US General 44” box or two 26” boxes?

[bagged89s10]

I recently sold a few of my 1970s Craftsman boxes and thinking about selling my early
2000s 26” craftsman ball bearing stack. The drawers are just too small to fit everything efficiently. I have a small shop and i’m reorganizing and going with just 1 or 2 bottom boxes.

I’m thinking about getting either one 44” US General box or two 26” boxes.

What are the downsides of getting 2 of the 26” boxes?

 

[Fast Orange]

The biggest downside to me is not having the wide top drawer of the 44” box....

 

[1982fxr]

The biggest downside to me is not having the wide top drawer of the 44” box....

This

 

[bastage]

That top drawer is why I bought the 44" box...

 

[Rabid Badger]

If you have the space get the 44. I have the 26. It's nice, but the drawer layout of the 44 is better.

 

[Coach James]

I have a 44 and recently bought two of the 26's. I agree, the only downside to the 26's is not having the wide top drawer. Aside from that, I am pleased with them.

Coach

 

[bastage]

I have a 44 and recently bought two of the 26's. I agree, the only downside to the 26's is not having the wide top drawer. Aside from that, I am pleased with them.

Coach

Its not the width that bothers me... Its the depth..

 

[dodge610]

I recently sold a few of my 1970s Craftsman boxes and thinking about selling my early
2000s 26” craftsman ball bearing stack. The drawers are just too small to fit everything efficiently. I have a small shop and i’m reorganizing and going with just 1 or 2 bottom boxes.

I’m thinking about getting either one 44” US General box or two 26” boxes.

What are the downsides of getting 2 of the 26” boxes?

What is the depth of the 26 compared to the 44. And can you take the deep bottom drawer of the 26 and put it on top. Dont know if that is possible. In other words do a little drawer shuffle on the 26. If possible you would have 52 instead of 44. Sorry this is so long.

 

[Aaron_W]

I have a 44 and 26, and agree definitely look at the drawer layout compared to what you will be putting in it.

The 44 has a deeper top drawer which could be a plus or minus depending on your needs.

 

[Aaron_W]

What is the depth of the 26 compared to the 44. And can you take the deep bottom drawer of the 26 and put it on top. Dont know if that is possible. In other words do a little drawer shuffle on the 26. If possible you would have 52 instead of 44. Sorry this is so long.

No you can't swap the drawers around. I don't know the depth off the top of my head, but a guess 4" vs 2".

 

[shaeff]

I've been happy with my (old style) 44" roller for a number of years. Wide top drawer is the ticket.

 

[Parrothead]

No you can't swap the drawers around. I don't know the depth off the top of my head, but a guess 4" vs 2".

You can’t???

I know you can swap the drawers around on the 44” as I have the small deep drawer on top of my stack of small drawers. At the very worst you’d have to move the slides which is quite easy to do. I’d be willing to bet you can switch it around.

Both the 26” and 44” boxes are now 22” deep.

 

[m6z]

Go as big as you can. My 44" combo filled up fast.

If I had the space I'd of gone with one of the 72" wide boxes with a worktop.

 

[SeisMec]

I have a 44 and recently bought two of the 26's. I agree, the only downside to the 26's is not having the wide top drawer. Aside from that, I am pleased with them.

Coach

Ditto

 

[pbon]

I had 2 26s with mids and uppers. Graduated to 3 44s and liked them much more but would have liked 2 72s even more. I recommend going for the 44. Add a 2nd one when you can or maybe a side extension and/or upper.

I never did change from the 3 44s to the 2 72s. I moved to another house and renovated it’s garage into a dream garage with 26’ of New Age Pro cabinets. They are nice but each of the 6 5 drawer lower cabinets are only 28” wide so in a way I am back to where I started. It works but I do prefer wider drawers and drawers of varying height.

 

[mdnelson86]

It all comes down to what you want in drawer sizes. I’ve always tried to advise people to figure out what tools they want where. Then buy a box that fits as close as possible to that need with the least amount of wasted space (usually more drawer height than needed or in the wrong place). Most people will end up much happier that way than buying a random box and trying to stuff they’re tools in a drawer layout that doesn’t really work for them.

The 26” boxes have a lot of shallow drawers. Great if you have a lot of flat tools you want up at the top of the box.

The 44” has the advantage of the deeper and wider drawer at the top. Commonly used for sockets and/or wrenches. You also get the smaller drawers to the side. The 44” is usually a pretty good combination of different drawer sizes for most people, but it all depends on what you want.

