chrommagman
Well-known member
Hey guys!
I was wondering if any one has a Harbor Freight tool box and what do you think about it ?
I was wondering if any one has a Harbor Freight tool box and what do you think about it ?
Harbor Freight tool boxes
- Thread starter chrommagman
- Start date
balane
Well-known member
I'm going to go out on a limb and say this has probably been discussed at great length in multiple threads in the past. You might want to give it a go in the search box. I bet you will find hours and hours of informative reading filled with dozens upon dozens of photos to look at.
Good luck.
Good luck.
W650Mike
Well-known member
Somewhere there's a thread on one with a hot babe on top.
ishiboo
Well-known member
"not made in the USA" "HF is garbage" floodgates are OPEN.
Pug}{maN
Well-known member
Seriously, I own three of the 46"ers, 1 top chest and 2 bottoms. Love them. Bought them even though I had a complete Craftsman ball bearing set because they are higher quality and stronger. Sold the Craftsman for slightly more than I paid for it new.
Blue Gator Six
Well-known member
I have one of the carts with the top that goes up made by US General and I have been quite impressed with it. For the price it is hard to beat. If their bigger boxes are as good a quality as the one I have then I say buy one.
Zeke
Well-known member
Troll or not, I've examined the HF and Craftsman equivalents and you pay Sears 100 more for the exact same thing. If you feel adding 100 bucks to our economy for "handling" is going to help us out, by all means do so.
Meanwhile, if it's made overseas, I'm going to spend as little as possible and keep the rest for something that is perhaps made in the US.
Meanwhile, if it's made overseas, I'm going to spend as little as possible and keep the rest for something that is perhaps made in the US.
SuperSocket
Well-known member
Craftsman doesn't make their tool boxes here in the US....
i don't care where they are made, craftsman hasn't made a box that is worth a **** for 20 years, the HF boxes are way better than they high end crapsman boxes and way way cheaper
SuperSocket
Well-known member
I was responding to his comment. There is no advantage of a Craftsman box since it's not made in the USA.... the only thing you're paying for is the name at this point.
HF also has stores just like Sears and probably employs more people per HF store than Sears does per Tool department.
HF boxes are far superior and much cheaper IMO.
OP
chrommagman
Well-known member
I bought one 46" and one top about a year and half ago. I too had a complete ball bearing set and the HF one is way better. I too sold my craftsman set for more than the HF set. My HF set is bigger and better than the craftsman set. I would recommend the HF tool chest to anyone over the craftsman set.
I am a guy who buys tools and equipment which are made for each specific task. I would never buy a craftsman skill saw if I was cutting wood. I bought a worm drive SKILSAW because I know it will never fail me.
The HF boxes are well made boxes and if you want I can post some photos of all the weight I have in my drawers, which slide with just the push of a single finger to close. My Craftsman set would not hold as much and did not open/close as easily and with less weight inside.
darkk
Well-known member
I checked them out pretty good a coiple of times. They seem to be pretty rugged...
87vertgt
Active member
I checked them out a couple weeks back.
Garbage!
Made like ****.
Just go with Craftsman. Low cost and durable for the weekend gear head.
Garbage!
Made like ****.
Just go with Craftsman. Low cost and durable for the weekend gear head.
balane
Well-known member
Joking or troll?
Yeah, that has to be a joke. Current Craftsman boxes give even Chinese labor a bad name.
87vertgt
Active member
Neither
never mind.
never mind.
sir i'm right with you. i replaced my snap on at work and my craftsman at home with harbor fright units. took a small bath on the snap on one but still i could buy literally 4 highest quality HF ones from the loss i took on the sale of the snap on. never again snap on.
oh and im happy with the one in my house too. cant beat it for $300 and no tax delaware.
Attachments
purpony
Well-known member
i have a couple. Cant beat them for the price. They work well and hold all my tools. I bought them on sale for $270 each. May pick up another to finish off the wall before they change the finish, design, or stop selling them.
Trey T
Well-known member
I believe the trick to the success of the HF 13 drawer tool chest are several key features:
-thin material but powder coated has a better feel to it. It just feel stiffer.
-very tall ball bearing slide, generally seen on 150lb+ rated slide drawers.
-good drawer size arrangement
That's basically it. There's nothing genius about tool cabinets. Just don't go out and buy Snap-On w/ their 325% mark-up.
HF just happens to have a very good tool cabinet. I have had my 13 drawers cabinet since 2005 or so and it's durable.
I just purchased a larger brand name tool box w/ top and bottom set and will do some comparison soon.
-thin material but powder coated has a better feel to it. It just feel stiffer.
-very tall ball bearing slide, generally seen on 150lb+ rated slide drawers.
-good drawer size arrangement
That's basically it. There's nothing genius about tool cabinets. Just don't go out and buy Snap-On w/ their 325% mark-up.
HF just happens to have a very good tool cabinet. I have had my 13 drawers cabinet since 2005 or so and it's durable.
I just purchased a larger brand name tool box w/ top and bottom set and will do some comparison soon.
Alchymist
Well-known member
Picked up two of these some time ago. On sale at $149 usually. Did not buy them for a "tool box", but rather for "storage".The base units are still in the box, waiting my reloading bench build. One set of intermediate/top box stores all manner of drill bits. The second intermediate box holds all my crimpers in the top drawer, and all the terminals in the bottom. Last top box is misc - jig and recip saw blades, locks and keys, hole saws, etc. Top part is small misc auto parts - plugs, bulbs, etc.
