Show me your HF toolbox!

[taumac]

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.

Nice job fitting that 26. I checked those out and those are pretty good boxes. If I didn't go for the work bench look I would have brought 2 of those home and would have been cheaper than my 44s.



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

 

[Bob Heine]

Nice job fitting that 26. I checked those out and those are pretty good boxes. If I didn't go for the work bench look I would have brought 2 of those home and would have been cheaper than my 44s.

Have a good one, Gerard

Gerard,
Thanks, I really like having all the extra space. Unfortunately going from six drawers to sixteen I'm going to waste more time finding stuff. As soon as I settle on the drawer layout, I'll have to make some labels. Maybe some post-it notes in cabinets where the tools used to be as well.

I was surprised that this 26" stack has more capacity than the 44" Roller Cabinet (14,600 cu. in.versus 14,200 cu. in) for 12% less money. Since that includes the space under the lid the space is probably a wash for me. I like the 44" better but the 26" fits my garage space.

The wife already shot down my proposal to replace the dressers in the master bedroom with 44's. I haven't completely given up -- has anyone hydro-dipped their HF Roller?

 

[GCncsuHD]

The wife already shot down my proposal to replace the dressers in the master bedroom with 44's. I haven't completely given up -- has anyone hydro-dipped their HF Roller?

Soo...my wife just surprised me that she is pregnant with our second child last night. Instantly, when I suggested maybe it's a boy this time and we could use a 4 drawer cart as a changing table, maybe a 44 as a dresser..........she shot it down, quick

 

[softailgarage]

WOW, 15 pages on HF boxes... and they all look the same, huh.

 

[CudaChick1968]

Soo...my wife just surprised me that she is pregnant with our second child last night. Instantly, when I suggested maybe it's a boy this time and we could use a 4 drawer cart as a changing table, maybe a 44 as a dresser..........she shot it down, quick

Hmmmm, it might just be pregnancy hormones. Give her a couple months to change her mind.

 

[GCncsuHD]

WOW, 15 pages on HF boxes... and they all look the same, huh.

Seen one, seen them all...externally, but there are plenty in here that are customized to make them more useful, or to the users taste, and organization ideas.

Hmmmm, it might just be pregnancy hormones. Give her a couple months to change her mind.

If I learned anything from last time, during month 9 I can do what I want, and she won't even notice until about....3 months after the baby is born. Easier to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission. Besides, the way prices are on baby furniture, this is actually cheaper

 

[emeraldcoupe]

WOW, 15 pages on HF boxes... and they all look the same, huh.

very useful post

 

[taumac]

Hmmmm, it might just be pregnancy hormones. Give her a couple months to change her mind.

Tell her its dual purpose. You can change the baby and the oil in car. LOL. Also tell het that those changing tables go to waste after few years. This you'll keep for a lot longer. LOL



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

 

[cagullett1]

Soo...my wife just surprised me that she is pregnant with our second child last night. Instantly, when I suggested maybe it's a boy this time and we could use a 4 drawer cart as a changing table, maybe a 44 as a dresser..........she shot it down, quick

Great idea! My wife is pregnant with our second as well... We will know the *** in a few weeks. I planned on building the baby furniture this time, but if it is a boy, I now have a different plan!

 

[ALLOUTOFBUBBLEGUM]

How are you guys getting the scratch and dent deals? Do you ask the manager if they have damaged stock, or?


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[GCncsuHD]

How are you guys getting the scratch and dent deals? Do you ask the manager if they have damaged stock, or?


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Live close to the store and go by often...or just be lucky. Typically there is a corner of the store with the damaged/return/clearanced stock.

I happened upon a 44" Roll Cab a few weeks ago, huge dent in the side, but did not affect it's workings, marked down to $309, probably could have talked them down lower. Would have been perfect for me since I have the side cabinet that would cover the dent anyway, but I had just bought mine a few weeks prior so I passed. Dent would have been worth it to me to save $50 since it would be covered anyway.

 

[sloppy]

How are you guys getting the scratch and dent deals? Do you ask the manager if they have damaged stock, or?


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they sit in the front of my local store.. never last real long..

 

[ALLOUTOFBUBBLEGUM]

Also, has anyone fitted a stainless top to a 56?


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[90zcar]

Also, has anyone fitted a stainless top to a 56?


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Not that I seen but I will be soon. Not neccesarily one that lips over the top edges but a sheet that sits inside and I'm going to put a 90* 1" tall break towards the back. I already made a front lip for it that makes one heck of a difference and protects the corner.



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[90zcar]

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[90zcar]

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[makgreens]

Not done organizing but so far I love my new box...have a completely empty drawer that needs filling!!!!

 

[makgreens]

The 56 holds a good bit of tools!

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[antid2]

i've had this box for sometime, granted you guys have WAY more than me obviously, but im just starting out, got my job at a subaru dealership, here is my simple collection so far

(ignore the garage in the back its not mine, just moved here, nowhere else to store my tools until i start the job)


top

wrenches, all metric, i have standard stuff just piled somewhere as i never use them

pliers

screwdrivers

misc and ratcheting wrenches

cheap air tools

mostly just rags, but a 1/2 torque wrench and some hammers

bolts, hose clamps, and standard wrenches

gloves and stuff

and the bottom which has my light,anti-seize, standard sockets, big coffee can full of axle grease my old job was throwing away...hand cleaner etc

it's not much but i'm just starting and it's served me well so far

3 things i'm really wanting to get is one to finish the complete impact and chrome socket sets...empty spaces bug me, and another i REALLY want to get a flex head 3/8 and 1/4 ratchets, just not in the budget at the moment, also want to upgrade to a HF 56" rolling chest

 

[alinc100]

[QUOTE /]

3 things i'm really wanting to get is one to finish the complete impact and chrome socket sets...empty spaces bug me, and another i REALLY want to get a flex head 3/8 and 1/4 ratchets, just not in the budget at the moment, also want to upgrade to a HF 56" rolling chest[/QUOTE]

Get yourself to Lowes and pick up
436178
Its a 4 piece mechanics set with a 3/8" flex head ratchet on clearance for $12.58 .If you cannot find one send me a PM.

