How is your HF tool box holding up, oldest?

[zkling]

I thought this might be a fun thread. With all the talk the HF44", red cart, and other red HF boxes get on here, lets hear how they are holding up in the long run. With that said

-Who has the oldest still in service HF box?
-How is it today?
-Have you needed any parts or repair over the years?
-Comments, thoughts, feelings?

Extra points for any boxes that sustained small arms fire or an impact from a moving object and lived to tell about it.

Additionally if you could quickly vote if your HF box is used in a Home or Work setting.

EDIT, if there exist a thread like this I do apologize. I searched but couldn't come up with anything to cover all the boxes.

 

[Askme42]

Well only had mine a little overa year but it looks brand new. I don't exactly abuse it.

I am a delivery person though and am seeing more and more of them used in a professional setting. I wish they still made the 72".

 

[rsanter]

Mine is over three years old. It has a lathe mounted to the top of it.
It dosent get moved a lot but it has been moved by truck with the lathe on it I think 3 times now.
It not getting used professionally but it my own shop

Bob

 

[Ruger_556]

Service cart that sat in a storage room for years... No idea how old it is but 3 drawers and a door that closes over the lower compartment. I got it out and used it in a fleet truck shop for a year. Casters wore out and the frame bent where they mount.

 

[outdoorsman310]

44" close to one year in a shop. working good. no complaints or failures with the box. I occasionally spray wurth HHS-K on the slides.

 

[d430]

I've had the 4 drawer black cart for 2 years in a dealership. The drawers don't snap shut anymore because the rubber detents have flattend out and the tack welds on one of the folding lid holder upper thing came off, but the other side still holds the lid up. I may just pop rivet it back. Other than that it's awesome, especially if you find the $99 coupon. I also added a matching black folding table on one side and a can holder on the other side.

I also have the tall side locker that I painted to match my extreme green SO krl7022. Recently took it home and put it on my 41" MAC top&bottom box since I got the correct SO locker. The HF one can't be beat for $199 though.

 

[reyna14]

Only long-term problem I've had with my HF 44" is that the drawer detents don't detent much anymore. I have to be a bit gentle closing the drawer or it will pop back open. Other than that, will keep the box for many more years, I hope.

 

[Farmall450]

Mine was just purchased this summer, but's still like new.

I did make a nice Stainless Steel top for it, which is also waterproof (with flanges on 3 sides) so **** cannot get underneath.

EDIT: My detents are also a bit weak, I've noticed on occasion when I lock it one may not get locked because it was out. I think when I push in the top drawer (loaded down with sockets & extensions & breaker bars/torque wrenches) pops open some of the other ones.

But for the price, it rocks. I only wish I had gotten a bigger one, but the 56" is too much more $$ for less space, and I didn't have the room.

 

[Hpozzuoli]

I have the 44", 56", and the one drawer cart. They are pushing 3yrs old. They work just like new. The 56" is completely over loaded and the draws roll nice and smooth. I am in an out of it 50 or so times of day..more so in the summer when I take on customer projects if I have time. The 44" has a problem with the draws opening when I roll it, but it isn't a deal breaker for me. The 56" never moves nor would I want to try and move it. I have nothing to complain about. Anything I could or would say is positive....go figure.

 

[AV tinker er]

I have the 5 drawer cart, 44" bottom, and the 7 drawer side cab. Fantastic all the way around. I'm looking at the top chest for bday/Father's Day gift as they are bursting at the seams.

 

[jjjrmx5]

Zach, my maroon krinkle coat HF 5-dwr cart went back to it's orignal buyer during the summer.

Bought around 2006. Snap-On hinge swap.
Used on a mfg floor 5 to 6 to even 7 days a week.
Never a problem.

My co-worker Clyde has a 56" HF maroon krinkle bottom and top HF roll cab that dates back to easily the early 2000's and likely before.
Works flawless. No issues. Used daily.
Is a beast to move but is every bit a packd to the gills everyday service box.

He was a local to us Mazda tech for years, moved over to mfg, and now is back in automotive repair.

Only industrial quality alterative to the truck boxes for a long time.
Now folks are figuring it out.

 

[archirelic]

I picked up my red 5 drawer cart in 2010...and my 44" in Jan. 2011. They're used in just a DIYer environment, but have been put through the ringer in that amount of time. They're still functioning as well as they were when I bought them both. Even the pneumatic struts on the 5 drawer are original and I use that way more than I do the 44".

