Finally got my US General 44

[deerehunter/operator]

First time poster thanks for all the good info. Been debating on getting rid of my Craftsman narrow stack of 4 boxes and getting either a 44 or a five drawer cart. The problem was I wouldn't be able to fit all of my tools in the cart but still wanted something mobile. Im running out of space in my pole barn and wanted to eliminate a work bench and was thinking about making a mobile work bench out of an aluminum cart that my father in law got from a factory he works at. I figured if I got the 44 the top would also give me some space to work on chainsaws and what not. Well my mind was made up for me when I stopped in a newly opened HF store near me yesterday. Right in the entry of the store was a dented 44 box. They had it marked down to $311. I asked the store manager if that was the best he could do. He went and checked what cost was and came back and told me $248. That sounded pretty good to me but I wanted to make sure the dent wouldn't affect the drawers opening and closing. Upon trying the drawers we found out the box was locked and nobody knew where the keys were. He took my name and number and said he would call if they found them. After thinking about it I called the store to ask what the price would be if I took it as is. Different manager on duty at that point and he comes down to $200 and says that's as low as he is authorized to go and if I wasn't happy with that I would have to call today and speak with the store's main manager. I called this morning and the manager wanted to verify that the keys were indeed missing. He called back 1/2 hour later and said they were for sure missing and he could do $150 and no less. I said deal and went to pick it up. I never lock my box so I went ahead and drilled the lock out. The dent was a combination of pushed in and out so it was tough to really fix it 100% but I got it as good as I could. You can see the damage in the pic at the left end of the box but I may end up getting a cabinet for it anyway to cover that up. Just wanted to thank everyone for steering me towards this box as I think it will be an improvement over my even more cheaply made craftsman.

 

[geojag]

Great deal on the box. Sure you can get a replacement lock should you ever find yourself it.

 

[SantaAna12]

You did good Deerehunter!

Congrats.

 

[deerehunter/operator]

Forgot to say when we drilled the lock this afternoon the keys were ******* inside the top drawer lol. a lot of good they did there

 

[thecody59]

How did they get locked inside the drawer unless they used a second set. When you get a new box they always tie the keys inside but unlocked.

 

[jakemac]

How did they get locked inside the drawer unless they used a second set. When you get a new box they always tie the keys inside but unlocked.

-Pull the top drawer out.
-Lock the box and tie the keys inside the top drawer.
-Roll the box upside-down, with the drawer still out. Gravity will move the lockbar into the un-lock position.
-Push the top drawer back in.
-Roll the box back upright. The lockbar drops back down into the locked position.
Ta-Da.

 

[Farmall450]

-Pull the top drawer out.
-Lock the box and tie the keys inside the top drawer.
-Roll the box upside-down, with the drawer still out. Gravity will move the lockbar into the un-lock position.
-Push the top drawer back in.
-Roll the box back upright. The lockbar drops back down into the locked position.
Ta-Da.

Sounds like a lot of work that I doubt anyone would do.

OP good find, also, nice truck!

 

[deerehunter/operator]

Thanks! The manager said he helped the original purchaser load into his van and the box was fine. Somehow it ended up returned to the store smashed. The manager claimed he had the box open after it was returned to make sure drawers would open with the dent. When I originally looked at it Friday the bottom right drawer was open and the manager closed it to see if it was preventing the others from opening and that was it, she was locked up. he actually tipped the box back and forth trying to see if he could hear the keys sliding around inside lol. Is there normally four keys that comes with one of these boxes? There was four ******* in the top drawer.

 

[burnedzr2]

With the money you saved you could buy a side box for 179 and cover the dent if it is on the side!

 

[deerehunter/operator]

That's what i was thinking. Do the side cabinets ever go on sale or is the price pretty standard?

 

[Kracin]

yeah all you have to do to lock and unlock most craftsman or HF toolboxes is stick a key in that fits. jiggle the **** out of it while turning and you'll open it up...

 

[stikman56]

How did they get locked inside the drawer unless they used a second set. When you get a new box they always tie the keys inside but unlocked.

Easy, you lock it with the drawer open, throw them in, push it closed. That's how the drawers work on this box.