Harbor Freight 13 drawer tool boxes $271.99
- Thread starter Colonial Cobra
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purpony
Well-known member
Does a cadillac look like a yugo, NO... does a HF box look like a Proto box, YES
Its more like, putting a shelby/cobra emblem on a cobra kit car.
The HF boxes are for my home garage which i turned into a large workbench. I dont want to blow $5000 on a boxes, but why cant it look like i did? They all work the same, drawer opens, drawer closes and holds my tools. I would rather have that money in the bank..
My toolbox doesnt make me money like some of you on this board either. Besides....I have access to a RP machine and cad, so i modeled some emblems up and grew them. Was a fun little project.
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Kent Skinner
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Of course we'd all like to buy American made boxes. However, that isn't a reality for most hobbyists.
How about if the guys yelling "don't buy Chinese" put some of that energy into finding a good replacement for the HF box. I guess I could buy it from Northern Tool for $2,500 - but that seems really stupid.
So, what's the best box that's of similar size for less than $1,000 and made in the USA?
How about if the guys yelling "don't buy Chinese" put some of that energy into finding a good replacement for the HF box. I guess I could buy it from Northern Tool for $2,500 - but that seems really stupid.
So, what's the best box that's of similar size for less than $1,000 and made in the USA?
I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for an answer to that one.
The bottom box actually cost me $300 to bring home. Find me a box made in the good 'ole USofA for $300...eh...factor in the Made in USA mark-up and find me a box that performs the same job for twice as much. I'm not gonna pay more than twice for a product like a tool box. on other tools and products, maybe, but not a tool box.
Shadowdog500
Well-known member
You are not going to find a comparable priced box anywhere else than from China. No one can compete with there $1,600 dollar a year employees who work 80 to 120 hours a week making this stuff.
Chris
Chris
I picked up a pair of these this past weekend (that was all my local HF had) and will hopefully get more soon. The plan is to line the side walls of the garage with them and the three shelf side units. I will end up with three of the 13 drawer units on the wall pictured below and two on the other for a total of 5. I had spec'ed out a full compliment of Lista boxes and was on the verge of pulling the trigger. This deal will save me nearly $10,000 and be 95% functional equivalent.
I am very, very impressed with the quality of this box. It is much heavier and more substantial than my 7 year old Craftsman grip-latch ball bearing combo box. For $300 with tax it is a stupid good deal. BTW, I will be pulling the casters off of mine and replacing them with screw adjustable feet. This is to get them to sit perfectly level under a forthcoming countertop.
Here is a shot of the pair so far:
Also, I managed to damage one myself. We ended up setting the box on one of the square wood blocks right in the middle of the bottom where there is no extra reinforcement. This pushed up the center column which bent its welded tab that ties it to the floor. I could bend it back down with clamps but it would not hold. The solution was to remove the top and bottom drawer, pull it together using an all-thread rod run up through the middle of the column and weld it in it's original position.
This was a pretty easy fix (great use number 1,283 for the in-floor scissor lift) and allowed me to take some pictures from inside the box:
I am going to try to get a rain check for three more of these from my local HF before the sale ends.
I am very, very impressed with the quality of this box. It is much heavier and more substantial than my 7 year old Craftsman grip-latch ball bearing combo box. For $300 with tax it is a stupid good deal. BTW, I will be pulling the casters off of mine and replacing them with screw adjustable feet. This is to get them to sit perfectly level under a forthcoming countertop.
Here is a shot of the pair so far:
Also, I managed to damage one myself. We ended up setting the box on one of the square wood blocks right in the middle of the bottom where there is no extra reinforcement. This pushed up the center column which bent its welded tab that ties it to the floor. I could bend it back down with clamps but it would not hold. The solution was to remove the top and bottom drawer, pull it together using an all-thread rod run up through the middle of the column and weld it in it's original position.
This was a pretty easy fix (great use number 1,283 for the in-floor scissor lift) and allowed me to take some pictures from inside the box:
I am going to try to get a rain check for three more of these from my local HF before the sale ends.
looks like the sale is over on these bottom boxes. Has anyone looked at this set that they currently have on sale:
I need a spare box for tools in the house.
Yea.. I was interested in this.. But like others, when I saw it in the store, I passed. Looked too cheap.
HF quality seems to be improving - or maybe my luck has just gotten better. But everything I bought from there a year or so ago would seem to break instantly. To the point where I vowed to never go back in. Recently though I've been getting addicted again. Haven't had any bad buys, as long as I researched it first.
As bad as it is about sending those jobs overseas, at least it allows low/middle income people like me to buy the tools needed to do a job. This has helped our quality of living. I'm not saying it's right to have people in China working slave wages for this stuff... It bothers me as much as anyone else. But there is at least one positive out of it.
Unfortunately most people seem to be concerned with price more than quality But I learned from that since if you have to buy it twice, you spent more than buying the brand name tool once - Plus all the aggravation.
