US General Series 2 - beats Blue Point

[BDT/NWMN]

It's SIX times.

To make a fair comparison: With the optional HF side shelf and tray, and the leg cushions from Snap-on added to the price of a HF Cart; It adds up fairly close to one third the cost of what a Blue Point cart can be purchased for.

Adding four swivel casters to the Blue Point cart could also be factored; if desired.

 

[BigBoreFan]

I'm still a nooby here, so forgive me, but from what I have gathered, anytime Snap-On makes a tool, one should always and only ever buy said Snap-On tool.

There used to be a saying in the computer business, no one ever got fired for buying IBM. Same for Snap-On. It's a safe purchase. It truly is the only purchase one should make.

As of today my entire tool kit is one 3/8 Snap on ratchet and one 10mm socket. I store it all in a USPS Priority Mail shipping box I got for free at the post office, please don't tell on me. Hopefully some day soon I can add that 8mm socket I have been drooling over for the last 9 months. In the meantime those $90 oil changes on my motorcycle are killing my riding budget. But my mechanic swears I can only use Snap-On tools for my oil changes. Something about the metal being enhanced with whale foreskin, I don't know the details.

 

[PelicanPines]

To make a fair comparison: With the optional HF side shelf and tray, and the leg cushions from Snap-on added to the price of a HF Cart; It adds up fairly close to one third the cost of what a Blue Point cart can be purchased for.

Adding four swivel casters to the Blue Point cart could also be factored; if desired.

You are absolutely correct... I just can't get the $900 price tag out of my head. For what you get for 1/6th the price is certainly a value you can build on with additional purchases.

Interesting caster thing... When I got my 5 drawer... it came with 4 swivels.

I'm still a nooby here, so forgive me, but from what I have gathered, anytime Snap-On makes a tool, one should always and only ever buy said Snap-On tool.

There used to be a saying in the computer business, no one ever got fired for buying IBM. Same for Snap-On. It's a safe purchase. It truly is the only purchase one should make.

As of today my entire tool kit is one 3/8 Snap on ratchet and one 10mm socket. I store it all in a USPS Priority Mail shipping box I got for free at the post office, please don't tell on me. Hopefully some day soon I can add that 8mm socket I have been drooling over for the last 9 months. In the meantime those $90 oil changes on my motorcycle are killing my riding budget. But my mechanic swears I can only use Snap-On tools for my oil changes. Something about the metal being enhanced with whale foreskin, I don't know the details.

But the Blue Point is made in china... like the HF... possibly in the same factory...

 

[Snakebyt]

Y'all are really starting to reach with the HF comparisons. Pretty obvious it's not the same. I have a hF 5 drawer at the house and it's the biggest POS I brought from them.

I have a blue point 4 drawer cart and a HF 4 drawer cart, honestly they are about the same to me

 

[dthor68]

My SO tool cart is 10yrs old and I work out of it everyday. The drawer slides and casters started to give me issues, now they’re getting replaced under warranty. Still looks brand new and no issues with the metal on the cart itself. I know this is about BP vs HF carts but my point is if it works for you and your happy with it who cares what some one sided video says. These reviews are getting like the news.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I don't understand, what is so one sided about this video? The man did not say anything negative about the Blue Point. In fact he made the Blue Point seem a little better because it went together quicker. All he did was state the facts, much like the news.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

The Blue-Point carts are popular up here. There is the trade in value too, get tired of your cart trade it in. The HF type carts sell in the $300 range up here and the Blue-Point for $750 to $800. So the price range is less.

I am familiar with Blue-Point line of carts as the same carts are sold through Case IH and New Holland. All I know is that if I would buy a HF cart for the guys to use in the shop, the latches would get wrecked with in a week, The Blue-Point with the detents stand up better.

Like I said HF will work for people that have time to fiddle and make it work right or return it if there is quality issues. This is a quote from the HF cart thread a couple of days ago.

