HF Harbor Freight 26" top box differences

[PWC Repair]

Well, the other threads on the HF boxes have been helpful to me. Especially the one 71goldss made on the 56" bottom since I was looking at buying one. I would be happy with either style 26" top box as I feel they can't be beat for the money. But, since mine are sitting side by side the differences started immediately jumping out at me. So, let's start out with my setup. I simply DO NOT like any of the large top boxes! There is not enough shallow drawer space for my needs. So I decided to go with double 26" tops. Think what you want about the colors but it brightens up the shop AND the sae stuff goes in the red and metric in the blue!!!

 

[dodge610]

Well, the other threads on the HF boxes have been helpful to me. Especially the one 71goldss made on the 56" bottom since I was looking at buying one. I would be happy with either style 26" top box as I feel they can't be beat for the money. But, since mine are sitting side by side the differences started immediately jumping out at me. So, let's start out with my setup. I simply DO NOT like any of the large top boxes! There is not enough shallow drawer space for my needs. So I decided to go with double 26" tops. Think what you want about the colors but it brightens up the shop AND the sae stuff goes in the red and metric in the blue!!!

That Blue box is sweet may have to check that one out.

 

[PWC Repair]

The blue top is a #64430. The red is a 64161. I'm guessing the #64160 would be built the same as the blue one. Let's start with the lids, not only is the profile slightly different, but the construction is too! The blue lid is one complete piece bent over the sides. The red is seperate pieces with a seam.

 

[kngelv]

I like the SAE and Metric split.

James

 

[71goldss]

Nice on the color choices for SAE and Metric. I wouldn’t have thought of that, but cool idea! You know? I think you may be able to squeeze a new HF end cabinet in between the two top boxes!

 

[PWC Repair]

Next up is the upper and lower corners of the front. Wrapped around, riveted and welded on the blue.......not....on the red.

 

[71goldss]

The blue top is a #64430. The red is a 64161. I'm guessing the #64160 would be built the same as the blue one. Let's start with the lids, not only is the profile slightly different, but the construction is too! The blue lid is one complete piece bent over the sides. The red is seperate pieces with a seam.

Yeah, I think HF is shooting themselves in the foot with all these differences between “same” boxes! It’s going to come back to bite them!

 

[PWC Repair]

Lid strut placement, a little more forward on the blue but still opens up plenty far. Only about an inch difference at the top in overall open lid angle.

 

[PWC Repair]

More on the lid........how about the stiffener plate...

 

[PWC Repair]

And the upright piece that IS the lower attachment for the lid strut. Spot welded on the blue one.

 

[71goldss]

Curious how you scored the 64457? Other than the display box, did they have it in the back along with the 64458?

Edit: Scratch that. I was confusing another member’s post in the other thread as your post. Sorry!

 

[PWC Repair]

The lid hinges seem to be the same. The rails in the rear that lock the drawers are both adequate but they are also different.

 

[PWC Repair]

The lid latch setup is WAY better on the blue box.

 

[PWC Repair]

The rear of the drawers both seem like they will hold fast in the closed and locked position but the construction of the blue drawers look beefier.

 

[PWC Repair]

Side view of the drawer pulls, very similar, and both are plenty adequate. The pull also extends further down under the drawer bottom on the blue one. Drawer slides appear to be identical on both.

 

[PWC Repair]

Front box corners and lip width are a bit different. Not sure either style would have any actual advantage but I like the blue one better. You can also see the lower strut bracket and rivets on the red one vs the spot welded blue one.

 

[PWC Repair]

And finally, the handles.........as if you're actually going to lift it . It was all I could do to lift it up onto the bottom while empty.......no way you're doin' that full of tools!! The profile of the handle bracket is different. The blue handles are more rubbery while the reds are harder vinyl based plastic. The attaching bolts on the blue are marked grade 4.8 metric while the reds are unmarked.

 

[Craftfab]

Thank you for these posts. Planning on a blue one. Did you find a coupon for them by chance? I have searched but no luck.

 

[PWC Repair]

Final thoughts.......whatever style you get is a great buy for the money. BUT...if they have the box in stock built like the blue one, grab it instead.

 

[PWC Repair]

Thank you for these posts. Planning on a blue one. Did you find a coupon for them by chance? I have searched but no luck.

I did not, they ran one a couple months ago so there should be one coming up soon. Keep an eye out here...http://www.hfqpdb.com/best_coupon/26"+SINGLE+BANK+TOP+CHESTS

 

[PWC Repair]

Curious how you scored the 64457? Other than the display box, did they have it in the back along with the 64458?

Edit: Scratch that. I was confusing another member’s post in the other thread as your post. Sorry!

Actually my bottom is the 64457. Somebody had brought one back and I was looking for the screws on the drawer latch. It was slightly bent on the left rear corner with a bit of paint chipping. They took off 20% and we loaded it up!!

 

[Here2Learn]

Thank you for the post. I like the little lid stoppers on the corners!

 

[Misfire]

The lid hinges seem to be the same. The rails in the rear that lock the drawers are both adequate but they are also different.

Thanks for a great post. I'm leaning toward buying this box in blue but would like to be able to open the drawers without opening the lid. Does anyone know if it's possible to drive the hinge pin out from the lock rails and then pull the rails out from the top or would it involve pulling all of the drawers to remove them? I realize I'd loose the ability to lock the drawers using the key.

 

[PWC Repair]

If you close the drawers to the detents but not INTO them, they will open with the lid closed. I knocked a pin out for you and pulled a lock rail, straight up and out. I was surprised to see it's only about 4 inches long????? Not quite sure how that catches all the lower drawers?

 

[Misfire]

Thanks. Must be that not all the rails catch all the drawers. At least one of them has to be long enough to reach all the way to the bottom.

Picked up the bottom yesterday but they didn’t have the top in stock in blue. Should be here in about a week they tell me. Quite an upgrade from my old Craftsman stack. Hopefully I’ll get the same blue one that you have. That’s the one they had on the floor at my store but the manager I spoke to couldn’t tell me which one they’d be getting. Either way the next one they get has my name on it.

 

[PWC Repair]

I really have no gripes about either style that would make me NOT buy. I do like the looks of the old style lid better though.

 

[Misfire]

I picked up my blue top box two days ago. I did get the 64430 which is nice. Before I filled it I did remove the pins for the lock rails and pulled them out. The center rail is short and only locks the top center drawer. The outer two are full length and lock both side top drawers and the remaining drawers below them. A very nice upgrade from the 30 year old Craftsman homeowner box that I did have.

 

[dagofast]

I really like the color coding you used for SAE & Metric. Long before I saw this thread, I was considering doing almost exactly the same thing with 3 26" top boxes but with the 3rd top box in yellow for my wood and carpentry tools. I even pasted pictures of all of the different layouts I was considering together.

But in the end I ended up creating the BGM (big green monster) with a 72" lower, a 14.5" side drawer a, a 44" top and a 26" top and just using my $5 garage sale find Brother P-Touch label maker to make labels for each drawer.

 

[SpectreHD]

Really nice comparison. Thank you. I wonder what differences the red gen2 72”box has compared to the other colors...

 

[dagofast]

There is only one SKU# for each color of the 72” cabinets so I’d guess there is only one manufacturer and the only differences are the colors.


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