Show me your HF toolbox!

[GCncsuHD]

Very, very cool to know that these are available. Luckily I have an old Snap-On box as a top box, so I'm already used to non-matching shades of red.

Thanks for being the lab rat showing how you got it all together.

Yep, I was disappointed that HF no longer offered the half height locker, but this one should do the job just fine, and wasn't too hard on the wallet at $155 with FREE shipping from HD (same price with prime shipping on Amazon as well but I already had a few things to order from HD).

 

[paranoid56]

heres my setup.

 

[Hpozzuoli]

Very cool. Excellent paint job as well.^^^^^^

 

[taumac]

heres my setup.

Thats awesome. Good job



Have a good one, Gerard

Florida GJers ( FGJ)
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/group.php?groupid=117

The 5 Stitches Garage
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=211899

 

[GCncsuHD]

My International half height locker finally came in (from HomeDepot). Mounted it up to the side of my HF 44" roll cab. The color is slightly different, with my fluorescent lights on I can see it, but it is close enough to not bother me, especially after I have the top on. I'd bet 99% of people would never notice the difference unless I pointed it out.

A few minor issues:
1. The cabinet is about 3/4" deeper than the HF 44", not an issue for me since I will be putting a butcher block top on with a bit of overhang all around, but this did require notching the hanging lip a bit.
2. The locker is about 1.5" shorter, the pinch weld on the bottom of the locker is directly in line with the two securing holes on the bottom of the HF cab and it interferes with being able to drill holes and bolt it to the HF cab. Instead I think I will put a few sheet metal screws through the pinch weld into the HF cab to secure it.
3. It has two holes in the side, presumably for mounting to Internationals own roll cab or possibly handle. These do not line up with the holes for the HF's handle, but should be covered by it should I decide to mount the handle. The side of the locker did not feel sufficiently reinforced to mount the handle and move around a full box without flexing, so I will either leave it off or mount the handle on the HF 7 drawer cabinet side.
4. The locker door is secured with a single catch in the center (and a lock). Because of this, and some slight warping of the door, the top is pushed in and the bottom sticks out slightly. It's hard to tell in the picture but if you look closely you may notice it. Doesn't affect function, but it bothers me. There is a lip just inside the door on the top and bottom that looks to be perfect to mount magnetic door latches on to correct this which I will do promptly.

Just adding to this...

Here is a better view of the whole assembly together. You can see the color difference under the fluorescent lights, it's there, but I don't think it is noticeable enough to bother me, especially after the top is on. (That board on top is not the top that will be on there, that's for a shelf for the laundry room)
Untitled by wrfalcon75, on Flickr

Here you can see the little round magnets I added to make the door close more flushly. Easy fix, much better. I slightly bent the oem latch out of the way so only the magnets hold it. Much better this way. As you can see, the door is nothing but a thin sheet of metal, broke on each edge. Makes for a flimsy door. Not a big deal though, I've got some leftover "wallpeg" plastic pegboard (has webbing behind it to space from wall/add rigidity). I will cut it to size, and epoxy it to the door. Should add sufficient rigidity to the door and a handy little spot to hang a few things. Or maybe I'll just add a sheet of painted MDF to the back of the door.
Untitled by wrfalcon75, on Flickr

Now then a few shots of what I've done so far to organize the box.
Untitled by wrfalcon75, on Flickr
Untitled by wrfalcon75, on Flickr
Untitled by wrfalcon75, on Flickr
Untitled by wrfalcon75, on Flickr
Untitled by wrfalcon75, on Flickr

 

[BK13]

heres my setup.

How much prep work was involved? Did you paint all of the drawers completely (inside and out)? How far inside the body of the box did you paint?

Nice job, sir!

 

[paranoid56]

its only a outside job. so, front and sides. I needed the box up and running, so i didnt want to bother with painting the insides. I scuffed up the paint, and took the handles covers off and painted it. let it dry then put it to work

 

[-Brent-]

I love the wall of boxes a few posters have.

 

[BladeExt]

How much prep work was involved? Did you paint all of the drawers completely (inside and out)? How far inside the body of the box did you paint?

