HF 72 box hutch

[TReel98]

OK Let me start off by saying that i already tried using the search function and it didn't come up with much. I was wondering what everyone thought of the harbor freight 72 inch box with the 56 inch top box and a small hutch on the remaining space to put a laptop in. Also does anyone use these boxes in a professional setting? I'm getting into an apprenticeship program near me to become a union diesel mechanic. I'm just wondering how it would hold up or will I be regretting it in 6 months?

 

[toolenthusiast]

Tbph I haven't seen one in a shop, but I've seen a lot of flimsy Craftsman boxes being used by oldtimers. Usually those guy worked out of a truck brand cart and kept the less-frequently-used tools in the CM boxes, probably because the drawers had long since crapped out on the CM.

On the flip side, there are a lot of cheap truck brand boxes on craigslist because young guys quit the business, bought too small of a box, got themselves in too big of a payment, went and joined the Army, whatever.

So I say try out the HF box. See if it's about the right volume for your needs. If you get bit by the Snappy bug, bide your time and wait until you find one of those deals that makes us all jealous here on GJ. If you find the HF inadequate, it will last a lifetime of home use.

 

[intjonmiller]

I work in a dealership where several guys work out of Harbor Freight boxes. They are surprisingly good for the money. Can you tell the difference between them and the big names? Of course! Will they last as long? Perhaps not, but at a small fraction of the price it's hard to beat. I've been thinking it would be cool to pop the nameplates off and replace them with custom 3D printed ones of your own design. Because, like it or not, if you have cheap tools or even tool storage you will get **** about it.

Incidentally they're way better than most of what Craftsman is putting out these days. At least the better HF line is. The cheaper ones are about the same. I know because I got a set of Craftsman boxes for my office. Paid like $50 and they're better than the usual office grade junk, but every time I have to slow down and press just right to get them to close properly I am reminded of how bad Craftsman has become.

 

[tr0n]

all you need is a box to hold your **** to start with.

i haven't worked with HF at all but i'm still running out of a 44" costco box with a 27" chest on top. the drawers are literally overflowing and i have **** hanging off both sides of the box using magnets, diaper pins, ***** links and hose clamps . i'm sure you'll get a couple years out of a HF box no problem at all. just try not to totally overload the drawers and make sure you pray to the chinese slider gods nightly.

dropping $10k on a box that's half empty and half filled with mainland chinese potmetal isn't a good thing. reminds me of V6 camaros with cowl hoods and MT streets. once you have a few years of tradesman wages under your belt, start thinking about upgrading into a quality box and bring that (hopefully not 72") box home for the garage.

speaking of size...how many tools do you have to start with? 72" is BIG and can get to be a real pain when loaded up. especially the cheaper units. they start flexing and the casters aren't the best usually. also, you have to think about things like fitting it in the back of a pickup when you change jobs, pushing that beast over to the equipment you're working on etc.

i've worked in 20 bay shops, 3 bay shops and 40 bay shops, having a toolbox that you can move around is pretty much mandatory unless you plan on working out of a service cart 24/7.

most of the guys i work with manage with a 54-56" box with a smaller chest on top. eventually upgrade the setup with a side cab and service cart once everything fills up.

 

[CharlieM]

a 72" box with a 56" top, leaves about 16 inches.

 

[Mr_B]

I would go the 72" HF when at 999USD on the coupon (see the deals thread for details)
Drawer layout is better on the 72" over 56" bottom for most hand tool type layouts, but that for you decide really .
Possibly go smaller on op box (44") plus a 44" bit more rigid & moveable to a truck etc if needed .
Even a 72" bottom on it's own is huge storage for apprentice.
Other good option which better quality and smoother for daily use is masterforce at menards, currently got deal on some of their boxes, way better drawer latching and quality of finish.
Either will work in professional environment as starter box and can go for some time if use some common sense and care with it. With HF you will want luck and check boxes well though as they not all the same QC grade .
Hand tools are where money needs spendng, blowing thousands on tool box is not a good thing for a young tech .
First thing do is a local area check for any bargain used stuff, if that don't turn up anything go new budget but try buy at lowest sale prices as that when they truly a worthy buy .

