How does Milwaukee tool box compare to others?
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71goldss
Well-known member
It’s been a few years since I looked over a Milwaukee box at Home Depot. That said, some reviewers really liked them when they were introduced, but they just didn’t impress me much. Your box in question wouldn’t work for me at all. You don’t give dimensions, but no full width drawers, and that lower cabinet would be a waist of space for me as well. I never cared for the wrinkle finish either! I’m glad HF finally did away with that on their early 44” boxes. Just my opinion.
My impression has been that they're from the same manufacturer as Kobalt, Husky, all the ones that have that angled flip top top box. I know it's 4 years old, but I always refer back to a video by Real Tool Reviews and it just seems like garbage to me with plastic casters, riveted construction, etc. Personally I think they're in some of the bottom tiers of boxes and you're mostly paying for that snazzy white lightning bolt to show off to your Milwaukee bros. I'd take a USG / Icon box over it any day of the week.
MarvinBerry
Well-known member
It's been a second since I looked at those in depot but I remember them seeming a little hipper then the husky boxes. Sturdier & nicer fit & finish?
Ultimately mostly due to limitations on space I bought a 26" Cman 2000 which everyone here seems to think is made of tin foil... but now it's 2 or 3 years old, pretty loaded and hasn't turned into a pile of dust?
So I think if you dig the Milwaukee box & can get a good deal why not? Its not junk. Not a truck level box either but you could do worse.
Ultimately mostly due to limitations on space I bought a 26" Cman 2000 which everyone here seems to think is made of tin foil... but now it's 2 or 3 years old, pretty loaded and hasn't turned into a pile of dust?
So I think if you dig the Milwaukee box & can get a good deal why not? Its not junk. Not a truck level box either but you could do worse.
They’re alright..
20 gauge steel which puts them between the Husky standard duty (21ga) and Husky Heavy Duty boxes (18ga).
Not going to compete with a box truck box, but depending on the use might work for you. As it’s been mentioned before.. having a box this size without at least one full width drawer is definitely a kick to the shins. Personally, I’ve never been all about these having played with them in store a bit, but seems like the general consensus online is that they’re decent.
Do you have a HD local to you? Almost all of them have at least one of the Milwaukee setups in store so you can check it out in person, test the drawer slides, etc.
20 gauge steel which puts them between the Husky standard duty (21ga) and Husky Heavy Duty boxes (18ga).
Not going to compete with a box truck box, but depending on the use might work for you. As it’s been mentioned before.. having a box this size without at least one full width drawer is definitely a kick to the shins. Personally, I’ve never been all about these having played with them in store a bit, but seems like the general consensus online is that they’re decent.
Do you have a HD local to you? Almost all of them have at least one of the Milwaukee setups in store so you can check it out in person, test the drawer slides, etc.
kngelv
Well-known member
Those were like $699.00 brand new. I got mine on a HD price glitch for less than $500.00. No way did he pay $1300.00 for it and $950.00 is way overpriced. I sold mine. U.S. General are better.
James
James
I welcome someone more knowledgeable on the tool truck brands to correct me, as I’m not 100% here, but I believe depending on the model and series you’re looking at they range from 14-18ga.
A big difference with the Snap-On and Mac boxes is going to be the depth of the drawers, the quality of the slides and the casters as well as the overall drawer layout a lot of the time just seems to be better laid out. Full length drawer is definitely a personal preference, but makes large sockets drawers so much easier to manage and have all in one place, or air tools, etc. depending on how many your box has. A nicety really, but something that is difficult to ever go away from once you’ve gotten used to.
**I reread some of my comments and I don’t want you to think I’m trying to tell you it’s “tool truck box or bust”.. which is not at all my intent. For my home setup I’ve got an original US General cab and chest, a Husky Heavy Duty cab and chest and Husky Heavy Duty cab. These fit my needs fine and are of good enough quality for me not working out of them for a living.
71goldss
Well-known member
I find full width drawers (or at least extra wide drawers) to be great for long items such as breaker bars, extra long socket extensions, extra long screw drivers, torque wrenches, pry bars, etc... I even use one of mine for long Dura Block sanding blocks. Anything that I have that doesn't fit in a standard 26" type box drawer, goes in my full width drawers. Plus, it ***** when you have to place a long tool cross ways, corner to corner, in order to fit it in the drawer! And as already mentioned, some want all of their sockets in one wide drawer layout, or all of their wrenches in one drawer. Once you have a box with at least one full width drawer, it would be really difficult to go back to having none. I have a total of eleven full width, and extra wide drawers across three boxes in my home garage, and still find myself wishing I had more!
