Torin tool cart

[have2goski]

I was at pepboys today and they had 2 torin carts on clearance.

Seemed to be basically the same thing. 2 drawers on bearings, maybe 28"-30" wide.

One had a flip up top on gas shocks to hold it open. The 2 drawers slide nicely with weight from my hand pushing down but the top would bind up when trying to open it off center. The lid was a little flimsy and the opposite corner of the lid would catch on the box's top edge - $92

The other had a top consisting of 2 peices that slide open towards the sides reveling a top compartment under them - $84 and i think this one comes with a basic tool set as well even though i'm sure it is "disposable"

I have been putting my garage together and like the idea of having a small shop cart to wheel around with a very basic tool collection in it. I had thought of building something real basic out of wood, but for the money--it has me thinking it would be nice to have the drawers. and would give a "cleaner" look.

Just wondering if anyody had any experience with one of these. My once over has me leaning toward the slider version as I was a little turned off by the flip top.

 

[wythors]

Torin is Chinese-made and from what I've seen, their sheet metal stuff is pretty much worthless and the cast stuff is "okay", though nothing special.

 

[Danglerb]

HF has basically the same cheaper and more expensive depending on drawers, but all including the Torin that I have looked at in that price range seemed too wiggly. I suspect they hold the rated weight ok, but wiggly, no like.

The plastic cart I bought is kind of like rubbermaid, and so far its very handy and very solid feeling. This looks almost exactly like mine, but its Luxor.
http://www.toolsource.com/service-cart-plastic-shelf-p-91506.html

 

[have2goski]

I have looked at the HF ones before while wandering around the store. I think this torin model is slightly more rigid than the HF ones I have seen. Also I don't recall if the HF one had bearings or just friction rails, but the torin drawers moved supprisingly nice on the bearings.

Industrial rubber made carts a great. We beat the heck out of them all over the plant i work at. I was considering the torin carts basically for the drawer factor.

anyway, I think this is the same 'slider top' cart listed on Northern. The one I saw was red and came with a basic tool set but otherwise the same.

I am fully aware this is made overseas

 

[Danglerb]

When I looked at the HF carts, what I was thinking of doing was replacing the thin L channel in each corner with something thicker and welding at least the bottom part instead of bolting it together.

HF had I think a 3 or 4 drawer with a pop top for $99 on the black Friday sale, normally $169, that was VERY tempting. As far as the drawers go, its a service cart, chances are you aren't going to be loading up the drawers the way you would a big cabinet.

For a home situation where you don't need the close the lid and lock it ability, the three tier rubber maid style rocks.

Another thing that works well are wire shelves, the Metro rack clones in a two or three tier service cart configuration support a LOT more weight, like 600 to 800 lbs per shelf.

 

[kartracer55]

We use sunex carts at work, no gas struts, just a cheap hinged lid, which never gets closed. Drawers ****, so you need to pull them perfectly center but as far as the weight goes I have thrown some pretty heavy stuff on them. Ive had pads and rotors on the top of the cart and it seemed to be ok, but like I said, the drawers ****