HarborFreight 26" for hardware/nut/bolt/etc storage?

[MrBreeze]

With the Harbor Freight sale this weekend, the red 26" tool chest is a decent price: $319.99 - and I'm thinking this might make for a good option to store hardware, nuts, bolts, etc? (I'm just a home owner/wrencher, not a professional)

Yes, I've read multiple "how do you store your hardware" threads, but I'm curious if anyone who has used a rolling tool chest for hardware, have any regrets or faced any problems - before I go and buy the HF 26"

Here's some more context:

I already have two 44" tool chests for tool storage, and am currently using an old hand-me-down 26" craftsman tool chest from my father for "little stuff" and hardware storage - but the chest is short with few drawers and it doesn't hold much. (which was fine for "my first tool chest) My plan was to keep it in the family and pass it on to my nephew, so thats why the 26" HF which is 60" tall will provide much more hardware storage as I don't have the linear space to go with another 44", so I need to go taller. I anticipate another move in a year or two, so the portability is a nice factor over wall-mounted bins or card-catalog type files that are more difficult to move.

Any thoughts, advice, words of wisdom before I pull the trigger this weekend on a HF 26"? Thanks!

 

[stanleyrleonard]

Check this out: http://www.sears.com/craftsman-11-drawer-3-pc-standard-duty-combo/p-009CO72452312B?prdNo=30&blockNo=30&blockType=G30

Hope this saves you some money--Stan

 

[BDT/NWMN]

$319.99 would go a long way on Durham parts storage drawers.... It would be a different story if you had an unused tool box just sitting around... But I would not buy that tool box for what you intend to do with it..

 

[bcradio]

I think the 26" HF would be great for what you want to do with it. I bought one just to store my electronics tools and 12v power tools. It works perfect for that as well as storing all my electrical connectors and such.

You will like it for sure. Don't go for the cheapest route, go for the route that works best for you.

 

[hangfirew8]

I would not use a toolbox for nuts and bolts, especially one with detent catches instead of latches. Every time you pull or shut the contents are going to shuffle around. Sure, you can buy some blow molded drawer organizers that will help, but that is extra money.

The common solutions for hardware involve lots of little bins or drawers, like an Akro Bin rack or something like these:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006WQPNJ4/?tag=atomicindus08-20

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006WQPKKQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[MrBreeze]

I would not use a toolbox for nuts and bolts, especially one with detent catches instead of latches. Every time you pull or shut the contents are going to shuffle around. Sure, you can buy some blow molded drawer organizers that will help, but that is extra money.

Good point about things rolling/shuffling around when opening and closing.

I should have said in my original post that my intent is to use bins/trays for the loose hardware. A lot of what I'm currently using the small 26" chest for is not the typical nuts/bolts/washers, but rather other "fiddly bits" that I want stored and organized so that I can find when I need (so not dumped into a "junk box" that I'd have to dig through)

I really like the Durham, Lista and Vidmar stuff - great quality and purpose-built, but pricy and less mobile. Have been watching CL for an opportunity to buy and refurbish a drawer cabinet, but nothing close to the price of a HF tool chest.

The Arko-Mils, Stackon, plastic drawers/bins are cost effective, but they typically aren't large enough to hold a lot of the stuff that I'm looking to store beyond nuts/bolts/washers/pins/clips/etc. Not to mention they require wall space or bench-top space.

From my search and one of the replies so far, there are a few who use tool chest drawers for fiddly bit storage - figured there must be a reason why more don't, but I guess each need and space is different.

 

[hangfirew8]

From my search and one of the replies so far, there are a few who use tool chest drawers for fiddly bit storage - figured there must be a reason why more don't, but I guess each need and space is different.

It's hard to suggest more without seeing your fiddly bits (did I just say that?).

Actually I'm using a tool cabinets for non-tool storage, but none of it for nuts and bolts. For that, I've been fortunate to score some Durham cubbies and similar bin shelves.

There is a 27" 4-drawer rolling chest, wheels unmounted, under my 10' shop bench functioning as a set of drawers. It has everything "friction" in it, Dremel in the top drawer, die grinder in the second, grinding wheels and buffers in the third, and sandpaper in the bottom. The big bottom sandpaper drawer is a bit inefficient in the vertical, but it sure beats the cardboard box I was using before!

