My old craftsman cabinet is done, it was a cheap one and its finally time to upgrade. I was in Harbor Freight and saw that they had a small sell on ICON and US General. Who's had luck with them? How about Kolbalt or newer Craftsman? Snap On will be out of my league. Just curious peoples luck on these and any ideas. Thank you
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Tool Cabinet Thoughts?
- Thread starter bigtater
- Start date
ArmyVW_GuyInTX
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Try "strictly tool boxes" - awesome folks to deal with, great variety. I found them years ago from a link here on the Garage Journal.My old craftsman cabinet is done, it was a cheap one and its finally time to upgrade. I was in Harbor Freight and saw that they had a small sell on ICON and US General. Who's had luck with them? How about Kolbalt or newer Craftsman? Snap On will be out of my league. Just curious peoples luck on these and any ideas. Thank you
New stuff is on the way for the US General cabinets if you don't need something today. The new style drawer layouts look to have more larger drawers than the current generation.
The Masterforce stuff from Menards stuff gets good reviews.
Strictly Toolboxes cabs are nice. Well worth the money.
I have a US general 72 and recently upgraded to the Strictly Toolboxes 55x30. Wheels are better, drawers are smoother and handle more weight, paint is better, and the stainless top is nice.
The Masterforce stuff from Menards stuff gets good reviews.
Strictly Toolboxes cabs are nice. Well worth the money.
I have a US general 72 and recently upgraded to the Strictly Toolboxes 55x30. Wheels are better, drawers are smoother and handle more weight, paint is better, and the stainless top is nice.
71goldss
Well-known member
Something to consider, the new US General series 3 boxes will be backwards compatible, meaning outside dimensions should be the same as the current series 2 boxes. Would make sense that larger drawers would also mean fewer drawers. Space has to come from somewhere? Just sayin...New stuff is on the way for the US General cabinets if you don't need something today. The new style drawer layouts look to have more larger drawers than the current generation.
The Masterforce stuff from Menards stuff gets good reviews.
Strictly Toolboxes cabs are nice. Well worth the money.
I have a US general 72 and recently upgraded to the Strictly Toolboxes 55x30. Wheels are better, drawers are smoother and handle more weight, paint is better, and the stainless top is nice.
Shocker
Well-known member
I would take a gander at Craiglist and FB Marketplace. Lots of used Snap On and Matco boxes on there in my area. Cornwell sometimes and Mac as well.
Matco boxes are the most common here. Good prices on top quality boxes.
Matco boxes are the most common here. Good prices on top quality boxes.
I have some time so I'll look at that, I can always wait for the new us general series 3 to hit, any idea when it hits?I would take a gander at Craiglist and FB Marketplace. Lots of used Snap On and Matco boxes on there in my area. Cornwell sometimes and Mac as well.
Matco boxes are the most common here. Good prices on top quality boxes.
Marketplace is good source for used boxes .
I wouldn't overlook a clearance deal on the series 2 US General roll cabinets, they fairly decent box and I suspect the series 3 will have as many negative as plus points vs the series 2 .
You snooze you loose and prices only getting worse ...
I wouldn't overlook a clearance deal on the series 2 US General roll cabinets, they fairly decent box and I suspect the series 3 will have as many negative as plus points vs the series 2 .
You snooze you loose and prices only getting worse ...
Shocker
Well-known member
They have been talking about it for a few months now. I would have expected them to have hit the stores by now.I have some time so I'll look at that, I can always wait for the new us general series 3 to hit, any idea when it hits?
Redwolf947
Well-known member
Gen 3 US General, I read somewhere here on GJ, early may this year..