Nice job, sir!

Great paint job. Did you just paint over or sand and prime then painted. Great choice of color

 

[GutsnGlory]

I bought that red 5 drawer tool cart on sale a few weeks back. Havnt put it together yet cause I'm painting it black and making some mods to it. Seems like a good deal though

 

[BladeExt]

You should post some picture of it after you done on the HF cart mod thread. I am in the process of painting my cart as well.

 

[BK13]

I bought that red 5 drawer tool cart on sale a few weeks back. Havnt put it together yet cause I'm painting it black and making some mods to it. Seems like a good deal though

Once I get a bunch of **** out of the GF's garage, I'm thinking about buying a black four drawer cart as a Guinea pig. Might try to match SO midnight blue, or just go crazy and try purple. Of course, the green posted above is cool as well...

 

[paranoid56]

Great paint job. Did you just paint over or sand and prime then painted. Great choice of color

I just scuffed up the paint and went right to green. you could go all crazy with it, but for me, at the end of the day its a tool box, so its going to be beat up

 

[90zcar]

Just got these back from powder coating. I took my 56" box handles and I filed the us general off the handle ends and got them powder coated texture semi gloss black. I'll post a pic after I put em on




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[chipper]

Just got these back from powder coating. I took my 56" box handles and I filed the us general off the handle ends and got them powder coated texture semi gloss black. I'll post a pic after I put em on




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Looks pretty good..what did that run ya?

 

[90zcar]

No idea what that alone was. I had some other stuff like a 5 gallon air ride tank and other things done aswell


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[duanedragon]

Here are my boxen at work.

 

[90zcar]

Here's a pic with the handles on. Excuse the mess as I'm going thru organizing small parts bins




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[T-rev]

Here is my box after I powder coated it

 

[jim1987]

I can't see it.. just a little image box where it failed to load..

 

[T-rev]

 

[sho92]

Here is my box after I powder coated it

That looks great! I did the same color combo with paint on a crappy Craftsman drawer unit. Way too much work though. I had visions of doing it to my HF box, but I don't have the time to do it right.

 

[jim1987]

I see it now! Wow that's nice.

 

[yjWrangler]

Untitled by wrfalcon75, on Flickr

Heh, I did the same thing with a big BF Goodrich sticker but in black.

 

[GCncsuHD]

Heh, I did the same thing with a big BF Goodrich sticker but in black.

Ha, it may have been yours then that I copied. I had the same sticker laying around and I saw it in that spot on another box and thought it looked like a nice placement for it. This box will probably be all stickered up before I'm done...

 

[emeraldcoupe]

here's mine

 

[T-rev]

That looks great! I did the same color combo with paint on a crappy Craftsman drawer unit. Way too much work though. I had visions of doing it to my HF box, but I don't have the time to do it right.

I see it now! Wow that's nice.

Thanks guys ya I'm happy with it. When you powder coat all day it doesnt take to much just to powder coat your own stuff but drilling out all the rivets and putting new in was a pain. Hopefully be getting two side boxes to do for it also then I'll post up drawer pics

 

[CudaChick1968]

Thanks guys ya I'm happy with it. When you powder coat all day it doesnt take to much just to powder coat your own stuff but drilling out all the rivets and putting new in was a pain. Hopefully be getting two side boxes to do for it also then I'll post up drawer pics

I'm kinda partial to your color choice there too T-rev ... but I never have the time to do anything personal anymore. Your box looks great! Did you coat the handles in silver too or leave them original?

 

[gball]

so do the HF boxes only come in the gloss red finish now? mine pretty old now and is the flat textured red. only have the bottom and planned to someday buy the matching upper. sounds like i am SOL.

 

[jakemac]

Unless you can find NOS or used, everything new is only offered in gloss red.

 

[Bob Heine]

The 26" Craftsman Chest and Cabinet I bought at a Sears scratch & dent sale for $49 has been my 'Metric' box for years. It fit perfectly in the space at the end of my 14' counter in the garage.

A few weeks ago I swapped a mid-chest for the original top chest because the drawers are two inches wider and without a lid the wall could have a small pegboard section for the torque wrenches.

