Husky 46" vs Husky 52" 9 Drawer Cabinet... which to get?

xJoey Dubsx · Dec 22, 2014

So I am looking to get a pair of these probably, and not sure which to get. The main difference I see with the 52" is that it is obviously 6" longer, the handle being different and claims to hold 1000lbs (vs the 46" holding 575"). Is this a dumb question and I should just spend the $50 (keeping in mind not sure if there will be an after Xmas sale or not) or is there an advantage to buying the 46" on over the 52"?

Here are the culprits...
46": http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-46...od-Top-HOTC4609B1QBD/203859406#specifications

52": http://m.homedepot.com/p/Husky-52-in-W-9-Drawer-Mobile-Workbench-75809AH/202906828/

Anyone have either? Also the 46" is in stock locally,where as I'd have to wait for the 52" but not that big of a deal.

Catadj78 · Dec 22, 2014

I'd like to know how they compare the HF chests. I was planning on going that route but these are cheaper but there may be a reason for it

mrvm · Dec 22, 2014

IMO Husky gets points for value and neat innovative styling for both work benches with decent work tops but the metal gauge used for the drawers could be better. The ones I looked over were not stiff enough for my uses. Check for proper reinforcement for the castors since work benches could be subjected to heavy materials or pounding. Newer generations of the larger Husky tool cabinets have been stepping up their game with 100lb slides and significant improvements in drawer stiffness that could handle the stresses in an advanced diyer garage.

jim1987 · Dec 22, 2014

The one I handled today for $498 actually seemed pretty good for the occasional weekend warrior.

CNGsaves · Dec 22, 2014

Do NOT buy either of these . . . . . .
. . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . for most part . . . Husky = ****

If your wife needs something to organize and sort a 5 foot tall pile of knitting yarn, then go ahead and burn the money on the Husky boxes.

However, for tools . . . no, not Husky.

Read the Tool Box REVIEW thread where GJer systematically tested various non-truck brands and Husky did not fare well, just like Craftsman did not fare well. Both of these brands have paper-thin material that is just not meant to be a sturdy tool box.

INSTEAD . . look at these:

a) US General 44" roller toolbox (Harbor Freight)
b) Homak roller toolbox at Northern Tool
c) Strictly Toolboxes (sponsor of GJ . . . see link on main page)
d) DeWalt yellow toolboxes on clearance at Home Depot

Any of the above 4 will be significantly better than Husky.

zkling · Dec 22, 2014

The HF44" is quite a bit better built.

Catadj78 · Dec 23, 2014

CNGsaves said:
Do NOT buy either of these . . . . . .
. . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . for most part . . . Husky = ****

If your wife needs something to organize and sort a 5 foot tall pile of knitting yarn, then go ahead and burn the money on the Husky boxes.

However, for tools . . . no, not Husky.

Read the Tool Box REVIEW thread where GJer systematically tested various non-truck brands and Husky did not fare well, just like Craftsman did not fare well. Both of these brands have paper-thin material that is just not meant to be a sturdy tool box.

INSTEAD . . look at these:

a) US General 44" roller toolbox (Harbor Freight)
b) Homak roller toolbox at Northern Tool
c) Strictly Toolboxes (sponsor of GJ . . . see link on main page)
d) DeWalt yellow toolboxes on clearance at Home Depot

Any of the above 4 will be significantly better than Husky.

settles that for me. thanks, I'll stick with my HF plan

CatSplat · Dec 23, 2014

In terms of build quality, IMO the 46" is better than the 52" workstation. It has better-quality slides on the top drawer and the drawer materials felt a bit sturdier. The 46" is just fine for a weekend warrior provided you don't plan on putting a thousand pounds of sockets in it. It's not overly deep but I really have no real complaints about mine.

With that said, the 52" chest/cabinet combo is noticeably better built than either of the two workstations. The drawer slides alone are double the capacity and the extra casters make it very stable.

I wouldn't necessarily recommend any of them for heavy full-time professional use, but for the home garage they're pretty good bang for the buck - especially if you don't live anywhere near a Harbor Freight.