Albert Franklin
Member
- Joined
- Oct 23, 2023
- Messages
- 14
Tater i bought a cheepie in 79 you buy what you can afford I didn't have a box for 40 years. I bought a used craftsman last year probably was top of the line when new in the 70s but draws work good I got the bottom and the top used 100$ hey join some of these yard sales im your community that seems to be the going thing and it's local I'm member of three here local and market place but make sure you look local their..good luck taterMy old craftsman cabinet is done, it was a cheap one and its finally time to upgrade. I was in Harbor Freight and saw that they had a small sell on ICON and US General. Who's had luck with them? How about Kolbalt or newer Craftsman? Snap On will be out of my league. Just curious peoples luck on these and any ideas. Thank you
Albert Franklin
Member
- Joined
- Oct 23, 2023
- Messages
- 14
Tater i bought a cheepie in 79 you buy what you can afford I didn't have a box for 40 years. I bought a used craftsman last year probably was top of the line when new in the 70s but draws work good I got the bottom and the top used 100$ hey join some of these yard sales im your community that seems to be the going thing and it's local I'm member of three here local and market place but make sure you look local their..good luck tater
joe_padavano
Well-known member
I buy older used C-man boxes at swap meets. I think I have four triple stacks now, all crammed full of tools. I never understood the need to take out a second mortgage to buy a box that was larger than my car and that needed a stepladder to access. Multiple smaller boxes lets me locate specific tools where I need them, plus I don't think I've ever paid more than $200 for a complete setup.
I have some older craftsman ball bearing slide boxes that I modified to work well. The problem I see with a lot of cheap boxes (and many newer intermediate ones) is they have aggressive latches that you have to pull hard to open or slam to shut. Then the contents in the drawers get jostled from the impulses imparted to open and/or the end of the shut -- unless everything is locked into place within the drawers (which is not practical).
What I did to address this: I cut off the Craftsman plastic drawer grabs in the back that required a hard pull to open or a slam to latch. Then they would open/shut easy but might not stay shut. So I next epoxied strong permanent magnets pairs (one set for small drawers, two for some heavy large drawers that were weighted down). This worked fantastic. You have to carefully measure position to get it right though. With this mod, a gentle pull is enough to open. Then the magnets starts to grab and draw the drawer closed when near closed so it comes back to shut gently. The magnets are close and provide enough force to stay shut without any significant tendency to open while going into other drawers etc. The end result is similarly good to the one high end small matco box I have (which I would strongly recommend if you can find cheaply used on CL but no way would I pay new cost for if not a pro).
I have also been looking around at other boxes to upgrade to larger car tool box. "Griplock" type boxes where you tilt up drawer handles to unlatch and then open look very good to me. They tend to shut smoothly too and stay shut. Harbor freight boxes look like they will suffer from the open and close jostle issue but otherwise look decent. I am not sure if they could be easily fixed or adjusted since I have not taken them apart. The newer Craftsman boxes in Lowes and various types in Home Depot look similarly problematic. However, Menards' Masterforce boxes looked super. Nice tilt up latches, fairly heavy construction, well laid out, reasonably priced etc. They are Chinese production but look very good for the $. Almost pro tool truck grade.
Hope this helps.
What I did to address this: I cut off the Craftsman plastic drawer grabs in the back that required a hard pull to open or a slam to latch. Then they would open/shut easy but might not stay shut. So I next epoxied strong permanent magnets pairs (one set for small drawers, two for some heavy large drawers that were weighted down). This worked fantastic. You have to carefully measure position to get it right though. With this mod, a gentle pull is enough to open. Then the magnets starts to grab and draw the drawer closed when near closed so it comes back to shut gently. The magnets are close and provide enough force to stay shut without any significant tendency to open while going into other drawers etc. The end result is similarly good to the one high end small matco box I have (which I would strongly recommend if you can find cheaply used on CL but no way would I pay new cost for if not a pro).
I have also been looking around at other boxes to upgrade to larger car tool box. "Griplock" type boxes where you tilt up drawer handles to unlatch and then open look very good to me. They tend to shut smoothly too and stay shut. Harbor freight boxes look like they will suffer from the open and close jostle issue but otherwise look decent. I am not sure if they could be easily fixed or adjusted since I have not taken them apart. The newer Craftsman boxes in Lowes and various types in Home Depot look similarly problematic. However, Menards' Masterforce boxes looked super. Nice tilt up latches, fairly heavy construction, well laid out, reasonably priced etc. They are Chinese production but look very good for the $. Almost pro tool truck grade.
Hope this helps.
saltwater4life
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 20, 2009
- Messages
- 95
I have 7 us general boxes, all have been great. My first 72 inch upper was delivered damaged and my 72 lower has one bad small drawer where it isn’t fully seated in the slide. I’ve been super happy with all of them and really have been looking hard to swap out my series 2 72 top and bottom for the series 3.