I recently bought a sandblast cabinet and pressure blaster from harbor freight. The exact same items (looked pretty well identical) would have been $100s more at Tractor Supply. The quality is surprisingly sturdy as well. Very impressed for the price.
It's hard to tell whats really made in america anymore.. I'd rather go to HF and at least get the best deal versus Sears or TSC, etc..
Besides..I don't know about where some of you guys live - but around here there are basically no tool stores. It's either Sears, HD, Lowes, (and maybe an auto parts store) or Harbor Freight. And HF has a million more little unique tools that you can't find any other place. Particularly automotive stuff. It's either HF, or order it online, pay shipping, and wait a week. For some stuff, theres just no other reasonable option.
Boost Creep
Well-known member
got mine today. haven't had a chance to make it out to my barn to unload it yet. probably tomorrow. i'm hoping to get one or two more soon as i've been planning on doing the same thing paul is and making them the base of a counter
RattytatTom
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purpony
Well-known member
DORIGTT said:
Im doing the same as paul as well. These are the feet i ordered and received last week.
[ur]http://www.mcmaster.com/#leveling-feet/=5yhtxn[/url] #2515T17
I ordered the 3/8-16 even though the bolt holes on the bottom of the box are metric. However, i couldnt find leveling feet in the correct metric pitch of 1.5 so i got the next closest thing... ill run a tap through there and they should work just fine.
I am using McMaster part #62805K43. I received this morning three different feet from McMaster to try. This is the one I am going with.
BTW, this one has a slick delrin hard bottom and will be very slick and slide easily. After locating them, I am going to screw all of my cabinets together and up through the top of them into the countertop so sliding after install won't be an issue.
BTW, this one has a slick delrin hard bottom and will be very slick and slide easily. After locating them, I am going to screw all of my cabinets together and up through the top of them into the countertop so sliding after install won't be an issue.
rhastings80
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- Apr 1, 2009
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I already own one of these and got about a year and a half ago. I have been very happy with it and wanted another one. I had been thinking about getting another one but money has been tight. For the past 3 nights at home I have been extra nice to the wife to try and butter her up to the idea of getting another one. I have been giving her a back rub after work each night. Tonight after work she got home and I laid out the harbor freight ad by the microwave and gave her a back rub. Then we both went into the kitchen to make dinner and she saw the ad and asked what it was. I told her that the tool carts are on sale and tomorrow is the last day of the sale. She suggested that I should get one. It was 7pm and I called the store and asked if they still had any left. The guy Joe said they have 9 left and were open until 8PM. I thought it was a little strange they would have 9 with this great price. I rushed over to the store and when I went to the only open checkout lane and it was Joe working. I told him I wanted the tool cart and said I spoke to him on the phone a few minutes before. He called in the back for them to get one and he found out the 9 they had were intended for folks with rain checks but they did give it to me anyways since he told me on the phone they have it and since I drove there. I was very appreciative and thankful. Guess its my lucky week. I also found out this week that I get to go to Vegas for a week in April for a vendor convention. Now I just have to figure out how to get the monster tool cart out of my truck. I can't remember how I got the last one out and now the driveway is ice. Hope I didn't mess it up laying it on its side since I have a topper. Might be worth buying a scissor lift. I got it for just under $300.00 with the 20% off coupon and tax.
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DanD1
Well-known member
Jack your toolbox looks nice. I just purchased one today and want to paint it also. Did you paint the inside of the drawers or just the fronts?Since this thread is still charging forward...
I finished my bench today. The HF cabinet might be hard to recognize. The drawers have been painted black and the rest has been painted a gloss red to match the Craftsman stack next to it.
I also repositioned the two deep drawers to the top of their rows -- which looks a little odd, but works better for my use.
Thanks
Dan
Nice! I got a rain check for mine.. going to pick up a couple i think.. i currently have a kobalt (the one with the built in fridge) I find myself still needing room and I wanna set up small lathe and mill area in my garage so from looking at some of your ideas i think I can build something pretty nice for my garage. Too bad this thing wasnt brushed stainless.. it would have gone well with all the other stuff i have already.
Thanks. I only painted the faces. Self-etching primer and then Rustoleum. The 'it's only the garage' argument carried the day when it came to taking on so much additional real estate that would only be visible when a drawer or cabinet was open. If I'd been going from yellow or black to red I might have jumped in with both feet and done the whole thing. But the new color is pretty close to the old one.
litljay
Well-known member
Pics of feet you folks used?
I'll be either purchasing or building a new home in the next 6 mos, so I need to start planning out the garage set up.
Agree 100%. I've been a Soldier for over 15 years and I try to buy American when I can but when the cost doesn't make it feasible I buy what I can afford and it doesn't bother me one bit.
MxRider2637
Active member
I just bought one today! For 280, its a perfect deal. Sure beats my Stanley box that was 50 bucks! I was surprised that even the bottom drawers had double ball bearing slides. People complain about the red crinkle finish, I personally like it and don't think its crinkly. I'll see how it holds up, ill be putting in my tools tomorrow.
larry4406
Well-known member
I installed a 7 drawer add-on box on each side of the roll cabinet base. The add-on-boxes do not have the holes with welded nuts to allow re-installation of the handles. Guess its time to drill and install a nut. Anyone else solve this?
