Husky 52" tool box/chest combo - $598

[nick2010tundra]

I have the Husky 52 inch stack and I really like it for home use, I am in Canada so have no access to the harbour freight. I actually was gonna drive to get a few but when the husky was on sale for black Friday I couldn't pass it up. I am very impressed with the quality for its price. Its no snap on, but I don't need a snap on. I just need a descent box to store my descent ( Not pro ) tools. All and all very happy with it.
Also thanks for describing the Vietnamese versus Chinese difference

 

[BDT/NWMN]

I spent 3 hours in the Bemidji, Mn Home Depot on Tuesday; looking at tool boxes. That 52" box would work excellent for what I would use it for - namely: holding soldering guns, battery and corded power tools, electrical and lighter special tools... It would see limited movement in my shop, which has a level floor... It is built to sell for $598+tax... It is not a deep box at 18", and deeper boxes can be found at a higher price... My Harbor Freight 56" is 22" deep, weighs more, is stronger, and often sells for $1100+tax for top and bottom..

You get what you pay for with either one..

 

[scootr29]

These are a clearance item and are listed for $475 at the store only...just an fyi

 

[elronin]

I don't know why people can't let other people's purchases alone. I am not a professional nor do I work in a professional environment. Any box can be used in a pro environment - how long it lasts or if it is a best buy for that environment is not my purview. If I was wrenching for a living I would look for used tool truck boxes and skip anything else including HF. Just as I would have more Snap On and Mac tools. I have two other Husky boxes - two different 40"; one for two years and one for the last year. Between the two I have $380.00 invested in them as I got them on closeout after the holidays each year. They work fine for me and my use of them. If you are on the HF side of the equation - fine. But I'm not interested in proving anything to you or anyone else about my purchase. Someone started a thread about the 52 inch Husky box. I purchased one and posted about it. I didn't rain on your parade. You came into the thread against the Husky. So if you want to compare specs or do a comparison, be my guest. Your position doesn't make my or others purchases of this box any less valid.

Most people do but I've seen this guy around the forums, CNG likes to put down what others people buy. It's his MO. Just brush it off and buy what will work for you.

 

[2StepsAhead]

These are a clearance item and are listed for $475 at the store only...just an fyi

Do you know in what areas? I went to the Staten Island and NJ locations recently and couldnt find any on sale but they're in stock in the store as per the website.

 

[scootr29]

Do you know in what areas? I went to the Staten Island and NJ locations recently and couldnt find any on sale but they're in stock in the store as per the website.

greenville, sc...talked with the merchandise manager and he used his hand held to see his stock...mentioned to me that this is a store clearance only and $475 was store only. Maybe HD wants them out of the stores...probably taking up valuable shelf space...he mentioned it is a 2 pallet item.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[shannonw]

i dunno...my local store 2 weeks ago told me it was 525 (glad i didn't wait though as they'd have been gone), they weren't sure if they had any undamaged. So i called around and to another store and they said they didn't have them it was normal price 598... and they had 4 on order =/ but the local store the guy punched it into his handheld and came up clearance at 525. I figured maybe it was a per store thing or something...my store *never* has any big boxes, i've never even seen the 41" there.

I can't make heads nor tails of that.

 

[Honest Bob]

The 52" boxes are down to $399 at my local HD. Very tempting!

 

[2StepsAhead]

Damn, cant find it local on the site now...guess other people found them throughout the week lol.

 

[CNGsaves]

There are two versions of this box sold at Depot under the same SKU. Because they have the same SKU you can not tell which one your store has in stock via the internet, or their in store lookup. You have to look at the box. The older version was made in China and the newer version is made in Vietnam. There is a post on GJ where most people prefered the newer Vietnamese version, but I had both side by side in my garage and prefer the Chinese version. They are almost exactly the same and both are decent boxes, not junk, not Snap On.

Chinese Version

Vietnamese Version

Here are the differences I noted:

Chinese version has rubber grommets at both corners to allow wires to pass into the top box. Vietnamese version has a knock out that is not knocked out on the left side.

Chinese version has a lip around the perimeter of the bottom box to center the top box. The Vietnamese version has no lip, but uses a small piece of angle iron at the back corners to hold the top box to the bottom.

Chinese version does not have any advertising stickers on the box, Vietnamese version has red stickers with promotional information on the drawer fronts. (Easy to remove)

The Chinese drawer liners are a smooth, thin foam. The Vietnamese liners seemed nicer and have more gloss and a macro texture.

