Looking for opinions on tool carts.........

[mn_commander]

Hi all! I have been thinking of trading in my U.S. General combo and a ball bearing Craftsman chest for a tool cart with pry bar storage. Given our shop space , it would be alot easier to move to various job sites. Any thoughts or opinions about what you guys have is appreciated. Please post pics if you have them because they only show you the outside in the catalogs.
Thanks in advance.

 

[fatfillup]

Search tool cart, lots of threads with pics. I personally have a Mac polymer cart that I've had for 10years or so. I put magnets on the sides for wrenches, hang pliers on one end and screwdrivers one the other. No need to lock in my shop. Has held up very well.

 

[mojo_13]

Just bought one of the 700lb 5 drawer carts from HF (US General) and seems to be a great cart. Got it for $120 out the door and wish I had gotten 2. For the price you won't be able to find anything close. They are coming up again on a coupon for $160 soon if you are interested.

But if you do a search for Harbor Freight Tool Cart you will find a lot of posts about these and a lot more info.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

They're great. It's awesome to have somewhere to place stuff and a mobile unit with all your most-used tools in.

I never had a fancy one:

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

I have a freebie like Moose's second one, and also been considering either the HF cart, or the Performax cart that Menards sells (looks like the Matco one). For now, I have an older Craftsman bottom roll away chest, that I bought as part of a set, at an auction for $35 (top, bottom, and small side chest). I plan on stripping and painting and modding it into a cart.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Lucky ******. I had to pay for mine.

They're the same cart, just in the first two pics there are cantilever boxes set in it.

 

[crewchief888]

my last cart setup i used a 2 shelf SO cart, mounted a 3 drawer middle box under the top shelf,
used long 1/4" bolts on the back edge to hold wrenches from 1 1/16 - 1 1/2
used a generic "tool holder" with multiple holes on the right side to hold ratchets, extensions, nut/screw drivers
couple wrench racks for std & metric wrenches
3/8 dr wobble sockets,
1/2 dr impacts to 1 1/2"
fuel line socket, and a couple 1/2 dr impact wobble sockets.
1/2 & 3/8 dr impacts, air ratchet, die grinders in drawer
eye bolts, lifting eyes, mounting bolts in a drawer
plastic divider tray with nuts, bolts, wire connectors, tape, test light in a another darwer
bottom shelf had chains, ratchet strap, and misc.
i could easily move it anywhere in the shop i needed it

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

Lucky ******. I had to pay for mine.

They're the same cart, just in the first two pics there are cantilever boxes set in it.

Moose, that top one, the lower box made it look like it had a third shelf at a glance. I can never get used to that top one, I still wonder about the top cantilever box. (Picked up an old Kennedy that needs modding for $20)

 

[Fedwrench]

A bit expensive but, worth every penny is my Cornwell 700 series cart. It will hold more than enough tools to 95% of what I do and has a deep till.

 

[lauver]

Just bought one of the 700lb 5 drawer carts from HF (US General) and seems to be a great cart. Got it for $120 out the door and wish I had gotten 2. For the price you won't be able to find anything close. They are coming up again on a coupon for $160 soon if you are interested.

But if you do a search for Harbor Freight Tool Cart you will find a lot of posts about these and a lot more info.

mojo13,

Agreed, this cart is the low cost but well built leader. I don't see how you could do any better for a stand alone work cart:

Of course, you can always mod it out to fit any specific needs.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Moose, that top one, the lower box made it look like it had a third shelf at a glance. I can never get used to that top one, I still wonder about the top cantilever box. (Picked up an old Kennedy that needs modding for $20)

What do you wonder?

When i had that, all i had were those cantilever boxes for storage, it was long before i bought a proper box. Despite the lack of space it all worked pretty well for me.

 

[mn_commander]

Thank you much guys! Keep 'em coming!
Crewchief - do you have any pics of your cart?

 

[mn_commander]

Thanks a bunch guys! Keep 'em coming!!!!

 

[bchee]

There's some good pictures in this thread
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=38838

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

What do you wonder?

When i had that, all i had were those cantilever boxes for storage, it was long before i bought a proper box. Despite the lack of space it all worked pretty well for me.

How well it will work for my portable needs. I started out with those Craftsman plastic folding boxes, things came in. The first lasted a year, the second was the first set of tools stolen (they broke into my truck). I picked up the one I have now, to cut out the dividers and place the sockets in the trays, just fighting time issues.

 

[dumper]

made a cart from a Rockwell table saw stand. Works great...until I saw the black HF cart at a garage sale. Couldn't stand it- had to buy it for $75, like new.