Tool chest question

[spectras only]

Have a question for the brain trust here for light duty garage tool chest combo. I have a Husky combo that I'll pass to my son, and shopping for a new chest combo for myself. I'm set on 42 or 46 wide units, built by Craftsmen [ 42"] or Milwaukee [ 46"] . Craftsman made in US, 18-20 gauge. Milwaukee made in Vietnam, 20" but has higher weight capacity. Without taking the drawers out to check construction build, it's hard to make a decision. I like both units, the Milwaukee is a little bit cheaper, Craftsmen was/is on sale.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwauk...C-_-NavPLPHorizontal1_rr-_-NA-_-306136151-_-N
https://www.sears.com/craftsman-41i...SellerId=Sears&prdNo=4&blockNo=4&blockType=G4

 

[HitIt]

Check the Harbor Freight boxes. They are comperable to what you mentioned. Maybe even better. I know it sounds ridiculous but check before you buy. Unless you are dropping serious $$$ on Snap-on or similar, the Harbor Freight ones are right up there with the other imports.

 

[jetboatperformance]

I still work out of the Craftsman roll away I bought in the 70's (lasting quality) I also use a Matco cart as tools have grown in quantity since my mopar days .. Last year we bought this Milwaukee chest for my son and found it very nice in quality and construction

 

[Uncle Dave]

That unit has been given lots of accolades - I may pick one up.

Thanks

UD

 

[sintax]

Check the Harbor Freight boxes. They are comperable to what you mentioned. Maybe even better. I know it sounds ridiculous but check before you buy. Unless you are dropping serious $$$ on Snap-on or similar, the Harbor Freight ones are right up there with the other imports.

You're 100% right on this, that new US General Series 2 box cant be beat for bang for the buck, tons of youtube reivews and web reviews on GarageJournal.com. They are better built, and are of thicker steel, and better fit than almost every non-premium brand

You can get the 44" bottom roller for $429 with a coupon right now.

 

[Uncle Dave]

garagejournal.com is great.

UD

 

[Tank]

I have a Lowes brand Kobalt roller. Not high end or anything but it's got really nice action on the drawers, lots of room, well laid out, looks great and very sturdy. Bought it barely used for a mint from a buddy but I think you can get the whole set up for around a grand. I've been VERY happy with it.

 

[sintax]

garagejournal.com is great.

UD

No kidding man, those guys have cost me SOOOOO much money.

 

[jetboatperformance]

A small thread jack, I called on a new BMW dealer Friday for a damage inspection , awesome new shop apparently a new "trend".... new Tool boxes for all techs (supplied) all match no more Tech personal rollways , the all took them home .... note also no horizontal surfaces on the tops of the cabinents

 

[Xtrmwakeboarder]

I’ve got a US General from HF and have zero complaints. Great box for home use.

 

[spectras only]

I still work out of the Craftsman roll away I bought in the 70's (lasting quality) I also use a Matco cart as tools have grown in quantity since my mopar days .. Last year we bought this Milwaukee chest for my son and found it very nice in quality and construction View attachment 702770

That's the exact model Milwaukee I checked out in person today. Liked what I saw, except, four of the 8 drawers in the chest are only 1" deep, only wrenches, rulers, pens and pencils, calipers etc would fit in. I'd have liked six, deeper drawers instead. Liked the two power bars, the textured finish. By pulling out the larger doors in the rolling cabinet, I could trace with my fingers that the corners are closed square frames vs open 'U' channel of the Craftsmen. Dewalt was even better as it felt larger and rectangular, but, I don't care for YELLOW. Rona or Home depot is local, no Harbour Freight here. Apparently, HF drawer load capacity is lower, 80lbs, compared to Craftsman and Milwaukee's 100lbs.