 

[thickhead]

I have 2 of the 44’s next to each other and I wish I had fewer drawers that were larger.
Half the time I pull the wrong drawer open first.

 

[SeisMec]

You can’t???

I know you can swap the drawers around on the 44” as I have the small deep drawer on top of my stack of small drawers. At the very worst you’d have to move the slides which is quite easy to do. I’d be willing to bet you can switch it around.

One of the first things I looked at doing when I bought my 26" Series 2. Removed all the drawers to take a look. It's probably do-able, but not just a simple swap.

• All the drawers have a single set of drawer slides.
• None of the shallow drawer depths are even multiples of larger drawers depths.
• There is no provision for moving the rails attached to the inside of the cabinet to alternate positions.

Basically you'd need to remove and accurately reposition all seven rails on both sides of the inside of the cabinet.

 

[crewchief888]

I've mentioned it before, but I'm in the multiple smaller boxes club.

In my garage you'll find a set of 36" wide boxes, 2 sets of 33"wide boxes, mid boxes, and multiple side boxes.

In the basement, you'll find 26" wide boxes.

I'm too old to be moving big *** boxes by myself.

 

[Aaron_W]

You can’t???

I know you can swap the drawers around on the 44” as I have the small deep drawer on top of my stack of small drawers. At the very worst you’d have to move the slides which is quite easy to do. I’d be willing to bet you can switch it around.

Both the 26” and 44” boxes are now 22” deep.

I'll have to look more closely at how the slides move. It would be nice to have one of the deep drawers up top on my 26". I don't think moving the slides would be an easy task.

 

[taumac]

I'll have to look more closely at how the slides move. It would be nice to have one of the deep drawers up top on my 26". I don't think moving the slides would be an easy task.

Anything can be moved. It’s just like my side cabinet I moved deep drawer to top.



I just got done looking at the 26 series 2 looks like you can swap 3 narrow for 1 deep drawer. There’s 3 shallow, 2 deeper shallow, 2 deep and a odd ball.

On my 44’s on bottom drawer there 4 slides and narrow has 2. The slides are only held in with rivets in front and on the deep drawers only one set is riveted in. In the cab of the 44 there’s a uniform stamping or holes to mount the slides. The 44 either used shallow or deep drawers so it’s easier to swap drawers where as the 26 they have 3 different sizes.

 

[dthor68]

Love the S-10. I had an 88 that was bagged and body-dropped. Back then we raised the floor pan. Looks like you constructed a complete frame, very cool. I also had rear disk which I got off of a Camaro and made a custom bracket. And, I agree with most that I love the 44".

 

[jshillin]

Definitely 1 44". If you need more space you can add a top or side box to it. I have a 44" bottom, top and side box. I have 0 complaints.

I previously used a 26" bottom, top, 2 middle boxes and side cabinet. The 44" setup has a lot more room.

 

[Tarnished]

Bagged, I had the 44" and it just didn't work for me. Wanted something with more drawers but not as many tall drawers which I didn't need. Ended up putting 2 sets (tops & bottom series 2) together on a roller frame I constructed and couldn't be happier with the box. You do louse the long drawer at the top, but there are still plenty of "socket" drawers to make up the loss. I especially like the small flat drawers of the top boxes. Just comes down to personal preference. Let us know what you end up with.

 

[EZ_Garage]

Bagged, I had the 44" and it just didn't work for me. Wanted something with more drawers but not as many tall drawers which I didn't need. Ended up putting 2 sets (tops & bottom series 2) together on a roller frame I constructed and couldn't be happier with the box. You do louse the long drawer at the top, but there are still plenty of "socket" drawers to make up the loss. I especially like the small flat drawers of the top boxes. Just comes down to personal preference. Let us know what you end up with.

That's awesome. I also like the 26" drawer layout.

 

[jhn9840]

Will the side cabinets work with the 26” series 2?

jhn9840
John

 

[Parrothead]

Will the side cabinets work with the 26” series 2?

jhn9840
John

I’d think so, especially since they’re the same depth.

 

[bagged89s10]

I almost bought this dented 44” for $339 but stopped myself. I would have definitely bought it for $299 but $339 is only $117 off with tax. too bad it wasn’t the back dented instead of the top.

 

[cderalow]

I’d think so, especially since they’re the same depth.

They’re actually slightly different heights. The 26” is ½” tall in the physical box portion at 35” v 34.5” of the 43


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk