Us General/Harbor Freight

[moronmountain]

I thought about using my 20% coupon to get one of their 13 drawer boxes while they're still on sale. Are they worth a darn? Will I get a few years use out of it while I save up for a nicer box, then maybe use it for parts storage or something?

 

[lipadj46]

I was actually at HF today and was looking at this box for my father. Like said above it is actually a pretty solid box. The slides are smooth and it does not have the sloppy feeling like on the Waterloo/craftsman ball bearing slides. When it goes back down to $340 - 20% off I will buy it for my father.

I don't know about anyone else but not too many American made boxes that size for under $1000 around here.

 

[Boost Creep]

for $270 you could probably get a 5 drawer snap-on box.

an old rusty beat up ugly one at that

 

[SnowBlaZeR2]

IMO HF tools have their use. If it's something I won't use very often, I will go cheaper and buy it at HF. I would never buy a tool box from them because it's something that gets used every time you are in your garage and not something you want to cheap it up on. Besides, as was mentioned, you can get a better quality box for the same or not much more. I'm sorry, but HF boxes are low quality. That's why they are sold at HF. You could do worse for sure, but you can do better.

 

[skeletonizer]

I have the 13 drawer HF box. I am very happy with the quality. Had I been able to find a US made box of that quality and configuration I would have gladly spent up to $500 on one, even used.

I looked for six months...

 

[Bo Heck]

They are pretty good solid boxes especially for the money. Our university has had one for quite a while getting abused by students and it's held up quite well.

 

[moronmountain]

I firmly stand by my cardboard box recommendation. Hell for that kind of money ($270) you can get a used Snap On box.

I haven't found any for that around here. Most peeps want 1/2 of retail for their used boxes in these parts.

 

[moronmountain]

I have the 13 drawer HF box. I am very happy with the quality. Had I been able to find a US made box of that quality and configuration I would have gladly spent up to $500 on one, even used.

I looked for six months...

Yeah I'd drop $1k in a heart beat for a nice used SO, Matco, etc. box, but I can't find anything for under $1.5k in ANY condition, and nothing under $2.5k that's nice. The thing is I am getting too many tools for my current storage, and I've run out of places to put things. I really just need something to store stuff in until this fall at which point I'll prolly buy a nice box with a student discount. Heck I guess I could just put things in boxes until then. I just figured it would be "good enough" as a leave home box. Heck I'd much rather use the money for a set of Cornwell wrenches and put them in the closet lol!

 

[marcusicp]

I have used the HF box top and bottom at work for the last 6 months and have not had a single problem with it. I will upgrade to a bigger Snap-On box one day when I have the cash but the HF box does everything I need it to do. It holds tools, it opens, it closes, and it locks.

 

[Hiball]

I thought about using my 20% coupon to get one of their 13 drawer boxes while they're still on sale. Are they worth a darn? Will I get a few years use out of it while I save up for a nicer box, then maybe use it for parts storage or something?

For the Money you cant go wrong with that box, It has been referenced by our Snap on Dealer (MrShaun) that he takes them in on trade in's and they normally sell fast. Its not a Lifetime Box, And i dont think anyone is claiming that they are near the same quality as Snap on. I suspect you could use it for a few years and then sell it for 60% of New. You can drop the cash, Increase your storage and still continue to look for a Lifetime box. I dont understand why members feel the need to Bash a product with Zero experience with the Box... For the money its not that bad of box, Yes its a Import.. But purchasing from HF contributes to a company owned by Americans along with providing jobs for Americans all the way from the distribution at the warehouse to the truck drivers delivering to the store finishing up with the Checkers.

 

[jethro29]

yeah, one with a fold up handle so you can carry it around!you are joking right?

 

[Indy_500]

For the Money you cant go wrong with that box, It has been referenced by our Snap on Dealer (MrShaun) that he takes them in on trade in's and they normally sell fast. Its not a Lifetime Box, And i dont think anyone is claiming that they are near the same quality as Snap on. I suspect you could use it for a few years and then sell it for 60% of New. You can drop the cash, Increase your storage and still continue to look for a Lifetime box. I dont understand why members feel the need to Bash a product with Zero experience with the Box... For the money its not that bad of box, Yes its a Import.. But purchasing from HF contributes to a company owned by Americans along with providing jobs for Americans all the way from the distribution at the warehouse to the truck drivers delivering to the store finishing up with the Checkers.

well said. You guys bashing the box that have never tried it need to stop. There's nothing wrong with it and you're now probably keeping some guys from buying it because of it. Those drawers roll 10 times better than any Craftsman Boxes. The same Craftsman box costs $500. When the HF boxes go on sale, they're half that and they're twice as good as the USA made Craftsman box.

 

[poprockcrusher]

http://newjersey.craigslist.org/bfs/1748186512.html

 

[tonydanzah]

for the money I would get a masterforce box from menards.

