New Rolling Tool Chest

Peter Person

Peter Person

501 Club
Finally picked up the Harbor Freight US General 26" 8-drawer rolling tool chest. Not Snap-On, but it seems well built and can't beat the price. It is made in China.
My 26" Craftsman 6-drawer box fits perfect on top. I think I'm all set for tool storage.
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Started out 40+ years ago with this Parker Tool Box. Top tray and a mess of tools in the box. Not very convenient.
1st Tool Box.JPG

Upgraded to this 3-drawer Craftman box when I bought my Cub.
2nd Tool Box.JPG

When I started adding Metric wrenches and sockets to my tools, I upgraded to the 6-drawer box.
Gave Erik my 3-drawer box. Still keep the Parker filled with oddball items and duplicates.
 
I LOVE my tools, and had a great time organizing them when I bought my rolling tool box. I do still have a fairly complete portable (albeit heavy!) toolbox that travels with me to Cubfests and any remote repair jobs.

Have fun finding just the right place for everything...and more importantly, remembering just where that right place is when you need a particular tool!! :lol:
 
I bought HF's 44"x22" tool cabinet a couple years ago when it went on sale at Christmas. Red of course...

Tool Cabinet.JPG

Haven't regretted it one bit. Quality item.
 
Dale,
Funny you mention putting things in a particular location. I was thinking the same thing, how many drawers will I open trying to find something. I pretty much had my 6-drawer box memorized.

Stanton,
I seriously considered the box you have. It’s on sale for $450. The box I got was on sale for $280. I opened a HF Credit Card and got another $28 off. With tax it came to $268. If I was going to be in New Hampshire any time soon, could have gotten it w/o sales tax, saving $16!
Should last the rest of my wrench turning years.

Peter
 
A couple years ago, I treated myself, on black friday, to a new tool box. I bought the 72" top & bottom from Rural King, that has sure been nice! That thing replaced 7 smaller box's, in a far more organized fashion. I gave a lot of thought, as to what items went into which drawer, then labeled all the drawers. I have gotten used to it pretty quickly, Peter, you will too!
 
People can say what they want about Harbor Freight but those US General tool boxes are pretty nice! Very well made and a great value for a box that will last a lifetime.
 
I like to remember where everything is in my entire garage--including where all tools are in the tool box--can't put up with my boy in my garage too often
 
You're quite right, Ricky! The box from Rural King was an even better price than Harbor, plus I got a good discount with the Black Friday coupons (my wife bought the top box, I bought the bottom and used two coupons) My $1100 set-up would have cost about $6000 or more, from Snap-On. I'll never understand the frenzy for the Snap-On tool chests.
 
Gary Dotson":27kenc5l said:
You're quite right, Ricky! The box from Rural King was an even better price than Harbor, plus I got a good discount with the Black Friday coupons (my wife bought the top box, I bought the bottom and used two coupons) My $1100 set-up would have cost about $6000 or more, from Snap-On. I'll never understand the frenzy for the Snap-On tool chests.
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For the homeowner, weekend warrior, or light duty user, Snap-On or MAC or Matco boxes are overkill. My son Aron is a road service mechanic, working on forestry and construction equipment.
He uses Snap-On tools almost exclusively, with a smattering of MAC, Matco, and Gear Wrench tools. His cordless tools are Milwaukee 18V Fuel. 2 years ago his boss upfitted the truck he was assigned to with Husky tool chests inside the side boxes of the truck. The Husky boxes were pretty well used up when he recently got a "new" truck assigned to him that already had the side boxes upfitted with some heavy duty drawer & cabinet units. The 2-year old Husky boxes got thrown in the scrap metal dumpster.
Aron's Work Truck.jpgAron's Work Truck Door.jpg
When he first started with this company he brought his 3 month old 60" Husky box with him and was in the shop for a 6 month trial period before he was sent on the road. I "borrowed" this for the last 2 years until Aron sold the box to his brother Erik, thus the need for the HF Rolling Tool Chest. Other than a good coating of dust, it was as good as new. The "soft close drawers" still worked!
Husky Tool Chest.JPG
 