 

[grumpy88]

A small thread jack, I called on a new BMW dealer Friday for a damage inspection , awesome new shop apparently a new "trend".... new Tool boxes for all techs (supplied) all match no more Tech personal rollways , the all took them home .... note also no horizontal surfaces on the tops of the cabinents View attachment 702782

My local dodge dealer mentioned something about state law requiring certain pay regardless if there busy or not if the techs supply there own tools . Maybe that's why ?

 

[SBMech]

A small thread jack, I called on a new BMW dealer Friday for a damage inspection , awesome new shop apparently a new "trend".... new Tool boxes for all techs (supplied) all match no more Tech personal rollways , the all took them home .... note also no horizontal surfaces on the tops of the cabinents View attachment 702782

Mercedes and BMW have supplied that sort of setup now for several years, everyone gets the same setup, it's how they can afford to get tech school guys in the trade, and force out the higher paid master techs.

They still have to keep a few for the older shit that is not "replace entire upper end for valve noise" jobs. I have to say though, their methods work and keep their profit high as possible.

I still laugh when I do older vehicle inspections there though, some of the "new techs" have no fucking idea what they are doing sometimes haha.

 

[rrrr]

A small thread jack, I called on a new BMW dealer Friday for a damage inspection , awesome new shop apparently a new "trend".... new Tool boxes for all techs (supplied) all match no more Tech personal rollways , the all took them home .... note also no horizontal surfaces on the tops of the cabinents View attachment 702782

That's really nice. It looks like a race team shop.

This is Andretti Autosport's shop in Indianapolis. Ganassi's shop is pretty much the same. The Penske IndyCar team shares buildings with the NASCAR operation in Mooresville, it's an unreal setup.

 

[Rondog4405]

Check the Harbor Freight boxes. They are comperable to what you mentioned. Maybe even better. I know it sounds ridiculous but check before you buy. Unless you are dropping serious $$$ on Snap-on or similar, the Harbor Freight ones are right up there with the other imports.

Ive been lookin hard at those. Pretty damm nice! Gonna grab one anyday now

 

[Dmangus]

Boxo

 

[$hot]

Costco has a good size box, anyone looked at it?

 

[spectras only]

The Kirkland signature one? https://www.google.com/search?q=Kir...BAgBEAE&biw=1093&bih=502#imgrc=9a6kKp4objiglM:

 

[$hot]

That's the one

 

[DrunkenSailor]

I was at hd today they had a pretty nice wood topped chest for under 400 bucks. I was tempted.

 

[spectras only]

Watching a zillion reviews on YT [ some are good ] not one giving real technical info on the construction methods and thickness on any one brand,lol. Shit, while I checked out the Milwaukee at HD, the sales guy couldn't give me the info on the gauge thickness. He thought the box would have the info printed on.
The chest is about 180 lbs and the roller cab is 250, so it's not paper light, but would be nice to be up front with info for would be buyers.

 

[H20 Toie]

i just went on craigslist and bought a used snap on for about the same price as a new craftsman

 

[Uncle Dave]

A small thread jack, I called on a new BMW dealer Friday for a damage inspection , awesome new shop apparently a new "trend".... new Tool boxes for all techs (supplied) all match no more Tech personal rollways , the all took them home .... note also no horizontal surfaces on the tops of the cabinents View attachment 702782

Interesting so the shop assigns every tech X amount of space and foots the bill for the tool storage.

Hmmm..... I wonder who has the master to key to everyones stuff? or if you get to at least personally lock your investments.

UD

 

[Uncle Dave]

i just went on craigslist and bought a used snap on for about the same price as a new craftsman

One of the guys in our shop almost got burned - he was working a deal on a box and it turns out that it had an unpaid note on it.


UD

 

[LuckyStrike]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[RitcheyRch]

I have this Husky from Home Depot and have been happy with it.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-I...Combo-in-Textured-Black-H52CH6TR9HD/302962883

 

[sintax]

Ive been lookin hard at those. Pretty damm nice! Gonna grab one anyday now

Make sure you use the Harbor Freight coupon database to grab the best deal you can...

https://www.hfqpdb.com/

You just punch in the SKU number and it lists the most recent coupons and deals. Sometimes you have to get creative.