 

[z-edition 006]

My 72" toolbox is not from HF, but i think it is made in the same factory in China. You can get a hutch and side lockers for this model.

Here is mine with a hutch, Don't mind the Snap-on badge i have on it.

 

[vettex2]

if it sits in your shop and you use tool carts it will last quite awhile.

 

[TReel98]

speaking of size...how many tools do you have to start with? 72" is BIG and can get to be a real pain when loaded up. especially the cheaper units. they start flexing and the casters aren't the best usually. also, you have to think about things like fitting it in the back of a pickup when you change jobs, pushing that beast over to the equipment you're working on etc.

Well since i cant figure out how to respond to each person in one post ill do each person separately.

I do realize that a 72" box is big. My only reason behind wanting one was I figured it'd be better to have more box than I need to start out with rather than buy something that fits most of what I have with little room left over. I have the basics for working on cars already but I still need all the diagnostic tools, BIG wrenches 1 -2 inch, 3/4 drive sockets, still need some of the bigger 1/2 drive sockets and specialty tools.

 

[TReel98]

I'm assuming you're making your own laptop hutch for the side? I don't think HF makes any hutches for their boxes.

Yeah that was my thought process I figured I could get the bottom and when it came time for more space get the 56" top and make a hutch just big enough for a laptop and misc. battery chargers. This would probably happen later in my apprenticeship.

 

[TReel98]

This is the other option I'm thinking about my supervisor at work is wanting to off this box for a Snap-On EPIQ box I'd just be taking over payments (2000-2500 not sure on an exact dollar ammount) on it though the mac guy at my current job. 72" long 30" deep.

 

[Mr_B]

^ If price is right and itproper tidy that not a bad box, 30" depth makes HUGE difference on how well can layout drawers with longer tools thus capacity is massively improved.
Other advantage is branded box if kept tidy would resale easily for same or little less if don't over pay for it in first place so safer long term investment. could add a cheaper 40" or up top box on it and colour code drawers same and have good usable box layout, wouldn't go too big on top box as side hutch space will be very useful in daily tasks plus you'll have way too much drawer storage for early career years .

 

[emort007]

I'm a pro, and have been using my 56 inch Harbor Freight box at work for a little over a year now.

It does just fine, and has held up really well.

I also built a wooden custom top hutch for mine that gets all kinds of compliments for less than $100

Here is a link to the my review of the box

And here is a short video montage of how I built the hutch.

For a entry level tech all the way up to a seasoned master like myself, this box or the 72 your looking at will fit your needs quite well.

I would recommend just getting the 72 lower and building a hutch like mine. then if years down the road you fill it up, you can always add 2 side cabinets like the one I have hanging on the right.

Good luck with your new career!

 

[Stuart96]

I work out of a 56" box if I could do it over I'd buy a 40" snap on cart, easy to move around from bay to bay and a ton of storage for just starting out.. You can find used from 500-1000. Granted that's the same price as a hf box but much smaller. The mobility is nice though compared to a 72 and even a 56.


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[Tom.C]

The problem with comparing the 55" to the 72" is that they both have the same drawer capacity via the slides they use, but, the 72 is larger in the drawer department leaving a possibility overload it. Honestly for the price of the 72 I would go check out strictlytoolboxes.com I know a few pros who use them. Buy once and forget about it imo.

 

[TReel98]

Well you guys have givin me a lot to think about. If the mac box is still for sale around the time I start my apprenticeship that's what I'll wind up doing. I really like the depth and the fact that it's name brand and I can do payments each week. If anyone here is a diesel tech I'd love some advice as far as tools go.

 

[kctyphoon]

I'm not a mechanic, but you'd be surprised how much **** you can stuff into the 56" box, cause I own the 44" and it's a lot of room once you add a locker.. a 56" with 2 lockers is ALOT of room to fill up..
The best thing about the HF boxes is the return on investment. They are simply very hard to beat on price for a very well made box.. the second best thing, is IF you decide you wanna upgrade size, or upgrade brand - they are very easy to sell since the price point is so attractive to a WIDE RANGE OF PEOPLE second hand, instead of only pro's.. figure even IF you sold it at half price a year, 3 years from now - so long as you keep it in decent shape, your only loosing hundreds over the THOUSANDS you'll eat on a premium box..