" The change I made was changing my mind in buying one today. I went to HF today with the intent of buying a blue cart. I left without one and felt $200 richer. Maybe it was that particular blue one but what a p.o.s it was. The welds were separating where the lower gas struts for the lid mount. The lid hinge rivets were all loose. I'm just looking for a decent box for the basement. I'll consider a Masterforce or Husky box, or wait until one of the tool guys has a decent SO used cart."
______________

The plastic latches shown on the new HF cart appear to be the same style as used on the 56" and 72" boxes. The latches on My 56" combination have been troublesome,,, And that 56" box often goes a week at a time without being opened.. With that cart in daily use by hired hands; I share the doubt of the latches lasting a week. Is spending $800 on a better China cart the answer?? I decided none of the above.. I have a 20' length of square steel tubing, a second of angle iron, and four new casters with pneumatic tires. My KR62C Heavy Duty Road Chest from 1981 will be getting a new chariot to haul it across a parking lot, or wherever it is needed. That box is 31" wide by 20" deep. All the slides are original. No reason to go less than 60" wide and 24" deep with this unit, include a vise, and make provisions for adjustable height, and include a hand winch for self loading. Adding D rings to secure it in transport could also be used to secure it to a piece of equipment for more stability. I will have under $300 in this project, plus My time and existing Chest. I enjoy taking something that is good, and make it better and more useful. Before spending $800 on a China tool cart with four swivel casters; why not give it a thought.

Could a toolbox from the main shop be bumped for basement shop use? I am working on de-cluttering My main shop of underutilized storage cabinets, tool boxes, and equipment.
I re-purposed four boxes as small parts units, and gave one away; complete with tools.
Tools that are used are now better organized using fewer tool boxes. Crazy world. My downstairs shop that was supposed to be for woodworking has it's own valve grinder and engine hoist, cylinder hones, and bolt bin. I could add four tool boxes to the mix.. I have a hard time keeping a straight face when showing Someone My "woodworking shop". It is good for a laugh, so it is worth the enjoyment. Well, when looking at a new tool box, and find it as disgusting it really was;; try shopping in Your own shop. You saved Yourself $200 once, maybe You can do it again.

 

[WhiffySpark]

You guys always seem to forget most don't pay retail either.

I've always regretted not buying a krsc. I've had quite a few of them for diagonstic and shop carts.

 

[Musicinabottle]

Unsure if it was a scam or not, but I saw a Blue point on craigslist for $150, but I never even responded to the ad because I was certain it was gone since I was an hour plus away.

 

[Yarpo]

The plastic latches shown on the new HF cart appear to be the same style as used on the 56" and 72" boxes. The latches on My 56" combination have been troublesome,,, And that 56" box often goes a week at a time without being opened.. With that cart in daily use by hired hands; I share the doubt of the latches lasting a week. Is spending $800 on a better China cart the answer?? I decided none of the above.. I have a 20' length of square steel tubing, a second of angle iron, and four new casters with pneumatic tires. My KR62C Heavy Duty Road Chest from 1981 will be getting a new chariot to haul it across a parking lot, or wherever it is needed. That box is 31" wide by 20" deep. All the slides are original. No reason to go less than 60" wide and 24" deep with this unit, include a vise, and make provisions for adjustable height, and include a hand winch for self loading. Adding D rings to secure it in transport could also be used to secure it to a piece of equipment for more stability. I will have under $300 in this project, plus My time and existing Chest. I enjoy taking something that is good, and make it better and more useful. Before spending $800 on a China tool cart with four swivel casters; why not give it a thought.

We have the 56" with the plastic latches in our work truck, and the latches where kind of problematic, but not nearly as bad as you make it out to be. Ours is used daily and after about 1 year, we broke two latches. The following year (now) we haven't broken a single one, you just need to make sure to get the latch pulled all the way to the left before trying to open the drawer. Also, the replacements are like dirt cheap, we bought like 30 of them (Tho they took forever to show up)

 

[BDT/NWMN]

You guys always seem to forget most don't pay retail either.

I've always regretted not buying a krsc. I've had quite a few of them for diagonstic and shop carts.

The Members up in Canada often pay more for the same products We do in the States.