 

[SnowBlaZeR2]

well said. You guys bashing the box that have never tried it need to stop. There's nothing wrong with it and you're now probably keeping some guys from buying it because of it. Those drawers roll 10 times better than any Craftsman Boxes. The same Craftsman box costs $500. When the HF boxes go on sale, they're half that and they're twice as good as the USA made Craftsman box.

I actually know people who use this box, I've tried it out and I wouldn't want one. If he or anyone else wants to get one, by all means go ahead. I'm just stating my opinion of it. I buy things I plan to keep. This isn't one of them. Better than any of the Craftsman boxes? I take it you have owned all of them? What is it with being all over the Craftsman boxes anyways? Please say Craftsman boxes are junk so I can dismiss your opinion.

 

[Hiball]

That was helpful.

Dont worry this thread will go full circle eventually, We have a Member asking for reviews, experiences on a tool box and instead he gets the riot act for even thining about buying from Harbor freight. The Next step will be the admin closing the thread and then Nobody can get any good out of the thread. What a joke this place is sometimes...

 

[moronmountain]

Dont worry this thread will go full circle eventually, We have a Member asking for reviews, experiences on a tool box and instead he gets the riot act for even thining about buying from Harbor freight. The Next step will be the admin closing the thread and then Nobody can get any good out of the thread. What a joke this place is sometimes...

Yeah I clearly said I want a nice "US" box, but I need something to store stuff in in the mean time. I want the cheapest thing I can get that still works, but I want it to work. What I do NOT want to do is spend a decent amount of money on a so so box just because it has USA stamped on it. I'd rather keep my stuff in shoe boxes until I could afford the one I really wanted. I was hoping to get some adult answers here, and while there were some, there is plenty of middle school behavior as well.

 

[Indy_500]

I actually know people who use this box, I've tried it out and I wouldn't want one. If he or anyone else wants to get one, by all means go ahead. I'm just stating my opinion of it. I buy things I plan to keep. This isn't one of them. Better than any of the Craftsman boxes? I take it you have owned all of them? What is it with being all over the Craftsman boxes anyways? Please say Craftsman boxes are junk so I can dismiss your opinion.

My dad owns one and my friends dads own them so when i go over there i test them out too. I'm not talking about the Professional Craftsman line with the $5000 tool boxes, no one buys those, they'll take that money and buy a truck brand. But i'm talking the same exact C-man box with ball bearings. It doesn't even compare with the US General

 

[Indy_500]

Heck, my dad has a Kennedy box and i think the drawers roll better in my HF box. For me, what i want in a toolbox is good rolling drawers. I could care less about the "paint finish" of it since i plaster stickers all over them anyways. I could care less if the welds don't look pretty or something stupid like that. This thing is strong (probably stronger than Craftsman) and the drawers roll amazingly

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

I thought about using my 20% coupon to get one of their 13 drawer boxes while they're still on sale. Are they worth a darn? Will I get a few years use out of it while I save up for a nicer box, then maybe use it for parts storage or something?

You have two good options....1) Buy the HF box, which has gotten overwhelmingly good reviews on here. 2) Watch Craigslist, Kijiji and eBay and find a quality used truck brand box on there. Personally, I'd go with option two b/c I prefer the older used boxes.

Yeah I'd drop $1k in a heart beat for a nice used SO, Matco, etc. box, but I can't find anything for under $1.5k in ANY condition, and nothing under $2.5k that's nice.

I have no idea where you live. Please add that to your profile. If you're paranoid, just put your state.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Heck, my dad has a Kennedy box and i think the drawers roll better in my HF box. For me, what i want in a toolbox is good rolling drawers. I could care less about the "paint finish" of it since i plaster stickers all over them anyways. I could care less if the welds don't look pretty or something stupid like that. This thing is strong (probably stronger than Craftsman) and the drawers roll amazingly

Have to disagree with you there. If the welds look crappy that's a real bad sign re: the craftsmanship of the box.

 

[moronmountain]

You have two good options....1) Buy the HF box, which has gotten overwhelmingly good reviews on here. 2) Watch Craigslist, Kijiji and eBay and find a quality used truck brand box on there. Personally, I'd go with option two b/c I prefer the older used boxes.




I have no idea where you live. Please add that to your profile. If you're paranoid, just put your state.

Salem/Portland Oregon area

 

[Indy_500]

Have to disagree with you there. If the welds look crappy that's a real bad sign re: the craftsmanship of the box.

i didn't say they look crappy, i said they dont' look pretty like snap-on boxes would have.

 

[A29]

D.o a search its covered. I like mine

 

[moronmountain]

I guess I'm just gonna use shoe boxes until I can afford a KRL................. /sigh

 

[arkangel06]

Moronmountain check out http://www.kennedymfg.com/Kennedy/Products/CabinetsRollers/ and see what you can come up with.

 

[Sterff]

I have the Horrible Freight toolbox and it is ok but...I would much rather have a snap-on box. I wouldn't even go as far as saying its "stronger" than the Craftsman boxes. It would be best to save up for a higher quality box. The main downfall to it imo is that the drawers aren't very deep.