Another thing to consider - and this is the TRUTH that some people don't wanna talk about.. right now you're young, ambitious, and healthy.. you might start this job, and in a year - a few years - decide this isn't for you.. being a mechanic is not easy work on your body.. so before your start spending thousands on stuff you DONT NEED, give yourself some time and make sure this is gonna be for you..

I'm willing to bet if you asked alot of the mechanics in here that have 20+ years in the trade, at least half would admit they wouldn't want their kids doing the same job. Not trying to talk to you out of a career choice - just trying to say "make sensible choices with your money" Expensive tool boxes look nice on YouTube, but a bank account looks a lot nicer when you wanna buy other things..

 

[Duker]

If you decide to go with the 72" box (which as others have mentioned is a great box for the $999 on sale price point) here is an an example of a hutch I did for mine that might give you some ideas if you choose to fabricate one for yourself. There are some nice examples of the 56" with a hutch and if it's going to be parked you can store an awful lot in the box with a custom hutch.

*

 

[78C-10]

I'm not a mechanic, but you'd be surprised how much **** you can stuff into the 56" box, cause I own the 44" and it's a lot of room once you add a locker.. a 56" with 2 lockers is ALOT of room to fill up..
The best thing about the HF boxes is the return on investment. They are simply very hard to beat on price for a very well made box.. the second best thing, is IF you decide you wanna upgrade size, or upgrade brand - they are very easy to sell since the price point is so attractive to a WIDE RANGE OF PEOPLE second hand, instead of only pro's.. figure even IF you sold it at half price a year, 3 years from now - so long as you keep it in decent shape, your only loosing hundreds over the THOUSANDS you'll eat on a premium box..

Another thing to consider - and this is the TRUTH that some people don't wanna talk about.. right now you're young, ambitious, and healthy.. you might start this job, and in a year - a few years - decide this isn't for you.. being a mechanic is not easy work on your body.. so before your start spending thousands on stuff you DONT NEED, give yourself some time and make sure this is gonna be for you..

I'm willing to bet if you asked alot of the mechanics in here that have 20+ years in the trade, at least half would admit they wouldn't want their kids doing the same job. Not trying to talk to you out of a career choice - just trying to say "make sensible choices with your money" Expensive tool boxes look nice on YouTube, but a bank account looks a lot nicer when you wanna buy other things..[/QUOTE]




^^^This to a tee. I am a heavy equipment mechanic and it is tough on the old body (I'm 42 but feel 82, been at it 20 years now). The pay is ok but sometimes the physical and mental stress gets to me and sometimes I think I'd take less money for less abuse. You said diesel mechanic but on what? Will you be working on construction equipment, busses, semi trucks, etc? The Mac box you pictured is a good box, a two bay Mac Tech box was my first "real" tool box and it worked great for several years.

 

[emort007]

Another thing to consider - and this is the TRUTH that some people don't wanna talk about.. right now you're young, ambitious, and healthy.. you might start this job, and in a year - a few years - decide this isn't for you.. being a mechanic is not easy work on your body.. so before your start spending thousands on stuff you DONT NEED, give yourself some time and make sure this is gonna be for you..

I'm willing to bet if you asked alot of the mechanics in here that have 20+ years in the trade, at least half would admit they wouldn't want their kids doing the same job. Not trying to talk to you out of a career choice - just trying to say "make sensible choices with your money" Expensive tool boxes look nice on YouTube, but a bank account looks a lot nicer when you wanna buy other things..[/QUOTE]


^^^ So True. This is my 24th Year in the Business, And I just turned 44. There is not a day that goes by that my body doesn't feel some serious pain. Some days its in the hands and fingers, but most days my back and knees scream at me from about 10am on. Its a brutal job on your body, with little room for crossing over into other less physical jobs. I worry the most about what my lungs look like after 20+ years of asbestos from brakes and clutches not to mention metal dust, oil/gas vapors have done to me.

