US General Tool Chests ????

[jsnap]

Hi all I need an opinion on the best bang for the buck so here is my question.. I am going to buy on or two of the HF US General Chests for sure... If a buy the 44 inch I would need the side cabinet to fit my tools @ a cost of with coupons 359+269+200 for a grand total of 828 give or take... Or a could buy two 26 inch for 2 x 299 say 600 and set them side buy side and maybe bolt them together and have room to spare.... Whats your thoughts on that maybe im over looking a do or dont ??????

 

[shoturtle]

I think it comes down to how much tools you have and the size of some of the tools.

 

[uniballer]

I have the 44" with top. I like it but still believe I have sinned buying china.

 

[HaroRider]

Maybe consider the 56"?

http://www.harborfreight.com/56-inc...iNjk5Ljk5IiwicHJvZHVjdF9p ZCI6IjQ0NDIifQ==

 

[jsnap]

Yeah I seen the 56 however drawers are to deep I need more shallower drawers... Thanks all

 

[Presto_z]

I have the 44" lower with the 11 drawer top. Its a great combo, but wish I would have went with the 56"

I could really use the added drawer depth and height. Hopefully they expand on the 56" line and come out with a top, and sides that match

 

[jsnap]

If you think about it and can get over the 2 boxes side by side thing for 600 you end up with about 50 inches of tool box for 600.00... Offcourse then you have to deal with the comments like to cheap to buy a single wide top and bottom... LOL LOL LOL

 

[shocksandstrutz]

i got the 44 roller and a sice cabinet, tons of space, great box and it holds a LOT of tools, now i have a great workbench too

 

[AV tinker er]

I just bought a 44" with the side cabinet during last weekend's parking lot sale. I am very happy with the box considering the money I spent. I plan on doing something similar yet on a smaller scale as Steevo; see his thread.

 

[toolstools]

I have the 44" lower with the 11 drawer top. Its a great combo, but wish I would have went with the 56"

I could really use the added drawer depth and height. Hopefully they expand on the 56" line and come out with a top, and sides that match

HF has an 11 drawer top for the 44? I thought they just had the 8? Or is it a different box? Link please?

 

[Super Sport]

Two 26" stacks side by side is a cost efficient idea from any brand. However, once you have full width drawers you will realize how nice they are. Now I can't get enough wide drawers.

 

[kool_BOY8323]

ive priced out the HF 44 rig to about 1100 to 1300 depending on the time of year. i gotta say, for my tools, the whole kit, lower, top, 7 drawer side cab, and 42" side cabinet, would be, at this point, the last tool box id ever have to buy. i could literally fit all my tools, home and at work, in it with room to spare.

everything from auto and marine mechanic's tools to carpentry tools, saws, etc. and for around 1500 bucks with tax, id challenge you to find a name brand box thats the same size for the same price.

pics for ideas:

links for the helping:
http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-t...drawer-gloss-red-industrial-uality-68784.html

 

[bimmerZ5]

Two 26" stacks side by side is a cost efficient idea from any brand. However, once you have full width drawers you will realize how nice they are. Now I can't get enough wide drawers.

the 26" has a lot of shallow drawers, which makes better use of space for auto repair tools. wide drawers do come handy for long tools like breaker bars, pry bars, etc.

 

[kool_BOY8323]

the 26" has a lot of shallow drawers, which makes better use of space for auto repair tools. wide drawers do come handy for long tools like breaker bars, pry bars, etc.

agreed, but you cant forget about HOW the box will be used. is it a wall unit? a workstation? does it need to move from job to job or will the work be brought to it?

moving around a 44" cabinet from car to car is work. running back and forth for tools is more work. is the 44" even right for your application?

 

[darkk]

The HF 56" box has more than twice the space as two of the 44" cabinets. Something to think about.
44" @ 11,528 each x 2 = 23,056
56" =28,240

 

[oilfieldtrash4]

The HF 56" box has more than twice the space as two of the 44" cabinets. Something to think about.
44" @ 11,528 each x 2 = 23,056
56" =28,240

For some reason the 44 has more weight capacity than the 56"?

 

[Big-Foot]

For some reason the 44 has more weight capacity than the 56"?

Probably because the drawers are narrower that they will support more weight before the drawer itself actually fails..

I'm about to purchase a pair of 56" units but would like some real world experiences in regard to how much weight people have actually put in these boxes long term and if the box will hold together being rolled across an un-even floor with all that weight.

 

[bcradio]

The HF 56" box has more than twice the space as two of the 44" cabinets. Something to think about.
44" @ 11,528 each x 2 = 23,056
56" =28,240

Using your numbers, it doesn't technically have more than twice the space as two 44" boxes... it has more than twice the space of one box or more space than two of them.

Probably because the drawers are narrower that they will support more weight before the drawer itself actually fails..

I'm about to purchase a pair of 56" units but would like some real world experiences in regard to how much weight people have actually put in these boxes long term and if the box will hold together being rolled across an un-even floor with all that weight.

I wouldn't roll these too much on rough surfaces. If you need to be mobile, get a service cart in addition to the big boxes. Trust me, it's worth it

 

[kythri]

The HF 56" box has more than twice the space as two of the 44" cabinets. Something to think about.
44" @ 11,528 each x 2 = 23,056
56" =28,240

And those are volume measurements (cubic inches), not area measurements (square inches).

Basically, a lot of air space.

It doesn't necessarily mean one will hold more or less tools, once they're all organized nicely in there.

(For that matter, the 26" combo says it has something like 14,600 ci, which means that two of those have more storage than two of the 44" or one of the 56", if those numbers are accurate.)

 

[Jhoff310]

I have the top, bottom , and side drawer. Its great I LOVE IT. My problem is mine is already full. I might go back for another side box and bottom....I spent $1,000 on my set and have been very happy since then.

 

[Big-Foot]

I wouldn't roll these too much on rough surfaces. If you need to be mobile, get a service cart in addition to the big boxes. Trust me, it's worth it

I'm with you on the service cart and since I am no longer in the business, I don't have to move my stuff around much anymore. The answer on how well they perform long term while loaded heavily would speak volumes as to the construction and durability of the boxes..

 

[darkk]

Using your numbers, it doesn't technically have more than twice the space as two 44" boxes... it has more than twice the space of one box or more space than two of them.

Yeah....what he said.

 

[MechanicNamedJohn]

OP, where are you located? I'm in NJ and I have a whole HF set up for sale in near mint condition. Bottom, top, 2 full length lockers; 4 swivel casters and 4 shelves (vs 2 casters and 2 shelves. )

 

[jsnap]

Im in Staten Island and interested.... PM sent

 

[Conductor562]

Two 26" stacks side by side is a cost efficient idea from any brand. However, once you have full width drawers you will realize how nice they are. Now I can't get enough wide drawers.

^^This^^ Do not discount the value of full width drawers. Personally I'd rather have the 44" with the side cabinet. I've also found that I value the deep drawers much more than I used to. Wish I had more of them.

 

[kool_BOY8323]

just got myself the 26" a couple weeks ago. its got soooo much more room than my old waterloo. so the waterloo came home and sits next to the craftsman. here's a link to the post i made in the toolbox thread:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3364441&postcount=10218