Harbor Freight 56" Post your pics
- Thread starter AndyCapps
- Start date
chipper
Well-known member
I have one and I would say the biggest con is no full length drawer other then that I love it I wish they offered a matching side box for it rather then using the one for the 44
I turn wrenches for a living. Been working out of a Crapsman 26" for way too long. Drawers are overloaded, they fall apart every time I open/close them. I'm considering the HF box but I wonder how it would hold up loaded in an automotive shop on daily basis. Anyone use this box for a living?
Exceller8
Well-known member
I'm just a DIY guy and I love my 56" HF box very much but I don't know that I would buy it for pro use. I have mine loaded up about average and I do get some flexing and twisting of the drawers. Nothing major but I see that it could be a problem down the road with heavy use.
i think it would take near twice the price to find something close than MIGHT be a stronger unit. for the price of the hf professional use.... 5 years, what if you can get 10 years? you would only have to buy 2 or 3 boxes your whole life. 700x3=2100 bucks over the course of a lifetime.
just an example. you could buy one and last 30 years.
its a good gamble, IMO.
just an example. you could buy one and last 30 years.
its a good gamble, IMO.
oldldh
Well-known member
440 lbs of goodness...
And like the man said---You could replace it every five years, and be money ahead...
Buying a mega-money box is, I believe, more of an ego thing, than an "I really, really need this magnificent $ 10,000.00 box---really I do..."
And like the man said---You could replace it every five years, and be money ahead...
Buying a mega-money box is, I believe, more of an ego thing, than an "I really, really need this magnificent $ 10,000.00 box---really I do..."
How "loaded" is your box? Got any pics?
I've got the 44", but they're near identical. I wrench for a living and it's my main box -- it holds up a million times better than anything Craftsman currently makes. The stock it's made out of is thicker, the joints are better designed, and the slides are much stronger. Don't have to worry about Craftsman's puny 75 pound weight limit on the US General.
I've had mine for only a couple years now, but with some care I think it'll keep going strong for several more. FYI: mine's loaded down big time. Several drawers are at capacity, and a few are completely full of really heavy stuff like 2 drawers of jumbo wrenches, drawers of 3/4" and 1" sockets, a drawer of pullers and pushers, and it's got an old Craftsman sitting on top (also full...).
ihateminimumwage
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 26, 2012
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I think the GJ archives have at least a few threads on any and every tool that's been built so far. Never hurts to have another one that gathers fresh info and pictures.
Hpozzuoli
Well-known member
Hpozzuoli
Well-known member
nit2wn
Well-known member
Bought it for the ultimate storage for me. I'll probably never fill it up. It made well enough and for what I paid for the pair is the best deal going unless you can find a used tool truck box for cheap. Those deals don't seem to happen around here and I couldn't care less what my tools are stored in as long as it don't fall apart. Seems much heavier made than anything the box stores had in that price range.
cburnscrx
Well-known member
I am still waiting to see one of these "customized" with a different paint color, or something. Love the HF boxes and I have the 44" myself.
Trey T
Well-known member
Better put on your flame retardant suit bc SO guys will storm this thread!
Bought it for the ultimate storage for me. I'll probably never fill it up. It made well enough and for what I paid for the pair is the best deal going unless you can find a used tool truck box for cheap. Those deals don't seem to happen around here and I couldn't care less what my tools are stored in as long as it don't fall apart. Seems much heavier made than anything the box stores had in that price range.
Nice. I do Love the top box, but I think Id stick with just the bottom for the working surface. Would love to see a 56 with 2 end Locker cabinents 1 on each end. Thats the setup I want
bobcatdan
Well-known member
I could care less what you store your tools in. If it works for you, that is all that matters.
oldldh
Well-known member
One must be brave...
Or stupid...
Or Old to say things like that...
I'm all three, so I can take it...
But I've seen the "Mine's bigger/faster/prettier/etc, than yours", too many times to believe that ego doesn't have a major role to play in most cases...
Why are there Rolls Royces???
Requin6
Well-known member
Yanked the wheels off mine...
I am still very tempted to paint mine black to match my side cab and the rest of the stuff in my garage. The red is kind of wearing on me though!
I am still very tempted to paint mine black to match my side cab and the rest of the stuff in my garage. The red is kind of wearing on me though!
Trey T
Well-known member
It was just a warning bc SO guys around are very sensitive about the $ value vs quality. In fact, I own HF and Husky boxes.