 

[classic70]

My 42 inch is 4 years old and the past 9 months has been used professionally. No issues other than the top mat warped up when some sort of fluid leaked on it.

 

[Mugen112]

I have a 44" that I bought after down grading from a SO 7022(bought a house). It's been used everyday for the past 2 1/2 years with no complaints. Looking for more space so I will be picking up the side cab soon.

 

[taumac]

I have 2 44's. I havnt noticed a detente issue yet maybe cause I don't push drawers back in fully to lock it. Mine in a DYI er garage. Only issue to date was had to lube some of the slides cause some where dry. I love mine so far



Have a good one, Gerard

Florida GJers ( FGJ)
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/group.php?groupid=117

The 5 Stitches Garage
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=211899

 

[jim1987]

I bought a red crinkle in February of 2013. Was told it was a year old at the time. DIY light duty use. Sold it when I acquired the 56" bottom. It was also supposed to be a year old as well. I helped him unload it. And it seemed over loaded, though it seemed it was. Used more as storage then anything else.

Now the fun part. When i unloaded it, i slide it out of my s10 blazer, i slide it.out to where it was standing on its side. Now wait it, i let it free fall to get it on its wheels. 57" of steel came crashing down like thunder. Didnt hurt it one bit! Impressive for hf if you ask me.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I don't have one, but a bunch of the guys I work with or around have them, mostly the 44 inch boxes. They are real solid and from what I see, have held up well. They take a beating, getting rolled around a lot and used for a work surface .

Charles

 

[zkling]

Bump for additional input.

 

[stikman56]

Mine's close to 3 years, professional setting, it's my roll cart, crammed full. Perfect so far, no issues.
I also have the 56" as my main box as well,and have had it for 5 years now. It's works perfect.

 

[Steevo]

Mine are getting abused. I have managed to get overspray on them, splattered chemicals on them, and had a 44" snow blower auger leaning against the bench that fell over and dented a drawer.
C'est La Vie!
They are tool boxes, not furniture in a museum.

 

[jim1987]

See post 16. I already had them about a month before that post. Closing in on a year of ownership, no change in condition. Dyier

 

[Askme42]

Anyone notice the picture in the new add had spring load casters?

 

[wild cowboy]

I have one from 1994 - it is holding up but it is a cheaper made box, not nearly as nice as the current 44"

I have been a HF customer for 25 years+ - back then, they only had one retail store, it was in Kentucky, like Louisville or Lexington, somewhere like that.

so everything was ordered via their catalog - they actually had Inside track club, even back then, but the deals in the separate inside track catalog were just crazy! - like an 8" drill press for $15 (I ordered 50 of them and resold them with a classified ad for $55 each)

The coolest part was everything was free shipping, not $6.95 like now, but FREE

The UPS man used to hate me - lol.

 

[Cope]

I have one from 1994 - it is holding up but it is a cheaper made box, not nearly as nice as the current 44"

I have been a HF customer for 25 years+ - back then, they only had one retail store, it was in Kentucky, like Louisville or Lexington, somewhere like that.

so everything was ordered via their catalog - they actually had Inside track club, even back then, but the deals in the separate inside track catalog were just crazy! - like an 8" drill press for $15 (I ordered 50 of them and resold them with a classified ad for $55 each)

The coolest part was everything was free shipping, not $6.95 like now, but FREE

The UPS man used to hate me - lol.

Back then they also carried Milwaukee, Porter Cable and other name brand power tools.

 

[skipnay]

Once they start making one that is about 70 plus inches long and about 29-30 wide I will buy one. Until then my roller bearing Craftsman are working just fine!!!

 

[NC-Shaun]

Once they start making one that is about 70 plus inches long and about 29-30 wide I will buy one. Until then my roller bearing Craftsman are working just fine!!!

This reply is not applicable to the thread topic....

 

[dmftoy1]

I just picked up a HF44 box for my son in law as a housewarming gift. (Based on this site). All I can say is I wish I had bought one of these instead of my craftsman professional. (Bought 3 years ago). Box is better built and came with a top mat and drawer liners for less than 1/2 of what I paid.

 

[63spyder]

My side box is 7 to 8 years old , wrinkle finish. It used to hang on an old snap on box. Now it hangs on a used 44 top and bottom I got on Craig's list for 300 dollars ,they are wrinkle finish too. No problems at all. I definatly like it better than the old snap on with greased slides.

