HF US General Boxes, Are They Worth It?

[M635_Guy]

Apparently you didn’t “get it” bc silly is not reading my post and completely missing the two points.

1. Nobody was expecting the USGs to last forever like a professional box. The USGs replaced Cman and Kennedy boxes that held up 20+ years. Most folks were simply hoping USGs would be similar to those, but they weren’t. I’m also not suggesting that a USG will only last the OP five years, he may get 10-15 but even in a home shop they’re not a “forever” box.

2. I wasn’t advocating for any box costing 4x more. I suggested folks would be better off shopping for a comparable cost professional box on the used market rather than spending big bucks on new cheapies. I did exactly that last fall, spent $1100 on two KR1000s bc they are the best bang for the buck in easily found, matching colors locally.

You're still missing the point. The Craftsman/Kennedy boxes were almost certainly built to a totally different spec. There was no reason to expect the USG box to work well in the very-unusual use case you guys put them in. Therefore your particular experience isn't useful.

I think a lot of us live in the wrong part of the country to find 2-for-$1100 SO carts, though I doubt they'll hold up better than the USG in "normal" use and I kinda doubt in the situation you put the USG carts in (slides/etc. availability notwithstanding).

 

[Renegade1LI]

Speaking of worth it, the 5 drawer cart has a coupon for 199
http://www.hfqpdb.com/best_coupon/30",+5+DRAWER+MECHANIC'S+CARTS+(ALL+COLORS)

 

[Renegade1LI]

Well I have had these boxes for 2 weeks & have them mostly loaded, so far I like them. I was amazed at how well finished the inside of the cabinets are, they got the coating in every corner & looks pretty uniform. The drawers actually glide better with weight in them & all the drawers pull out the full depth, a couple slides needed a tug at first to get the full length but all are working good. I am ordering a extra pair of slides since they're all the same & will tape em up under the box , just in case. Now I just need to get the side cabinet which isn't available for reasons unknown.

 

[Mr_B]

Side cabinets are being revised i think (perhaps increased width as was a bit silly size)
I would get couple pairs of slides and keep them bagged and under bottom drawers .

 

[Renegade1LI]

Finally got to labeling, I found that p touch 3/4" tape fits perfect in the aluminum extrusion. I used a font size of 24, slipped in, centered and just pressed it in, no need to use the adhesive backing it fits tight and can be easily removed.

 

[kody1234]

i have been very happy with my 5 drawer hf tool cart,i did replace the two stationary wheels though.

 

[javyLSU]

i have been very happy with my 5 drawer hf tool cart,i did replace the two stationary wheels though.

That’s exactly what I did with my 26” cabinet. Makes rolling it around and putting it back MUCH easier.

 

[andersen24]

So I is it just my inability to search on the HF site, or did they discontinue the side cabinets that went with the 72” Series 2? Going to give my son my 53” HF and get me the 72” and just noticed the links are no good to the side cabinets.....

 

[Renegade1LI]

They disappeared about a week ago, right after I bought new boxes I went back the next dat & they were gone. I asked the manager & he thinks they are coming out with a redesigned one, though he had nothing official, have to wait & see.

 

[andersen24]

They disappeared about a week ago, right after I bought new boxes I went back the next dat & they were gone. I asked the manager & he thinks they are coming out with a redesigned one, though he had nothing official, have to wait & see.

OK, whew, have literally been going back and forth between the USG and the ICON....finally decided to go with the USG and noticed that was gone!!!!! Thanks for the info!

 

[GForceJunky]

i have been very happy with my 5 drawer hf tool cart,i did replace the two stationary wheels though.

Does HF have the matching swivel wheels readily available in store or did you grab them from Amazon or something? I need to do this. The two stationary wheels are my biggest gripe with the cart by far.

 

[Renegade1LI]

Does HF have the matching swivel wheels readily available in store or did you grab them from Amazon or something? I need to do this. The two stationary wheels are my biggest gripe with the cart by far.

I happened to be in hf today & they had swivel caster that look pretty close, I didn't look to see if the holes lined up, by eye they looked good.

 

[M635_Guy]

Does HF have the matching swivel wheels readily available in store or did you grab them from Amazon or something? I need to do this. The two stationary wheels are my biggest gripe with the cart by far.