Likewise I'm using a 40" nine-drawer for power tools and accessories. Each drawer is large and deep and not well suited for sockets and wrenches, there would be a lot of wasted vertical space.

Anyway, back to you. I understand your issue, you can go vertical but don't have a lot of horizontal or wall space. One possible solution is to get a set of bins on wheels. Kind of like this:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0041L4R4O/?tag=atomicindus08-20

You don't have to buy that one, though. You could get one of the HF pick bins and set it up on a wheelie base and kit bash something together to suit your needs. For example this one is less than 26" wide, you could put two back to back or stack them, or maybe HF has something taller in that width:

http://www.harborfreight.com/30-Bin-Wall-Mount-Parts-Rack-69571.html

For storing larger stuff, put the pick bins on top of something, uh, larger, with wheels.

 

[CutterFarms]

I say you can never have to many toolboxes as long as you have things to pit in them

 

[upgrading]

No need to make a rash decision based on a phony "sale".
Take your time.

From leftyz's site
http://www.hfqpdb.com/coupons/54_ITEM_26___16_DRAWER_ROLLER_CABINET_1430709831.6389.jpg

 

[MrBreeze]

It's hard to suggest more without seeing your fiddly bits (did I just say that?).

Actually I'm using a tool cabinets for non-tool storage, but none of it for nuts and bolts. For that, I've been fortunate to score some Durham cubbies and similar bin shelves.

There is a 27" 4-drawer rolling chest, wheels unmounted, under my 10' shop bench functioning as a set of drawers. It has everything "friction" in it, Dremel in the top drawer, die grinder in the second, grinding wheels and buffers in the third, and sandpaper in the bottom. The big bottom sandpaper drawer is a bit inefficient in the vertical, but it sure beats the cardboard box I was using before!

Likewise I'm using a 40" nine-drawer for power tools and accessories. Each drawer is large and deep and not well suited for sockets and wrenches, there would be a lot of wasted vertical space.

Anyway, back to you. I understand your issue, you can go vertical but don't have a lot of horizontal or wall space. One possible solution is to get a set of bins on wheels. Kind of like this:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0041L4R4O/?tag=atomicindus08-20

You don't have to buy that one, though. You could get one of the HF pick bins and set it up on a wheelie base and kit bash something together to suit your needs. For example this one is less than 26" wide, you could put two back to back or stack them, or maybe HF has something taller in that width:

http://www.harborfreight.com/30-Bin-Wall-Mount-Parts-Rack-69571.html

For storing larger stuff, put the pick bins on top of something, uh, larger, with wheels.

Thanks!
BTW, if you ever watch the show "Wheeler Dealers" they use the phrase "Fiddly Bits" often... Gotta like them Brits, they don't say "wrench", they say "spanners".

At any rate, it's good to hear that you too are using a "tool chest" for things other than tools. The bins on a rack with wheels is a nice thought - and potentially cheaper.

There is however, something pleasing for me to have things put away behind cabinet doors and drawers. A bit of OCD in keeping things tidy I suppose.

 

[MrBreeze]

No need to make a rash decision based on a phony "sale".
Take your time.

From leftyz's site
http://www.hfqpdb.com/coupons/54_ITEM_26___16_DRAWER_ROLLER_CABINET_1430709831.6389.jpg

True that. I also saw that the "red tag sale" runs through 8/31 and isn't just this weekend. Of course it looks like you saved me another $2 with the coupon link! Thanks!

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

Coincidentally, I also have (2) 44" boxes and a 26" box, and I live in AZ!

I use my 26" to hold some tools, but I also have a couple of drawers dedicated to electrical connectors, fuses, and other small items. The problem with anything much bigger is the drawers are pretty shallow. I also have a bunch of the HF plastic organizers, which makes organizing this stuff much easier.

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-piece-drawer-organizer-set-99731.html

For hardware, I have a bolt bin from CopperState. If you have a tax ID number you can setup a cash account and save the taxes. The slots are bigger than they look in the pictures, and they are fairly deep. Worth a look if you are in the area. Their hardware is also high quality and dirt cheap.

https://www.copperstate.com/shop/1070/32-40B/products

 

[Boost Creep]

i use my old kobalt for hardware storage. it works for me. i don't think i'd trust it to last long if i was getting into it several times a day but for my home shop use its alright.