I have Snap-on tool boxes dating back to 1978 and 1981 that are still in everyday use. I am sure You would have had a similar story had You bought a KRSC years back.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

We have the 56" with the plastic latches in our work truck, and the latches where kind of problematic, but not nearly as bad as you make it out to be. Ours is used daily and after about 1 year, we broke two latches. The following year (now) we haven't broken a single one, you just need to make sure to get the latch pulled all the way to the left before trying to open the drawer. Also, the replacements are like dirt cheap, we bought like 30 of them (Tho they took forever to show up)

I have not broke one yet; they like to fly apart when closing the drawer, and sometimes when using only a light pull sideways before attempting to open the drawer. I make sure the latch is retracted before attemtping to open a drawer.
The plastic pull tab part of the latch has a sloppy fit on the end of the actual latch. I closed a drawer on the top chest when it was two weeks old, and the pull tab part sailed across the shop.. I should note that My toolbox drawers do not get slammed, but carefully pushed shut.. The Roller is two years older, and has had the same problems.. Keep in mind those latches are one of the main reasons I bought those 56" boxes in the first place.. I have two sets of Craftsman Grip-Latch Boxes the 56" combo were supposed to replace..
I could use one set of slides and a some latch components that hopefully have a tighter fit.. Those buggers will be super-glued in place when I eventually get them.
My second option is to remove the casters and shim the front of the box high enough so the drawers will not self-open, and use the box as a stationary unit.

 

[pi_guy]

Y'all are really starting to reach with the HF comparisons. Pretty obvious it's not the same. I have a hF 5 drawer at the house and it's the biggest POS I brought from them.

I gave my HF away.

 

[GeorgeFromPa]

no need for that review for me.. I have both at the shop. We use the bluepoint to keep our tiger tool bushing thingamajigy and the Hf to push around the shop. all in all i do like the lime green better then the red but there both the same otherwise.

 

[yamaha0343]

I can't believe this is only 3 pages.

Is this the same Youtube guy that tested the new top dog HF drill against an older model entry level Dewalt drill?

 

[kctyphoon]

I have to admit that it is rather funny to see people react to someone pointing out that a $169 cart is almost identical to an $800 Bluepoint, and that it's automatically seen as an insult to bluepoint instead of being insulted about the fact that they raped you on that $800 cart..

I don't know one person that would say - give me that same item, but I WANT to pay 6 times as much so I feel better about it..

Snap on and blue point might be great tools - but everyone can admit that a large part of the following is because of the social culture created around that brand.. same reason people spend hundreds on beats headphones and ignore the fact you can buy better sounding headphones for 1/3 of the cost - but they don't fit into the culture without those beats, and the desire to fit in outweighs the cost. Same deal with boxes and tools.

 

[Hiball]

I didn't watch the video, I'm also aware that price points on truck tools don't always represent a tools "true retail value". I thought it was common knowledge that there where other costs loaded into the truck model pricing... Every day is like a New day around here concerning HF versus SO.

With that said... If I "only" had the option to choose a HF 5 drawer and similar blue point, No doubt I would be standing in front of HF. I own two of the HF black carts, there not great and they tend to wobble/squeak and don't inspire a lot of confidence when moving, but for what they cost, they are cheap storage and don't owe me anything.

 

[kctyphoon]

For the record, the carts in question are not the 4 drawer.. hf's 5 drawer even makes their 4 drawer look ******.. it is a MUCH more robust model in every way.

 

[toddoky]

If they won't hold the type or volume of tools you want to put in them, either of those carts have zero value to a prospective user.

 

[Tallpilot]

I have to admit that it is rather funny to see people react to someone pointing out that a $169 cart is almost identical to an $800 Bluepoint, and that it's automatically seen as an insult to bluepoint instead of being insulted about the fact that they raped you on that $800 cart..

I don't know one person that would say - give me that same item, but I WANT to pay 6 times as much so I feel better about it..

Snap on and blue point might be great tools - but everyone can admit that a large part of the following is because of the social culture created around that brand.. same reason people spend hundreds on beats headphones and ignore the fact you can buy better sounding headphones for 1/3 of the cost - but they don't fit into the culture without those beats, and the desire to fit in outweighs the cost. Same deal with boxes and tools.

That's it. You can't rationally justify the price difference between 2 Chinese made carts with similar features. You can arm-wave or plug your ears but the fact is they raped you. I am not even sure if it were made in Iowa if the cost difference would make any sense. Twice as much or a little more because of the difference in labor cost and environmental regulation, sure. 4-6 times? It is absolutely indefensible and no different than Apple's 100% markup on their products.