 

[mjc]

If you're not in a real hurry the Craftsman christmas sales will be starting soon

 

[sintax]

Watching a zillion reviews on YT [ some are good ] not one giving real technical info on the construction methods and thickness on any one brand,lol. Shit, while I checked out the Milwaukee at HD, the sales guy couldn't give me the info on the gauge thickness. He thought the box would have the info printed on.
The chest is about 180 lbs and the roller cab is 250, so it's not paper light, but would be nice to be up front with info for would be buyers.

Yea, sometimes its a royal pain to get information in the "information age"

That story reminds me of every time I go into an auto parts store looking for an odd ball part for my old harley or boat or something, the line of question is always the same. "What is the year make and model sir??" and I have to try to tactfully explain that I just need part x,y,z or if i'm really in trouble and I just want to see some wheel studs or something to find one that would work.

You'd think I was from outer space by the way they look at me. "But its not in the computer, how will you find it???, we need the make and model sir..."

 

[jones performance]

homak boxes are really nice. https://homak.com/

i have a hsmall homak box and a mac macsimizer in my garage. while when i had a job that required me to use my own tools i worked out of a craftsman box, lol. the craftsman boxes with ball bearing slides are pretty good for daily use. i never had any isues with mine.

my last company i had a kobalt box (company paid for) and it was really nice and held up very well for daily use, then we switched it out to a bigger husky box and that box was a piece of shit. the bearing slides started failing after 6 months and the locks stopped holding the drawers closed and locked.

 

[Rondog4405]

Make sure you use the Harbor Freight coupon database to grab the best deal you can...

https://www.hfqpdb.com/

You just punch in the SKU number and it lists the most recent coupons and deals. Sometimes you have to get creative.

Nice. Didnt think you could use thier 20% off coupons on u.s general..

 

[sintax]

Nice. Didnt think you could use thier 20% off coupons on u.s general..

Oh you cant use that 20%, but you can search for the SKU and it pulls up this specific coupon that drops the price from 479 to 429, which is better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.

https://www.hfqpdb.com/best_coupon/44"+X+22"+DOUBLE+BANK+EXTRA+DEEP+ROLLER+CABINETS

 

[Rondog4405]

Oh you cant use that 20%, but you can search for the SKU and it pulls up this specific coupon that drops the price from 479 to 429, which is better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.

https://www.hfqpdb.com/best_coupon/44"+X+22"+DOUBLE+BANK+EXTRA+DEEP+ROLLER+CABINETS

Sure is!! Thank u sir

 

[jetboatperformance]

That's the exact model Milwaukee I checked out in person today. Liked what I saw, except, four of the 8 drawers in the chest are only 1" deep, only wrenches, rulers, pens and pencils, calipers etc would fit in. I'd have liked six, deeper drawers instead. Liked the two power bars, the textured finish. By pulling out the larger doors in the rolling cabinet, I could trace with my fingers that the corners are closed square frames vs open 'U' channel of the Craftsmen. Dewalt was even better as it felt larger and rectangular, but, I don't care for YELLOW. Rona or Home depot is local, no Harbour Freight here. Apparently, HF drawer load capacity is lower, 80lbs, compared to Craftsman and Milwaukee's 100lbs.

For years as a tech I was "tool junky" $$$ , on the various trucks and buying Snapon, Mac, matco , honestly carry a very few tools (IR heat gun scan tool etc, around in my mechanical inspections and when I work at the shop everything is pretty much "old school" Technology 60s ,70s 80s. ... Now I seek out the best I can find (and like/need) versus being indebted to the "tool guys" , That Milwaukee box is awesome quality and reasonably priced , It was less than my Matco roller cart lol

 

[jetboatperformance]

My local dodge dealer mentioned something about state law requiring certain pay regardless if there busy or not if the techs supply there own tools . Maybe that's why ?

