HF US General 26” vs 44”

[sgtgeo]

So everyone thinks pretty highly of the HF tool storage options.

I have a well loved 26” Kobalt roller that could stand to be retired or relegated to lighter duty.

It’s location can only accommodate a 26” wide box.

Went the HF yesterday to put my eyes on their US General line.

Surprisingly my local store just reconfigured the inside and had all the boxes and colors on display.

Looked over the 26” and it certainly seems ok. Had a coupon to get it for $239 but decided to wait.

Stopped in another HF closer to where I work today for another look.

This was the more serious take some drawer interior dimension measurement type trip.

Here are my observations:

The 26” is NOT on par with the 44” and up.

Here is where the 26” is deficient:

- all drawer slides are smaller about 1” tall compared to the 1.25” of the 44”

- the deep (5-6”) drawers on the 26” have only 1 set of slides. The 44” has 2.

The drawers are the same dimension so they should have the same support.

One oddity was the top chest deep drawers on the 44” had the mounting locations for the 2nd slide set but they were not there. Assembly oversight? I’m not sure because they only had one 44” top chest set up. The 56” and 72” boxes were locked up so could not check those.

So now I need to find a suitable location for the 44”

IMO the smaller slides and less of them for equal size drawers put the 26” into a lighter duty category.

Also why only green for the carts? The green and orange are awesome.

 

[flying eyeball]

the $200 box isn't as nice as a $400 box?

shocking!

 

[Tallpilot]

Be interesting to check the manual for the top box drawer capacities. Maybe they are only one slide to keep the maximum weight under the deck limit on the bottom. Too bad it isn’t good enough for the spot you have for it.

 

[Blind1]

The 44” box doesn’t fit in my preferred garage layout, and isn’t sturdy enough to serve as a stand alone bench without building a frame around it. I used a 26” instead to fill the space available.

It works for me. I don’t need a large top/socket drawer (mine stay in cases that fit the available space, and I have a rolling table with wide drawers to handle items too long for the 26”.

You can fit a bunch of stuff into the 26” stack, and for a lot of users (particularly non-pros) you won’t need anything else.

 

[sgtgeo]

the $200 box isn't as nice as a $400 box?

shocking!

Significant size difference also.

But thanks, your contribution to this thread are truly immeasurable.

 

[sgtgeo]

I think the 44” (on sale)works out very close in price to a 26” and the side cabinet (the drawer unit)

I’m concerned the 26” isn’t much more robust than the Kobalt I have.

So I just need to find a different layout for the 44” an I guess more tools to fill it!!!

Since these boxes are all the same “line” I was expecting similar construction for the same size drawers.

The 26” is a great deal but I think the 44” might edge it out on built quality

 

[Mr_B]

^
do realise they got 2 factories making these boxes and quality differs so read threads on that before buying .

 

[mike93lx]

why would you expect a box just over half as wide to have the same components? if they had the same slides, you'd be saying how the 44" is deficient since it isn't upgraded over the 26"

but seriously, it's a cheap box. if you want the best, spend the money

 

[sgtgeo]

why would you expect a box just over half as wide to have the same components? if they had the same slides, you'd be saying how the 44" is deficient since it isn't upgraded over the 26"

but seriously, it's a cheap box. if you want the best, spend the money

Because the drawers in question are the same width, height, and depth.

 

[derosa]

I would also guess they expect the 26" to be more of a home use, backup or lesser used box then the 44" which seems popular with mechanics. I probably open one to two drawers a day, more if my 4 year old follows me into the shop and for me they're as smooth and strong as I need, I've had the kid hanging off them and they've held fine. My second down drawer is filled with sockets, no holders to fit more, and with the drawer full it still slides beautifully while another drawer is filled with cast iron planes and files and still closes beautifully. If I was a mechanic I'd question the long term durability but I suspect for my wood shop/collect all it will work fine for many years to come.

 

[jscoggin]

I did the only reasonable thing in regards to this comparison, I bought both. More specifically, two 44's and one 26, blue of course. I think the OP is overthinking things, the 26" at $229 (best current coupon price) is a smoking deal. Is it an industrial box? Of course not but it wasn't designed to be.

 

[sgtgeo]

Anyone heard if they might expand the color options like the carts?

That green.....

 

[not sure]

I'm waiting for that also. Might sound weird but I'm waiting for them to offer all boxes in yellow. (Yellow would fit in best at my workplace)

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[sgtgeo]

Contacted HF asking about the other colors.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

why would you expect a box just over half as wide to have the same components?

He's comparing the drawers on the 26" to the same size drawers on the 44"

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Anyone heard if they might expand the color options like the carts?

That green.....

This enough color options?

