New box...opinions please

[Randydrummer]

Hello,

I am looking to add a 26" bottom box and use my Craftsman 3 drawer on top. I have been searching my local CL for a used box, as I am hesitant to purchase a overpriced new Craftsman box.
I have also been reading very positive reviews of the HF boxes. Does anyone have any experience with the 26 in., 16 Drawer Glossy Red Roller Cabinet Combo? Are they as we'll built as the 44"?
Thanks.

 

[Randydrummer]

No replies, you fellas must all have the 44" HF box.

 

[lynnbilodeau]

I have a 26 combo and a 44.
I believe they are built about the same but didn't put a mic on the sheet metal to check thickness.

The 26 holds way more small hand tools. The 44 holds bigger stuff.

Both have ball bearing drawers and are miles ahead of the newer Craftsman stuff.

I can measure if you want.

 

[Randydrummer]

Thank you for the reply. I have mainly small hand tools, so that may work.

In my area I have found a Craftsman 14 drawer bottom that is circa early 2000's. Does anyone know about what year Craftsman boxes started going thinner/ cheaper built boxes? Or better yet, if you were looking for a Craftsman bottom box, what if any boxes have HF quality build?

That last question is sad IMHO.

 

[Lx460]

What area are you in?

 

[Randydrummer]

Florida. 2 HF in my city.

 

[RunninOnEmpty]

I don't have a HF box, but let me ask you this - does your box basically just sit in one place or does it get moved around? I've read a lot of people saying that the HF boxes are good if they are sitting in the same spot but that they should be avoided or modified (particularly reinforcing the bottom plate and caster mounting points) if you move them around. Not a definitive answer so sorry, but maybe a point to consider.

 

[Randydrummer]

My plan is the bottom box would remain stationary. I have a 20" 3 drawer Craftsman I will put on top, that would be my "moveable" box.

 

[Falcon67]

Just watch Sears for sales. They are getting desperate lately. I had to unsubscribe from the emails because they were sending 2-3 a day. Their boxes regularly go on sale at 30~50% off.

 

[Randydrummer]

Will do. HF is what it is, but the majority of GJ opinions are the HF boxes are superior to Craftsman.

 

[PelicanPines]

I have 3 craftsman 26 inch towers (all have a top and bottom,2 have intermediates) From the late 1970s, from 2000ish and brand new. All are thin compared to HF. I would gladly trade them for HF.

 

[Lx460]

Florida. 2 HF in my city.

Me too, and in my perusing CL I see a lot of cheap tool boxes. IMO, you could a really nice older Snap-on for around $100-$150 that will be built like a tank.

 

[Randydrummer]

The 26" box (top and bottom) at HF doesn't appear to be sold separately. I would really like to purchase only the bottom, or get a used bottom box.

 

[Randydrummer]

What is the significance of the sheet metal thickness on bottom boxes? Rigidity, more secure box, safer, heavier etc?

 

[bagged89s10]

Hello,

I am looking to add a 26" bottom box and use my Craftsman 3 drawer on top. I have been searching my local CL for a used box, as I am hesitant to purchase a overpriced new Craftsman box.
I have also been reading very positive reviews of the HF boxes. Does anyone have any experience with the 26 in., 16 Drawer Glossy Red Roller Cabinet Combo? Are they as we'll built as the 44"?
Thanks.

Do you have a sears parts store nearby. Thru always have killer deals

 

[Randydrummer]

I do. Thank you gents for all your valued opinions. I'm going shopping tomorrow. I have to return a HF impact gun anyhow.

 

[WhiffySpark]

Will do. HF is what it is, but the majority of GJ opinions are the HF boxes are superior to Craftsman.

GJ believes HF is superior to anything

 

[CRF8]

The "tires" of my HF box hardened and fell off in peices, the metal wheel center now sits on the ground,

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mrvm]

The "tires" of my HF box hardened and fell off in peices, the metal wheel center now sits on the ground

Dang, that *****, hope our within 90 days but doubt it.