Chrisrdon · Dec 23, 2014

I got this Husky as a gift last year and almost every drawer has dents. The caster wheels seem to be good and will hold the weight. The top lid seems to hang a little when you close it. Its not bad for how cheap it is but there are better out there. I would say as long as you get to check it out at the store before hand and make sure there are not a bunch of dents you'll be good.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-40...Black-HOTC4010B1ARS/203594224?N=5yc1vZc2gkZrd

xJoey Dubsx · Dec 23, 2014

What I plan on getting and using these for, is to have the drawers for tools such as drills and batteries and storage for items like that. My Craftsman ball bearing tool box will maintain all my sockets and stuff once organized. I am definitely discouraged now but want black boxes and HFs are red. I'll look into the others but would like to stay in the same price range. I do like the wood top but noticed it didn't look replaceable when I did the first look at them in store.

NUISANCE · Dec 23, 2014

I have the 52" 9 drawer and I have no idea why people say they "have paper-thin material that is just not meant to be a sturdy tool box" In the very bottom left drawer I have a circular saw, 2 sanders, a buffer and like 10 saw blades and other ****. In the bottom right drawer I have 3 different corded/battery drills, 4 sets of drill bits and other **** yet when my buddy came over yesterday I stuck my level on the bottom and there is no bowing in those drawers or any of the other packed drawers for that matter. Is there any way you can stick all of that in the hyped-up-freight 44? Nope.

Buy it as it is more versitile than the hyped-up-freight 44, gives you more work space on top and is less money.

600SL · Dec 23, 2014

I was just at HD and saw the Husky tool boxes on sale for $259. I don't know if they were 46" or 52". But at that price it was very temping to purchase 3 of them take the wheels off and make a long workbench out of them.

I would never consider these for any type of professional work but they certainly have there place for the weekend warrior.

xJoey Dubsx · Dec 23, 2014

I don't see either at that price right now. :\

CarsonConcepts · Dec 23, 2014

I have the 52" one. Picked it up off of Craigslist for ~$160 ish. Haven't had any issues with it. The top drawer has a center slide to help support the span. I wouldn't load the top drawer totally full of sockets, wrenches and ratchets and expect it to hold up, but it works great for larger bulky tools. I'll agree it's not as robust as the HF 44's, but it offers deeper drawers, comes in black (personally don't like red), and would hold up in a home shop just fine.

I have my Ryobi tools and accessories in mine, along with wood working tools and some overflow tools/supplies. The drawers can also be rearranged as I've discovered. The locking bars and and sides have provisions for moving the slides around. Just need to re-rivet the slides in different locations. I plan on doing this once I decide on a layout, since my most used drawer is one of the bottom deep ones holding my Ryobi Set.

If you were planning on storing mostly Mechanic tools, I'd say the HF 44 is stronger and better laid out for that purpose. For Home Owner type tools (18V kits, woodworking, hammers, blow mold kits, etc.) either Husky is a good option.

Edit: Also the top is removable on my 52".
~ Carson

CNGsaves · Dec 23, 2014

^ ^ This is where the Husky might be worth it . . . marked down price or used on CL. And knowing the limitations of box and not loading it up with heavy sockets, ratchets, etc is essential. Only use the Husky for light storage.

I'll cut Husky a break and not call it **** if you get it for $160 !!

mrvm · Dec 23, 2014

CNGsaves said:
^ ^ This is where the Husky might be worth it . . . marked down price or used on CL. And knowing the limitations of box and not loading it up with heavy sockets, ratchets, etc is essential. Only use the Husky for light storage.

I'll cut Husky a break and not call it **** if you get it for $160 !!

For $160, I would use some scrap angle iron and beef up the frame just for the challenge as Husky has made the beautiful outer structure already. The drawers are great for power tools / accessories and the top makes a nice work space.

mmack66 · Dec 23, 2014

xJoey Dubsx said:
Here are the culprits...
46": http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-46...od-Top-HOTC4609B1QBD/203859406#specifications

52": http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-46...od-Top-HOTC4609B1QBD/203859406#specifications

Those are both links to the 46" box.