 

[js289]

i had one they are built well

 

[antid2]

that's a great find thank you very much i found one at my lowes for 15$, i'll be grabbing that soon..i had my eye on the 3/8 and 1/4 120 tooth gearwrench set with cushion grips but it's 150$ at the moment the 84 tooth set with cushion grips are only 80$ so maybe that's a bit more reasonable

 

[antid2]

sorry for double post, i did have a question..i've never gotten anything off of a truck before, when the SO/mac truck stop by the shop, if i decide to setup a credit line, and say get something..whatever it is, as a reference say a mac tech series tool box..now i don't know the price of them at the moment, but what is the credit line length? like 12 months? or less? just curious of how long i have until i'm required to have it paid off, whatever it may be..i probably wont be getting anything but if i need something small in a pinch, it may be helpful.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

that's a great find thank you very much i found one at my lowes for 15$, i'll be grabbing that soon..i had my eye on the 3/8 and 1/4 120 tooth gearwrench set with cushion grips but it's 150$ at the moment the 84 tooth set with cushion grips are only 80$ so maybe that's a bit more reasonable

The 84 Tooth Gearwrench ratchets will do you well. I beat the hell out of my flex heads daily at a truck shop and none of them ever skipped a tooth or locked up. Even if I did break one, the 60T/84T models can take a Matco 88 tooth rebuild kit from off of the truck, so you can put it right back to work.

For loose sockets check out Cripe Distributing. They have tons of misc chrome and impact sockets that I used to fill in my sets (Armstrong, Kobalt, KD, Allen, Dewalt, etc) for around $1-3 a socket. As well as all kinds of other tools to fill your box and empty your wallet.

http://stores.ebay.com/Cripe-Distributing

Their website is down for now, but the ebay store works fine. Just be sure to "commit to buy" and then request the actual shipping cost from them. They'll get right back to you with the actual shipping cost (Usually $6-11 for a huge order, just depends on what size flat-rate box they can fit it all in).

 

[90zcar]

My good friend and fellow car club president works for a sheet metal company that does duct work. I have him some simple plans/measurements and he made me a nice little stainless top for my 56" box and put a little hemed lip in the back



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[Hpozzuoli]

My good friend and fellow car club president works for a sheet metal company that does duct work. I have him some simple plans/measurements and he made me a nice little stainless top for my 56" box and put a little hemed lip in the back



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I would love one. Can we see it on the box? Does your friend want to make some money?

 

[90zcar]

Haha I don't know maybe! It would **** tho for shipping cost of something that large.

I will probably post pics tomorro of it on the box


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[90zcar]

Allright so I got around to putting the stainless top on my 56"

Took off my front edge n peeled off the old mat

And here she is sittin pretty and staged for a picwith after the front edge angle re riveted on


In the back I stuck a rivet on each end and one in the middle(aluminum rivet of course)



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[taumac]

That's great looking.

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

 

[Zippercat]

I hope this question is in the right place. I've tried the search feature and not found an answer. I'm thinking about purchasing a HF 44" rolling cabinet to install without the castors under my workbench. I believe it would be useful to install some feet under the cabinet so that I can level it. Ideally, they would simply screw into the nuts where the castors should mount. Has anyone done this or know what I can use for the feet? THANKS!

 

[alinc100]

I hope this question is in the right place. I've tried the search feature and not found an answer. I'm thinking about purchasing a HF 44" rolling cabinet to install without the castors under my workbench. I believe it would be useful to install some feet under the cabinet so that I can level it. Ideally, they would simply screw into the nuts where the castors should mount. Has anyone done this or know what I can use for the feet? THANKS!

You could just run the bolts into the cabinet where the casters would mount and use 4 in each corner to level the cabinet. There are riv-nuts in the sheet metal to mount the casters to. It may be possible to run the bolts down (or possibly slightly longer ones) from inside the cabinet and level the box that way.

 

[unvevo]

Thanks to this thread. This is my new purchase.

 

[90zcar]

Wow! Not a bad way to spend 1600 bux!
Just not sure of the so emblems


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[23 CHIEF]

 

[zkling]

Thanks to this thread. This is my new purchase.

Nice setup, lots of storage. With what you spent on the snap on badges you probably could have bought another side box.

Did you remove the drawer trim or paint over it?

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Did you remove the drawer trim or paint over it?

Looks like he slid them off. Did the same with my 44" so it would be a closer match to my older Snappy top box.

 

[zkling]

Looks like he slid them off. Did the same with my 44" so it would be a closer match to my older Snappy top box.

Does that make the drawer edge sharp at all? I may have to try that.

 

[stikman56]

Mine.

 

[unvevo]

Nice setup, lots of storage. With what you spent on the snap on badges you probably could have bought another side box.

Did you remove the drawer trim or paint over it?

I noticed the trim was loose on a couple drawers so I slide it off. Noticed it came off clean. Slid them all off and thinks it looks alot better.

The badges were $20 each. People are going to hate. 0 fcks given.

 

[unvevo]

I like the top, I am trying to make a hardwood top for my boxes. Hate small towns and lack of materials. Did you make it?