It could be the ego thing but it is fine to me, they do as they like- it's a free country.
It could be the ego thing but it is fine to me, they do as they like- it's a free country.
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Trey T
Well-known member
I agree. Do you think this 56" will last a long time (decades) in a commercial environment with multi-person use?
Been working out of a 26" Craftsman Ball bearing Griplatch bottom for 10 years. I paid $600+ for it and its Been falling apart for the past 4-5 years. The griplatch drawer ends fall off constantly, the Slides are shot. The drawers are always falling apart when I open them so at this point ANYTHING is an improvement. Idk what the load/ weight limit is but Im sure I far exceeded it. ) The thing that scares me is the manual in the box in the store says "no replacement parts available"..so if drawer slides give out...then what?
kngelv
Well-known member
I have the 56 and agree it's a great deal. I am starting to really dislike the locking mechanisms. Also, the slides are not the greatest when its cold out. If I had to do it over again I'd get the Menards 56.
James
James
Trey T
Well-known member
^are you talking about the side latch? What's not right about it? I don't own one but might consider it in the future.
flippin
Well-known member
Firstly, I am really impressed with all of the HF cabinet/bench conversions that people are sharing, thank you. I too am thinking about driving the 2hrs to get to the Watertown HF and purchasing about 10 of these for a mega bench and island which I have been planning for some time now. There is no doubt that even paying the tax coming across the border I would have spent way less than anything comparable in Canada.
I am curious if anybody could chime in with construction specifics between the 44" and the 56" boxes. Clearly weight loading will be the undoing of any box. And as such would the 44" box last longer because the same drawers and slides will be supporting less weight on narrower spans? Not to mention that the 44" box is 4" less deep. With what I have planned I am not concerned about volume per footprint. I am interested to see if the gauge, supports, slides etc are the same between these two boxes.
Thanks a lot guys.
I am curious if anybody could chime in with construction specifics between the 44" and the 56" boxes. Clearly weight loading will be the undoing of any box. And as such would the 44" box last longer because the same drawers and slides will be supporting less weight on narrower spans? Not to mention that the 44" box is 4" less deep. With what I have planned I am not concerned about volume per footprint. I am interested to see if the gauge, supports, slides etc are the same between these two boxes.
Thanks a lot guys.
cburnscrx
Well-known member
Well, I know that people have had success getting drawer slides for the 44" in the past with a part number. There's a thread on hear about just that. I suspect the same will be true with the 56". Personally if it were me and I were that concerned, I'd just buy extra slides and sit on them in case I ever needed them.
Exceller8
Well-known member
I'm on my way to pickup the 56" top box this morning. They finally have it back in stock. I have been waiting months for it. I'll post some picture when I get it setup. 
paranoid56
Well-known member
I am painting mine now (the 44" model) you can see them here
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=234496
LOOSEWHEEL
Well-known member
Post #4530 in the HF coupon thread.
98TJ
Well-known member
Built this years ago when I bought mine.
https://scontent-a-lax.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash2/t1/602504_3396117318996_1663500593_n.jpg
https://scontent-a-lax.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash2/t1/602504_3396117318996_1663500593_n.jpg
Built this years ago when I bought mine.
https://scontent-a-lax.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash2/t1/602504_3396117318996_1663500593_n.jpg
Nice. I've always wondered what the 56" look would like with the lockers on both ends. Whats the overall length with both lockers?
AV tinker er
Well-known member
My only complaint about the 56" (specifically the top chest) is the depth of the top shelf (for lack of a better term). Sockets cannot be stood up, not sure what you can really use it for. Paperwork? Pliers?
DanCo
Well-known member
I was just thinking the same thing. No real storage space, probably 1.5" of height.
Dan
spotco2
Well-known member
Here's a pic of my 56" with one side box made for the 44"
I like it so far I think. The plastic drawer locks are ok as long as the box is on level ground. If the box is racked due to sitting on an uneven surface the locks are not long enough. Yes, with it fully loaded the entire box will rack but since most people don't move these large boxes after they are parked it will probably not be much of an issue. I can barely roll mine with it loaded.
I like it so far I think. The plastic drawer locks are ok as long as the box is on level ground. If the box is racked due to sitting on an uneven surface the locks are not long enough. Yes, with it fully loaded the entire box will rack but since most people don't move these large boxes after they are parked it will probably not be much of an issue. I can barely roll mine with it loaded.