DSC_4542 by OG bOOst creep, on Flickr

 

[cheechi]

I bought my HF 26" for that purpose in addition to tooling (router bits and such)

they are not up to the task. No toolbox in that price range is. Lista/Vidmar type boxes are much more geared toward this than toolboxes.

 

[MrBreeze]

i use my old kobalt for hardware storage. it works for me. i don't think i'd trust it to last long if i was getting into it several times a day but for my home shop use its alright.

DSC_4542 by OG bOOst creep, on Flickr

Where did you get those organizer/bins?

 

[bobcatdan]

I use a SO KRA 300 for a poor man's vidmar. Mostly light stuff like electrical and orings. Lower drawers are just catch all. It's kinda a long term short term deal as I eventually want to get better assortments for all and use the box for tools when I get that far.

 

[zkling]

If it works for you. Not really ideal as they are rather shallow and lack dividers. A card catalog or the like would be better and similar to what I use along with a small Lyon cabinet. As mentioned, hardware and cutter storage can become very dense.

 

[MrBreeze]

I bought my HF 26" for that purpose in addition to tooling (router bits and such)

they are not up to the task. No toolbox in that price range is. Lista/Vidmar type boxes are much more geared toward this than toolboxes.

"..they are not up to the task." Can you elaborate? Do the drawers not operate properly? Are the glides wearing/worn out? Are you accessing the hardware frequently - daily, multiple times a day?

The HF 26" claims to support 120 lbs per drawer - but I can imagine the slides wouldn't glide very smoothly with loads anywhere close to the max.

 

[Boost Creep]

Where did you get those organizer/bins?

http://www.schallercorporation.com

 

[Old_Buick]

or you could go to bidspotter.com and watch the industrial auctions

From time to time bolt bins come up and sometimes the price goes nutty and sometimes you luck out and get a killer deal on a large bin with tons of bolts/washers/nuts in them.

I did... I'll take some pics and show you what I got for $70

 

[2oolhound]

I like the idea but I wouldn't go out and buy a new one for the task. I'd buy a used one. I lucked out on this one, $75 and I have a similar one as well. What I like most is you can just lift the drawer out and take it to the bench when you need to root through for a small machine screw or rare item that is in a mixed compartment with other rare items.

 

[cheechi]

"..they are not up to the task." Can you elaborate? Do the drawers not operate properly? Are the glides wearing/worn out? Are you accessing the hardware frequently - daily, multiple times a day?

The HF 26" claims to support 120 lbs per drawer - but I can imagine the slides wouldn't glide very smoothly with loads anywhere close to the max.

Just based on an 'eyeball' type assessment. I put a few boxes of hardware in the drawers. Not like 10000's of bolts, like the boxes at lowes of 100x bolts nuts etc. the drawers glide smooth 'fully loaded' with tools.

The third drawer down is where they start to get a little deeper. It was either that or the 5th I just remember I had to get deeper than what I wanted to use. So about halfway full pretty well distributed left-right the drawer clearly felt like it was struggling to slide.

In comparison I have a 5 drawer map drawer. Designed to hold heavy stacks of large sheets of paper. The top of this cabinet is 45"x36" to give you an idea. This same hardware I put in the map drawer for now, which does not have ball bearing slides but a 1" wheel for slide/support. That drawer was unaffected putting the same weight in the center of it. Fully open that drawer is going to create a much larger torque moment than the HF drawer would, but the HF struggled more. This is not a scientific study with measurements or numbers, just my assessment that between these two units I'm using the HF for hand tools and not hardware.

Sorry there isn't much in the way of real substance in all that. This happened during a busy afternoon where a lot of little tasks were getting crossed off the list. I would have investigated further if it was one of those beer in hand type days. That's when the real science gets done.

 

[Linda@Lista]

I bought my HF 26" for that purpose in addition to tooling (router bits and such)

they are not up to the task. No toolbox in that price range is. Lista/Vidmar type boxes are much more geared toward this than toolboxes.

@cheechi @MrBreeze thanks for the Lista/Vidmar shoutouts! @MrBreeze please let me know if I can help answer any questions about Lista or Vidmar mobile storage cabinets.