Best toolbox budget $600-$700

[sierradmax]

Looking at toolboxes in the 40"-54" ranges. Combo top & bottom. Prefer Craftsman but I've been eyeing the husky's from home depot. Seems I can get the same size equivalent for a couple hundred less. Any other brands I should consider?

 

[PelicanPines]

Long shot but HF has some nice red ones...

 

[D45]

I'd never, ever buy new...........lots of good deals on Craigslist

 

[Laredo]

Here ya go...

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=153445&highlight=toolbox+analysis

 

[sld961]

Harbor Freight 44 top and bottom or the 56 are in your range. Best bang for the buck.

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[roc_on_the_rocks]

I was leaning towards the HF but I ended up buying Masterforce (at Menards) and I'm very happy with it.

I've found the current Craftsmans really flimsy.

 

[D45]

Craiglist, again

$100 on CL for this Craftsman Pro Set, which cleaned up very nice

Push button locking code system

Ball bearing drawers

6"x2" casters, that are greaseable

 

[Stinger]

HF all the way, no better bang for your buck as long as you don't get their cheapest ones that are junk. The large boxes are amazing.

 

[TheBadDog]

I'll say CL or HF. If you have the patience and option, it's hard to beat waiting for "the deal" on CL. You'll never get a premium box for a good price (IMO always over priced), but for a certain range of very nice boxes they can be found at or below your price range with reasonable frequency. But if you want to go out and just get a new box, the big red HF boxes just can't be bean in my experience. I now have 2, one of the wide ones for bigger tools (and mobile work surface!) and a tall one for typical smaller hand tools. My other boxes are stationary Lyon/NuErra/Lista boxes, which I can't say enough good things about. Those latter all came from used sales (though they never seem to come up on CL here), they cost more than Snap-On new, and are of better quality. You would not believe how much weight I have in some, and they still open smoothly.

 

[Richard Cranium]

another vote for the harbor freight.

 

[Oldgloryfirearms]

http://www.hfqpdb.com/coupons/8_ITE...AL_QUALITY_ROLLER_CABINET_1482528487.8722.png

i am going to pick this up myself on saturday..

 

[phawco]

Bought a 52" Husky from HD last summer for $699. Great price for a chest/ cabinet combo here in NL Canada. Good box.

 

[livinlife]

HF 44" bottom is $380 and the top is $280 until 1/31/17. Thats alot of box for the money.

 

[wolfhawk73]

I've been seeing a lot of good reviews on this one:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-52-in-18-Drawer-Tool-Chest-and-Rolling-Tool-Cabinet-Set-Black-HTC5206-HMT5212/205431577

$498.00

 

[wolfhawk73]

Double post.

 

[zkling]

It is extremely hard to beat the HF44" boxes even on craigslist for the size, quality to cleanliness/ready to use.

 

[thickhead]

I have a couple HF 44" boxes, but at $650 the 56" is the way to go as the 1 wide drawer on the 44" is not enough. Honestly, the HF 72" would probably be my first choice in a new box since it would make for a good work bench as well.

Now you have my two cents.....but that big Husky set seems damn cheap for both pieces.

 

[timothylockhart]

I like my HF 44"

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[jlipsky14]

My first choice would be harbor freight. Have a packed full 72 and love it. Upgraded to that from 2 of the 44 inch boxes. I have now added a 56 inch top box to the 72 inch bottom.
I would rather have just a 56 inch bottom than a top and bottom 44. You could always add the 44/56 top later on or add the side box/get an extra cart later on.

 

[CharlieM]

HF 44" bottom is $380 and the top is $280 until 1/31/17. Thats alot of box for the money.

The bottom is actually $349 until 1/31.

 

[bsg1]

with the budget you've posted, i suggest that you consider purchasing a used box of higher quality than you can buy with the same money at a storefront. $600.00-$700.00 would buy me a lot of Snap-on box at the swap meet, although some distance of time between the hunt and the find would be the norm.
deals can still be found on CL, especially for those that don't have the time or inclination to treasure hunt at the swap meets or other venues where used boxes can be found. i got burned out on estate sales many years ago and don't enjoy attending them. nevertheless, good deals can be found with tenacious attendance.

 

[PavelK313]

Absolutely love my HF 56". Really wanted 72 but store manager gave me crackhead deal on 56 so I couldn't refuse.

 

[B_Lafayet]

http://www.hfqpdb.com/coupons/8_ITE...AL_QUALITY_ROLLER_CABINET_1482528487.8722.png

i am going to pick this up myself on saturday..

Make HF take it out of the box and inspect it before you leave. I picked one up the other day and it had some problems I did not discover until I got home. The top drawer was bent and dimpled in the back. Looks like a machine fabrication problem. This damage was only viewable upon removing the drawer. Another drawer was scratched up the full length of the top of the drawer handle. The rubber cover was torn off on the top of the trim on the left side. Getting these matters addressed is a royal PIA with HF once you get the beast home, unloaded and unpacked. It is a good deal for the coupon price but you may have to work to get a proper unit.