 

[bmwpowere36m3]

I picked up one of these HF carts at the last parking lot sale... $150 and I'm very impressed for what you get. After watching RTRs comparison, HF is really offering a cart at good value. I will not feel guilty putting premium tools in it. Its lacking certain features of the Blue-Point, but whether those are worth the premium is up to the end user. Unless this cart totally falls apart... I don't think I'll regret the purchase.

I will say that RTR overall has good videos... I have my criticisms, but I also don't make them either. I will say he has a penchant for HF and SO comparisons (similar to HF own marketing).

Would I rather have a SO box, like my father, definitely! Unlike him, wrenching isn't my career and at this point in my life I'd rather spend the money on nice tools vs. premium boxes.

 

[Mr_B]

The HF cart is one of their better items .
I see a few tech using these no bother, is it perfect - no . is it a great deal - yes .
Bolt it together proper and it prety damn decent.
Would of liked see series 2 improved further with better catches or move to quality detents, increasing height of top section 1.5" would of been good too along with some tool holes made bigger .
Don't like 4 swivel casters on carts or boxes so HF fits my needs although I know I likely need replace casters within 2yrs.
A better premium badge design would help too and no underhood stickers, include some bumper strips would be more useful .
All in all for coupon price they a good buy that pro usable and can last years.
I bought my first used matco long term box for less than a BP cart, I don't waste dollar on tool storage .

 

[kctyphoon]

If nothing else - they are the cheapest best quality carts you don't have to feel to guilty about drilling holes in, or cutting up to make something custom and functional. That might even be easier to do if they WEREN'T as nice as they are..

 

[RV8guy]

I work daily out of a HF 5 drawer cart with a side cab hanging off of it. That combination will hold a lot of stuff. It easily holds all the tools I needed to build an airplane with.

 

[6PTsocket]

I wish RealToolReviews would have covered a couple other quality items. The metal is probably thicker and stronger on the bluepoint. Internal welds stronger. He does mention the grease fitting on the Bluepoint caster, but I'm sure beyong that the Bluepoint casters will last at least twice as long as the HF ones.

I have a metal cart that I used to keep in my work truck. The bolted construction like the HF cart comes loose really easily. I'd have to retighten every nut every month. I eventually tightened them and then tack welded the nut to the bolt. I'm sure the Bluepoint cart would hold up a lot better when transported, although the vast majority of users would keep them in a shop environment.

Are the quality differences worth the huge difference in price? I don't think so. But its kind of disingenuous to compare specs like cubic inches of space and shelf sizes and conclude that the HF cart is "better". I still agree with the overall conclusion though.

Why such desperate measures? Loctite, nylocs, lock washers. Welding a nut on a service cart seems like a .last resort

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[Snakebyt]

when i acquired my blue point cart, i put blue loctite on all the bolts. When buying a new box, i see no reason not to go ahead and put some on while you are putting it together

 

[xin]

yawn more paid reviews

second that - yawn yawn

 

[mowersplus84]

I have to admit that it is rather funny to see people react to someone pointing out that a $169 cart is almost identical to an $800 Bluepoint, and that it's automatically seen as an insult to bluepoint instead of being insulted about the fact that they raped you on that $800 cart..

I don't know one person that would say - give me that same item, but I WANT to pay 6 times as much so I feel better about it..

Snap on and blue point might be great tools - but everyone can admit that a large part of the following is because of the social culture created around that brand.. same reason people spend hundreds on beats headphones and ignore the fact you can buy better sounding headphones for 1/3 of the cost - but they don't fit into the culture without those beats, and the desire to fit in outweighs the cost. Same deal with boxes and tools.

I agree completely.
It's an Ego stroke. That's like a person looking to buy
a home once they find the home they like they tell the realtor
they would like to pay 6 times the asking price.

 

[6PTsocket]

I agree completely.
It's an Ego stroke. That's like a person looking to buy
a home once they find the home they like they tell the realtor
they would like to pay 6 times the asking price.

