!

My 11 drawer black is on Craigslist as we speak

dodge610 · Sep 4, 2011

Steevo said:
Oh yeah, the price! Out the door for $1,483.96 ($349.99 apiece w/coupon)
And, I got my free multi-meter, too

Now that is a purchase the guys at HF should of delivered them for that purchase or $1,483.96 for a multi meter and 4 free tool boxes its a deal either way.

srmofo · Sep 4, 2011

Im not a HF fan for obvious reasons, but even I will admit those boxes are a steal at that price. Blows anything that craftsman has offered over the past 20 years out of the water in both price and build quality. Quality control in their packaging dept still leaves something to be desired though.

If I was just starting out again, I would be all over those....and maybe once I get my garage cleaned up and little organized, I might just retire my first box I ever purchased and replace it with some china goodness.

Im not sure how well they would hold up to a daily abuse in a pro shop, and god forbid if you ever need a replacement part like a slide. But at those prices who cares about the what ifs.

whats the plans for so many? storage under a work bench?

Steevo · Sep 4, 2011

srmofo said:
whats the plans for so many? storage under a work bench?

Yes. I am building a u-shaped workbench with four of he 13-drawer units and two of the 7-drawer side boxes under the benches.
I want to retire my two rollaways (one is a Snap-On set) that waste too much floor space and wall space because wherever they are, you can't have a bench or cabinet.

John in OH · Sep 4, 2011

Nice! .... Very nice!

Nick_Escalante · Sep 4, 2011

LOL... guess you weren't kidding a few days ago about picking up a 'trailer-load.' You will enjoy them. Nice pics...

I picked up the 13 drawer this past spring and have been adding pieces to it to completion.

Scout Driver · Sep 4, 2011

Looking forward to more progress! You have me curious.

Scott

Fixemup · Sep 5, 2011

More pics!

Steevo · Sep 5, 2011

The bench will look like this from the top:

And the frame looks like this:

Here is what the center section will look like from the front:

It will sit in the right rear corner as shown in this diagram:

All of the frame will be welded steel, 2x2" legs and 1-1/2" angle toolbox supports and bench top supports.

I need to wait until the end of Sept. for a cash infusion to buy the steel and start the build.
I will start a new thread for that.

Scout Driver · Sep 5, 2011

That's going to be a nice bench! :thumbup:

Scott

StumpjumperDave · Sep 5, 2011

very cool.....

Falcon67 · Sep 5, 2011

Nice - good layout. That will be an outstanding bench.

>Obviously, they packaged it with the dented drawer.
If it makes you feel better, when we pulled our new $1000 Samsung front loader dryer out of the box two Thanksgivings ago, it had a dented top and side. And not just a little - I mean collision looking damage. The box didn't have a scratch on it, nor was there any damage to the Styrofoam packing material. It was for sure packed that way at the factory. Took Sears 8 weeks to get a replacement.

rsieracki · Sep 5, 2011

id open them all before trecking back to HF... you may have more dented parts

Brad54 · Sep 5, 2011

Your set-up looks really good.

I'd like to make a suggestion though:
For the two sides of the "U", what if you narrowed them to the width of the tool box, and then where they meet the back work surface, make it an angled front in the corners, rather than a flush corner.
Then you could put a fixed tool in the corners, like a bench grinder or a small desk-top dril press, and you could have a cabinet door or a shelf under it so the space isn't wasted.
-Brad

-Brad

Kabina · Sep 14, 2011

Whats the word on your bench build ? I am very curious , and have been planing almost the same setup.

musgofasta · Sep 14, 2011

And I thought my MERE 2 chests was nice. Awesome setup this will be!

Steevo · Sep 14, 2011

Kabina said:
Whats the word on your bench build ? I am very curious , and have been planing almost the same setup.

Before I order the steel to build my frame, I am finalizing my design details. I am toying with an "L" in the corner, rather than a "U", and then having a separate "floating" bench on wheels that matches in height.

My current choices:

1Garageman · Sep 14, 2011

That's going to be one heck of a nice work place!
You defiantly have a lot of nice space for it.

70redbee · Sep 14, 2011

I love the "U" shape area. The only problem is the unused dead space in the corner. That will be a big chunk of storage if you can somehow figure out a way to make it usuable. Maybe move one side or both and 45 degree the corner and build a door for access. Just a thought.

jlckmj · Sep 14, 2011

A pop up flat screen will work in the unused corner space.
Jim

JC23 · Sep 14, 2011

Great idea. I have one with wheels on it for bigger, middle-of-the-shop jobs and loves it!

Kabina · Sep 15, 2011

Steevo said:
Before I order the steel to build my frame, I am finalizing my design details. I am toying with an "L" in the corner, rather than a "U", and then having a separate "floating" bench on wheels that matches in height.

