Harbor Freight U.S. General Tool Chest has been changed?

[Jack Burton]

I've had a 90320 box with the red crinkled powder coat for a couple years now and I'm quite happy with it.

I noticed the gloss red (68784) one in the store today and starting playing with it. Something about the drawers seemed different in that they rocked side-to-side easier and the closed position detent didn't feel as substantial as mine does. Possibly different drawer glides.

I asked the clerk if they lightened the sheet metal gauge on the gloss chest and he said as far as he knew, it was just a paint change. It's hard to find an area to mic on the chest since all the drawer edges are rolled.

Looking back at the specs on the 90320, it was rated to hold 2894 .lbs overall. The new gloss 68784 is rated at 2633 .lbs overall. So obviously, something else has been changed besides the finish. Generally, the limiting factor on products like this is the caster capacity. So maybe they changed those. But I swear, the drawers seem different.

Anyone have the shipping weight and actual weight of the old 90320?

 

[RCStocker]

You are right they are not the same.
I think the old ones were better made hand had more heft to them. I gave my 3 grandsons the old style a few years back. They have held up well and for the money they are great. I think the old finish is better as well. The drawers on the new style have more slop or play in them and I think they are lighter weight. The new ones are still a good box for the money.

What is fantastic is the 28 inch box and chest pr. For $320 with a 20% coupon there is nothing else anywhre that comes close. The top box is full depth and it works very well.
I got 2 of them the first of the year for $299.99 when they came out. I also got 4 of their best service carts for $149.99 at the same time. I picked up a snap on service cart for $100 years ago and I think the HF is just as good. The drawers latch when it is unlocked.
They never swing open when moivng around. Quite a service cart. I my thinking if you buy anthing else you are only wasting money. I do like the service carts with the slide back tops. It give you a nice place to put things and still have access to the cart. If HF made one of those the same size as thier $300 cart it might be the worlds best cart.

I hate HF but sometimes they can't be beat. Thier pickers are great for the money. For the home owner and small repair shop HF can save you a lot of money.

I love thier impact sockets and have been using them for 25 years. I have Sna-0n, Matco, Proto, Craftsman and other brand impacts but the HF have held up just as well fo what I do on the farm and in my hobby shop. I just wish their set were complete sets and did not skip sockets.

 

[SMKS]

There are several threads on this topic. The change was made quite a while ago. Perform some searches and you'll find more info on the load ratings. Their load ratings have always been a little fishy to begin with.

I have the old style, but I'd buy the new style in a heartbeat. Lots of people have both styles and like them. They're much better than anything else in the price range.

 

[O_M_Jeep]

I can tell you the new 44" cabinet is 17ga. steel (the 5 drawer svc. cart is 14ga.), rolled edges, the bearing slides are IIRC, 14 bearing sets riveted in place on the drawer and double wall frame. MisterMoose did a phenominal write-up, see it here, where he measured all kinds of things on the new "gloss red" cabinets.

 

[mbruffey]

I went over to look at the 41(44) and 26 inch stacks at HF. I was quite disappointed at the slop in the drawers. By the time you get into a 44 with top, you can get a MasterForce at Menards (on sale or clearance), with a pull-out shelf and much better feeling slides. At least that's my first reaction. I have lots of HF air tools and Pittsburgh Pro wrenches, so I'm not trying to bash HF here. Hope you all understand that.

Now help me. Is this the best time of year to acquire a tool chest? When's the best for new? When's the best for used? (MN).

Thx! m