They are good tools, some may need advantages of truck service and and there is the same snob appeal that sells designer clothes. The fact is, the whole business model with independent contractor drivers and the credit arrangements are a very expensive way to market tools. Many here are aware of the tool truck thread, where the actual manufacturers of a lot of the tool truck stuff are identified abd shown to be selling the same stuff at much lower prices. Even SO markets Williams and other stuff through industrial sales at better prices. If SO prices were competitive, they would be selling them in other places than off the truck and online direct sales. That would probably lead to discounting and spoil the image.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[BDT/NWMN]

When did Blue Point become a snobbish status symbol? For decades, it has been a bargain line with many re-branded and import tools.

$800 for a Chinese built bargain line tool cart? OooF-DA Too much money
$200 for a Chinese built bargain line tool cart? ofda disgusting

Everyone gets to have their own OoF-da.
Mine would be something other than either one of those Chinese tool carts.

 

[firworks]

Just got this email from HF which... clouds things a bit:
View media item 82108
In general I do not believe he is a paid shill I think he's just a guy who is into tools and video production making money off affiliate links like a lot of others. I'm sure HF vs. Snap-On videos get a lot of search and suggested traffic so without any paid advertising involved there's a big incentive for YouTubers to make more of them. I do sort of wonder about this though. If he A. knows they are using his video this way, B. if he authorized it, and C. if he is being compensated for it. I'm surprised there are no disclaimers or qualifiers on it anywhere. There's a gray space between a company finding your video on social media and retweeting it or sharing it on their Facebook saying like "Hey look what somebody did" and making up marketing graphics using your video and using it in their email marketing. There's probably no way for us to really know for sure. Does anyone else remember HF doing something like this when his HF Earthquake vs. Snap-On video was blowing up with popularity?

 

[BK13]

Why such desperate measures? Loctite, nylocs, lock washers. Welding a nut on a service cart seems like a .last resort

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

Just guessing here, but I bet there’s a fair amount of vibration on a work truck. A little bit of money in consumables (and some time) is far cheaper than a new box.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[wildbill23c]

Well its the easiest part of marketing to add a few pieces of plastic and charge 4x the cost to make people FEEL like they are buying something better. What's funnier still, is some guys that go for the $800 cart will swear up and down that the cheap HF cart is "junk" purely based on the brand it's sold under, or point out that the "wheels" are better on the expensive model- justifying 4x the cost over something so trivial.

I'm sure if you really wanted those grease-able wheels you could find them and bolt them onto the HF cart...and still not have spent $800+ on the same made in China cart LOL. I've had my US General 44" chest and top chest man probably for at least 10 maybe 12 years, it sits outside on a carport 24/7 still works great, and if I cleaned it up it would still look new. However, its getting a bit full and I'd like to eventually add the end cabinets to it. I looked at the Yukon 56" "workbench" a while back and thought about buying it to use as a bench to mount my metal lathe allowing storage of accessories but haven't bought it...yet.

I can't see paying $800+ for that yellow tool cart, that's ridiculous, I don't see anything special about it, and looks to me like the HF one actually is a bit better as 1 of the top drawers is double deep to fit larger tools in it, where that yellow one all the smaller drawers are the same depth. You don't always get a better product by paying more LOL.

 

[dthor68]

I'm sure if you really wanted those grease-able wheels you could find them and bolt them onto the HF cart...and still not have spent $800+ on the same made in China cart LOL. I've had my US General 44" chest and top chest man probably for at least 10 maybe 12 years, it sits outside on a carport 24/7 still works great, and if I cleaned it up it would still look new. However, its getting a bit full and I'd like to eventually add the end cabinets to it. I looked at the Yukon 56" "workbench" a while back and thought about buying it to use as a bench to mount my metal lathe allowing storage of accessories but haven't bought it...yet.

I can't see paying $800+ for that yellow tool cart, that's ridiculous, I don't see anything special about it, and looks to me like the HF one actually is a bit better as 1 of the top drawers is double deep to fit larger tools in it, where that yellow one all the smaller drawers are the same depth. You don't always get a better product by paying more LOL.

Yeah, I have the 44" too, love it. I also wanted to add the drawer end pieces to it, one on each side. What ***** is they stopped making them. I can not find them anywhere. Eventually, they will have the new series 2 units. But they are 22" (series 1 is 20") and will not fit on the 44" series one. So now I am thinking about getting the cart.

