Home Depot Husky vs HF General

[chaosracing]

I am in need of cabinets for my new garage. Looked on CL for old kitchen cabinets but would be better off building my own based on availability and price. Started thinking of building my own with metal tool boxes like many have done on here. Went to both HD and HF today and I could not believe that HD is around $100-$200 cheaper for the same size boxes than HF is now, plus the Husky boxes have power strips included in them and HF does not. Has anyone else noticed this? I would compare the Lowes Kobalt and Craftsman brands, but around me, they do not have comparable boxes in stores.

 

[Colin Len]

All the Husky's I've seen at HD have been MUCH more flimsy than the common US General we see here. Check them out closer - pay attention to the gauge of the metal and slop in the drawers/sliders. And check what the drawers are rated at for weight. Or perhaps there are some higher end Husky that I haven't seen.

 

[jimreed2160]

Depends on how you will use them. I have US General, Husky, and Kobalt workbenches in my shop. The US General is the most sturdy with the best drawer action. But the others are good also. Most of them are used for storage. I like the Huskys because of their price point. All of these workbenches are appropriate for the light use they receive.

But if you are looking to use the bench heavily, I would suggest sticking with US Gen.

 

[Mr_B]

The newer matt finish husky at 22-24" depth are pretty decent to potential cost .
If you not in and out of it multiple times a day and not loading it to extremes they will do the job easily, try before you buy .
Just buy drawer layout size/depth cabinets that works best for your tools/bench space .

 

[Unhdsm]

I have a large Husky Pro box sitting next to a Harbor Frieght box. HF is built stronger and, depending on how much you use it, probably a better value.

 

[LX-Markham]

try before you buy

THIS.

I got the HUSKY upper and base cabinets, and I'm really pleased with them. Cost to utility ratio to me is pretty good. They are not the best, but they look good and they do the job. Definitely spend some time in the store trying them out. Assembly was a bit of a pain.

 

[chaosracing]

I have an older Craftsman tool box set, non roller bearing slides, it was my first set up. Has been relegated to basement duty and light storage. I have a newer (bought 2000) and its roller bearing, good boxes, not sure if they are still this way, but its small at 26" wide. I have a Husky set (40" wide)that I bought from a guy that did tool auctions and would buy pallets of returns and damage from Home Depot. Its decent, but the newer ones are better in my opinon. And the bad thing is he could no longer get boxes due to location and shipping costs, so now he is out of business.

I went to Harbor Freight again today since they are having their parking lot sales and damage sales. Well the store I went to had zero damaged boxes, much less anything else except what they normally have in the back of the store. Their "sale" is just a gimmick to get people in the door as the prices are still the same. Looked at the boxes and yes I can say they are built much better than the older US General boxes. My issue is still the price. I would really like to get about 4 of the 44" wide boxes, but that would put me around $2000, plus then I have to build everything else.


Guess I have to keep looking and postpone my workbench for now.

 

[JKJEFF]

I bolted two HF 44's together and put a 1" butcher block top on them. Great workbench and great storage. I left the castors on so I could move it if I need too.

 

[1953mercury]

I picked up six of these Husky boxes (46x24.5) this spring for $248 each, on sale. Seem to be very well built. Ball bearing slides, hardwood top, elect. outlets and USB ports. Drawers work well, with self closing feature. Looked a HF and they seemed to be good, but were smaller and more money. Looked at similar in Craftsman, and they were junk. Mike