I joke that that's my retirement plan, but its not really funny. Most of my co-workers that have passed on over the years did so from something related to this job.

All that being said, I do make great money for a blue collar worker, and enjoy 99% of the people I have worked with in this field. But I would NEVER recommend it to anyone.

 

[BigdaddycaddyV]

Ive had that set up for roughly 4 yrs now i use it 5-6 days a week 10-12 hrs a day and not one problem. I had a lime green 72 top and bottom snap on and i had an employee total it in a dually he was pulling in with no brakes. Insurance paid me out 11 grand i got this whole set up at hf for 1600$ lol you would be suprised at the compliments it gets.

 

[Mikeske]

I'm not a mechanic, but you'd be surprised how much **** you can stuff into the 56" box, cause I own the 44" and it's a lot of room once you add a locker.. a 56" with 2 lockers is ALOT of room to fill up..
The best thing about the HF boxes is the return on investment. They are simply very hard to beat on price for a very well made box.. the second best thing, is IF you decide you wanna upgrade size, or upgrade brand - they are very easy to sell since the price point is so attractive to a WIDE RANGE OF PEOPLE second hand, instead of only pro's.. figure even IF you sold it at half price a year, 3 years from now - so long as you keep it in decent shape, your only loosing hundreds over the THOUSANDS you'll eat on a premium box..

Another thing to consider - and this is the TRUTH that some people don't wanna talk about.. right now you're young, ambitious, and healthy.. you might start this job, and in a year - a few years - decide this isn't for you.. being a mechanic is not easy work on your body.. so before your start spending thousands on stuff you DONT NEED, give yourself some time and make sure this is gonna be for you..

I'm willing to bet if you asked alot of the mechanics in here that have 20+ years in the trade, at least half would admit they wouldn't want their kids doing the same job. Not trying to talk to you out of a career choice - just trying to say "make sensible choices with your money" Expensive tool boxes look nice on YouTube, but a bank account looks a lot nicer when you wanna buy other things..[/QUOTE]




^^^This to a tee. I am a heavy equipment mechanic and it is tough on the old body (I'm 42 but feel 82, been at it 20 years now). The pay is ok but sometimes the physical and mental stress gets to me and sometimes I think I'd take less money for less abuse. You said diesel mechanic but on what? Will you be working on construction equipment, busses, semi trucks, etc? The Mac box you pictured is a good box, a two bay Mac Tech box was my first "real" tool box and it worked great for several years.

I started out as a forklift mechanic in the Air Force 43 years ago. It was not to be because the Air Force had different plans for me. After my right hand got broken by a transmission rolling over the hand the Air Force selected a new career for me, I had been doing vehicle maintenance for just over a year.

I ended up working for 42 years in Aircraft maintenance and manufacturing. I had stayed for 13 years in the Air Force and then went into the Air Force Reserve for 12 more years. In the mean time I ended up at Boeing and building planes.

Vehicle maintenance became a hobby for me and I truly loved it but it did not pay the bills as the airplanes do. I just retired in the last month from Boeing after 29 years there I am so glad that the Air Force decided that they needed me to do something else. I would have never selected Aircraft if I had been the one doing it.

I am now happy to say I enjoyed my time I spent as a vehicle mechanic and I can do anything on vehicles I need to keep em running and but since I came away without anything major wrong with my body. Oh yeah my hand hurts from having all 5 bones across the back of my right hand broken but a bit of aspirin works fine to take care of it.

 

[KMdef9]

I'd go with HF or similar priced/quality product to start. No need to buy used ****, 99% of the time, those used units are either over priced or over-used. The HF will last you years.

Drawer layout should be priority #2 behind budget. A close second at that. I think alot of people ignore this till they load their tools up and start to use the box. Do your best to imagine where everything will go and whether the layout will fit your needs.

