It looks like HF has changed the 13 drawer box

SMKS · Jan 23, 2011

EDIT--People seem very confused on the old vs. new design. I've attached a few pics and clearly labeled them "old" and "new."

I just noticed that Harbor Freight (or their supplier) has made some changes to the 13 drawer box. It appears the only changes are to the drawers. I noticed it in a few pics posted by bmwohio on 1-17-2011 in another thread. I stole his pics and have attached them. I also added two pics of my box, purchased in Feb, 2010.

sparky7 · Jan 23, 2011

looks a little bit worse IMHO but no functional changes it seems

SMKS · Jan 23, 2011

I think the little lip at the bottom could help make the drawer stiffer. I could be wrong.

williaty · Jan 23, 2011

Huh.

About a week ago, I noticed I was pissed at the drawers in the roller cab but not at the ones in the top chest. The roller cab drawers, which are lower than your hands at rest, didn't have any way to grab the drawer pull from the top in the palm-down grip, which is something you might naturally try to do since it's below your waist. The top, on the other hand, could be grabbed palm up or palm down.

So about a month ago I bough both the roller cab and the top chest from the same store about a week apart. Turns out I have a new style top chest and an old style roller cab. I'm kinda pissed because I'd prefer the newer drawers.

Also probably means that if I have to get a replacement drawer for the roller cab that the new one won't line up with the others.

mkdive · Jan 23, 2011

I like the older design.

9deucegt · Jan 23, 2011

I thought I noticed that in that same thread, but I thought my eyes were playing tricks. I like the new style better. Looks like a normal box. I hope my store gets the new style soon..........

Boost Creep · Jan 23, 2011

hmmm...that *****. now when i get around to getting my second one to make a bench out of they won't match....unless i sell my current one and buy two new ones! lol

chewy7 · Jan 23, 2011

I think I have the newer style. I bought mine last month, right before Christmas. If i get the top part, I will make sure i get the newer style top lol.

Case IH · Jan 23, 2011

Could that be why the last time I went to HF about 4 days ago there wasnt a box like that on display?????? and dose anyone kow why Half of the scocket and ratchet isle was missing is mine the only one like this? I hope it is not closing but I didnt see anything about it closing

King Bojack · Jan 23, 2011

Case IH said:
Could that be why the last time I went to HF about 4 days ago there wasnt a box like that on display?????? and dose anyone kow why Half of the scocket and ratchet isle was missing is mine the only one like this? I hope it is not closing but I didnt see anything about it closing

I asked a worker about this the last tie I was there. She claimed they are revising a large portion of their line up and it's taking more time than anticipated to get it all going. That's either the truth or some kind of coporate bs to cover up severe problems with their supply line.

Case IH · Jan 23, 2011

Boy I hope it is getting revised because i need afew things

MechanicNamedJohn · Jan 23, 2011

They revised their stock, the new sockets look awesome; impact also. They also have more 3/8impact sockets.

Damian · Jan 23, 2011

rsanter · Jan 23, 2011

looks like what an engineer would call a process improvement.

the older design would need to be done in a multi stage roll forming process

the newer design can be roll formes using fewer stages or can be done with a brake

at also appears that the newer design would use slightly less material

also, note than the newer design would be closer to what is done by snap on, craftsman, mac and many other companies that sell toolboxes

I use my HF box as a base for my lathe. for me the newer design would catch less shavings.

bob

Damian · Jan 23, 2011

rsanter said:
I use my HF box as a base for my lathe. for me the newer design would catch less shavings.

bob

Ouch. lol

eborcim · Jan 23, 2011

cheaper to manufacture the new design

lalaland · Jan 23, 2011

They have to make them cheaper some how.

bmwohio · Jan 23, 2011

I went out and took a look at my box and saw that the new design may give a little more rigidity than the old design. The handle and bottom part is part of one large piece of sheet metal and is just bent around for the handle and the bottom to give more stiffness.

I also find myself placing my thumb on the slanted part at the bottom of each drawer and my fingers under the handle to pull, and it gives a little more leverage.

Here are some more detailed pics to reference:

Pug}{maN · Jan 23, 2011

im going to go get mine tomaro ! cant wate...o ya..nuthing to add here though..lol...

rsanter · Jan 23, 2011

Damian said:
Ouch. lol

Ouch?
works great
granted its just my smaller lathe but it serves as the base and for storage.
my big lathe is 2.5 tons. so it sits on the floor

bob

archirelic · Jan 23, 2011

Mine's the newer design and personally I like it better than the older, flat-faced box. And as far as I can tell, no loss in quality either.

Bo Heck · Jan 23, 2011

I like the the aesthetics of the new look. The previous design was very blah. Now, if they changed the finish to a smooth glossy finish, they would sell twice as many as they do now.