 

[not sure]

Yeah but it's only the carts. I want a 56 or 72 in yellow. They dont make them...yet I'm hoping

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[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Yeah but it's only the carts. I want a 56 or 72 in yellow. They dont make them...yet I'm hoping

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Ah, gotcha. I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for a yellow box in those sizes. I think the demand would be too small.

 

[sgtgeo]

but the GREEN everyone will want!!!! lol

well at least i do

 

[cderalow]

This enough color options?

anyone else notice the two different reds? or is one orange?

 

[Dana_B]

I have a HF 26" box at every cnc machine. Machine operators beat on them daily. So far so good. Pretty awesome boxes for the $$.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

anyone else notice the two different reds? or is one orange?

One is orange and one is red, just doesn't show through in that pic. Here's a closeup of the orange cart. The orange and red HF uses are very close to those same colors Snap On uses.

 

[Revere Cycles]

I have a Series 2 26" bottom cabinet and a Series 2 56" top and bottom. Honestly, I don't see a huge difference in quality. The 26" is a nice roller cabinet and I use it a lot as a mobile workstation for my four cars, moving it in and out of the garage several times per day. I prefer the HF 26" to my Husky 26" combo in my shed. Eventually I would like to dump the Husky and replace it with a Series 2 26" combo from HF.

 

[Lucky13driver]

I used 3 of the HF 44" tool boxes for a workbench build I'd I'm really happy with the quality.

Here's a link to the build:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/search.php?do=finduser&u=213540&starteronly=1

 

[sgtgeo]

Well,

Here is the reply from HF:

“Thank you for contacting Harbor Freight Tools.

Our tool storage items are currently being updated. We will have some new exiting color options added on our tool box line up sometime in mid-April 2019. We recommend checking back periodically to see if new information is available.

We greatly appreciate your interest.”

 

[not sure]

I'm so excited! I want a new tool box but i want gonna buy another HF box cause i don't want red. I waiting for colors!

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[ptgarcia]

It looks like some of the cart lids open past 90* and some just under 90*. I wonder if this is one of those minor differences between part numbers?

 

[not sure]

Yeah I've heard that. Think they updated the lid to open slightly farther and a few other small changes. Sometimes the multiple part numbers means made in a different factory. Read reviews on both part numbers because sometimes the quality is better on one. And maybe one is just the new improved version

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[sgtgeo]

Omg it’s happening.

There is a coupon for the 26” in all the colors!!!!

The 44” can’t be far behind

 

[gungatim]

I did the only reasonable thing in regards to this comparison, I bought both. More specifically, two 44's and one 26, blue of course. I think the OP is overthinking things, the 26" at $229 (best current coupon price) is a smoking deal. Is it an industrial box? Of course not but it wasn't designed to be.

I did the same, I have 2 of the 44", one 44" top, 1 side cabinet, and also the 26" bottom.

The 26" replaced a craftsman 3pc set from early 90's that was getting pretty worn. I sold it for $300 (exactly what I paid 25 yrs. ago) and bought the 26".

it may not be as nice as the 44, though I haven't noticed it, but it is 10x the box the craftsman was...very happy with it. would have 3 44's if I had room LOL.

 

[not sure]

I'm only seeing the 26" in red blue and black? Are there more?

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[sgtgeo]

Someone posted a coupon showing the 26” in all the colors the carts come in.

 

[Misfire]

Here ya go.

 

[ScottsGT]

It looks like some of the cart lids open past 90* and some just under 90*. I wonder if this is one of those minor differences between part numbers?

Look at how the hydraulic cylinders are mounted. Some are inverted.

 

[jscoggin]

Here's a better coupon. Sorry for the quality but it works all the same.

 

[CoogarXR]

Neat. I could swap out my old yellow Stanley bottom box for a Fancy-Schmantzy HF yellow one! I just may have to do that now...

 

[1WickedEvo]

Here's a better coupon. Sorry for the quality but it works all the same.

Thank you for posting. I was looking for this coupon.

 

[jscoggin]

Thank you for posting. I was looking for this coupon.

You're welcome. Just in case anyone is interested in the 44", here is the best current coupon on that one too. I'm not sure why these two coupons don't pop up on regular searches but they are legit, just used the 26" one this week.

 

[sgtgeo]

I'll be looking to get a 44" as soon as the green is released.

My concern now is the p/n differences.

My local HF had only 1 44" on display but a few 26" There were clearly some evidence to support the separate factories/suppliers. No major deal breakers just differences in how far the drawers open and the welded vs riveted attachment of the lock interface on the back of the drawers. There likely are other differences but I didn't think they wanted me taking the boxes apart in the store.

I know at least a few people on here have multiple 44's. Any differences to look for? is one p/n better than another?

Thanks
geoff

 

[ScottsGT]

Once the green comes out, it's going to be all new part numbers and research will have to start all over again. Honestly, either one is a winner in my book.