 

[ScottsGT]

You guys complaining about how rough it is on a body? Keep one thing in mind, sitting at a desk in 72° A/C all day creates an out of shape and lazy body. And arthritis catches up to us anyway! LOL!
I bet you find two guys the same age, one a mechanic, one a desk jockey and do a physical demand test. You pro wrenches would run circles around us! When I took this job as a shop manager 6 or 7 years ago, the lbs started creeping up on me. When I was coming and going all day and working in the field I was in much better shape.
God bless you guys for sticking to it. Experience is needed out there in the world.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

Also does anyone use these boxes in a professional setting? I'm getting into an apprenticeship program near me to become a union diesel mechanic. I'm just wondering how it would hold up or will I be regretting it in 6 months?

All I can offer is a response to part of the original post: There's only 4 boxes in my shop and they are all truck-brand. I only get to customers truck / euipment shops on road service call about one day a month. I have only ever seen non-truck brand boxes in gov't fleet shops and, even then, not many.
We sell some equipment with work space built inot truck bodies (think small inside workshop) which the body mfr. has used all forms of box-store boxes to outfit them (small roller box they take the wheels off and mount in a cabinet for maintinaining the euipment on board). Most of them are trashed within a few months if the unit goes to a real working contractor.
Does this mean you would regret buying the Hf box in question? I can't tell ya that. You may be fine with it.....Personally, I recommend geting by with the cheapest you can afford to start off with and then just see where the job takes you and what comes available.

 

[Mr_B]

I'd go with HF or similar priced/quality product to start. No need to buy used ****, 99% of the time, those used units are either over priced or over-used. The HF will last you years.

Drawer layout should be priority #2 behind budget. A close second at that. I think alot of people ignore this till they load their tools up and start to use the box. Do your best to imagine where everything will go and whether the layout will fit your needs.

+1 on this.
Always wise look for used truck brand and a steal deal but don't go buying junk or poor layout just because it got the brand badge.
drawer layout is massively important so buy what will work for your scenario.
I've seen a few Husky and HF boxes in professional environment and they hold up well if owner got a brain and loads/treats it sensibly .
A wise buy budget box should see you through first 4 to 6 years+ and way better than over spending until fully footed in the industry .

 

[Joetraut826]

I currently own 3 72 inch hf toolbox's and I must say they hold up well against constant punishment I currently have 2 at work to form one large 12 foot long box with a 56 inch box sitting on one and a 44 inch sitting on the other one and too some sheet metal I had sitting at home and was able to form a hutch to sit in between the box's but in all honesty I've owned 2 higher quality boxes in the past and sure the depth was nice but they really didn't have much to offer for the price I paid

 

[Mikeske]

You guys complaining about how rough it is on a body? Keep one thing in mind, sitting at a desk in 72° A/C all day creates an out of shape and lazy body. And arthritis catches up to us anyway! LOL!
I bet you find two guys the same age, one a mechanic, one a desk jockey and do a physical demand test. You pro wrenches would run circles around us! When I took this job as a shop manager 6 or 7 years ago, the lbs started creeping up on me. When I was coming and going all day and working in the field I was in much better shape.
God bless you guys for sticking to it. Experience is needed out there in the world.

I am 61 years and retired early and not for health reasons but a early retirement offer from my employer. I am still at the same weight at 175 pounds and 6' tall as when I left high school with a diploma. I still have my health and I consider myself lucky as I can still get out and do things and enjoy it.

Now to the young man who originally posted about buying a inexpensive toolbox all I can say is SMART really SMART. The reason I say that is what I did but I went with really good tools, at that time I bought Bonney tools in the early 1980's and I got the jobber that I bought my tools from to throw in a cheap Waterloo toolbox and upper cabinet. I worked out of that old box my entire career. Yeah it had cheap friction slides and crappy paint. I had to beef up the bottom with a 1/4" aluminum plate and I replaced the original casters when the rust cancer punched a hole in the bottom of it. I just kept it until I took home on the last week of my job.

As a retirement gift to myself I replaced the old Waterloo with 2 of the 44" HF toolboxes 2 of the top cabinets, with 2 side boxes and a locker for the larger tools and this box resides in my garage as I still take in automotive repairs in as side jobs.

