Tool Cabinet Advice Needed: Harbor Freight vs. Excel

[tjpavlov]

Hi,

I was going to buy the 13 drawer Harbor Freight unit that everybody seems to love here. The weight capacity is amazing on it, even though I doubt that I will ever test it. Here is a link in case you don't know what I am talking about:

http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-t...d-industrial-uality-roller-cabinet-68784.html

However, I just saw that Costco has an Excel cabinet on sale for $429.99, including delivery. To get the Harbor Freight model I am going to have to borrow or rent a truck.

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Produc...ang=en-US&Sp=C&ec=BC-EC22577-Cat21277&topnav=

I was wondering whet everybody thought about this costco deal. The weight capacity is certainly lower, but it does seem like a decent deal. Coming with the top chest is a bonus.

Any thoughts wouldbe most appreciated! Thanks!

-Tom

 

[SMKS]

Have you seen the Costco cabinet in person? I'm only guessing, but I would guess the HF unit is more heavy duty. It basically beats everything else in its price range.

But, many people consider the weight capacity of the HF unit to be complete BS. It's inflated on this model because they used to run an ad comparing it to much more expensive boxes with higher capacities. If you do a little more research, you'll see that they used to (possibly still do) offer a black version of the 13 drawer that was identical, but had a much lower weight rating. Likely the weight rating of the black version was more in line with reality.

Still, I have the 13 drawer box and I've been really happy with it.

 

[tjpavlov]

I haven't seen the costco one in person. It is an online-only deal. I have heard of Excel cabinets, but don't really know anything about them.

The higher weight rating on the Harbor Freight cabinet would lead me to believe that the entire cabinet is engineered to a much higher standard. I would think that the drawers and slides have to be much better to be able to accomodate more weight.

I hear what you are saying about the weight numbers being possibly inflated. I always wondered whether that weight capacity was for just that box, or if you added on the top cabinet plus two side units.

 

[vartz04]

decide if you want a 27" tall cabinet or a 44" cabinet you can use as a bench as well. Thats about the only difference. A truck is $20 from HD or Menards for bringing it home and the HF box is only $369 with a coupon. You are still money ahead and have a bigger box even after renting the truck.

 

[blasto9000]

I bought a similar box from Costco a couple years ago and have been happy with it. However, last Friday (5/18) I took delivery of the Harbor Freight cabinet... actually, three of them. So I can compare the two side-by-side.

HF is the better deal... WAY better quality drawer slides, heavier gauge sheet metal. Fit/finish is about equal between the two, but the HF has a greater number of welds. (My Costco box had a small wrinkle in the metal at the bottom drawer that would catch when you open and close it, making a "bang." I don't think the wrinkle would have been there if there were more than one weld in that area.) Overall, the HF box is extremely solid and an excellent value.

 

[ilovevocs]

decide if you want a 27" tall cabinet or a 44" cabinet you can use as a bench as well. Thats about the only difference. A truck is $20 from HD or Menards for bringing it home and the HF box is only $369 with a coupon. You are still money ahead and have a bigger box even after renting the truck.

Do you have a link for this coupon? I have searched endlessly and connot locate one. I am thinking of picking up two of them.

Thanks.

 

[TwoInch]

the harbor freight cabinets weight capacity include the weight of the top box, and its weight capacity for tools. thats why it is 2900lbs. i would subtract about 1200lbs from that number for a closer approximation of true bottom box capacity. the 56" capacity is 1985lbs, so id say the 44" is somewhere around 1600-1800lbs, maybe less.

 

[TwoInch]

also, the HF boxes can not be beat for the money, or anything close.

 

[vartz04]

send me your email and i can send you a pdf of all of the HF coupons for the toolboxes. theres a $369 for the 44" and a $299 for the 26". you can PM it to me if you'd like.

 

[ilovevocs]

send me your email and i can send you a pdf of all of the HF coupons for the toolboxes. theres a $369 for the 44" and a $299 for the 26". you can PM it to me if you'd like.

PM Sent, thank you

 

[bcradio]

Keep in mind the weight is total weight. to get the total weight of tools allowed in it, you need to add up each drawers capacity (much less than total). Then you can figure out the difference and that's how much you are allowed to stack on top of it.

 

[sanddan]

Do you have a link for this coupon? I have searched endlessly and connot locate one. I am thinking of picking up two of them.

Thanks.

The current Hot Rod magazine has a coupon for $349, limit 5 units per coupon. That's a great deal and only costs you the price of the magazine for a $250 off coupon.