No sure how that may play into it be ... When I worked as a general line tech we collected 47% of flat rate , so we got nearly half of the hourly rate charged the customer and if you could do a 2.0 hr job in 1.5 hrs you got paid for that 2 hrs conversely if you sat on your bech you made nothing (slow times) Now I belive you must be paid a base wage if you "flag time doesn't exceed your "clock time" .... When I was a Honda service manager the trend year back was to try to get dealers to go to that shop style in that photo of the BMW shop (no personal boxes) and no cabinet "flat" top storage lol

 

[Flying_Lavey]

Make sure you use the Harbor Freight coupon database to grab the best deal you can...

https://www.hfqpdb.com/

You just punch in the SKU number and it lists the most recent coupons and deals. Sometimes you have to get creative.

Nice. Didnt think you could use thier 20% off coupons on u.s general..

Oh you cant use that 20%, but you can search for the SKU and it pulls up this specific coupon that drops the price from 479 to 429, which is better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.

https://www.hfqpdb.com/best_coupon/44"+X+22"+DOUBLE+BANK+EXTRA+DEEP+ROLLER+CABINETS

I just posted a thread with these in it, but 15% off coupons with zero restrictions....

Sent from my LM-G710VM using Tapatalk

 

[sintax]

Nice, that ends up being a better deal on that chest for sure, good score.

Side note, those yellow 3ton Daytona jacks are identical to the snapon jacks, even made in the same factory (china of course) if you're looking for a nice floor jack.

 

[throttle]

I have noticed Craftsman has recently been available at Lowes. With Lowes still talking about closing stores, I wonder if they will keep the line and or if they back up the craftsman warranty? anyone know?

 

[Tank]

Here’s mine in its full glory.

Stands pretty tall (that’s a full size fridge next to it). Worth a look at. Not one problem.

 

[port austin pirate]

Remember if you decide to go with craftsman figure out what you want watch their sales en check outlet store prices, I have craftsman and have gotten most at half price, their outlet stores will have new at halfprice often, I also have one Kennedy, and a Wards powercraft box as well as some powercraft tools tells you how many miles I have on the old speedometer.

 

[spectras only]

We have a mega store chain in Canada called Canadian Tire, that we used to call crappy tire in the past. Now a days, they carry all the major brands as well as their own brand Maximum. Maximum has the same lifetime replacement warranty deal on tools like Craftsman used to, and sold by Sears in the past. You can't beat that. They have a 57" tool chest/cab combo on sale for $900 cdn. What I found out in the spec info, they list the metal thickness that is honest. It is not the greatest [ 22 gauge vs 20ga of the others I looked at ] but the unit has extruded aluminum corners all around and it feels sturdy by banging on the sides and shaking the entire box. Of course it's not professional grade but, it would be stationary in my garage, just like my Husky, that's lasted 20 yrs. I'll check it out today.

https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/maxi...ct_Category_ToolChests&Cabinets_MaximumDLP_en

 

[Rondog4405]

I just posted a thread with these in it, but 15% off coupons with zero restrictions.... View attachment 703006

Sent from my LM-G710VM using Tapatalk

Just got that email from HF too .Thanks

 

[DWC]

HD has a couple on sale next weekend. Some great deals out there.

 

[lbhsbz]

Let’s forget about initial quality and look at something far more important....support. I have a big Snap-on box I bought 18 years ago...used professionally for about 5 years, and now it’s in my home shop. I called SO a year ago because a couple drawer slides were dickered...had new ones on my doorstep 2 days later.

There are a lot of real nice boxes out there now...from HF, Milwaukee, ExtremeToolboxes.com, etc....in 5 or 10 years when a slide wears out or something else gets fucked up...will replacement parts even be available...regardless of cost, or is the whole thing gonna get wheeled out to the street and a new one purchased?