 

[bmwpowere36m3]

Just got this email from HF which... clouds things a bit:
View media item 82108
In general I do not believe he is a paid shill I think he's just a guy who is into tools and video production making money off affiliate links like a lot of others. I'm sure HF vs. Snap-On videos get a lot of search and suggested traffic so without any paid advertising involved there's a big incentive for YouTubers to make more of them. I do sort of wonder about this though. If he A. knows they are using his video this way, B. if he authorized it, and C. if he is being compensated for it. I'm surprised there are no disclaimers or qualifiers on it anywhere. There's a gray space between a company finding your video on social media and retweeting it or sharing it on their Facebook saying like "Hey look what somebody did" and making up marketing graphics using your video and using it in their email marketing. There's probably no way for us to really know for sure. Does anyone else remember HF doing something like this when his HF Earthquake vs. Snap-On video was blowing up with popularity?

I got the same email and figures.... I doubt HF would use a YT video in advertising without some agreement with the owner. Whether he gets compensated is one thing, but that certainly doesn’t look good regardless when he claims they buy all the tools and aren’t sponsored.

 

[ike]

I like his videos. I watched this one and it seems to be a straight forward side by side comparison of the features and design differences of each box. There are pros and cons to each, and he laid those out.

Obviously the purpose of this video was to show that the much cheaper HF box is as good as, if not better than, the much more expensive Blue Point box. Where the motivation comes from to do that, I can only assume comes from some form of financial gain.

Having owned one of the 5 drawer HF carts, and having looked at many brands of other China made boxes, it's pretty clear that most are of similar quality, so it comes down to features and design. He covered those points for each box well.

 

[Bryanthegreat]

I like his videos. I watched this one and it seems to be a straight forward side by side comparison of the features and design differences of each box. There are pros and cons to each, and he laid those out.

Obviously the purpose of this video was to show that the much cheaper HF box is as good as, if not better than, the much more expensive Blue Point box. Where the motivation comes from to do that, I can only assume comes from some form of financial gain.

Having owned one of the 5 drawer HF carts, and having looked at many brands of other China made boxes, it's pretty clear that most are of similar quality, so it comes down to features and design. He covered those points for each box well.

I feel this way about all of the his videos that I have seen him do comparison testing and evaluations. Both Items are tested in the same manner and he points out both the strengths and weaknesses of both products. The review didn't change my opinion of either cart before the video. If the Blue Point slaughtered the General I still wouldn't buy it. It is just too much for what you get.

 

[WittHay]

I got the same email and figures.... I doubt HF would use a YT video in advertising without some agreement with the owner. Whether he gets compensated is one thing, but that certainly doesn’t look good regardless when he claims they buy all the tools and aren’t sponsored.

I thought this right away, that the RTR video is paid advertising. Harbor Freight in one way or another bought the $900 Blue-Point cart for RTR to compare to its own cart . They benefit from the use of this video to sell more carts to people who have never been on a Snap-on truck and would never consider buying a Blue-Point cart.

Nothing wrong with the HF cart or the RTR video, it just should have some disclaimer that it advertising for or sponsored by Harbor Freight

 

[kctyphoon]

Ok paid or not paid (and yes I ABSOLUTELY think he was compensated), is there any part of the video comparison that is misleading or untrue? I don't think so.. I think it was a fair comparison, and some people just hate the fact that the prices are mentioned, and the two are so closes to each other in features and quality.
Why is everyone is suprised at the huge margins In snap on's mark up? I mean, do u guys need to have metal samples taken from each for testing? The blue point cart is a pure money grab, and opportunity to make huge margins just off a name.

I'd still love to see them make a cart with full drawers top to bottom.

 

[Bluejoe]

The review didn’t cover everything like that you have to tighten the bolts up every week on the HF But for most part it was decent enough that if your not a mechanic for a living and you never seen the inside of a tool truck and the prices you can get a pretty decent box now in several colors and won’t break your bank. Plus extra off with sale coupon.

 

[xin]

I don't go off some guy making a video (just because he made a video). Not impressed with them or any others, one has to try something out before they buy it and just because a guy makes a video don't mean nothin.