Large mechanic toolbox for home garage recommendations?

[Pziddy29]

Hey guys so I am looking for recommendations for a large toolbox for my home garage. I am looking for a 55” wide toolbox approx 22-24” deep with a height of 40 inches or more. I am a mechanic by trade but I’m not exactly looking to buy a Mac, snap on or Cornwell toolbox for my home garage. I do a lot of work on my cars at home. I need the storage space for all my hand tools air tools and speciality tools as well. I have looked at craftsman toolboxes and huskys as well as kobalt but can’t seem to find out the gauge of steel they use so it’s hard to determine. Also open to other brands. Budget is roughly 6-1000.


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[1982fxr]

I'm far from a harbor freight shill but I think they're 56" roller is pretty close?

 

[kngelv]

In that price range I would be on the 56” Harbor Freight all day long. The Masterforce stuff is nice but more expensive and they have weird drawer configurations plus their add on lockers/cabinets are way more expensive than Harbor Freight.

James

 

[Gummi Bear]

The USGeneral is a pretty good value.

I have a 72”, with 56” top, side locker and aux drawers.

It’s pretty full, and I’m just a weekend hobbyist, but it’s as good now as it was when I brought it home a few years ago. I forsee it lasting the rest of my life.



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

Henry David Thoreau

 

[cycle61]

Another vote for the 56" US General box from HF. Got one about a month ago and it's very good for the price.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Newell33]

I also have the US General 72 with a 56 on top. I've owned them since November / December of last year and use them pretty much every day. I have been very happy with them and have no complaints.

 

[powertrip]

If your near a Menards, the Masterforce is 19 gauge steel. Box is made by Quality Craft, same maker that also makes the Montezuma boxes.

https://www.menards.com/main/tools/...tool-cabinet/me5611rc1gmm/p-1490163925864.htm

 

[M635_Guy]

If your near a Menards, the Masterforce is 19 gauge steel. Box is made by Quality Craft, same maker that also makes the Montezuma boxes.

https://www.menards.com/main/tools/...tool-cabinet/me5611rc1gmm/p-1490163925864.htm

Those look really nice

 

[Crabman]

The 56 HF has a coupon for $659 right now, I think HF has extended the coupons for some period of time.

http://www.hfqpdb.com/best_coupon/56"+X+22"+DOUBLE+BANK+EXTRA+DEEP+CABINETS

I would also consider the Craftsman 3000 54". They appear to be on sale for $549 right now, one of the "see the price in cart' deals.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/CRAFTSMAN-...wer-Steel-Rolling-Tool-Cabinet-Red/1000615539

These two boxes have very different drawer patterns.

I have the Craftsman 3000 54", I needed some deeper drawers. It is sitting next to a HF 44" bottom box, I liked the drawers on it as a compliment to the 3000. I put a 3000 41" top box on the HF because it had full width drawers and a hutch. The HF 44 top box is a double bank, no hutch.

The 3000 top box also on sale for $449.

I like both boxes, they are very similar, and, again, I own both and they sit right next to each other. I would buy all three boxes again, I am happy.

I would go look at both and put your hands on them and see how they feel to you.

Good luck finding a good fit.

Bruce

 

[dsaabm]

My opinion:

If you're near a Menards, get the Masterforce. They are very nice boxes with a better latch system than Harbor Freight.

If you need it quickly or don't want to screw with craigslist, buy the Harbor Freight US General, great boxes for the money.

If you have time, wait for a used tool truck brand on craigslist.

 

[thr3squared]

There are options from Husky in that price range - I purchased this one not long ago and so far its been working well for me. I may even get a second one

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-5...hite-with-Hardwood-Top-HOTC5609BW1M/308349361

They make larger units as well, and if you find a sale may be able to keep the price at $1000

 

[Crabman]

The Husky "industrial" boxes are heavy duty like the HF and 3000.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-I...-Light-in-Matte-Black-H52CH6TR9HDV3/309210140

I missed a sale on this one floor model for like $729.

18 gauge steel like the 3000, I think the HF is 18 or 19, not sure?

33's box is a nice one (I like the white), but 21 gauge.

Really depends on how much heavy stuff you have.

