Tool chest for a beginner.

[Sanderguy777]

Hi, I am a woodworker mainly, but I also like to fix up old machines when I can. I'm looking for a smallish tool drawer system (I'm not sure if it falls into the tool chest or tool box category).

I want 4-6 two inch deep drawers for wrenches, sockets, etc. I have about 3 or 4 sets of each that are all random parts and I just need something to organize them all.

Is there a good option in the sub-100 dollar range? I would like one that has decent gauge steel and good quality slides. I know that neither thing is likely in that price range, so I'm open to a little more expensive option especially if it is a bit bigger.

 

[kaymccampbell]

Harbor Freight. The US General line doesn't ****.
https://www.harborfreight.com/tool-storage-organization/tool-storage/tool-carts.html?order=price-low

 

[Paul_The_Builder]

Husky/Kobalt/Craftsman each make a ~$100 - ~$130 4 or 5 drawer tool cabinet, but they're really pretty bad. The slides are awful and really not any good for storing relatively heavy tools in them like wrenches and sockets. I would not buy any tool chest that's rated for less than 100lbs per drawer.

Lots of good options at ~$200. Husky, Craftsman, and Harbor Freight all make tool boxes/carts which will work well for you.

You might have some luck on used marketplaces, but in my experience the toolboxes for sale there for $100 or less are usually obsolete junk.

 

[nadogail]

Look at the lateral file cabinets offered on Craig's List if the US General from Harbor Freight is out of your budget.

 

[Jeffh40]

I chose these specifically for woodworking since the tools are bulkier. I put 4 of them side by side and plan to build a bench over the top someday.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-2...Chest-in-Textured-Black-UAT-H-26051/303764045

 

[NUTTSGT]

At your price range, i don't think you're going to find much, unless you come across a smoking deal on something used.

You might want to up your budget and possibly take a look at the local big box stores, HF and on CL.

 

[CraigStu]

That Husky is pretty nice. I think the key is find one that you want and then wait for a sale. Get on the email list for all the stores local to you so you get their sales fliers via email.

 

[Sanderguy777]

Yeah, I figured sub-one hundred was a bit low. I was looking at HF and they have one I like for about $300. Anyone know if their coupons work on tool chests?

I'm looking for something fairly small with about

 

[kaymccampbell]

Coupons no work on toolboxes.

 

[Sanderguy777]

Coupons no work on toolboxes.

Ok, no suprises there I guess.

I'm looking for something fairly small with about 5 or 6, one and a half or two inch deep drawers if I was sticking to the $100 budget. If not, then these two from HF
(I cant link because of the message limit thing, but they are the US General 26x22 with 8 drawers and the Yukon 9 drawer one)


Any tips on how to know if the slides are gonna last/work well?

 

[Gotcha640]

Why not make a tool chest? At that budget, you aren't buying anything worth keeping, but depending on what tools you have and how much time you have, you can buy the damaged lumber from home depot for 70% off, and $100 will be plenty.

I'll take some interior pictures in a minute, but this box is about 11x11x30 if I remember right, and you can customize to whatever you want. 1x12s off the discount rack are only a couple dollars for 6 or 8 feet, or you might splurge and pay the full price for one or two.

Added pics of insides. These could be made with just a hand saw, hammer and nails, but get much stronger if you can cut a dado for the bottom and ends to slot in.

Make a wrench and screwdriver rack, a chisel rack, a place for your pencils and markers. Great joinery practice. The first one I made was boards from the junk pile and chopsticks from the Asian buffet for dowels, my latest one was mulberry and sycamore, walnut dowels and handles, as a present for a friend. She keeps her sewing in it in the living room.

 

[Sanderguy777]

I didn't know they did discounts like that!

I thought about it, but I WANT drawers and buying enough ply and decent drawer slides might push me past the $100 mark. Also, I think I could go $350 if I need to, but the main thing is that the slides work well and IF it ever rusts, i can fix it.
The super cheap ones from amazon probably have 20 ga sheet aluminum that a stray screwdriver tip would punch though!

 

[ken w.]

All good choices. I would recommend going bigger than you think you need as it will fill up quicker than you think.

 

[Falcon67]

Same - consider stretching your budget some
https://www.harborfreight.com/tool-storage-organization/u-s-general-tool-storage/top-chests.html

More space allows better organization. Tools, smaller spare parts, etc in one place. Says the guy with 8 various tool chests.

 

[Sanderguy777]

Same - consider stretching your budget some
https://www.harborfreight.com/tool-storage-organization/u-s-general-tool-storage/top-chests.html

More space allows better organization. Tools, smaller spare parts, etc in one place. Says the guy with 8 various tool chests.

