Harbor Freight Tool boxes?

Got an ad in the Sunday paper from them, what looked like a nice rolling 11 drawer tool box with lower shelves for big things is 50% off, $149 now.

It'd let me consolidate all my tools into one box from two smaller ones and some shelves.

Are there boxes any good?

I like mine.

I bought my big Harbor Freight box used. How's that for GRM? ha.

No complaints. It is what it is. A bit metal box that holds tools.

Some of the drawer catches are a bit sticky (hard to pull open) but it's seen a good bit of abuse and seems fine for a hobbyist usage. It's nice having the space to organize things properly, and I'd rather spend the rest of my $ on more tools, or car parts, or track time, etc.

Harbor freight has two lines. The more expensive one - with roller bearings - is supposed to be pretty good.

Sam's Club used to sell a really nice line of stainless steel, roller bearing tool chests. (Maybe they still do. I just cannot find it in their catalog right now.) I have their workbench/toolchest from this line (with the two inch thick oak top) and I love it. Very sturdy, roller bearings on all the drawers.

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My dad got a real nice box from Sam's Club, about 1/10th the price of a Snap On box, has held up for the last 10 years and still looks brand new!

I have one of the big HF boxes with roller bearings. Works great.

As the designated voice of dissent, I'll offer that if you're planning on using it much, or for a long time that an older US made Craftsman or better box w/ BB slides is worth the wait.

I've got Two Kobalt boxes from Lowes now for 3 racing seasons that are clamped down in my toy hauler trailer. Every drawer is full of tools and it bounces down the road for 450 miles min most weekends during the summer. the boxes show no signs of wear or damage. Try that with a cheaper box you'ld be replacing them after a year. BTDT. Kobalts have been worth the few extra $$ over the HF stuff. HF might be fine for sitting in the shop.

Dunno about HF boxes, but definitely hold out for ball bearing drawers. The slide types get bad sticky when loaded down.

Hmm, I'll have to go take a look at it then, I was going to ask my wife to get it for me for the holidays and she won't know about ball bearing drawers etc...

The 11 drawer one is crap. http://www.harborfreight.com/11-drawer-roller-cabinet-67421.html

The ones they have in red are pretty good.

Curmudgeon wrote: Dunno about HF boxes, but definitely hold out for ball bearing drawers. The slide types get bad sticky when loaded down.

This, this, this. Even the home hobbyist stationary boxes need ball-bearing drawers, regardless of brand. Just say no to sliders.

The red ones are incredble for the money. If you look on garage journal theres a thread where someone compared the hf, kobalt, craftsman and one other taking measurements and weights and such. The HF box was a huge step up.

I'm looking to trade my Matco machinist triple stack for a 44 or 56 HF roller.

The Matco has sliders but theyre smoother than many ball bearings i've used. Like all things theres good and bad ones.

Ive checked out the ~13 drawer big-ish red box that goes on sale for 399 and its pretty decent.

But, i will agree that the kobalt stuff does seem worth the extra money.

I will disagree with holding out for used craftsman stuff. The MAJORITY of the craftsman boxes i have ever seen were pretty crappy and the BEST ones ive seen only seemed on par with say the kobalt stuff.

I've got no experience with the Sam's Club toolboxes, but the one I saw when I was there once was big, had four big caster wheels and a butcher's cutboard top. It was shiny, stainless steel, and absolutely gorgeous.

I didn't look at the price, for fear I would fall in love.

My dad's got one of the "high end" HF roller bearing boxes and it's surprisingly nice. HF is full of delightfully cheap crap (that I love with all my heart), but I'll give them props when they deserve it, and those boxes are definitely one of those places.

And another +1 on Kobalt stuff. Tim has one of the big chrome boxes and it's the bees knees. We're I shopping, both of these brands would be on my list above Crafstman.

jg

the red HF boxes are great. I've got the 44" 13 drawer and the 5 drawer roller cart. Both are fantastic. DO NOT buy one of the cheaper black boxes, they are junk.

theres a big thread on slickdeals with harbor freight coupons (google "harbor freight slickdeals" to find it) you can almost always find a good coupon there

I have the 13 drawer HF red aircraft style box. It is really nice- ball bearing drawers... great box. No complaints, and very heavy duty. I even like the matte finish over gloss.

Tool boxes have to be one of the greatest depreciating assets ever. I have a giant 3 bay Matco I got a screaming deal on when I was a tech by buying used from a guy leaving the business. Whenever I saw a name brand box for sale it seemed like it was going for 20% of original selling price. Of course its been awhile since I looked so that may no longer be true.

I need a decent tool box! That is all.

I have three kinds of tool boxes ,two craftsman, a husky and a snap-on . I've been working on cars since 04... and the craftsman boxes have help up very well, for the price they are very good and a decent investment, the husky is " nicer and bigger" but the sliders have fallen appart on the big bottom drawer and it's kind of a pain in the butt. I have had the snap-on for about a year and ... you do get what you pay for, it's awesome! , but to put it into perspective the snap-on box was $8500 ( i got it for less ,but that's retail) the craftsman boxes were like $200 and the husky like $350 , the snap-on is for work , the others for hobby, and I also have a craftsman little tool chest thing that I've had and toted everywhere and has taken a beating REALLY well . usually home depot has good sales on boxes during or after the holidays and i'm sure lowes does too, for hobby i would look into those, but have you been on ebay for tools? it's a real goldmine , you can get nice tools and boxes for super cheap . a couple of used stacked or stackable boxes are really handy at home.

Here are pics of my Sam's Club tool bench http://www.samsclub.com/sams/ultra-heavy-duty-12-drawer-rolling-workbench/prod1480010.ip

I have the big US General HF toolbox. Got it on sale for something like $329. Its no Matco, but for the money its ridiculously incredible. Ball bearing drawer slides, very impressive weight capacity, really big beefy casters.

I think there is nothing around that can even come close for that price.

I also agree that the $199 black HF set is junk.

This is what I bought: 13-drawer box

JoeyM wrote: Here are pics of my Sam's Club tool bench http://www.samsclub.com/sams/ultra-heavy-duty-12-drawer-rolling-workbench/prod1480010.ip

I'm pretty sure that's the one I saw. droooooooool

This one is junk.

http://www.harborfreight.com/11-drawer-roller-cabinet-67421.html

The wife gave me one for my birthday. I promptly returned it and got this one.

http://www.harborfreight.com/roller-cabinet-26-8-drawer-with-8-drawer-top-chest-67831.html

It is outstanding.