Moose97 · Dec 23, 2014

I really like the HF 44" boxes and agree to their strength and durability. I don't have the Husky boxes but I do have all Craftsman because I live close to a Sears closeout store and could get them for a ridiculously cheap price. I put anything I want in them. I never consider weight. They work great. In the end if you are happy with them don't let us stand in your way.

xJoey Dubsx · Dec 23, 2014

mmack66 said:
Those are both links to the 46" box.

Good catch. Fixed.

CatSplat · Dec 23, 2014

mmack66 said:
Those are both links to the 46" box.

Here's the link to the 52"
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-52-in-W-9-Drawer-Mobile-Workbench-75809AH/202906828

I think the fourth image of the 52" box on the HD site is actually a picture of the 46" box due to the drawer layout.

moparfreak · Dec 23, 2014

I've been looking at these as well. In particular, I notice the Husky 52" with See-through front drawers has been on sale for a long time and keeps creeping down. In my local HD I see it at either $259 or $279, and if it gets one more bump I might pull the trigger.

The see-through flip up fronts are a bit odd but it's still a nice cart w/ lots of storage for mid $200s. Anyone own this and have experience on it for hobby type use?

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-52...ork-Center-with-LED-in-Black-HTBX10/205344413

Thanks,
Adam

CatSplat · Dec 23, 2014

moparfreak said:
I've been looking at these as well. In particular, I notice the Husky 52" with See-through front drawers has been on sale for a long time and keeps creeping down. In my local HD I see it at either $259 or $279, and if it gets one more bump I might pull the trigger.

The see-through flip up fronts are a bit odd but it's still a nice cart w/ lots of storage for mid $200s. Anyone own this and have experience on it for hobby type use?

I've never seen that one in person, but if the description is correct it's got heavier-duty drawer sliders than the ones on the regular 52" box at least.

moparfreak · Dec 23, 2014

It slides and glides real nice, of course with nothing in it...

When you pull the drawer out, the clear front is hinged at the top and flips upward, there are little plastic caps on the top edges of the drawer that it rides on, so the front of the drawer is essentially quite a bit lower which may affect its rigidity, but honestly looks certainly well built enough to hold the usual stuff we all have around our shops.

Pretty much every time I walk through HD I stop and look at it. I think that means something.....

Thanks,
Adam

xJoey Dubsx · Dec 23, 2014

I've looked at that too but not sure how I feel about it.

mrvm · Dec 23, 2014

CatSplat said:
I've never seen that one in person, but if the description is correct it's got heavier-duty drawer sliders than the ones on the regular 52" box at least.

Checked the open-face drawer work centers out last time and noticed the larger drawer slides too. The open-face drawer design made it necessary for Husky to use stronger drawer slides, better drawer reinforcement, maybe thicker metal than usually seen with the last generation flimsy thin-metaled black Husky tool boxes. The unloaded drawers felt good and glided smoothly for its purpose.

bobemmerich · Dec 23, 2014

I'm gonna wait until after the holidays to pull the trigger on a new box. I figure by then, the good sales will be on to get rid of excess stock of "Holiday Deals" merchandise...
I'm looking at either the Husky 46 or 52.

xJoey Dubsx · Dec 23, 2014

Walking in now to see if they will honor sale prices if I buy and they go on sale after. And to check out more.

stage20 · Dec 23, 2014

i HAD a 46" husky box and have had 2 hf44. still have one. the hf44 will night and day outlive the husky. its heavier metal, better slides. dont even think of loading down the top drawer. its useless. go in store and push your hand in the middle of the drawer..... the slides and side of the drawer will flex.

if you are set on husky (for black i assume) go with the upper and lower combos. they have been redesigned since the first batch and arent all that bad, but even then the hf44 is more of a beast.

i bought mine on a special buy at 199 and sold it the next week for 200 bucks. im out 13 bucks in tax. im glad its gone.

xJoey Dubsx · Dec 23, 2014

Yeah, mainly for black. The quality of it doesn't seem too bad honestly. I don't know, I am torn. Waiting to see what the after Xmas sales ads bring out.