So what I am getting at this rather long post is buy the HF boxes and then get the quality tools whether it is Snap on, Mac, Matco or Cornwell as they are dependable and with the money you saved by not getting a 4K or higher box you can spend that money on the tools. Toolboxes no matter what the brand is actually just to secure and store your tools.

 

[crewchief888]

44", 56", 72" ?

to me, the drawer layout means more than the size of the box....

as mentioned, you have to "visualize" how tools are going to layed out in the drawers...
the method of storage is equally important,

socket rails, trays, or blow molded boxed sets?

wrench racks or laying flat?

pliers/screwdriver, racks or laying flat?

bulky items, cordless tool chargers ?

what works in automotive, usually doesnt translate to trucks or cost eq. tools get bigger and heavier...

i've yet to see an automotive guy that needs/uses 10-16 lb sledgehammer or a 6ft tanker bar.....

 

[NUTTSGT]

I currently own 3 72 inch hf toolbox's and I must say they hold up well against constant punishment I currently have 2 at work to form one large 12 foot long box with a 56 inch box sitting on one and a 44 inch sitting on the other one and too some sheet metal I had sitting at home and was able to form a hutch to sit in between the box's but in all honesty I've owned 2 higher quality boxes in the past and sure the depth was nice but they really didn't have much to offer for the price I paid

Since you brought this thread back, you want to add a picture of this tool box work center that you created ?

 

[BlackLS2]

I have the HF72, with side cab, and my advice is buy it. If you have to move it often in a shop, look at the HF56. I kinda screwed up not getting the HF56 top for my HF72 roller bottom at the same time, because they discontinued the 56 top without warning, and those disappeared from the three stores around here in ONE day.

I am hopeful HF has a new option to top my HF72 in their new product offerings, otherwise its prolly a non-matching 72 top from Homak.

Tool truck boxes are excelent, but I find them TOO deep. Bend over all day to get stuff out of the back of a 2 foot or 30inch drawer all day, and you will hate it.

 

[rpcraft]

I've hit critical mass on my 72 and looking to expand. The only 2 gripes I have about this cabinet is the casters ****. I will admit they did try to put something decent on them its just a little too much box on a little too cheap a caster. I think the 56 inch casters might actually have been a better fit, maybe someone knows a little better. I think the problem is just the base plate doesn't match because the ones on the 72 are some wonky size. Probably something I could fix with some plate steel and welding or bolting, but I will take advice before I spend money, if anyone can advise.

The other issue is I am sick to death of the latch on each drawer. What a f'ing headache when you have your hands full. I never thought I would ***** about it, yet here I am, lol I have a way to resolve that though, just have not taken the time to fiddle with it.

So anyways, I already added the 14 inch sidebox, might do a second on the opposite side but that won't solve all my storage issues. I keep adding tools to the mix, which is fine. I did used to use it as a work table but I have a fairly heavy welding table that I prefer. It's also far better when I have to hammer the heck out of somethingand is easier to move around (on wheels that you can raise or lower by hand) so of course now I have just been patiently waiting on HF to come out with a 72 inch top option but their lack of release is put me on a path for a different solution.
Would be nice to have a few extra longer drawers of that unit but its not a huge buying point for me. Just about 72 inches more of space overall is my grab so I was thinking I might just go ahead and grab a 44 inch top and a 26, load them on the 72 inch in the middle and I think the 2 extra inches of leftover space on the the bottom will allow me to set them next to each other without having to remove the handles, and even if I do then that is fine. There just won't be that gap in between. I'm curious what anyone's thoughts are overall. I know the two cabinets are a slightly different in height, again not an issue. The colors are green and will match so that is as picky as I would get I think. Sorry for the book, just wanted to be thorough on what I am aware of as potential issues. Hoping to get it to the point where the next time I move it it'll be in it's permanent location.

 

[Duker]

I've hit critical mass on my 72 and looking to expand. The only 2 gripes I have about this cabinet is the casters ****. I will admit they did try to put something decent on them its just a little too much box on a little too cheap a caster. I think the 56 inch casters might actually have been a better fit, maybe someone knows a little better. I think the problem is just the base plate doesn't match because the ones on the 72 are some wonky size. Probably something I could fix with some plate steel and welding or bolting, but I will take advice before I spend money, if anyone can advise.