 

[ironmutt]

4 draw black cart for a year used every day no problems only complaint i have is the need to offer a hutch for the 72 in black

 

[ckblum]

Just sold my 5 drawer cart. Used it for 3 years, a year of that in am HD equipment shop, always overloaded. Sold it for $200, after a quick wipe, clean and vacuum the drawers it looked mint again, minus a few paint chips. KMS up here in BC sells the exact same cart for $479. I made a trip down a few summers ago and brought one back on the roof of my Corolla (no roof rack). Border guards just laughed when they saw my car with a giant box pressing down the headliner inside.

 

[CJM8515]

1 year of solid home use on the 44". I go into it at least 25-50x a week working on various projects. I need to adjust the detent on some of the drawers as they open almost to easily. Only complaint is Im not a big fan of the large top drawer-doesnt feel like it could support tons of weight when I barely have anything in it-seems flimsy. Otherwise super happy with it.

 

[Shiftless]

1 year of solid home use on the 44". I go into it at least 25-50x a week working on various projects. I need to adjust the detent on some of the drawers as they open almost to easily. Only complaint is Im not a big fan of the large top drawer-doesnt feel like it could support tons of weight when I barely have anything in it-seems flimsy. Otherwise super happy with it.

My one year old shiny red 44 inch box has double slides on the big wide top drawer. The top drawer holds sets of quarter, three eighths, and half sockets in there, metric and SAE plus lots of extensions and even a few extra ratchet handles. Drawer slides smoothly.
Disclaimer...homeowner/hobbyist garage box, certainly not as rough as commercial use. Parked against a wall and never moves.

 

[speed bump]

I have had mine for just over 6 years in a DIY environment. It is loaded to the gills and is still working fine. Not sure if it will come to Casper though as the short depth *****.

 

[jlh92]

I've had my 44" for just over 2 years now. It only gets used maybe once or twice a week if I were to average it out. One of my drawers doesn't stay closed unless it's locked. I'm not super impressed. Kind of wish I had looked for a used Waterloo or tool truck box.

 

[CJM8515]

My one year old shiny red 44 inch box has double slides on the big wide top drawer. The top drawer holds sets of quarter, three eighths, and half sockets in there, metric and SAE plus lots of extensions and even a few extra ratchet handles. Drawer slides smoothly.

Disclaimer...homeowner/hobbyist garage box, certainly not as rough as commercial use. Parked against a wall and never moves.

Oh it slides smoothly but is so wide it kinda wobbles side to side. I have some junk wrenches in there, pry bars, etc. so nothin heavy

 

[Super Mech]

5 drawer red cart. A little over 3 years old used a a professional shop environment. I must go in that thing at least 30x a day and roll it all over the place and it has held up without a problem. It's also heavily loaded.

 

[coondog]

I bought the black 4 drawer roll cart around 6 years ago, and can say its still holding up well. I welded an 18"x16" table to the right side, with a brace to support it. I also welded pegs on the back of the box part to hold some commonly used items like a big pry bar, brake pedal depressor, etc. Its been with me so long its got some sentimental value. The mechanics I work with like what I've done with the thing, and some have offered cash for it. I have no issues with any of the drawers, or casters. 5 stars for this $100 setup.

 

[mrjaw14]

- 44" Chest and Topper 3-4 years old
- Boxes have held up well, but the lock is in need of oiling
- Lock has froze up once or twice on the chest. When I got it, the frame wasn't level on the bottom so I had to use fender washers on the casters to level it out

- Overall GREAT boxes for the money. More than enough quality for a DIY, but I wish it were deeper. If I was a pro I'd want the deeper 72" version for sure

 

[justanengineer]

Back then they also carried Milwaukee, Porter Cable and other name brand power tools.

I dont remember Milwaukee but I vaguely remember PC, Dewalt, and a few others being in there. The thing I remember most is walking into the store and ogling the Bridgeport clones, "full-size" lathes, brakes and sheetmetal tools, and other real machinery and tools, not the tiny toys they sell today. I cant count the number of times I was taken advantage of by friends/relatives to help carry heavy iron out of there.

As for boxes, a good friend bought a stainless 40-odd (46"?) stainless box back ~2000 and it looks just as beautiful today as it did then. I dont know if he's had to do any repair on it, but its one of his main boxes and being in the body business I doubt I would know without him admitting it, everything in his shop is beautiful. Its a bit heavier duty than the ones today, 16 or 18 gauge IIRC and ~400 lbs each for the top and bottom. I do know it was one helluva lot cheaper than the ones sold today, $200 for the pair.

 

[emeraldcoupe]

I've had my 44" since 2009, no issues at all. the drawers are loaded up pretty heavy.