My current choices:

I like the idea of having a floating bench. My plan is to build a stationary "L" in the corner, with a movable floating bench to make the area a "U" shape work bench.
I don't have a sketch, but I hope my description makes sense.

byoungblood · Sep 15, 2011

Falcon67 said:
Nice - good layout. That will be an outstanding bench.

>Obviously, they packaged it with the dented drawer.
If it makes you feel better, when we pulled our new $1000 Samsung front loader dryer out of the box two Thanksgivings ago, it had a dented top and side. And not just a little - I mean collision looking damage. The box didn't have a scratch on it, nor was there any damage to the Styrofoam packing material. It was for sure packed that way at the factory. Took Sears 8 weeks to get a replacement.

Had the same thing happen to me with a LG 50" Plasma. Ordered it from Amazon, had some damage along the lower edge where the speakers were. Box and other packaging were untouched in that same area, again it somehow made it past QC and got boxed up that way.

SuperSocket · Sep 15, 2011

Do the L, get two more chests and bolt them back to back and put a top on them... so you have a moving island.

HotShoe · Sep 15, 2011

Very cool!

I thought about doing the same thing but they are just too high for me at 40" to use as a workbench surface.

NUTTSGT · Sep 15, 2011

I'm not sure how I missed this thread a week and a half ago. It looks like you have a well thought out layout Steevo.

On the "wood" side of my garage, I have a work table, it's base is made out of a small and large kitchen base cabinets. I put two casters on one side, pick up on the other to move it. Oh man, is it nice to be able to move the work table around.

csp · Sep 15, 2011

HotShoe said:
I thought about doing the same thing but they are just too high for me at 40" to use as a workbench surface.

Unbolt the casters and get about 6" of that height back, especially if you're wanting a stationary bench.

Steevo · Sep 15, 2011

HotShoe said:
Very cool!

I thought about doing the same thing but they are just too high for me at 40" to use as a workbench surface.

Precisely why I opted to build a bench and drop the boxes into it. The HF boxes are actually only 33-5/8" high without the wheels.

My finished benches will be 39" to the top of the work surface.

litljay · Sep 15, 2011

I like the 'L' style, but that's just me. I actually have similar plans, but I'm only using 2 boxes and using the 42" "locker" on one side as book ends and the inside will have the shelving cabinet.
I need more shelving space than I do tool storage. Looks good though.

HotShoe · Sep 15, 2011

Steevo said:
Precisely why I opted to build a bench and drop the boxes into it. The HF boxes are actually only 33-5/8" high without the wheels.

My finished benches will be 39" to the top of the work surface.

I'm torn about not having the ability to move it around so I haven't gone the stationary route. That height would work for me because I really like my bench @35". I made my steel table 39" and as funny as it sounds I'd like it just a little shorter.

J.Lind · Sep 15, 2011

I absolutely love this. Years ago my dad built a workbench in his garage, and the shelving under it and above it. He didn't use any roller slides, just wood-on-wood. As a child I couldn't ever open the big drawers, and I have a feeling that as he gets older it'll be more difficult to open them for him. This just may be the answer in a very attractive, affordable way. Thanks for sharing and can't wait for build photos.

Hroger · Sep 20, 2011

I have been thinking about getting 4 of these, taking the wheels off, bolting them back to back in two pairs. Then, doubling up 2 sheets of plywood for a top and having a very sturdy 4 X 8 stationary work bench that I can work from both sides and have a boat load of storage for my machine tooling. How far out from the cabinet do the largest drawers hang out?

Kabina · Sep 20, 2011

Right around 15"

Steevo · Sep 20, 2011

Hroger said:
I have been thinking about getting 4 of these, taking the wheels off, bolting them back to back in two pairs. Then, doubling up 2 sheets of plywood for a top and having a very sturdy 4 X 8 stationary work bench that I can work from both sides and have a boat load of storage for my machine tooling. How far out from the cabinet do the largest drawers hang out?

You will probably want to make plywood inserts that will fit down into the flat tops of the tool boxes, too, so that your sheet top rests on them, instead of on the outer lip of the boxes.

Cougar67 · Oct 4, 2011

Nice bench! Does anyone have any idea how much the 40" tool cabinets weigh? The shipping weight listed on their site is over 400 lbs...

Spectre32 · Dec 8, 2012

What is the drawer load capacity for these boxes?

Racecarl · Dec 8, 2012

I would prefer the "L" because I could drag some odd or large size object up to the work benches with minimal interference. The U-shape might hinder getting something large onto a bench. The "L" also eliminates one wasted corner.

Another random thought: where the cabinets meet in corners, consider leaving space to allow drawers on each cabinet to open and miss each other. On the "L" example, the cabinets on the right could be slid down the wall 19", which would allow any drawer to be opened independently of the drawers on the adjacent wall. You could then access the corner and put in a few shelves for even more storage or a place for a shop vac or something.

Your call--congrats on some nice drawer space!

Picked up a Load at Harbor Freight today

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