Snap-On is not cheap, but a lot of the cost goes towards support.

I would shop the classifieds for a used Snap-On box...they can be had for the same or less than a new Chinese box, and your kids will be able to source replacement parts for them long after you’re gone.

Plus, it’ll say Snap-On on the front of it and that’s way more badass than “US General”

 

[spectras only]

^^^ Baller. No way, no how I'd spend $$$ on SO, unless working in a shop. Used ones almost never come up for sale on CL, unless it was stolen from someone else's garge. SO has 18 ga steel sides I think.
Most important is the bottom frame to support the weight. The 46" Milwaukee has 1800 total load rating, 100 lbs in the smaller drawers and 200 for the large bottom drawers. I think it's 20ga vs 18ga of Snap-On.

 

[lbhsbz]

^^^ Baller. No way, no how I'd spend $$$ on SO, unless working in a shop. Used ones almost never come up for sale on CL, unless it was stolen from someone else's garge. SO has 18 ga steel sides I think.
Most important is the bottom frame to support the weight. The 46" Milwaukee has 1800 total load rating, 100 lbs in the smaller drawers and 200 for the large bottom drawers. I think it's 20ga vs 18ga of Snap-On.

Ok...Kijiji or whateverthefawk they call it in syrup land.

I see them constantly down here...and cheap.

 

[Flying_Lavey]

We have a mega store chain in Canada called Canadian Tire, that we used to call crappy tire in the past. Now a days, they carry all the major brands as well as their own brand Maximum. Maximum has the same lifetime replacement warranty deal on tools like Craftsman used to, and sold by Sears in the past. You can't beat that. They have a 57" tool chest/cab combo on sale for $900 cdn. What I found out in the spec info, they list the metal thickness that is honest. It is not the greatest [ 22 gauge vs 20ga of the others I looked at ] but the unit has extruded aluminum corners all around and it feels sturdy by banging on the sides and shaking the entire box. Of course it's not professional grade but, it would be stationary in my garage, just like my Husky, that's lasted 20 yrs. I'll check it out today.

https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/maxi...ct_Category_ToolChests&Cabinets_MaximumDLP_en

That looks like a real nice box! With those aluminum corners id be less concerned about the sheet metal thickness of the housing. The drawers and slide construction would be the most important.

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[Flying_Lavey]

Ok...Kijiji or whateverthefawk they call it in syrup land.

I see them constantly down here...and cheap.

I dont know where you are seeing them so cheap. I have been constantly looming on CL here in SLO county as well as LA county. There have been a few, but none anywhere near what I would consider cheap.

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[HitIt]

Getting a Snap On toolbox for home garage use is like getting a F450 to tow your 21' Schiada. Sure, it might seem cool to certain people but it is a huge waste of money.

 

[rrrr]

I have two Snap-On Classic 78s in my shop at the lake. Both were several years old when I purchased them but in good shape. I paid a little less than $1K each for them. I had to drive into Oklahoma to get one, the other one came from a little town east of Dallas.

If you are patient but looking every day, good deals can be found on used boxes. I was in Sears a couple of days ago buying some garden shears, and looked at the Craftsman boxes. They are just like the Milwaukee, Kobalt, DeWalt, Husky, and Harbor Freight boxes. Very light gauge steel, flimsy drawer slides, and cheap in general.

I also have several Lista cabinets in my home garage. Lista is widely used in race shops, and are top quality. This company specializes in scratch and dent sales. The boxes I have purchased from them were factory seconds, but I couldn't find anything wrong with them. They came with heavy duty casters included, and have heavy duty adjustable dividers in the drawers.

https://www.americanworkspace.com

Check out their seconds inventory on this page. The stock changes constantly.

https://www.americanworkspace.com/2-junkyard-specials

I know not everyone can afford to spend big money, but for me going the used and factory seconds route got me several nice boxes that'll last forever.