BTW, now that I see the actual size of that box, those drawers may be wide enough, but I still wouldn't want that box for myself. Just not impressed by the Milwaukee boxes! If it suites your needs and you like it, go for it. A 56" or 72" US General would be my personal pick.
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kngelv
Well-known member
Here is a link to my thread after I received the Milwaukee after the 1/2 price glitch on the HD website.
www.garagejournal.com
I ended up selling it to a coworker. I also have a U.S. General 56" top and bottom and just thought it was built better and had a better drawer layout. The Milwaukee has thinner gage metal riveted slides and that hard to clean textured paint. The U.S. General is superior in every way and costs less too.
James
Milwaukee 60" Home Depot Half Price Has Arrived
I did not want to fill up the HD hot deal thread but my $349.00 price glitch box arrived today. A big thank you to javier h224. Wish I had ordered two. James
www.garagejournal.com
I ended up selling it to a coworker. I also have a U.S. General 56" top and bottom and just thought it was built better and had a better drawer layout. The Milwaukee has thinner gage metal riveted slides and that hard to clean textured paint. The U.S. General is superior in every way and costs less too.
James
My eyes turned green when I read this. Where was I in 2017?Here is a link to my thread after I received the Milwaukee after the 1/2 price glitch on the HD website.
Milwaukee 60" Home Depot Half Price Has Arrived
I did not want to fill up the HD hot deal thread but my $349.00 price glitch box arrived today. A big thank you to javier h224. Wish I had ordered two. James
I ended up selling it to a coworker. I also have a U.S. General 56" top and bottom and just thought it was built better and had a better drawer layout. The Milwaukee has thinner gage metal riveted slides and that hard to clean textured paint. The U.S. General is superior in every way and costs less too.
James
Looking on home Depot website, I am surprised that they have professional duty boxes. More than $5k. That's surprising.
CHI_Tool&Die
Well-known member
My Craftsman 2000 have been fine too. Is it perfect? No, but it was very affordable and it’s working fine. I think the board just likes ragging on specific brands which is what it is. Everyone here loves US General and I like mine too, but all my HF boxes have had problems. I just live with them because I don’t want to return those heavy *** boxes.
kngelv
Well-known member
Yeah it was a crazy glitch. If you are paying close to a grand then the HF box is the way to go. If I was buying a new box today I would seriously look at the Tekton boxes made by Rousseau in Canada. Tekton gives you 10% in rewards on every purchase so you can get a bunch of tools to put in your new box. They are super heavy duty and are better than anything HD, Lowes and HF sell. They are also better than all these "higher end" Chinese boxes like Tool Vault. Proto is good too and I like Snap-On, Mac and Matco but those prices can get out of hand quickly.
James
I took a look at those Tekton boxes, they are not cheap at all. Given all the concerns, I guess the best bet is to ****** a used Mac tool box used. If I get a decent price, it will be easy to sell it in the future at cost in case my need changes. If I get a Tekton new, I am totally f*ed if I need to sell it. Snap On seem to have a stronger resale value than Mac. That is okay to live with. Just need more 'down-pay'. Matco? It seems getting weaker and weaker. Not sure about the long-term appeal.
Firebrick43
Well-known member
I though they are mearly OK. To me the drawer layout/depths really ***** and waste space. I don't need that much deep drawer space, and then a cabinet on top of it.
The drawers are light, but all the import drawers are light. I have one gen 2 US general box for all my Milling machine/lathe tooling and I say its better laid out by far compared to the Milwaukee box and even all the US made waterloo boxes which really pains me to say that. I think a 44" box from horror fright would be much better for mechanics tools in layout and cheaper to boot.
The drawers are light, but all the import drawers are light. I have one gen 2 US general box for all my Milling machine/lathe tooling and I say its better laid out by far compared to the Milwaukee box and even all the US made waterloo boxes which really pains me to say that. I think a 44" box from horror fright would be much better for mechanics tools in layout and cheaper to boot.
Woody1320
Well-known member
I have one. I got mine in 2019 around father's day. Paid just under 600 for on sale from $698. It does everything I need it to do, but my only complaint so far is the lack of a full width drawer on top. It's been very good to me, otherwise. I'm not a Milwaukee guy, but it was a good deal...my wife had to talk me into it even at that price lol.
Ilikeike
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Whatever box you get, don't get one of those shallow ones where the drawers are only like 20" or less. waste of a tool box.
a decent one usually has round 23~24" depth.... right ?
a decent one usually has round 23~24" depth.... right ?