The Chinese drawer slides **** the drawer all the way in when you get it almost all the way closed. When you open it, it takes a little extra force to pull past the latching mechanism. The Vietnamese version just has increased friction at the end of travel. You have to push against the friction when closing and pull against it when opening. I liked the Chinese slides better so I searched for Chinese boxes.

The Chinese version is listed as having an 1800 lb capacity (100 lb per drawer) and the Vietnamese version is listed as 1400 lb.

The country of origin is written on the side of the cardboard box for the lower unit by the SKU. If you do go searching for one country of origin or another, in all the boxes I saw the Chinese ones always had white banding around the cardboard and the Vietnamese always had yellow banding. YMMV, but I looked at several boxes at about 6 different Depots.

I ended up picking up 4 of these... I searched several Home Depots for Chinese version and ended up finding a Depot that had the box on clearance and they price matched all the boxes to their clearance price. Out the door with 6% MI sales tax and 5% off for using a Home Depot card they were $542 each.

Here are 3 set up, 4th is still in the box and I am debating need as I transfer tools from my old boxes to these.

I measured the drawer thickness with a micrometer today, and it was 0.038 for both the Chinese version and the Vietnamese version I measured at Depot with rolled edges. I did not take a drawer out of the depot model, but the Chinese one I had has 1 3/8" drawer slides with 10 bearing pairs. Cabinet uses qty 6 5"x2" casters. The two deep Drawers have two slides per drawer.

You can compare that to the ones Mister Moose reviewed previously and it is not the best, but not paper thin garbage. I also stopped by a Sears today and almost all of their drawers were 0.038" thick with the exception of their homeowner line, and workbenches with drawers underneath which were 0.025" thick. The Craftsman drawer slides ranged from 1 1/16" to 1 3/8" tall.

Nice write-up 2Slow. This gives GJer's real info to compare in judging the newer Husky toolboxes. Your details are what I was hoping would come out of this thread. Thanks for taking the time to analyze. Obviously, those newer Husky boxes are much better than previously.

For the money, those 52" Husky sets are now a legit homeowner option, and a bargain for what you're getting.

Enjoy your shop setup with multiple boxes, and the lift of course.

 

[aroslv]

The 52" boxes are down to $399 at my local HD. Very tempting!

Wow, I would get a 3rd at that price. Called around my stores they are all still full price.

 

[2slow]

As of this morning, Home Depot in Northville, MI has 2 Vietnamese versions on clearance for $528.

 

[stikman56]

I'm not sure if this qualifies as that hot of a deal, but you'll be hard pressed to find a better deal for a 52", 18-drawer tool box anywhere else. I just happened to be at HD returning something today and saw these sitting out. I fondled the display unit and was pretty impressed.

Ball bearing slides, 6 casters, and a "grip-latch" drawer latch like the Craftsman's.

I think I'm going to cancel my craftsman 40" top chest that's on layaway and get this instead. This Husky box gets 5-stars out of 42 reviews on their site.

Store item #1000017605

Haven't seen it in person. Looks like the same stuff the 40" box is made of. The 40" is junk IMO. Thinnest, lightest box I've ever seen. Helped carry one down stairs, couldn't believe how light it was. Light home use only, would be my guess.
I'd think for the money,there's better options.... yeah, I know I'll get beat up on for calling the 40" Husky "junk", but it is IMO. Also has very small slides on it. I have a Carquest 53" at home I bought used, it's junk too, light, flimsy. It has a side box, it's huge it was $250.00 I think, I paid for it (only reason I bought it) and holds almost all my tools, still junk though. The US General tool boxes like I use at work, they walk all over most any of the other lower end boxes out there. Simply put, I'm saying there might be better boxes out there ,if it's built like their 40" box is, if you're spending that much and want a new one. It's not my money though and you should really spend it how you want to.
I'm not calling the 52" box junk, I haven't seen it ,so I can't form an opinion on it one way or the other.

 

[krdiesel03]

The husky 52 is a great home box, is it a snap on? no, but most home owners do not need a snap on.

People should think about the intended use before calling it junk.

Would be the same as me calling every computer that people use on this site junk because it is a home PC and my work PC is faster. And yes I can back up that i was using that fastest at work

 

[stikman56]

I understand that most like the HF red boxes but I looked at both the HF and this box before buying the Husky box. Neither the HF or Husky will survive in a professional environment. But either will do fine at home.

Wrong! HF US General boxes survive just fine, without issue in professional environments. Ask me how I know.

 

[PJNJ]

Wrong! HF US General boxes survive just fine, without issue in professional environments. Ask me how I know.

