71goldss
Well-known member
Differences between HF 56" Series 2 boxes w/different item numbers
I posted this today in another thread and felt that maybe it should have it's own thread.
As is common with many, if not all HF products, there are two different item numbers for the new 56" US General Series 2 top box, and two different numbers for the bottom box.
I bought two black 56” bottoms a few weeks ago. Each of my stores had only one in stock, so I bought them separately on the same day and didn’t notice their item number difference until I unloaded them. Currently, one is in my garage, and the other is being stored at my girlfriend's place until I make room for it at my place.
There are definitely manufacturing differences between the two. The top ledge on the front of the drawers are different. One measures approx 1 1/8”, front edge to rear edge, vs approx 3/4” on the other box. One box has rivets front and rear on the cabinet side of the slides. No rear rivets on the other box, which makes the drawers squeak like hell and cause excess side to side wobble when opening, but I’ll fix that. Also, different casters, different top mat (one is more like vinyl, and other is more like rubber), and one has thicker/beefier plastic drawer latches. I had also noticed when removing the drawers that the same drawers from each box seemed different in weight, so I weighed the upper right narrow drawers from both cabinets on a bathroom scale (not exactly scientific), and there was approximately a 1 to 2 pound difference in weight. And that's just one of the small drawers! Add that up over the whole box! I didn't use my caliper to measure the sheet metal thickness, as it would seem that powder coat can effect the true measurement, but the scale show's there's a good difference somewhere between the two. Even the product sheets that came with them are printed different. PDF's from HF's website confirms that also.
If I had it to do again I would definitely make sure to get both with item # 64457. I feel it is the better of the two. FAR BETTER! It just feels much more solid and heavy duty. The 64458 feels like a Craftsman box to me, and I have a lot of experience with Craftsman boxes. I’m assuming the red 56" boxes would also have the same differences between item numbers.
It seems obvious to me that my two were manufactured in two different factories. I’ve since been to one of my stores that displayed one factory’s top on the other factory’s bottom. If I weren’t looking for the differences, it would be hard to notice, but I definitely notice it now! *****, but it would be too much of a hassle for me to load the 64458 back up and return, but I will probably always regret that I didn't.
Nothing scientific here, but just my personal observation and opinion. Maybe this can help other members on what to look for if planning to purchase the new 56" box. They can then decide which box they prefer.
Edit: I forgot to mention one of the very first differences that I noticed when unloading the two boxes from my truck, and it may be a huge deal to some people. The 64457 not only has the larger plastic drawer latches that can be easily removed by removing two small screws from inside the drawer, but it also has detents to hold the drawers shut if you do choose to remove the latches. It takes a good tug to break the drawer loose when opening (like on the 44" boxes), even after sliding the latch to the open position. This would be great for those that hate the plastic latches and wish to remove them, and bad for those that like the latches and want to keep, but now have to slide the latch and give a good tug also. The 64458 has the smaller plastic latches, and are held on with one single rivet inside the drawer. If you wish to remove the latches, you'll have to drill out the rivet. And, the drawers don't have detents. With latches removed, there's nothing holding the drawers closed, requiring the magnet trick or some other fix to keep the drawer closed.
I posted this today in another thread and felt that maybe it should have it's own thread.
As is common with many, if not all HF products, there are two different item numbers for the new 56" US General Series 2 top box, and two different numbers for the bottom box.
I bought two black 56” bottoms a few weeks ago. Each of my stores had only one in stock, so I bought them separately on the same day and didn’t notice their item number difference until I unloaded them. Currently, one is in my garage, and the other is being stored at my girlfriend's place until I make room for it at my place.
There are definitely manufacturing differences between the two. The top ledge on the front of the drawers are different. One measures approx 1 1/8”, front edge to rear edge, vs approx 3/4” on the other box. One box has rivets front and rear on the cabinet side of the slides. No rear rivets on the other box, which makes the drawers squeak like hell and cause excess side to side wobble when opening, but I’ll fix that. Also, different casters, different top mat (one is more like vinyl, and other is more like rubber), and one has thicker/beefier plastic drawer latches. I had also noticed when removing the drawers that the same drawers from each box seemed different in weight, so I weighed the upper right narrow drawers from both cabinets on a bathroom scale (not exactly scientific), and there was approximately a 1 to 2 pound difference in weight. And that's just one of the small drawers! Add that up over the whole box! I didn't use my caliper to measure the sheet metal thickness, as it would seem that powder coat can effect the true measurement, but the scale show's there's a good difference somewhere between the two. Even the product sheets that came with them are printed different. PDF's from HF's website confirms that also.
If I had it to do again I would definitely make sure to get both with item # 64457. I feel it is the better of the two. FAR BETTER! It just feels much more solid and heavy duty. The 64458 feels like a Craftsman box to me, and I have a lot of experience with Craftsman boxes. I’m assuming the red 56" boxes would also have the same differences between item numbers.
It seems obvious to me that my two were manufactured in two different factories. I’ve since been to one of my stores that displayed one factory’s top on the other factory’s bottom. If I weren’t looking for the differences, it would be hard to notice, but I definitely notice it now! *****, but it would be too much of a hassle for me to load the 64458 back up and return, but I will probably always regret that I didn't.
Nothing scientific here, but just my personal observation and opinion. Maybe this can help other members on what to look for if planning to purchase the new 56" box. They can then decide which box they prefer.
Edit: I forgot to mention one of the very first differences that I noticed when unloading the two boxes from my truck, and it may be a huge deal to some people. The 64457 not only has the larger plastic drawer latches that can be easily removed by removing two small screws from inside the drawer, but it also has detents to hold the drawers shut if you do choose to remove the latches. It takes a good tug to break the drawer loose when opening (like on the 44" boxes), even after sliding the latch to the open position. This would be great for those that hate the plastic latches and wish to remove them, and bad for those that like the latches and want to keep, but now have to slide the latch and give a good tug also. The 64458 has the smaller plastic latches, and are held on with one single rivet inside the drawer. If you wish to remove the latches, you'll have to drill out the rivet. And, the drawers don't have detents. With latches removed, there's nothing holding the drawers closed, requiring the magnet trick or some other fix to keep the drawer closed.
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