Woody1320
Well-known member
I'd be remiss in saying I haven't looked at other boxes. But at this time, I can't justify an "upgrade" unless I get a screaming deal on something better. I do think it's ludicrous that this box is going for just about twice what it was listed for almost four years ago. It's not worth over $1,300.
Ole Slewfoot
Well-known member
Buddy has one of those Milwaukee in our warehouse. It's a little thin, but it's been over a year and the drawers still work well.
I f it works one year for tradesmen, can we assume it will last lifetime for home gamers? Lol
Ole Slewfoot
Well-known member
That question is still open, the primary job of that bench is fixing sound gear. I've definitely had a craftsman cabinet that wasn't as good.
I was in home depot today and thought of this thread, took a look at one and confirmed what I thought. Riveted drawer slides, plastic casters, no real frame that the casters mount into (probably just rivnuts). I dunno, for the money, even for a home gamer, I would still lean towards hazard fart.
Ole Slewfoot
Well-known member
The caster bolt on with m6 cap screws. The landing pad is not super solid but is supported full length at opposite ends.
Is there a good introductory YouTube video discussing the differences? Looks I need to get some in-depth education first. Thanks!
This is the video I mentioned earlier comparing the Husky and USG. It is 4 years old but everything I saw today is basically the same.
anndel
Well-known member
Pass, I love my Snap-on boxes. Milwaukee is no comparison.
nicks78camaro
Well-known member
I have one very similar to this. Pretty happy with the quality and the drawer depth and layout.
It was used professionally for a few years and has been at home for a few years.
Although I paid $550 for mine new in store.
I think at current pricing the US General boxes are a better buy.
It was used professionally for a few years and has been at home for a few years.
Although I paid $550 for mine new in store.
I think at current pricing the US General boxes are a better buy.
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InsanePyro
Well-known member
For the money you will never convince me there is something better then a US general box. It sits and holds my tools where I put them
What is the difference between US General and Yukon at Home Depot? How big of a gap between US General and Icon? Thanks!
InsanePyro
Well-known member
I honestly don't know much about the Icon, even that is more then I'm willing to spend on a metal box that just sits there. My brother had a Yukon but sold it and got that big *** DeWalt box HD sells. He has had no complaints about either
finn
Well-known member
They seemed to be about the same quality as the other generic private label boxes they were sitting beside on the floor, but with a big price tag bump.
I decided to pass. Having the Milwaukee logo on an otherwise generic box wasn’t worth the added cost.
I decided to pass. Having the Milwaukee logo on an otherwise generic box wasn’t worth the added cost.
nicks78camaro
Well-known member
I will say the Milwaukee does seem like a sturdier box than the Husky.
Still the US General is the best value.
Still the US General is the best value.
Do they not have a HF where you live? Go put your hands on the stuff. The USG stuff is nice - the cabinets all seem to be made the same, though the 4-drawer cart isn't as nice as the 5-drawer which isn't as nice as the Full Bank. The Icon stuff is a clear, large step up. Heavier-gauge metal, nicer drawer slides, more configuration options, more features like battery tool drawers, etc.
The box store stuff tends to be thinner metal, not as well-finished, etc. but has things like soft-close drawers to hook you. If you search YouTube there are several videos where they compare how much less reinforcement there is in the Husky/etc. stuff, and their weight capacity tells the tale.
At the end of the day, I'm not sure if there's a big difference for most home-gamers. The tools lie in there fine. But when I was buying my stuff, I went down the rabbit hole and was unable to find a better option to the USG for similar money. The box store stuff wasn't really close for me.
QtheGenius
Well-known member
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- Feb 3, 2022
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A friend at a shop has the OPs Milwaukee box. It lives outdoors, although in a garage bay without a door. On the surface it seems to be fine. No drawer issues, or corrosion that we can see.
I remember when these were $600-700 like 3 years ago. I couldn't wait to buy one since that's where my budget was at the time. I do remember someone pointing out that the 6 wheel carts are a bear if you're trying to maneuver it against a wall. I ended up with the 56" USG series 2 with the 14" side hanger drawers. With just the casters at the corners, it was so much easier to get against my garage wall.
I remember when these were $600-700 like 3 years ago. I couldn't wait to buy one since that's where my budget was at the time. I do remember someone pointing out that the 6 wheel carts are a bear if you're trying to maneuver it against a wall. I ended up with the 56" USG series 2 with the 14" side hanger drawers. With just the casters at the corners, it was so much easier to get against my garage wall.