And why I should care about your opinion? Earlier (1:19PM) you said it looks like a 40" Husky that is "junk" in your opinion. After getting called out about it at 9:18 PM, you then edit your previous post at 11:27 tonight to add an entire additional paragraph to claim now you're not calling the 52" Husky junk and don't have an opinion either way with regard to the 52" Husky. That additional paragraph completely contradicts the import of your prior unedited post. Disingenuous at best.

 

[PJNJ]

Oh and I get "it" - you and CNG really like HF tool chests. So much so that you and he are willing to go into a thread about people's happy purchases of another brand of tool chest to tell them of their mistake. But be upfront about it and don't edit your post later to make it appear otherwise.

 

[stikman56]

And why I should care about your opinion? Earlier (1:19PM) you said it looks like a 40" Husky that is "junk" in your opinion. After getting called out about it at 9:18 PM, you then edit your previous post at 11:27 tonight to add an entire additional paragraph to claim now you're not calling the 52" Husky junk and don't have an opinion either way with regard to the 52" Husky. That additional paragraph completely contradicts the import of your prior unedited post. Disingenuous at best.

Because I wasn't calling it junk, I was calling their 40" box junk. You can't figure out what you read in my post, so I attempted to clarify it. If you'd read the post, you'd know that. I'm entitled to my opinion and I'm also entitled to my experience as well. I own HF boxes and use them professionally as well, therefore to the guy who said the won't stand up, he's wrong. Has he tried? Doubt it. I have, and do every day, so I guess that means maybe I know, huh?. Read my post again ,then maybe you'll start to get what I said. I stand by it, always will. I don't give a rats behind what you care about, but when you're saying I said something I didn't, then we have a problem, and I;ll call you out on it. OP was saying he wasn't sure if it was a hot deal. If it's like their 40" box, it isn't! How many times do I need to say that? But WTF makes you think I have to justify myself or my opinion to you?

 

[stikman56]

Oh and I get "it" - you and CNG really like HF tool chests. So much so that you and he are willing to go into a thread about people's happy purchases of another brand of tool chest to tell them of their mistake. But be upfront about it and don't edit your post later to make it appear otherwise.

I didn't read all the posts to see if the OP bought it. I read the first one, then a few others. If he bought it, great. Not my deal. Don't matter what boxes I like or don't like. I know what I bought, how it holds up being rolled all over full of tools every day. Good enough for me, 3 years, no issues. Would I try to do it with a HD 40" box, no way, not after seeing one. Neither does the guy at work that has one. Would one work for light use at home, yeah, I'm pretty sure it would, just like my 53" Carquest works. Buy the best you can for your needs ,for what you are spending. Why would anyone want to buy lower quality if you can buy higher for the same price? Makes no sense to me. But hey, again, not my money. So, you know from experience that HF boxes don't hold up in a professional environment. If not, I'd suggest you keep your opinions just that, and not present them as facts. By all means share you experiences, just don't throw opinions around as if they are factual.

 

[FMC1959]

I didn't read all the posts to see if the OP bought it. I read the first one, then a few others. If he bought it, great. Not my deal. Don't matter what boxes I like or don't like. I know what I bought, how it holds up being rolled all over full of tools every day. Good enough for me, 3 years, no issues. Would I try to do it with a HD 40" box, no way, not after seeing one. Neither does the guy at work that has one. Would one work for light use at home, yeah, I'm pretty sure it would, just like my 53" Carquest works. Buy the best you can for your needs ,for what you are spending. Why would anyone want to buy lower quality if you can buy higher for the same price? Makes no sense to me. But hey, again, not my money. So, you know from experience that HF boxes don't hold up in a professional environment. If not, I'd suggest you keep your opinions just that, and not present them as facts. By all means share you experiences, just don't throw opinions around as if they are factual.

The TEAPOT & the KETTLE

There are many on this forum who agree with your opinion on the HF box, as well there are many that **** all over the HF box saying it might work for lightweights, not true pros....these are no more factual than your statement, they are more opinions.

I have known pros that use homeowner grade boxes in shops for 10+ years and will tell you they work great, no need to spend $$$ on more box. That is not fact, but their opinion (not shared but their by coworkers that work alongside them).

Give an HF toolbox to David Letterman to drop off a building, it will be damaged....that is a fact (not opinion).

 

[stikman56]

The TEAPOT & the KETTLE

There are many on this forum who agree with your opinion on the HF box, as well there are many that **** all over the HF box saying it might work for lightweights, not true pros....these are no more factual than your statement, they are more opinions.

