Service Cart

[sdguy55]

I am going to be purchasing a service cart in the somewhat future. The one i am eyeing most heavily is the mac Macsimizer mica grey service cart. It has just as many (maybe more) cu in. as my bottom box (its not very big admittedly) and i love the color. Reason i am doing this is i am tired of pushing my box around the shop. And my thinking is i can hold off the purchase of a bigger box all together for a little while anyways. And when i eventually do purchase a bigger box. I will still keep the cart. Any other carts i should seriously consider? I am looking for a big service cart. Quality made of course.

 

[srmofo]

is that the cart that slides open on top? if so, avoid it. They ****. Everyone will constantly be running into the wings (and they will always be open) and if you want anything from the top you have to clear it to open it. IMHo its just a piss poor design that wont be around much longer. I have one that I brought home because its such a pita to work around.....then the FNG brings another one into the shop. Seriously those things are almost 6' wide when the tops are open.

Personally I love these carts
http://www.mactools.com/shoponline/product/tabid/120/p-319324-utility-cart-with-lid.aspx
I replaced the legs with schedule 80 PVC to get it to a comfortable height where I can write my service inspections at.
I cut the top in half, so I have a place to write will keeping the top functional as a service cart.
I also have 2 drawers tucked onto it.
http://www.mactools.com/shoponline/product/tabid/120/p-330057-mb89ucad6-bk.aspx
It holds a pretty large amount of tools and keeps its functionality as a service cart.

My drawers are cornwell and were right around $100 each although that was a few years ago.

 

[Ritter4.0]

If you have the ability, go to HF and get a 7 drawer side box and build your own cart around it. They are insanely well made for the money (close to 100lbs empty, and can hold up to 475lbs according to the box it came in), but I just got mine on Wednesday. I added a plate and wheels to the bottom, and plan on making a top for it to give me a little more room to put stuff. I plan on adding all sorts of things to the sides to give me more storage for larger tools and stuff.

I do no work in automotive though, and only really need SAE tools, air drills, phillips screw drivers, bit sockets and a few others. I prefer a cart with a very small footprint, and the one I made is barely 2'x2'. By the time I get done with it, I doubt it'll be much bigger.

 

[Murphy4570]

Just buy a cart off of craigslist, there's plenty of cheap banged up carts on there for cheap.


Hell, the cart I use for engine and transmission jobs is an old *** Huot, I got it for free while scrapping! I kept the cart, scrapped everything else in my truck bed! Threw a fresh coat of red paint on it, cleaned and lubed the friction slides, and the damn thing works great!

The box in this photo is the same model as my shop cart, and looks in about the same shape as mine. Works great for big jobs for me. Not bad for a grand total of $5 (spraypaint) invested into the damn thing!

 

[machine_punk]

+1 on the HF cart...Take the logo and the trim off and nobody will know you got a HF cart. Use the several-hundred-dollars you saved for more tools.
View media item 11208

 

[sdguy55]

Wow...the HF cart is quite tempting...but to the first poster no. This car is one where you can have the top flipped up 90 (?) and access everything OR slide back to access everything.

 

[countryroad82]

I have the HF 4 drawer cart that has served me well and it holds a suprising amount of tools. But if you are wanting to prolong having to buy a bigger box you can't beat (not trying to push the SO kool aide here just personal experience) a KRSC46 here is a link to mine. http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=143728 I literally almost cleaned out my Craftsman 3 tier 26" box filling mine up. It was money well spent and now instead of having some of my tools handy I can have pretty much all my tools and I don't notice much of a difference between pulling the smaller HF cart and the SO 'cart' but I do have a very smooth floor at the shop so that could help on that part.

 

[billymade]

Take a look at this thread; everything from pro brands, to homemade and even repurposed stuff... hopefully, it will give you some ideas!


Re: Lets see your Tool Carts/Service Carts
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=46050&highlight=show+service+cart&showall=1

 

[srmofo]

Wow...the HF cart is quite tempting...but to the first poster no. This car is one where you can have the top flipped up 90 (?) and access everything OR slide back to access everything.

If it slides open, then the flip up lid only gets you into the drawer that is built into the slide top. ...unless they have changed the design again

I took some pics today,ill post them when I get home. Measured the width at 73" with the top drawers open

 

[db130]

I'd love to find a Huot bottom chest like that locally!

 

[Toolman12]

IMHO buy the HF for the money you put into it it's a good box i used mine on a pretty rough floor so i changed wheels to a soft compound wheel and no problems although the Snap on is a great box but the money you save can go to that Snap on KRL we all know you want.
Snap on krsc46 $1590+tax / HF 580 lb.capacity 4 drawer $99.99 + tax with coupon.
You can think of it this way to if you want to sell it later you will be lucky to get $400 to 500 for the Snap on box if it's in perfect condition. But you can sell the HF for $ 50.00 bucks to anyone all day long.IMHO

 

[sdguy55]

The way i look at a service cart is im.more likely to put it in harms way. Underneath a lifted truck or whatever. So finding a good cheap one is prob in my best interest. That way idc if it gets banged up

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Bikes&Bowties]

I'd either get a HF box or a nice used truck box used for a few hundred.

 

[ToolUsingAnimal]

+1 again for the HF box. I have one, it holds all the tools I need and it's pretty sturdy.

I was looking for workbenches the other day for work, and I noticed that Global Industrial has their own brand of sliding-top tool cart, very reasonably priced. I don't know much about it, but the Global workbenches we have hold up well.

http://www.globalindustrial.com/product/itemKey/30635970

 

[Ritter4.0]

When I said the HF box, I meant the real narrow one that is supposed to hang off the side of the bigger box that everyone gets. Build your cart around that, or get 2 and mount them side by side.