Muffduster · Jan 23, 2011

My bottom is the new design and the top is the old design. I bought them together in November 2010.

patrickw10 · Jan 23, 2011

I like the newer design better i didnt like that open area on top the handle that collects all the dirt and wat ever.

supertooljunkie · Jan 23, 2011

Case IH said:
Could that be why the last time I went to HF about 4 days ago there wasnt a box like that on display?????? and dose anyone kow why Half of the scocket and ratchet isle was missing is mine the only one like this? I hope it is not closing but I didnt see anything about it closing

Not to hijack the thread, but HF is redesigning the socket/ratchet isle. They are now selling open stock sockets, and more "cased" sets, like Sears. Most of the sets are now in green, black, and white packaging. The new brand is Pittsburgh Pro. I have to admit, they are some nice looking tools. There is a better selection of extensions and related tools.

motoguy · Jan 23, 2011

MechanicNamedJohn said:
They revised their stock, the new sockets look awesome; impact also. They also have more 3/8impact sockets.

I bought 2 sets of the 1/2" drive, SAE deep well sockets when they were on sale a few weeks ago. One set I've used, the other is still NIB. I think I'm taking them both back tomorrow. For me, the sockets are largely unusable as-is. Though they appear "deep" on the exterior, the actual nut well (interior) is -not- that deep. Not only is the well not full-length, but it's not much longer than a standard socket, IMO.

I bought this set for 1 socket, for 1 specific application: 1 1/8 deep well for loosening front spring u-bolts on the front of trucks at work (Pete 384 / 387, Fliner Century, Cascadia and Columbia). The first time I went to use that 1 1/8 socket from this set, I found that it wouldn't sit on the nut...the protruding bolt was bottoming out on the interior of the socket.

I borrowed a Snap On from another tech, and it worked fine. I use my old Campbell Hausfield deep well set up to 1", so of the 2 HF sets I bought, I only have about 4 sockets in duty...and one of those is incapable of performing the sole task I need it for.

I'm going to see what the new Pittsburg Pro line is like. With a 20% off coupon, I may end up picking up one of the new sets. I'll check out the nut well in the store first, though.

NWphotog · Jan 23, 2011

I also have the newer base and older chest. Does any one have the top chest in newer design?

9deucegt · Jan 23, 2011

NWphotog said:
I also have the newer base and older chest. Does any one have the top chest in newer design?

I would like to know this as well. How about the side cabinet?

rhastings80 · Jan 23, 2011

I'm confused here and not sure what to think. I bought my first HF box back in May of 2008 which is the one I just took pictures of and it doesn't look like your pictures. I have another one about bought about a year ago and it looks just like the one I got in 2008.

I have been real happy with my boxes and they were both right around $300 with tax from what I remember with coupon.

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williaty · Jan 23, 2011

OK, so given when people have bought these things, I don't think this is "old" vs "new".

It seems to me that there's two different lines/factories HF is sourcing drawers from that aren't making the exact same thing even though it's ending up in the same part number.

Damian · Jan 23, 2011

/\ - Nice pics man, especially the drawer close ups. Thanks

SMKS · Jan 23, 2011

williaty said:
OK, so given when people have bought these things, I don't think this is "old" vs "new".

I think it is old vs. new. I bought mine 1 year ago and got the old style. I had never seen a pic of one that was different until I saw bmwohio's pic. The few people who have the "new" style bought them recently.

There are probably some of the old style still sitting on display and in the stores, but I bet if you got one right off the ship it would be the revised version.

williaty · Jan 23, 2011

But you've got a guy up there posting the "new" style box and he bought it in 2008.

SMKS · Jan 23, 2011

rhastings80 said:
I'm confused here and not sure what to think. I bought my first HF box back in May of 2008 which is the one I just took pictures of and it doesn't look like your pictures. I have another one about bought about a year ago and it looks just like the one I got in 2008.

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There are pics of two different boxes attached to the first post. The first two pics are of bmwohio's box, which was purchased recently. The second two pics are of my box, which is the same as the two you own. I bought my box in Feb, 2010.

SMKS · Jan 23, 2011

williaty said:
But you've got a guy up there posting the "new" style box and he bought it in 2008.

No, that poster is mistaken. His box is the old style, same as mine.

williaty · Jan 23, 2011

So are you claiming "new" is handles-at-the-top or handles-part-way-down?

ramtuff · Jan 23, 2011

Interesting thread. I like the look of the new drawers better. I plan to pop on the lower and upper cabs this week (maybe a side cab as well), and hopefully the other units will match the bottom.

SMKS · Jan 23, 2011

williaty said:
So are you claiming "new" is handles-at-the-top or handles-part-way-down?

See revised original post.

williaty · Jan 24, 2011

OK, in that case, I've got a new bottom and an old top.

I wonder if I can still get matching drawers for the top?

NWphotog · Jan 24, 2011

Can any one confirm they have a "new" top? If possible a photo would be great!

It looks like HF has changed the 13 drawer box

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