I have known pros that use homeowner grade boxes in shops for 10+ years and will tell you they work great, no need to spend $$$ on more box. That is not fact, but their opinion (not shared but their by coworkers that work alongside them).

Give an HF toolbox to David Letterman to drop off a building, it will be damaged....that is a fact (not opinion).

So, you're saying my experiences with my tool boxes are just an opinion? WOW! It's not a fact mine has held up with no issues for 3 years ,rolled around the shop every day, for two years over small rocks at my last job ,all over the shop floor most of the time? Those are facts . If you feel it's not enough tool box ,or whatever, that's what you feel about it. What I think of the boxes are an opinion. When I said the HD 40" box is junk, that's my opinion, as I believe I stated. My opinion of my Carquest 53" box is that it's junk. Is it working for my home use? Yeah, but still a flimsy built, overpriced for what it is,type of box. I never would have spent much for that box, and I didn't.

My guess is the pros you know who use homeowner grade boxes that rank like the Craftsman lower end stuff and the HD 40", don't move them, almost never. Just a guess. Mine moves, every day, full of tools, over bumps. Not an opinion, the facts about what I've done with it. If you feel people's experiences are just an opinion, then dropping one off a building and saying what happened is simply an opinion as well then.
Do some research and you'll find there are some boxes beside the truck tool boxes that are strong and holding up to every day professional use. You'll also find the HF boxes being professionally used with no issues, some for quite a few years now. Unless they're not telling the truth about their experiences, those are the facts, not their opinions. Don't discount people's experiences. It's simply your opinion if you do.

 

[PJNJ]

I didn't read all the posts to see if the OP bought it. I read the first one, then a few others. If he bought it, great. Not my deal. Don't matter what boxes I like or don't like. I know what I bought, how it holds up being rolled all over full of tools every day. Good enough for me, 3 years, no issues. Would I try to do it with a HD 40" box, no way, not after seeing one. Neither does the guy at work that has one. Would one work for light use at home, yeah, I'm pretty sure it would, just like my 53" Carquest works. Buy the best you can for your needs ,for what you are spending. Why would anyone want to buy lower quality if you can buy higher for the same price? Makes no sense to me. But hey, again, not my money. So, you know from experience that HF boxes don't hold up in a professional environment. If not, I'd suggest you keep your opinions just that, and not present them as facts. By all means share you experiences, just don't throw opinions around as if they are factual.

So you didn't read all the posts. And you edited your earlier post to "clarify" it to say something completely different. You created your own "problem" in this thread all by yourself.

 

[stikman56]

So you didn't read all the posts. And you edited your earlier post to "clarify" it to say something completely different. You created your own "problem" in this thread all by yourself.

What, the problem that you can't understand what you read?

 

[PJNJ]

What, the problem that you can't understand what you read?

Yeah keep trying to turn it around.

 

[stikman56]

Yeah keep trying to turn it around.

No, that's not the case at all, I was attempting to be cordial about it when I tried to better clarify that if it was like their 40" box, it was junk IMO. When you insist I said something I didn't, that's when the cordial part stopped. Maybe I wasn't clear enough about it for people to understand what I was meaning to say. Then someone chimed in stating my experience is an opinion. WTF? OK then, everyone else's opinion is fact, my experience as I have lived it, is an opinion, then. Now I get it. I am not worthy.

 

[PJNJ]

No, that's not the case at all, I was attempting to be cordial about it when I tried to better clarify that if it was like their 40" box, it was junk IMO. When you insist I said something I didn't, that's when the cordial part stopped. Maybe I wasn't clear enough about it for people to understand what I was meaning to say. Then someone chimed in stating my experience is an opinion. WTF? OK then, everyone else's opinion is fact, my experience as I have lived it, is an opinion, then. Now I get it. I am not worthy.

 

[stikman56]

That the best you could do?

 

[PJNJ]

That the best you could do?

For a guy who works as a pro you seem to have a lot of time on your hands. Business slow?

 

[Zippercat]

Ok, you kids play nice. Don't ************ over there!

 

[PJNJ]

Ok, you kids play nice. Don't ************ over there!

Ok if you don't tell Dad you can have my dessert.

 

[stikman56]

For a guy who works as a pro you seem to have a lot of time on your hands. Business slow?