 

[XxToolAholicxX]

Harbor freight in my opinion is a better box then Husky. If you don't mind used Crags List is real good for finding some nice boxes..

 

[sierradmax]

I never thought to look at HF toolboxes. I've always considered HF tools as hit or miss. I will definitely look at them. I looked at the husky's at HD. With nothing else to compare to, it's ok for the average homeowner. I'll have some heavy tools (diesel truck & equipment repair).

Does anyone have the greg smith toolboxes? Steel gauge seems thicker

 

[Oldgloryfirearms]

Make HF take it out of the box and inspect it before you leave. I picked one up the other day and it had some problems I did not discover until I got home. The top drawer was bent and dimpled in the back. Looks like a machine fabrication problem. This damage was only viewable upon removing the drawer. Another drawer was scratched up the full length of the top of the drawer handle. The rubber cover was torn off on the top of the trim on the left side. Getting these matters addressed is a royal PIA with HF once you get the beast home, unloaded and unpacked. It is a good deal for the coupon price but you may have to work to get a proper unit.

never had a problem before but i will definitely take a look this time..

 

[Kent_B]

HF has the 56" box now for $650. As others have said, inspect it first. Hope your search goes well.

 

[CSRPenFab]

I was all set to buy the HF box, but then I ran across this new White Kobalt unit on Black Friday at Lowes for $599:

Here's the top box now reduced to $249:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-22-...all-Bearing-Steel-Tool-Chest-White/1000136139
And the bottom for $350:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-41-...l-Bearing-Steel-Tool-Cabinet-White/1000136147

Both out of stock right now, but maybe they'll get more in. I found the Kobalt to be much better built than the comparable HF unit. Much better casters, thicker double wall top, power outlets with USB etc.

 

[SMKS]

I'd never, ever buy new...........lots of good deals on Craigslist

This may depend on your area and how much time you're willing to spend hitting "refresh" on the Craigslist page.

I don't see too much that's a good deal in my area.

From my experience, though, if you go with HF and wait until their best sale price, then you won't be losing too much if you go to resell it a few years down the road.

From my searching, the OP's price range wouldn't hit any pro-level boxes on the used market. The good stuff starts about twice what he's budgeting.

In the OP's range, I'd probably go new HF, Masterforce, Montezuma or something like that.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

So many of those toolboxes are built to sell for a low price. They might have the ooh-ahh appearance, but the low cost drawer slides, flimsy construction, and lack of depth are part of the bargain.. If looking for the pick of the litter in low cost boxes, look over the 56" HF roller... Sure, you would be spending your budget on a bottom only; but You would be actually getting Your moneys worth.

 

[yamaha0343]

You can find a nice lightly used truck brand box for that price. That's in the ballpark of what I paid for my Snap on KRA4107 with a top box that I could hardly tell was ever used. I've even seen nice KRL boxes around the $800 mark.

 

[Mr_B]

Finding good used in your area can be slow going, if in a rush then it got be HF or husky while prices are at the lowest sale so get good value.
Top condition top brand used would be sweet and it hold 100% value virtually but not always likely find what you want in sensible time frame .

 

[yamaha0343]

The new Huskys btw are actually really nice boxes. I helped my neighbor unload and put the wheels on his new 52" the other day. I was pretty impressed with it.

 

[1982fxr]

Post a wanted ad on cl.

With that budget you can probably get a truck brand box/cart, one of the big ones with 7 or 8 drawers all the way down and deep drawers at that. Miles beyond any box store stuff or hf

 

[DJL1967]

Bought a 52" Husky from HD last summer for $699. Great price for a chest/ cabinet combo here in NL Canada. Good box.

Here in Ontario they have the Husky 52" chest on for $398. (limited special) I am thinking of purchasing 2 for my garage. At that price I think they are a great deal.

 

[sierradmax]

That white Kobalt is pretty. But not sure if white is the color of choice in cleanliness.

 

[BigGMC]

The new Huskys btw are actually really nice boxes. I helped my neighbor unload and put the wheels on his new 52" the other day. I was pretty impressed with it.

Agreed. Surprised no one else mentioned the Huskys have been recently redesigned. Look good (blacked out with satin black finish), decent specs, soft close slides like the Milwaukee boxes, and at a reasonable price.
Been checking them out online - unfortunately, local HD doesn't have one to check out personally..... Yet.

 

[Tenex]

Home Depot is the only big box store I've seen to carry toolboxes with 20" drawers. Some were made in Canada or USA. The HD in Clive, IA had Extreme Tools models on the floor too.

 

[jerseykat1]

Harbor freight 56" awesome tool box.
http://autofixpal.com/harbor-freight-56-toolbox-roller-cabinet/

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[McFarmer]

Looking at toolboxes in the 40"-54" ranges. Combo top & bottom. Prefer Craftsman but I've been eyeing the husky's from home depot. Seems I can get the same size equivalent for a couple hundred less. Any other brands I should consider?

The Canadian one I bought is nice. International is it ?