Anyone have a soluton on how to re-key these all to one key? I now have 4 different keys.
Anyone have a soluton on how to re-key these all to one key? I now have 4 different keys.
rhastings80
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I bought 2 HF boxes and they serve me fine. Others on this forum feel very strongly that we should buy "american" like SnapOn. I think that is a hogwash comparison of apples and oranges and I refer you to this thread:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=57186
Is a Toyota Camry made in America by Americans with mostly American sourced parts still a Japanese car?
Is a Snapon, with Taiwanese parts and Asian steel, American or Chinese?
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=57186
Is a Toyota Camry made in America by Americans with mostly American sourced parts still a Japanese car?
Is a Snapon, with Taiwanese parts and Asian steel, American or Chinese?
momswgn
Well-known member
Went to HF yesterday and the boxes were no longer $349. Will have to catch them on sale later.
Shadowdog500
Well-known member
The link for your identical post worked in this thread but not the other.
Actually that UAW and Canadian equivalent websites have some Toyotas as preferred vehicles for people to buy because they are entirely or mostly made by american/canadian union workers so it is supporting our jobs and our economy. It may seem odd but some American cars don't make the list because of components and sometimes the entire car is made outside of the USA and Canada. My wife has an American made Toyota and I don't consider it a cheap car, I consider it a quality car.
I also have no problem buying something from Japan or any other country that doesn't have a staggering trade deficit like China, because the Japanese people buy allot of our stuff too. I thought that is the way trade was supposed to work, I buy your stuff and you buy ours. I have no problem with that, but the Chainnese are not buying allot of stuff from anybody else so our factory workers don't get the equivalent amount of work to make goods that will be exported to them.
I'm kind of disappointed at the Taiwan Snap-on slides in Made in America products. Shame on you Snap on!
Chris
Shadowdog500
Well-known member
Double post!!!!
holland_patrick
Well-known member
I got two on the last day...
WOOOT
WOOOT
wood02
Well-known member
I pruchased two (13 drawer) #90320 base for $299.59, one (7 drawer) #90321 end cabinet for $171.19. I have a rain check for one (5 drawer) #95272 service cart for $154.07. Prices include .07 sales tax. I got them on the last day of the sale. I am very pleased with the boxes. For the money to quality ratio...it would be very hard to beat. These boxes are very heavy and "well" made. I followed this thread until I finally made the trip to HF...
flyer in today's paper shows sale price $339.99 and flyer has a 20% coupon - net $271.99 - box price and coupon good thru 4/21/10 so that takes some time pressure off & free flashlight included
Can you find this online anywhere? I don't have an HF paper, and I can't find the sales prices on the boxes on their web site. I would consider buying the side cabinet next month. Thank you
holland_patrick
Well-known member
I saw it for 100 off so the price was 399 in the flyer my neighbor had....
purpony
Well-known member
I installed my adjustable feet on both my boxes last night. I used the 3/8-16 ones even though they were metric. I could not find them in the correct pitch, but the 3/8-16 screws right in. A little slope but works well for anyone interested. I still want to bolt both boxes together. I also cut 3/4 MDF and put on the tops of the boxes. Then my laminate counter top is ontop. I also have the 7 drawer box hanging on one of the cabinets. So i now have 101" of drawers and counter space. Ill post pics tonight.
purpony
Well-known member
Hi from CT. What store do you use? Berlin or Vernon? I find the people aat Vernon are more helpful
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holland_patrick
Well-known member
Berlin..... they were ok when i got the boxes.. but for the most part they are lost in the store
I got one wall of my tool cabinets all put together and height adjusted. On top of this will be a full length countertop.
Here is a shot of the feet. Notice that I welded on a 2" square piece of tubing to the bottom of the cabinet. I did this as I wanted more height.
And last, I took all of the guts out of my lift control box and have them mounted behind and in the cabinet under the air conditioner. I have purchased a four button "crane hoist pendant control" (wired remote control) that I will wire up via a long coiled cord to control the lift.
I am waiting on HF to get in more of the tool cabinets to complete the opposite wall. Hopefully they will come in this wee so that I can get the countertops ordered.
Here is a shot of the feet. Notice that I welded on a 2" square piece of tubing to the bottom of the cabinet. I did this as I wanted more height.
And last, I took all of the guts out of my lift control box and have them mounted behind and in the cabinet under the air conditioner. I have purchased a four button "crane hoist pendant control" (wired remote control) that I will wire up via a long coiled cord to control the lift.
I am waiting on HF to get in more of the tool cabinets to complete the opposite wall. Hopefully they will come in this wee so that I can get the countertops ordered.
RbrtAWhyt
Well-known member
Thats awesome. Great looking set up you have there.