Yep. I think you're right. Getting a small one for $60 is probably not going to solve the problem I have either...

 

[brownbagg]

i want one of those lime green tool cart so when i working on the car in the driveway, from harbor freight

 

[nadogail]

An Old Timer once advised me "Buy The Biggest Tool Box You Can Afford"; you will eventually fill it up"

 

[theoldwizard1]

An Old Timer once advised me "Buy The Biggest Tool Box You Can Afford"; you will eventually fill it up"

And then you will OVERFILL it ! BTDTGTT !

If you are looking for something that can hold a circular saw, jigsaw, and router look for one that has a tilt up door instead of a drawer on the bottom (Craftsman used to make one like that). More room than drawers, but a bit less convenient.

If you have the room, buy 2 lower units and use them as the outside bases for a heavy duty bench.

 

[Citation]

Keep an eye out for deals at Walmart. A while back I picked up a 5+top Stanley top cabinet for $50.
It's something like 22 wide by 18 deep. Not pro grade thick sheet but not the super thin stuff either. The drawers are ball bearing slides and struts hold the top open. If I find another for the same price I'd buy it again.

I wouldn't pick one brand. In the sub $100 range you are either getting something really light weight or you found a deal.

BTW, I do know what the bottom feeder boxes are like. I picked up a Cman top and bottom cabinet from Kmart a few years back. $35 clearance. Normally $150. Super thin sheet and the top doesn't even have a link to keep it from over traveling when open. The up edges are also not rolled over. Scarry cheap but for $35 it works for in the house tools. And the top box was just the right size to fill a space I had.

 

[karoc]

I also am a wanna be woodworker,if I had a do over I would watch CL and buy the metal tool cabinets used and use them under my outfeed table. Right now I do have the wood cabinets with full extension draw slides but over time the wood has warp and the doors just don't close like they use to. If I had deep pockets I would wait till HF had a sale on the lower cabinets and buy what I could. Regardless of how good you are there is no comparison wood to metal.

 

[NUTTSGT]

If you decide on a box you want, you just upped the ante to $350, hold out a little longer and wait for the Black Friday deals. Start saving your change and $1 bills for the big sale.

 

[Sanderguy777]

I also am a wanna be woodworker,if I had a do over I would watch CL and buy the metal tool cabinets used and use them under my outfeed table. Right now I do have the wood cabinets with full extension draw slides but over time the wood has warp and the doors just don't close like they use to. If I had deep pockets I would wait till HF had a sale on the lower cabinets and buy what I could. Regardless of how good you are there is no comparison wood to metal.

I think 3/4 ply would last till the next upgrade, but it would NEVER close nicely if I built it! I might build a top cabinet for the bigger tools and then put it on the lower one

 

[kaymccampbell]

Ok, no suprises there I guess.

I'm looking for something fairly small with about 5 or 6, one and a half or two inch deep drawers if I was sticking to the $100 budget. If not, then these two from HF
(I cant link because of the message limit thing, but they are the US General 26x22 with 8 drawers and the Yukon 9 drawer one)


Any tips on how to know if the slides are gonna last/work well?

I don't know anything about the Yukon box. I have two US General 44 inch rollers, along with other makes, and they are pretty nice. About the same as high end Craftsman. I'm in them all day, every day. The slides are nice. The system that holds the drawers shut is a bit strong for a girl to one-hand, so I sanded a bit off the rubber snubbers, to reduce the beating they were putting on my wrists. Considering the price, I'd venture to say that the Yukon is significantly cheesier than the USG. And, yes, I would still buy them again.

 

[LeonardY]

Hi, I am a woodworker mainly, but I also like to fix up old machines when I can. I'm looking for a smallish tool drawer system (I'm not sure if it falls into the tool chest or tool box category).
.

I think it would be a good project to work on your woodworking skills. Here's a tool box I did out of scraps of Baltic birch I had. I even managed to scrounge up the slides.

If you find a plywood supplier they will often have damaged pieces that they will sell cheap or they have cut pieces. I don't know where you are in CA. But I go to Anderson Plywood in Culver City. They are very helpful and will cut your piece to size.

 

[Toomanytools?]

This is over your budget but I'll throw it out there.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-4...lack-with-Hardwood-Top-H46MWC9XD-TL/311086287
They go on sale once or twice a year $100 off, it is now 350, I paid $299. It is very well made and was less than Harbor freight's similar option. Check out the Husky line think there is a smaller one for $110, think it's made in Vietnam.