 

[PassnThru]

Wow - I guess I have been lucky so far. I have a 15 year old Craftsman combo that hasn't disintegrated yet. I really feel bad now about buying the two Craftsman ball bearing roll arounds a few months ago at a great price. My tool boxes will go to my kids - they WILL outlast me. I don't plan to die young. It's way too late for me to leave a good looking corpse. To the OP - if you like the box and the price is right then buy it.

 

[moronmountain]

I have the Horrible Freight toolbox and it is ok but...I would much rather have a snap-on box. I wouldn't even go as far as saying its "stronger" than the Craftsman boxes. It would be best to save up for a higher quality box. The main downfall to it imo is that the drawers aren't very deep.

Yeah that seems to be one of the bigger differences on the cheaper boxes, including even the name brand ones. I think I'm just gonna keep getting the tools I need and get the box last. It's less painful to drop $100-300 at a whack on tools then $2-5k on a box.

 

[lipadj46]

If you don't mind a made in mexico box I was able to put together this Waterloo setup for just under $400 including freight. I know people are going to say I could have gotten a truck tool box for cheaper but I've not seen those deals around here in the past 6 months. Like I said above though for the money those HF boxes are a decent deal.

 

[moronmountain]

Yeah it's wierd. Everyone keeps talking about these "deals," but I've yet to see one hehe. Thanks for the input.

 

[mkirkpatrick]

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Yeah it's wierd. Everyone keeps talking about these "deals," but I've yet to see one hehe. Thanks for the input.

I've gotten two fantastic deals on SO boxes in the last month. But I also had some luck too.

 

[Abbott]

Used truck boxes around here are a few thousand dollars, I think Mickey has plenty of money and can purchase whatever he wants.

 

[metal1313]

it all depends on location, and time. ive seen some great used SO/mac boxes for ok prices, but then there is the distance and time needed to travel to get the boxes. i do not own the hf box, i dont really like hf tools, i do prefer american, but some guys need to quit harping, keeping your mouth shut sometimes would be great.

to get a good usa box its gonna cost time and money. the newer c-man boxes seem to have gone down in quality as compared to a few years ago(i have 3) i say get the hf box, and wiat til that great deal comes by for a lifer box and ****** it up.. one day i'll buy one, after im done paying for college and my truck

 

[moronmountain]

Yeah like I said, I'm just gonna do the shoe box thing. This has been entertaining however.

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

I think that for the money, the HF box is really hard to beat. If you decide to go with it, I don't think you will be disappointed.

 

[Abbott]

No, Mickey is just patient. I bought and sold several USA and Canadian boxes until I got what I wanted, and they were a much better deal and quality than the HF boxes.

I don't care for the HF box either but I have noticed it is better quality then what Craftsman is selling below their Professional line. For the price I haven't seen another box that can beat it. I spent a bit more for my boxes but the HF boxes were not on sale a few years ago like they are these days, I'm sure the current low pricing would have made my purchase a tougher decision.

 

[autoace]

Well as long as we are setting people straight... NO one said they were on par with Snap on, and you would have to be fool not to swap a HF box for a Snappy box. Secondly.. He didnt ask your opinion on China or if he bought this box if Indy_500's parents would lose there house and would have to live in there HF box. Theres nothing wrong will giving him your opinion of the box in regards to the structural integrity etc.. but to badger a guy and throw your ill regard towards import tools on the guy is uncalled for. I seriously wonder about some of you guys sometimes, I get it.. I invest in US tools also but if someone ask me there opinion about a tool/jack im gonna give it to them straight with real world observations regardless of the Origin. Do you guys feel better at night knowing that your anti-China badgering is being Read? Guess What? Nobody gives a ****, There gonna buy what they want and can afford to get the job done. Dont worry im sure the admins will be here soon to lock up a thread instead of taking out the ill regarded trash.

Good Game

Well said, threads like this are the reason I went from an active senior member to a part-time lurker. I have a sweet spot for true USA products (if they are good, i.e. Cornwell USA tools) ...........these days I have been disappointed with the value of alot of USA products, are real impressed with GearWrench like products...............

Things have become soo tight financially, I don't buy much these days, and when I do I will buy the best product for the money that will do the job well, heck it only has to last my lifetime, and I'm broke after paying my required bills.......................

It is time for Americans to stop wanting everything, and getting up and start doing everything they need to, that is how the country was built in the old days........

My neighbor is a USA "nut" he was poking fun at my other neighbor for buying a Subaru................made in Indiana! with global components..................like the other guy's Chevy is more USA..........it is all old.

Back to my lurking

 

[autoace]

To the OP...........The HF box in question is a good value for the money. I would buy a Craftsman GripLatch box over it, if Sears was running one of their steal it sales, but many people I know have that HF box, and it has done well. The red crinkle finish holds onto greasy fingerprints a bit, but besides than, no one has any complaints.