They have casters that match the size/height/hole-placement, but don't necessarily match the ones that come with the unit.

I'm unconcerned.

 

[Gummi Bear]

Now that the boxes hand a home I'm adding some toe kick drawers below, why waste the space.

I’m interested in how you built, or where you bought those toe kick drawers. Neat idea.

I slide my creepers under the main box, fits just about perfectly with them stacked. Another drawer under the locker could be a very handy thing.



I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately...

Henry David Thoreau

 

[Renegade1LI]

I’m interested in how you built, or where you bought those toe kick drawers. Neat idea.

I slide my creepers under the main box, fits just about perfectly with them stacked. Another drawer under the locker could be a very handy thing.



I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately...

Henry David Thoreau

I made these when I built the cabinets & the ones for under the boxes will be similar, it's a great spot for seldom used stuff. I use baltic birch form ply, great stuff to work with, if you have a menards they carry it.

 

[Gummi Bear]

Re: HF US General Boxes, Are They Worth It?

Those are fantastic

I like the high gloss finish.


Whenever I was in college, I worked in a millwork shop. We used birch plywood to build cabinets, my boss didn’t like MDF. I haven’t used it in years.



I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately...

Henry David Thoreau

 

[ddawg16]

I finally got my Husky 42" upper. Fits perfectly on the HF lower

 

[GForceJunky]

They have casters that match the size/height/hole-placement, but don't necessarily match the ones that come with the unit.

I'm unconcerned.

I don't care if they match exactly, as long as they're the right fitment. Anyone have a link to ones they know work/have used? Putting together a little list of HF stuff I need to buy, so I'd like to add these.

 

[Renegade1LI]

I may bring a caster with me, I'd like to get two more as well, just waiting for the next coupon to get 2 end cabinets. One to use for lathe tooling & one to hang on the cart, maybe.

 

[javyLSU]

I don't care if they match exactly, as long as they're the right fitment. Anyone have a link to ones they know work/have used? Putting together a little list of HF stuff I need to buy, so I'd like to add these.

I changed the casters completely to a style that locks the position of the caster as well as the rotation. I bought these for my 26" cabinet, and have been really happy with them:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PVDNYY6/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[jsmeece]

I changed the casters completely to a style that locks the position of the caster as well as the rotation. I bought these for my 26" cabinet, and have been really happy with them:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PVDNYY6/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Thanks for the link, I have been looking for replacement caster for my USG boxes. Are these direct bolt on? Those look nice.

 

[GForceJunky]

I changed the casters completely to a style that locks the position of the caster as well as the rotation. I bought these for my 26" cabinet, and have been really happy with them:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PVDNYY6/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Ooh, thanks! These look nice, and they're not too expensive. I assume they bolted right up or you wouldn't have bought them.

Just what I needed....more things to mod

 

[javyLSU]

Thanks for the link, I have been looking for replacement caster for my USG boxes. Are these direct bolt on? Those look nice.

Ooh, thanks! These look nice, and they're not too expensive. I assume they bolted right up or you wouldn't have bought them.

Just what I needed....more things to mod

Direct bolt-on replacement.

 

[jsmeece]

Direct bolt-on replacement.

Thank you!

 

[Renegade1LI]

speaking of carts they still have the coupon for 199$
https://www.hfqpdb.com/browse
30", 5 DRAWER MECHANIC'S CARTS (ALL COLORS) Lot No. 64031/64030/64032/64033/64061/64060/64059/64721/64722/64720/56429 Valid Thru: 3/23/21 - $199.99

 

[Renegade1LI]

I keep reading that the US General drawers don't extend out all the way, I have 4 generation 2 boxes and the drawers all extend out. Maybe the gen 1 didn't and they improved the gen 2? But I don't need them extending past the box, there were a couple that needed a tug to get them all the way out, now they're fine. I will say these aren't the best, but not even close to the worst, good home garage box. It is good there are so many choices of boxes so at least someone on a tight budget can get a decent set. As far as the latch being only on one side doesn't bother me, get used to it the slides work and the heaviest drawers glide nicely.

 

[Locker537]

My Gen 1, you have to pull a little harder for it to extend fully. It works though, never bothered me.

 

[Renegade1LI]

My Gen 1, you have to pull a little harder for it to extend fully. It works though, never bothered me.

Good to know

 

[javyLSU]

I keep reading that the US General drawers don't extend out all the way, I have 4 generation 2 boxes and the drawers all extend out. Maybe the gen 1 didn't and they improved the gen 2? But I don't need them extending past the box, there were a couple that needed a tug to get them all the way out, now they're fine. I will say these aren't the best, but not even close to the worst, good home garage box. It is good there are so many choices of boxes so at least someone on a tight budget can get a decent set. As far as the latch being only on one side doesn't bother me, get used to it the slides work and the heaviest drawers glide nicely.

Depends which SKU you got. The only one on my 72” roller cab (SKU 64004) that doesn’t fully extend is the top drawer. I see you keep your sockets in the bottom drawer of your top chest. Does the top drawer in the bottom cabinet come extend fully? Mine stops short by just over an inch:

 

[Renegade1LI]

Depends which SKU you got. The only one on my 72” roller cab (SKU 64004) that doesn’t fully extend is the top drawer. I see you keep your sockets in the bottom drawer of your top chest. Does the top drawer in the bottom cabinet come extend fully? Mine stops short by just over an inch:

I have to go check, I was surprised how far the drawers come out in the 26",i guess they don't have a set standard,lol.

 

[javyLSU]

I have to go check, I was surprised how far the drawers come out in the 26",i guess they don't have a set standard,lol.

Yeah, the drawers on the 26" come out more than all the way

 

[Renegade1LI]

Yeah, the drawers on the 26" come out more than all the way

They come out just about flush on the bottom cabinet

 

[whateg01]

My 26" boxes are ready for me to pick up when I get home from this work trip. I'm thinking of pulling the handles and powder coating them flat black. Does somebody have pics of how they are attached? TIA

 

[Renegade1LI]

My 26" boxes are ready for me to pick up when I get home from this work trip. I'm thinking of pulling the handles and powder coating them flat black. Does somebody have pics of how they are attached? TIA

Nut & bolt on each one, remove drawer & a flex head wrench works great inside as the nut is directly behind the slide.

 

[whateg01]

Cool! Sounds like I should be able to take them off pretty easily then. Can't wait to get home!

 

[Tucker99]

I'm reading pros & cons with the drawer latches. I have the 5-draw cart and found the latches very inconvenient. I removed all the latches and use rare earth magnets behind the drawers. They are 1/4" X 3/4" diam and doubled them up. There is a pretty big gap between the end of the drawer and inside back of the box. I have a 1" lip getting in and out of my garage. When rolling the cart in and out of the garage the magnets hold the drawers closed.

 

[Renegade1LI]

Nut & bolt on each one, remove drawer & a flex head wrench works great inside as the nut is directly behind the slide.

I was pleasantly surprised how nice the 26" boxes are, just check the corners when you get there, I had to return the top chest twice, third one is perfect.

 

[thool]

I was pleasantly surprised how nice the 26" boxes are, just check the corners when you get there, I had to return the top chest twice, third one is perfect.

My 26" purchased about 5 years ago had a small wrinkle along the bottom side edge. I kept it just because it didn't bother me enough to pack it up and drive all the way back.

I really like the box: stable enough to wheel around my garage when I'm working, and plenty of space.

Anyone have leads on a good drawer labeling option? I see some people use those label makers, but I'm curious if someone has a good way to mark the drawers on the 26" boxes.

 

[Renegade1LI]

My 26" purchased about 5 years ago had a small wrinkle along the bottom side edge. I kept it just because it didn't bother me enough to pack it up and drive all the way back.

I really like the box: stable enough to wheel around my garage when I'm working, and plenty of space.

Anyone have leads on a good drawer labeling option? I see some people use those label makers, but I'm curious if someone has a good way to mark the drawers on the 26" boxes.

P touch with 3/4 tape fits perfect in the aluminum extrusion and you can get it in most colors. The yellow on blue worked for me.

 

[Renegade1LI]

Was in HF today, asked the manager if he knew when the us general side locker would be back, he had no clue. He did send an email inquiry in asking, told me he'd let me know. Not that I need one now but, you how it goes.