 

[Citation]

This is over your budget but I'll throw it out there.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-4...lack-with-Hardwood-Top-H46MWC9XD-TL/311086287
They go on sale once or twice a year $100 off, it is now 350, I paid $299. It is very well made and was less than Harbor freight's similar option. Check out the Husky line think there is a smaller one for $110, think it's made in Vietnam.

I have an earlier version of that box. Mine is the 18" deep model (before the new import laws resulted in all the companies making deeper, compliant boxes). I've read that different versions had different built quality.

I like mine. It's not a pro-grade heavy duty box but as I use it, it will last a lifetime. Mine was just over $200 when I bought it (5 years ago?) during one of the end of year sales.

 

[BadgeZ28]

You might consider used. I frequent the tools section at Craigslist for my city. Another source might be Offerup online.

 

[Sanderguy777]

I don't know anything about the Yukon box. I have two US General 44 inch rollers, along with other makes, and they are pretty nice. About the same as high end Craftsman. I'm in them all day, every day. The slides are nice. The system that holds the drawers shut is a bit strong for a girl to one-hand, so I sanded a bit off the rubber snubbers, to reduce the beating they were putting on my wrists. Considering the price, I'd venture to say that the Yukon is significantly cheesier than the USG. And, yes, I would still buy them again.

Good to know. I'll look at them the next time I'm in the store.

I think it would be a good project to work on your woodworking skills. Here's a tool box I did out of scraps of Baltic birch I had. I even managed to scrounge up the slides.

If you find a plywood supplier they will often have damaged pieces that they will sell cheap or they have cut pieces. I don't know where you are in CA. But I go to Anderson Plywood in Culver City. They are very helpful and will cut your piece to size.

I'm near Windsor, so Mt. Storm might be a good option. I'm not sure if they discount ANYTHING, but I'll look.
Man, that box is NICE! Is it ¾ or ½ inch?

You might consider used. I frequent the tools section at Craigslist for my city. Another source might be Offerup online.

I looked at my local CL another closest thing was a $1000 Kennedy. I'll keep looking though, since I got a Craftsman tablesaw for $150 that cuts like a dream after I fixed it up.

 

[LeonardY]

Thanks. It's 3/4" the drawers are either 5/8 or 1/2. Ask them for their shop grade plywood. It will generally cost around $60-$70 a sheet. I always buy domestic but you can find import for less. A 4x8' sheet will give you enough for several projects. If that's too rich then ask them if they have any damaged pieces for less.

 

[Sanderguy777]

Thanks. It's 3/4" the drawers are either 5/8 or 1/2. Ask them for their shop grade plywood. It will generally cost around $60-$70 a sheet. I always buy domestic but you can find import for less. A 4x8' sheet will give you enough for several projects. If that's too rich then ask them if they have any damaged pieces for less.

Thanks. Will do

 

[PNWguy]

In that price range, you're looking at used (probably) junk.
If it was me, I'd wait for this one to go on sale for $150 - or see if there's a returned unit with a scratch.
https://www.harborfreight.com/tool-...rts/30-in-4-drawer-black-tech-cart-64818.html

 

[gunguy]

This may be helpful if you haven't seen it already.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=153445&highlight=tool+chest+comparison

Jim

 

[Fueler]

Never thought I would say this.
HF, general boxes are the best bang for the buck.
I have 2 of the 72" units stuffed and could use another.

 

[mercifiknow]

I picked up a SnapOn top chest for $150. It was in very good shape. I see them online here every so often on Craigslist. Not sure where you are from but in Alabama they’re around.

Built a cart from online plans out of a single sheet of plywood and wood screws.

Very happy with it.


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[NUTTSGT]

This is over your budget but I'll throw it out there.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-4...lack-with-Hardwood-Top-H46MWC9XD-TL/311086287
They go on sale once or twice a year $100 off, it is now 350, I paid $299. It is very well made and was less than Harbor freight's similar option. Check out the Husky line think there is a smaller one for $110, think it's made in Vietnam.

I have an earlier version of that box. Mine is the 18" deep model (before the new import laws resulted in all the companies making deeper, compliant boxes). I've read that different versions had different built quality.

I like mine. It's not a pro-grade heavy duty box but as I use it, it will last a lifetime. Mine was just over $200 when I bought it (5 years ago?) during one of the end of year sales.

I have a very similar Tool Shop box from Menards. It was made by Edsal in the US. I picked it up for free, with rebates as list was about $200.


Keep saving your dollars til you find one that fits your bill.

 

[John in OH]

Generally, the 20% off coupons do not work on toolboxes or tool chests; however, there are sometimes discounts on various styles of boxes. For instance, go to the HF site and look at the "coupons" section and you will currently see about 6 different boxes with discounts.

https://www.harborfreight.com/savings_coupons.html