The other issue is I am sick to death of the latch on each drawer. What a f'ing headache when you have your hands full. I never thought I would ***** about it, yet here I am, lol I have a way to resolve that though, just have not taken the time to fiddle with it.

So anyways, I already added the 14 inch sidebox, might do a second on the opposite side but that won't solve all my storage issues. I keep adding tools to the mix, which is fine. I did used to use it as a work table but I have a fairly heavy welding table that I prefer. It's also far better when I have to hammer the heck out of somethingand is easier to move around (on wheels that you can raise or lower by hand) so of course now I have just been patiently waiting on HF to come out with a 72 inch top option but their lack of release is put me on a path for a different solution.

Just a thought....

It’s a more expensive option and could be color matched but Homak makes a top as well as Torin.

https://homak.com/product/72-rs-pro-top-chest/




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[rpcraft]

I'll pass for a third of the price and think I'll follow on my plan. Like I said. Its not a huge deal to have split boxes on top. I didn't mention earlier but i have another work type table with akro mills bins below and a wood top and most of that stuff is going into the top boxes so I'm trying to get it out of the garage to free up the wall and floor space that table its taking up (making room for other toys, lol) if I could put the table on wheels I would b but it's one of those things where it's sturdy as long as the legs don't move around but the minute they do it'll rip itself apart so trying to move it around in the garage to reposition it is just impossible without having to unload it every time. It seemed like a great unit at the time I got it and holds a lot of stuff but it's kind of become the bane of my existence, lol.

 

[BlackLS2]

Since my post 2 1/2 years ago, I got the 56 top for my 72 roller and love it. It actually bolted right up! Been using it daily for 5 years and have not broken a single drawer latch. The depth has been perfect.

 

[flipdrew]

I bought a 56" bottom box when I was working on an island in the Gulf of Mexico. I figured that, with all the salt air, I didn't want to invest in an expensive box that would just rust away, so I went with the Harbor Freight box. 15 years later, I'm still working out of the same box. I never expected it to last this long but it's held up like a champ. Other guys in the shop have nicer boxes with fancy hutches and lights and power strips and stereos, etc, but I don't actually NEED all that stuff. My box has wheels and locks and that's really all I need. I have been outgrowing my box and I finally expanded with a top box, side locker, and a side cabinet. I also have a free-standing locker for misc stuff that either doesn't fit or is just too messy to put in my toolbox (grease tubes, oil pans, fall restraint, etc) It's easy to get dissatisfied with my cheap box when I start comparing to some of the nicer boxes in the shop but, as Teddy Roosevelt said, "Comparison is the thief of joy." There will always be bigger, better, fancier boxes, but those come with a price tag that I'm not willing to do. Some of these guys have 5-10 year payment plans on a box that does the same thing as my paid-off box: hold tools. I'd rather put that money INSIDE my box in the form of tools (or into a retirement account so I don't have to keep doing this until I'm in my 70's). Overall, I'm surprisingly impressed with the HF box. As an added bonus, it doesn't hurt nearly as bad when mine gets scratched or dented. If I had $30k ******* in the box, I'd be pissed when somebody bumps it with a forklift or a pallet jack.

A lot of the new guys come in and see these big, fancy boxes full of Snap-on tools and think that's what they have to do to be a "real" mechanic. These poor guys end up with a $70,000 running tab with the tool truck before their career even starts. I try to tell them to start out with some basic, quality off-brand tools and upgrade over time as they discover what works and what doesn't.

 

[rpcraft]

I've had my 72 inch for a while now. No complaints other than the latch system being on every drawer but that is easy to resolve. I've liked it so much, and filled it so much, I recently bought another 56 incher to mount a lathe on and be secondary storage for lathe and milling tools and equipment. I figure what better machinist box? My only regret is the price of the 56 is pretty close to what I paid for the 72 inch back when I got that, lol. Oh well.