With this job I have now, I made my own hours and days. Most weeks I don't work Monday, I don't work weekends as well. Days, nights, afternoons, whatever I need, as long as I give full time ,my boss is good. He needs David and I more than we need him and I think he realizes that, he treats us shop guys well. He's also the owner. I try not to take advantage of it, though. I also have a side business that I created that will do as much or as little as I like, just depends on the time I spend. If I ever were to be working part-time like I was for a while, or unemployed like I was when the last company I worked for went out of business, I can make a wage at that if I need to. Doing head gasket on my car today. I work 10 hours a day, sometimes 7, sometimes 14, depending on what's going on at the time with his fleet and my life as well. Three days off every week,gives me more free time to do what I like, or need to get done, and still pays full time wages. I'd say life is good. BTW, the second picture is just for nothing more than the fact that it made me laugh.

 

[stikman56]

Ok, you kids play nice. Don't ************ over there!

....the classic threat, "I'll turn this thread around"!

 

[PJNJ]

....the classic threat, "I'll turn this thread around"!

Yep and he's right. Ok if I was there it would be time for me to say - "Let's forget this nonsense. I'll buy the first and second beer."

 

[stikman56]

I have to admit, you're right that he's right. That a lot of right, right there.

 

[imdavids]

For anyone still wanting to hear about the box and not people bickering, I picked mine up today. Bought a gift card from CL to save $70 and I really like it. There are only a few issues and this is nitpicking because I know lots of people on this site really care about details.

First, the bolts that hold the handle on to the bottom cab do not come with washers, and although its minor i dislike tightening down the heads into the finish. Secondly, the non swiveling caster tires are terrible to put on without taking the wheel out, or maybe my fingers are just fat, but it is much faster to just take the wheels out it takes no time at all. I dont like the tiny brackets that hold the top and bottom chests together. I never plan on offroading with the thing but hey I am nitpicking. Opening the drawers can be pretty difficult, but be advised I have only opened them 3-5 times each so I assume it will loosen with time. It feels sturdy and I do not have a worry about the thickness of materials used.

I am (finally) upgrading from an an incredibly overloaded craftsman 26" box and feel like I got a great deal.. It took lass than 2 hours to put together by myself and it was packaged well, I know husky has struggled with this in the past when 75% of their 40 inch boxes were RTV in my city due to damage. It was super easy to do you really just throw the casters on, put it right side up and put the top on and attach the brackets. It may not be professional grade but I would safely assume in 90+% of DIYers garages it will work fine.

 

[SpyderGiant]

Once I have the $$$ this will be the box I'm going to get. I've been working out of an old craftsman 26" from the 80s since my dad gave it to me 10 years ago. Its just to small and I ended up putting up pegboard slats on a wall and I never grab anything from them except my 18v DeWalt drill. Otherwise most stuff stays there until the rare case I need to use it. I know its not a Snap-On box or even a HF, but its huge and will never move from its spot unless I reorganize my garage again or I move. I don't chuck stuff in it either so it will last for me.

 

[2slow]

I wonder if the center non swiveling casters are different between the Vietnamese version (the one imdavids bought) and the Chinese version (the one I picked up) I had no trouble at all accessing and tightening the bolts with a 3/8" ratchet and a 3" extension...

I still have one to assemble, so I can take a picture of the Chinese underside then.

-Joe

 

[stikman56]

It is a large box for the price. At any rate, if it's enough to hold up to your application, then it's not a bad deal. If you had to replace it again and again, then not so much. Home use, it'll most likely work OK. Can anyone verify if it's different construction than the 40" box?

 

[stage20]

It is a large box for the price. At any rate, if it's enough to hold up to your application, then it's not a bad deal. If you had to replace it again and again, then not so much. Home use, it'll most likely work OK. Can anyone verify if it's different construction than the 40" box?

I've played with them in store. Pushed down inside the drwers real hard, etc... the newer ones feel the same to me, but miles ahead of the older 440 inch box that was on clearance for 175. The top and bottom box all had full length drawers. That box is not to be packed with heavy tools

 

[Zippercat]

I wonder if the center non swiveling casters are different between the Vietnamese version (the one imdavids bought) and the Chinese version (the one I picked up) I had no trouble at all accessing and tightening the bolts with a 3/8" ratchet and a 3" extension...

I still have one to assemble, so I can take a picture of the Chinese underside then.

-Joe

I just installed the castors on my Vietnamese version a couple days ago. The center wheels went on the same as the swivel ones for me. I used an extension and socket from my Gearwrench racheting screwdriver set. I did notice that the holes on the castor are actually slots that allow you to move the castor bracket back and forth a little bit and it was easier to avoid the wheel if I kept the bolt mostly centered in the slot.