Tool chest

[grabeb]

I am looking at Tool Chests and looking for some feedback. Craftsman is out as I just can't bring myself to buy much of anything from this line after being burned enough times over the years on their lifetime warranty tools being un-lifetime warrantied. I had liked the Kobalt line but my 4 post lift is red and grey and I don't want to introduce other colors into my garage. I am not paying tool truck prices and don't want used as I want to possibly buy several pieces as I wrap up my build and I want stuff to match. I like the Icon line at HF, but again, not wanting to pay those prices either. I guess that is leaving me at Husky line at Home Depot or US General at H.F..

I have read some say USG is better, but the Husky stuff I'm looking at is the 18gauge and it carries a 5yr warranty. They also have a 'steel' line that is a bit flimsier. I don't see what gauge the USG is, it also just reads 'steel'. I like the modularity of that line and I like that there are more drawers than a similar husky. Even though the Husky has more Cubic Inches, I think the more drawers equals more useable space and less drawer clutter.

I really really like the black on black look of the 18gauge Husky line at Home Depot, but I'm just fine with a red or black with silver handles of the USG. Husky also sells lockers and cabinets, so I thought I could get a clean look as I finish the inside of garage out with matching components, but alas, I'm not sure it'll matter much.

Here's my kicker....Husky 18 gauge is 5yr warranty. USG is 90days from what I read! Basically both same price or close enough, but warranties are totally different!

Thoughts on this? I also checked Menards and their chests are in the ICON price range. I just don't need that!

p.s.
I've read a few reviews or posts on here and people seem to say USG is way better than Husky, but I'm not sure if that is the cheaper steel husky or the 18gauge husky. The reviews I see outside of here are great on both.

 

[Professional Tool User]

I would go with the US General if I were to buy new. The Husky boxes are not as structurally sound.

 

[Mr. D]

I have been doing research a well on various brands of an upgrade project. My list is as follows.

Snap On
ICON
Tool Vault
USG Series 2

Warranty wasn't a research point because they all have some form of limitations apply BS lawyer talk and besides it's a toolbox not a car. It really came down to cost and quality blended together for me. I landed on the USG Series 2

Snap On is stupid expensive and 2 times the cost of ICON and almost the same for Tool Vault. ICON and Tool Vault fall in line with each other, with TV being more expensive. USG Series 2 is half the cost of the ICON.

Example 55" Roll Cab

Snap On 53" $4,030
Tool Vault 55" $2,995
ICON 56" $2,101
USG Series 56" 2 $900

From a quality build standpoint, I think Snap On, Tool Vault and ICON all stack up pretty close. I would never pay stupid money for the Snap On name and I just don't see the extra $900 for the TV over the ICON.

I really want the ICON but for now while in the planning stages I'm focus on the USG Series 2.

 

[rjn2649]

I have a newer craftsman from Menards, and a USG. I like the USG much better. I got the side mounted locker, and am putting my coins in a jar ( It's gonna take a LONG time) to get the side mounted drawer cabinet. I like the availability of accessories I would like a charging station drawer, like the ICON. But really it's just me in my little garage so it's not needed, I just think it's cool.

 

[Mr. D]

ICON 73" Roll Cab, Hutch, two overhead's and two side lockers come in at $9,194

USG S2 72" Roll Cab, Chest and two side lockers come in at $3,098

Hard to wrap my brain around spending $9K at HF.

 

[Mr. D]

People have been telling HF for a few years now they want a Hutch for the USG Series 2.

 

[grabeb]

I have a newer craftsman from Menards, and a USG. I like the USG much better. I got the side mounted locker, and am putting my coins in a jar ( It's gonna take a LONG time) to get the side mounted drawer cabinet. I like the availability of accessories I would like a charging station drawer, like the ICON. But really it's just me in my little garage so it's not needed, I just think it's cool.

I agree on the charger and receptacles, but a metal punch and a $10 Amazon power strip solves that.

 

[Snapped-off]

I'd put Masterforce above USG and Husky. Are they really as expensive as Icon now?

