Should I get a Craftsman Bottom Cabinet?

[Smoghat]

Hi everyone,

I just installed a bunch of NewAge cabinets and made a first stab at documenting that here.

Here's a photo (things are by no means done).

So now my question to all of you. One of the next steps is to get a cabinet that can fit under the countertop on the right that I can roll out to do work on. The cabinet needs to be under 35" high so I'm thinking of a Craftsman bottom tool cabinet like the 41-in W 2000 series.

Any pros and cons about that? I'm going to go up to Lowe's and check out what Craftsman cabinets they on the floor and see what the quality is. If I like the quality on what I see, will I like the quality on the rest? Seems like this one might be getting out of stock everywhere.

We used to love Craftsman, but the quality has always been hit or miss.

I'd also be willing to look at any rolling cabinet that has a good worktop and is under 36" so it can slide under that counter.

 

[subroc]

Why not? I have 3 lower boxes, 2 middle sections and 3 top boxes and I am always eyeing more tool boxes for additional capacity. Can't have enough storage or drawer space. That said, that would make a Jim Dandy spot for a small compressor unless it is elsewhere.

 

[Smoghat]

I got it. Some points.

No drawer liners? How lame.
Two swiveling casters, two not. I thought that would be worse than it is, but it's something to be aware of.
The power strip with built in USB is great. I wonder what it'll be like dealing with the cord when dragging that thing around.
I'd say the quality of New Age is slightly better, but this works.

 

[Jtels85]

I just picked up the new Craftsman 2000 series 41” bottom chest with wood top for $300 at Lowe’s this past Monday. It was a floor model, so the manager gave me a $100 off. I have to say, for a DIY tool chest, this thing is pretty nice. Mine’s the 7 drawer version with the long, top drawer that runs the width of the cabinet. I have it loaded down with sockets and wrenches and it works very well.

I would say that compared to my Sears Craftsman tool chests, the new versions at Lowe’s (especially the 2000 series) are of better quality. You really can’t go wrong.

 

[1982fxr]

I got it. Some points.

No drawer liners? How lame.
Two swiveling casters, two not. I thought that would be worse than it is, but it's something to be aware of.
The power strip with built in USB is great. I wonder what it'll be like dealing with the cord when dragging that thing around.
I'd say the quality of New Age is slightly better, but this works.

Every box over ever seen came with two swivels and two stationary...

Four swivels is not fun.

 

[csp]

Four swivels is only useful if you have major maneuvering to do to move the box around.

Most of the liners that cabinets come with are cheap.

 

[whateg01]

Four swivels is only useful if you have major maneuvering to do to move the box around.

Most of the liners that cabinets come with are cheap.

My experience with four casters is that they are always pointed the wrong direction and the heavier the load, the worse it is to get them going the right direction. At work, everything we work on gets put on a cart. You can't push any of them down the hall with one hand because they always want to go to the left or right. Sometimes, you can push them diagonally with one hand and then you hit a bump in the floor and they are going somewhere else.

I have converted both of my engine hoists to fixed wheels at the front and the difference it made in being able to move stuff onto and off of the trailer was amazing. Now if I want to push the thing forward a little, I just push it forward a little. Before, I would have to crawl under the trailer with a pry bar and turn the casters the direction I needed them to face and then hope they didn't change their mind once I started pushing.

A friend of mine refuses to put fixed wheels on the front of his engine hoist because he sometimes needs to be able to rotate the whole thing in a tight area of the shop. So, I get the need for four swivels, but if it can be avoided, I do!

Dave

 

[Smoghat]

Every box over ever seen came with two swivels and two stationary...



Four swivels is not fun.

I’ve got another rolling cabinet with four swivels and I’ve put four swivels on a 2’ x 8’ planter on my deck. It’s a lot easier to maneuver in tight spaces with four swivels.


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