 

[mrvm]

I have mainly small hand tools

My plan is the bottom box would remain stationary

Sounds like a heavy duty Kobalt, CM or Husky would perform fine in a non-pro, diyer garage. Have not experienced any CM, Husky BB drawer or caster failure for the past ten years

 

[LifeLongWNYer]

I'm watching these threads because I will be buying a bottom box sometime in 2015. At the moment, I am thinking that the comments on GJ will send me to my local Harbor Freight for that box, BUT....

I just started a new job, and the owner is as nice a guy as you could ask for, and/but he is as tight as the paint on a refrigerator. He has a small machine shop in part of the building and has recently bought 3 or 4 of the Husky bottom/top boxes from Home Depot. Now these are in a small shop and while they are loaded with machine tools ( heavier than mechanic's tools ) they don't get moved very far, very often. He claims that for this type of use, the Husky can't be beat.

Not starting an argument, just making a contribution to the discussion.



JBP



.

 

[Randydrummer]

Sounds like a heavy duty Kobalt, CM or Husky would perform fine in a non-pro, diyer garage. Have not experienced any CM, Husky BB drawer or caster failure for the past ten years

Thanks. That's what I'm thinking. The intended use is a home garage, DIY 'er, with 14 kitchen cabinets installed (2 walls). The heaviest tools I'm thinking about storing are air tools, hammers, etc.

I mainly would like to free up some space in the cabinets I have and keep mechanic tools in box.

 

[sberry]

Sears is not that bad just not as good as you could get in or near the same price range. I agree a Huskee box is ideal for a machine shop and to the OP would take what I could get a deal on. There is tons of Sears used if you care. I had cheap boxes my career, my Bud was in the biz, not a compulsive collector but had Sears cheap boxes he bought used that sat and a HF service cart for the hi use hand tools, worked super, no one ever cared it wasn't better.
Tool boxes do matter, I am a bit of a fan of adequate and affordable vs hi end. I think its a great thing you don't have to park a lot of money to keep stuff rounded up. Working from boxes or crates on the floor gets old too fast and a 44 HF can take a lot of pain out of it, that's why its so popular. Its well built, big with lots of drawers and its super cheap that a guy couldn't do it with free materials.

 

[sberry]

I am trying to talk myself in to one to replace a ragged Sears one I got used 25 yrs ago. It should have had a much shorter life but it made it. I want to modify the layout and eventually make it somewhat modular with an additional socket rail. I don't want to do this on top of an old obsolete box, like to do it to one in current production and popular.

 

[mrvm]

I am trying to talk myself in to one to replace a ragged Sears one I got used 25 yrs ago. It should have had a much shorter life but it made it. I want to modify the layout and eventually make it somewhat modular with an additional socket rail. I don't want to do this on top of an old obsolete box, like to do it to one in current production and popular.

Wow that CM box looked like it lived a tough life but survived and served all those years being tweaked and modded. CM+Husky gets ragged on a lot but with some modifications they can be durable and long lasting. Nice to see a well used multi tasking tool box.

 

[Matthewbeard]

Unfortunately there isn't a Menards around you, I've love my masterforce box

 

[Randydrummer]

No Menards around here. Now I'm thinking about a used Kennedy roller bottom box. I have a k20 and that would fit nice on top of a bottom cabinet.

In summary, have a Craftsman 20" 3 drawer and a Kennedy K20. I'm hoping to add a bottom box to either of these.

Any opinions about Kennedy vs Craftsman?

 

[vettex2]

My team won the 2006 Altamont Late Model Championship with this as a tool box

Serious. The guys with "war wagons" were demoralized.
We were going to upgrade to this

DEAD SERIOUS.
That said , we had a couple of HF boxes in the shop.We replaced the casters and added 1/8" plate to the bottom too. The drawers were good and held up fine.