What size are you looking for?

 

[Snapped-off]

ICON 73" Roll Cab, Hutch, two overhead's and two side lockers come in at $9,194

USG S2 72" Roll Cab, Chest and two side lockers come in at $3,098

Hard to wrap my brain around spending $9K at HF.

Don't forget you can get the icon stuff for 20% - 30% off if you can wait for a sale.

 

[jpaw]

As a professional, once you get used to a deeper box you will never go back. I would always recommend the deepest box that you can fit.

I do believe that is one advantage that Tool Vault has over the others. That is also why so many suggest used tool truck boxes.
That said the USG value is difficult to beat.

As far as a hutch goes I don't see the point of spending that money on a home box. They are intended to secure things that one would not normally store in a tool box. The price of a hutch can easily buy you significantly more tool storage.

 

[Jeff]

The OP didn't mention sizes. However, I just went through this for a 26" top case. I looked and fondled them all.

I couldn't afford $1500 for a Snap-on or Mac. So it came down to Husky, Kobalt, USG, Crapsman, and other generics. The USG w/ discount was my choice at $221.

 

[mikester]

I have an older Husky set. Top, bottom and two side boxes. All in red. Theyve been great all these years but if I had to purchase another setup I would get the USG hands down over the current offerings from Husky. Most likely the 56" top and bottom with two side boxes. In blue. I like the fact that theyre all deep. I can live with the drawer locks.

 

[Blackbyrd]

I'll echo drawer depth, I just went through this recently. Had a 66 inch husky box thst had been great but I was outgrowing it. But I wanted something thet would take its place with more storage and replace a work table next to it. I looked at the 63 inch husky box's with the flip up lids and power drawer and the 72 inch box with stainless tops. I even looked at doing a second kf my current box. I recently put a lot of money in swapping from air to battery tools. So the power drawer was a huge selling point to me.

I ultimately went with a 73" icon with dual side lockers. I applied forntheir card and got 0% interest so that's how I justified the extra cost compared to the husky or other comparable options.

I'm not a professional mechanic, but I have 3 hot rods I work on so I justified it to myself

 

[bobg03]

I am looking at Tool Chests and looking for some feedback. Craftsman is out as I just can't bring myself to buy much of anything from this line after being burned enough times over the years on their lifetime warranty tools being un-lifetime warrantied. I had liked the Kobalt line but my 4 post lift is red and grey and I don't want to introduce other colors into my garage. I am not paying tool truck prices and don't want used as I want to possibly buy several pieces as I wrap up my build and I want stuff to match. I like the Icon line at HF, but again, not wanting to pay those prices either. I guess that is leaving me at Husky line at Home Depot or US General at H.F..

I looked at em all, $ for $ the USG is the price/value/quality point IMO.

I sometimes wear socks that don't match my boxers, I may have to rethink this...

 

[dlwilson]

I have HF USG 56" top and bottom boxes in my home garage. They hold my tools. I use them a lot, and haven't had a problem.

 

[35k0]

Might get laughed at, but after looking at Husky, US General and other lines in my price range, I got one of these 24x36 HART rollers from Walmart of all places. It is big, tons of room, deeeeep drawers and built well.
There are a ton of youtube reviews on these.
For $269 you cannot beat it.

Robot or human?

www.walmart.com

For another $250 you can add this

 

[ptgarcia]

Might get laughed at, but after looking at Husky, US General and other lines in my price range, I got one of these 24x36 HART rollers from Walmart of all places. It is big, tons of room, deeeeep drawers and built well.
There are a ton of youtube reviews on these.
For $269 you cannot beat it.

Robot or human?

www.walmart.com

For another $250 you can add this

Nice, but it's $350 around here.

 

[GeoBruin]

24x36 is such a practical dimension and I like the full width drawers.

 

[RedneckWelder]

I have two Husky boxes, the industrial 52” stack and the 36” wide 24” deep stack. Both are great boxes.