I messed around with different arrangements and managed to get all 6 torque wrenches on the pegboard but it has become obvious (to me) that I need a bigger toolbox. The 44" box would be wonderful but I settled for the 26" because it is a better fit for the space. I went to the store with a $319 coupon and brought it home.

When I first checked the specs on the HF pair, height looked like a problem because it is listed as 60-inches tall and that "perfect" spot is only 54-inches tall. When I measured it at the store it turns out it's 54-inches without the casters. It would mean I couldn't use the top space in the box for anything but by removing the lid, I'd at least get some use out of it.

I was really pumped and after removing the four hinge pins (main hinge and 3 small drawer lock hinges) I tried sliding the box in place. It didn't fit so I removed the little piece of baseboard in the short wall next to the box. It is so close I'm tempted to just bash a dent in the wall in the little spot where it doesn't fit.

I calmed down and removed the 8-foot section of countertop and cut 3/8" off the end. The chest and top box slid into place just fine. It just needed the prybar and screwdriver box mounted, the left handle on the top chest removed and a few drawers shuffled around. Because I lost easy access to the top compartment of the chest, the socket tray and handles would end up in the bottom drawer. Once I figured out how to pop the slides out, the whole shuffle took 15 minutes.

I may end up shuffling some of the bottom drawers around but at this point I have moved a dozen large items from cabinets scattered around the garage and stored them neatly in the new tool chest. Going from 6 to 16 drawers is amazing. Even with all the additional tools and blow mold boxes, I have two completely empty drawers... for now.

 

[danski0224]

The 56" boxes are on sale now... seriously looking at getting one.

 

[jim1987]

The 56" boxes are on sale now... seriously looking at getting one.

Get them both! Click on my user name then threads started by and scroll till you find "my 56" hf drawer layout" t see all the tools these things hold.

 

[Tejaas]

I'm a new member of the "HF 44" group.
Picked this up about 2 weeks ago.

Hands down the best thing GJ introduced me to.

~Tejaas~

WTB: Snap-On Orange Hard Handle SSDP63 in Very Good Condition!

 

[cagullett1]

I'm a new member of the "HF 44" group.
Picked this up about 2 weeks ago.

Hands down the best thing GJ introduced me to.

~Tejaas~

WTB: Snap-On Orange Hard Handle SSDP63 in Very Good Condition!

How did you go about making the top?

 

[67carl]

I'm a new member of the "HF 44" group.
Picked this up about 2 weeks ago.

Hands down the best thing GJ introduced me to.

!

Nice job Tejaas! Funny but I'm doing the same thing with my top as you did. My neighbor had this butcher block mounted in the passthrough between her kitchen and dining room. When she remodeled she didn't need it so she gave it to me. Now I've just got to cut it down to fit like yours. I also plan on removing the US General badge and replace it with a Chevrolet script. Looks good!

 

[90zcar]

I think everybody removes the us general logo and replaces it with something else or leaves it nice n clean. I even went as far as shaving the us general off the metal handles before powder coating them texture satin black




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[Tejaas]

How did you go about making the top?

That top is just a scrap of endglued aspen!

Hit it with a coat of Minwax stain, and then 2 coats of poly.

Nice, cheap, and was already on hand!


~Tejaas~

WTB: Snap-On Orange Hard Handle SSDP63 in Very Good Condition!

 

[Tejaas]

Nice job Tejaas! Funny but I'm doing the same thing with my top as you did. My neighbor had this butcher block mounted in the passthrough between her kitchen and dining room. When she remodeled she didn't need it so she gave it to me. Now I've just got to cut it down to fit like yours. I also plan on removing the US General badge and replace it with a Chevrolet script. Looks good!

GREAT looking top!
And the Chevy badge would look awesome!!!!


~Tejaas~

WTB: Snap-On Orange Hard Handle SSDP63 in Very Good Condition!

 

[sloppy]

So picked this up for $289 this weekend.. Little dent in top front rail and top drawer.. Drawer slides fine I tapped the dent out some allready, pretty sure thats all its gonna get done to it..