Gary Dotson":94yk7fxr said:
You're quite right, Ricky! The box from Rural King was an even better price than Harbor, plus I got a good discount with the Black Friday coupons (my wife bought the top box, I bought the bottom and used two coupons) My $1100 set-up would have cost about $6000 or more, from Snap-On. I'll never understand the frenzy for the Snap-On tool chests.
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I agree that both the US General and the boxes from Rural King are great buys. Being someone that worked out of a tool box throughout my career, a good tool box sure makes life easier. If you've got a youngster going into the trades, helping him buy a good box will be a gift that will keep giving throughout his career. Usually a kid just starting can't afford a decent box.
 
RUSSALL":37hfoej2 said:
Move your top box flush with the new bottom box or you’ll never use the bottom drawer on the top box

Russ
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Russ, thought about that but decided against it. I'll have Aron fab up a side shelf that will bolt to the left side of the box using the holes for the push/pull bar.
 
My son is kinda a "tool snob", only buys USA made, known brands, mostly flea market and garage sale finds. He needed a larger tool box and reluctantly researched the Harbor Freight ones. Lots of great reviews on tool forums, so he bought one. He's had it for several years and is very pleased with it. Yours should serve your needs for a long time!

I still have the Craftsman base and top chest I have had for over 40 years. When my son got interested in mechanics I started adding to my tools. Needing more space I bought an intermediate Craftsman cabinet, which filled my needs, for a while.
I was again in need of a larger cabinet and Tractor Supply had a pretty good price on a 52" cabinet and top chest. So I went to look it over and was going to buy it and the person helping me said they offered additional% off (think it was 15 or 20%) if you open a TSC charge account, so why not? Upon inspection of the cabinets I noticed a small wrinkle in the back corner. Asked for another one that didn't have that issue, was told it was the only one they had, do he got the manager. She apologized and offered an additional 25% off for that cabinet. Well, again, why not?? When I was checking out the cashier asked if the 25% was for both pieces, the guy helping me said she didn't say, so sure. Forgot where I ended up in but was very happy! Paid off TSC card the first bill and haven't even noticed the imperfection. Been a great box and I retired the Craftsman set to the garage with basic tools so I don't have to go to the barn shop..
 
David,
Flea markets, Swap Meets, etc are all great places to pick up good deals on older well made tools.
Unfortunately this year was a total bust around here, all of them were cancelled.
Tag Sales are hit or miss. I did pick up two (2) Snap-On phillips screw drivers and four (4) Blue Point tappet wrenches at a tag sale a few years ago - all for $10!

My son Aron - the mechanic - is looking at a Snap-On box that the rolling dealer sold new to a guy, took it back a week later in trade for a bigger box, and is now selling for half original price. Still expensive, but $3,500 vs $7,000 is not bad for a brand new box. Prior to graduating from UTI, he took advantage of the 50% discount at the Snap-On store on campus along with 12 mo. no interest financing to get his starter set of tools.

Peter
 
I had a 26" craftsman tool boxes top & bottom. I out grew it. So I went to HF got a 44" top & bottom. Organized to drawers plus labeled each drawer. Then I bought a tall box to put all my battery tools in plus all my blade. All red. Like everyone has said its a personnel preference. I gave the old tool box to may son.
 
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And 4 or 5 more the size of the smaller gray tool box. They all have rollers, but we don't move them.

Pays to have a son who like to buy tools. The large red tool box is a replacement. Life time warranty. Son wore the first one out at work.

It's really nice having a decent sized shop and a lot of tools. Current project is replacing the catalytic converters on an 03 Expedition. The do it yourself savings is not quite $1000- for 4 or 5 hours work. The auto mechanic's shop quoted a bit over $1400- to replace both sides.
 
dgrapes59":3np54cal said:
...Forgot where I ended up in but was very happy! Paid off TSC card the first bill and haven't even noticed the imperfection. Been a great box...
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Being in the right place at the right time always helps. Most of the time, those little imperfections you haggle with the manager in the store are long forgotten when you’re back home.
 
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