Eatbeef · Dec 23, 2014

The glass front cabinets are only rated for 500 lbs. per the Home Depot site. That's not much. I wish the larger HF were as economical as the 44". I have two 26" top boxes that I want to put on whatever I buy and feel HF 44" is to narrow. Their combined weight is probably at the 500 lbs. max of the HD without Putting anything in the cabinets itself, so that doesn't work either.

VictorBravo · Dec 23, 2014

Chrisrdon said:
I got this Husky as a gift last year and almost every drawer has dents. The caster wheels seem to be good and will hold the weight. The top lid seems to hang a little when you close it. Its not bad for how cheap it is but there are better out there. I would say as long as you get to check it out at the store before hand and make sure there are not a bunch of dents you'll be good.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-40...Black-HOTC4010B1ARS/203594224?N=5yc1vZc2gkZrd

I got that same model last year for $250 on a clearance. You are right, the casters are pretty solid. I strapped mine to a wall as a safety precaution anyway because it is kind of light weight. Those tip-over stories I've seen here scared me enough.

It does fine for what I need. I have one drawer near the bottom with big wrenchs and 3/4 drive sockets. It's heavy and a little wobbly, but I'm careful about opening it. The upper drawers contain wrenches, smaller sized sockets, the highest drawers contain specialty tools for Audis--I don't see any of the drawers having to hold more than 150 or 200 pounds or so the way I have it loaded.

Harbor Freight is hours away from here. My only other local options were overpriced Sears of smaller and no better quality, heavily marked up "Channelock" boxes (made somewhere far away), or cardboard boxes. A year ago I had no budget for a $500 plus box anyway.

It does the job for now for a small farm shop....

stage20 · Dec 23, 2014

xJoey Dubsx said:
Yeah, mainly for black. The quality of it doesn't seem too bad honestly. I don't know, I am torn. Waiting to see what the after Xmas sales ads bring out.

Id buy the 40 or 50 inch combo and sell off the ttop if you don't need it to recoup some funds. The top drawer on tht 46 needs thicker metal and dual slides

xJoey Dubsx · Dec 23, 2014

Too much work. Hate if I wasn't able to sell it. God I hate being stubborn lol

stage20 · Dec 24, 2014

Can you still order the black hf44 from the web? Search for onyx, I bet yoou can find a thread on it

CNGsaves · Dec 24, 2014

stage20 said:
Can you still order the black hf44 from the web? Search for onyx, I bet you can find a thread on it

^ ^ Wow, didn't know that was possible !!

Here's link for ONYX (ie black) top for the 44" roller - - - it's $299
Also says "overweight item" subject to $89.95 addtl freight charge
http://www.harborfreight.com/tool-s...lack-onyx-roller-cabinet-top-chest-98103.html

However, can't find 44" HF black roller bottom on the HF website. :eyecrazy:

xJoey Dubsx · Dec 24, 2014

I'd rock the bottom one if it was available.

Stusmobile · Dec 24, 2014

I have a couple of the 46" Husky boxes, picked them up early in the year for $199 each when HD had a sale.

Would not use them in a setting where you want to load them with heavy items or where you intend to roll them around all day long.

Having said that would not part with mine, they hold a lot of "awkward" stuff that doesn't fit anywhere else. Lots of power/cordless tools in the bottom drawers, small boxes of hardware, electronics gear, measuring tools and squares etc.

The top is not bad for doing light work, no pounding but it's a clean/easily cleaned flat surface for assembly etc.

I wouldn't want to use it to hold all my sockets/wrenches/hammers etc, the top drawers are too long to take that much weight. As somewhere to put lots of the other stuff we generally use though, they are a good fit as long as you recognize their limitations.

stage20 · Dec 24, 2014

check home depots site for kodiak. little lighter weight than hf but heavier than husky. it comes in dark dark grey hammer finish. very similar in built to the hf44 . can ship to store for free.....http://www.homedepot.com/p/WEN-41-i...-SearchPLPHorizontal1_rr-_-NA-_-203613299-_-N

xJoey Dubsx · Dec 24, 2014

Found this little cheat on youtube:

xJoey Dubsx · Dec 24, 2014

Pretty cool too:

Husky 46" vs Husky 52" 9 Drawer Cabinet... which to get?

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