I bought these for storage, so the quality wasn't top priority, as they won't be opened/closed many time daily. Good buy for the money, but not up to daily driving. Probably compare with Sears cheapest.
http://www.harborfreight.com/11-drawer-roller-cabinet-67421.html
I bought these for storage, so the quality wasn't top priority, as they won't be opened/closed many time daily. Good buy for the money, but not up to daily driving. Probably compare with Sears cheapest.
http://www.harborfreight.com/11-drawer-roller-cabinet-67421.html
Attachments
I have to agree. The 46" is a diamond. The larger one decent. The red 26" a bit of a step down and the smaller brown "machinist" set another step down. To me the 46" is a no-brainer. The smaller ones make great storage but I wouldn't use em for a tool chest.
Monkey Radio
Well-known member
I am looking at buying the top & bottom box's. I have a coupon for 349.99 for the bottom. Then the top for 299.99 - 20%. Is there any way to get them any cheaper. Can I use the supper coupon on the 349.99 box as well?
Big Top GT
Well-known member
i have a couple. Cant beat them for the price. They work well and hold all my tools. I bought them on sale for $270 each. May pick up another to finish off the wall before they change the finish, design, or stop selling them.
Good looking boxes and your setup is high on my list for how I'm looking to set mine up.
What did you use for a counter top?
Also, did you pay $270 for each of the bottom boxes? If so, sign me up.
I wonder if you can add castors. I'd really like to be able to roll them around in lieu of needing to empty it should I need to move it.
pdxgearhead
Well-known member
purpony
Well-known member
if I remember correctly.. i paid $270 each for the bottom boxes on sale and with a 20% off. They do come with casters, i took mine off and used them on another project. I bought adjustable feet from mcmaster.
Counter top is just a standard 10ft from Home Depot.
Counter top is just a standard 10ft from Home Depot.
Monkey Radio
Well-known member
Thanks guys. That what I thought.
OP
chrommagman
Well-known member
I was at Hf yesterday and I saw how big the 13 drawer is. that thing is huge!!!
the 11 Drawer is the one that I want to get. It would be okay for the tools that I have now
the 11 Drawer is the one that I want to get. It would be okay for the tools that I have now
Steevo
Well-known member
i have a couple. Cant beat them for the price. They work well and hold all my tools. I bought them on sale for $270 each. May pick up another to finish off the wall before they change the finish, design, or stop selling them.
I am interested in how you attached the bench top to the boxes?
Did you lay plywood on the top surface of the boxes, up to the top of the lip on the sides, or does that counter top sit on just the edges of the boxes?
Big Top GT
Well-known member
Can anyone confirm the model number for the boxes? I'm having a hard time with Harbor Freight's site in finding those exact boxes.
Also, how wide are they? I've got 8' of space, leaving me room for a 50-55" tool box.
Also, how wide are they? I've got 8' of space, leaving me room for a 50-55" tool box.
kcaz507
Well-known member
Can anyone confirm the model number for the boxes? I'm having a hard time with Harbor Freight's site in finding those exact boxes.
Also, how wide are they? I've got 8' of space, leaving me room for a 50-55" tool box.
Looks like 2 of these:
http://www.harborfreight.com/13-drawer-red-industrial-quality-roller-cabinet-90320.html
One of these:
http://www.harborfreight.com/7-drawer-red-end-cabinet-for-roller-tool-chest-90321.html
and one of these:
http://www.harborfreight.com/five-drawer-service-cart-95272.html
Size specs are on the pages.
Big Top GT
Well-known member
Thanks!
Carl B
Well-known member
I had been looking closely at the 13 Drawer Roll Cabinets - US General Industrial Pro series.
I bought one of the 13 Drawer boxes for my son Saturday. Since I had the Coupon for $359.00 for the tool box, I went ahead and bought him the 42" Tall side cabinet. Figured that would be a good place for the electric/battery powered tools he has. Most of which come in their own blow molded or soft side cases.
The 42" side cabinet comes with two additional drawers and an adjustable shelf. I contacted Harbor Freight Customer Service via E-Mail - and ask them to locate the SKU or Item Number needed to order additional shelves for the side cabinet. They responded fairly quickly with the info and the Customer Order Phone Number. 1-800-423-2567
I'll Post the info here incase anyone else needs/wants it.
DESCRIPTION:
66474 SHELF (WITH THE 4 CLIPS) $9.72
SKU / Item Number: 12185
For $9.72 per shelf .... I ordered three. Shipping was about five bucks...
FWIW,
Carl B.
I bought one of the 13 Drawer boxes for my son Saturday. Since I had the Coupon for $359.00 for the tool box, I went ahead and bought him the 42" Tall side cabinet. Figured that would be a good place for the electric/battery powered tools he has. Most of which come in their own blow molded or soft side cases.
The 42" side cabinet comes with two additional drawers and an adjustable shelf. I contacted Harbor Freight Customer Service via E-Mail - and ask them to locate the SKU or Item Number needed to order additional shelves for the side cabinet. They responded fairly quickly with the info and the Customer Order Phone Number. 1-800-423-2567
I'll Post the info here incase anyone else needs/wants it.
DESCRIPTION:
66474 SHELF (WITH THE 4 CLIPS) $9.72
SKU / Item Number: 12185
For $9.72 per shelf .... I ordered three. Shipping was about five bucks...
FWIW,
Carl B.
Joe S.
Member
I am heading out this weekend to pickup the HF 13 drawer unit. I missed out on the 349 coupon, so I picked one up on ebay for 2 bucks. I am on the road tonight, and stopped by a Sears Hardware in Columbus, Ohio just to take one last look at the box's they had there...