HF also makes very good stuff too in the US General line. For me the Husky boxes fit price and availability plus features that I like. Don’t slam them around and you won’t have issues. Both the Husky’s and US general boxes are far better than the Craftsman boxes of my lifetime being both a few inches deeper, more stable and better built with better slides.

Don’t buy the cheapest Husky boxes (like the 18” deep ones) they are noticeably flimsy.

 

[RedneckWelder]

Might get laughed at, but after looking at Husky, US General and other lines in my price range, I got one of these 24x36 HART rollers from Walmart of all places. It is big, tons of room, deeeeep drawers and built well.
There are a ton of youtube reviews on these.
For $269 you cannot beat it.

Robot or human?

www.walmart.com

For another $250 you can add this

That’s very similar to my Husky 36x24” deep box with a much better top box layout. Mine holds a ton of tools.

 

[grabeb]

I have been doing research a well on various brands of an upgrade project. My list is as follows.

Snap On
ICON
Tool Vault
USG Series 2

Warranty wasn't a research point because they all have some form of limitations apply BS lawyer talk and besides it's a toolbox not a car. It really came down to cost and quality blended together for me. I landed on the USG Series 2

Snap On is stupid expensive and 2 times the cost of ICON and almost the same for Tool Vault. ICON and Tool Vault fall in line with each other, with TV being more expensive. USG Series 2 is half the cost of the ICON.

Example 55" Roll Cab

Snap On 53" $4,030
Tool Vault 55" $2,995
ICON 56" $2,101
USG Series 56" 2 $900

From a quality build standpoint, I think Snap On, Tool Vault and ICON all stack up pretty close. I would never pay stupid money for the Snap On name and I just don't see the extra $900 for the TV over the ICON.

I really want the ICON but for now while in the planning stages I'm focus on the USG Series 2.

You are most likely correct on the warranty, but still.

Those others are just too overpriced unless you are really using it like a professional or you don't care about budget!

 

[grabeb]

It's been asked how large of a tool 'box' I want/need.....I think like a garage it's never big enough! I'm actually really liking the workbench chests, like Husky has with the stainless or the wood tops. I like that they are portable if need be, though I don't plan to need to move one a lot. Depends on current projects and thus floor space needed.

I originally was thinking I would do one workbench style box and one combo box. I thought my mechanics tools would go in the one and my wood working type tools in the other. I do have overlap in soooo many tools that I could store some in each I guess. So I have 2) 3'x5' windows spaced about 8-10' apart on one wall. This is the wall I would put a workbench on IF I put one permanently on any. I was thinking the rolling chest workbench for this. I am now leaning towards something like this!

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-6...in-W-x-75-in-H-x-19-in-D-GS10806-2W/306605247


I was eyeing the 56" wide husky combo box with 18 gauge steel, but I am thinking the number of drawers and modularity of the USG might be better and though the 56" wide husky has more cu inches, a lot of it is just air space due to height of the drawers, where the USG is more drawers, but thinner.

 

[Renegade1LI]

I have both, for a home shop either if fine but the us gen is better supported with lots of accessories.

 

[BRay549]

Check Craigslist, you can find excellent buys on older high quality boxes. Regarding Craftsman, I bought mine new in the early 1990's, and I've never had any problems with them. I believe the new ones aren't as good, but still made in USA.

 

[grabeb]

Check Craigslist, you can find excellent buys on older high quality boxes. Regarding Craftsman, I bought mine new in the early 1990's, and I've never had any problems with them. I believe the new ones aren't as good, but still made in USA.

Honestly, I know that's a fair option, I just prefer to buy new. I like some of the newer features. I have a craftsman from the early 90s as well and 1 drawer has been funky for years. Once I get everything moved to new garage build I hope to figure it out. So I am not sure I think the build quality on those is that great either.

Now that you say that maybe I'll go look...... a friend showed me a Mac box and he had sent a snap on one a while back and I wasn't impressed by their looks. They are undoubtedly great boxes, but they were very dated looking.