 

[isb cornbinder]

COSTCO, here, used to sell a good all stainless steel workstation for well under a grand. I bought one off Craigslist for a couple of hundred dollars. It replaced the file cabinet next to my desk.

 

[M635_Guy]

This is one of the videos I was referring to, and from the weight-rating difference (2500lb vs. 4400 lb.), weighs almost 100lb less than the USG 56" w/ the topchest, same wheels (much less beefy than the USG), etc. I'd guess a lot of what he points out are similarly true of the Husky Industrial. Wouldn't buy it, though I dig the paint job and the soft-close feature.

 

[M635_Guy]

18 gauge steel like the 3000, I think the HF is 18 or 19, not sure?

In the video above, it varies through the boxes, but 16 gauge on the back and side panels for the HF. He says generally the HF is using thicker metal, and attributes the higher weight of the USG box to that.

 

[speed bump]

I would skip the husky or Craftsman boxes unless you have a ton of tools in cases that you need to store in the bottom drawers. For general mechanics tools I find deep bottom drawers to be a waste of space that become seldom used tool and junk collectors. That being said if you can get it, I would buy the masterforce box (if I don't find a used truck box soon this is what I am going to do) followed by the harbor freight box.

 

[bob15]

How about a couple Lista/Vidmar/Lyon boxes? They are a little deeper at 28", but hold a lot more than any "toolbox" will hold.

 

[kngelv]

The problem with the Husky boxes is the way the slides are riveted to the drawers. The HF is slotted and the rails are much sturdier.

James

 

[ccwent]

Look at Menards’s they have master force I believe it is made by the same company that makes motazuma. They are very nicely built

 

[MJK]

Tough to beat a good quality used box IMO.

 

[Formerjeeper]

I have 46” Masterforce/Montezuma and love it. PM me if you want to discuss or have specific questions.

 

[mikester]

I have an older red Husky 41" set and its been great. Ive got a side box on both sides.
I personally like a lot of separate drawers. One of my friends bought a Craftsman set from Lowes last year and he cant add on to it. The stopped making matching side boxes. That being said, every time I go into a HF I keep checking out the 56" set. I can picture owning one with two side boxes attached. For the money I think theyre a pretty good box.

 

[MileHighRover]

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Heavy-Duty-56-in-W-23-Drawer-Deep-Combination-Tool-Chest-and-Rolling-Cabinet-Set-in-Matte-Black-HOTC5623BB2S/303412321?MERCH=REC-_-pip_instock_mobile-_-309210140-_-303412321-_-N


This is the one I’ve had for a year and I absolutely love it. Tons of space. Soft close drawers, which I like. It’s huge and very heavy. I came from a HF box.

 

[Indexmill]

Tough to beat a good quality used box IMO.

There is damn sure plenty of used one to pick from. Some of the use Snap On are high buy you can try to negotiate.

Otherwise, for the best value in a new, large box, US General is a viable contender. Go to HF and play with one.

 

[MJK]

Around here the older KR series SO boxes can be had for very good prices. My prior box was a royal blue KR761 (54 x 24), which I bought for about $800 IIRC. It had a few dings and scrapes, and I rebuilt the slides. A few years later I sold it for what I had into it when upgrading to my current box - a bigger KR series.

I checked out some of the new options (HF, Costco, box stores), but the older SO boxes just seem more solid.

 

[BlackLS2]

I see a lot of used Matco on CL at decent prices ($2,500 - $3,500), but everything used Snap On is at a premium. I looked for a year, and finally got a HF 56 top and 72 bottom delivered for under $1,500. I have been in it everyday for 3 years, zero problems. With the color choices and the HF56 so cheap right now, go take a look at it. Seriously.

 

[Mr_B]

Yes Matco used can be bargains (I built up 5 of them over the years), some of the older Matco boxes are real stout and small money.
Mac and snapon also nice but prices tend hold higher more so for snappy .
You could get by with heavy duty husky masterforce or us gen but it dead money and they only good buys at lowest sale pricing, a good used truck box always worth pretty much same you paid for it and you likely cherish/enjoy it more .

 

[anndel]

I love my Snap-on Heritage 52" box. The steel is thick and doesn't bow with the box full of tools and a Wilton bullet vise on top.