Harbor Freight Tool Box

[RippyD]

I have that one with the associated top. For the money it's great. Very sturdy, drawers work well. Has some ok magnetic accessories for the side - paper towel holder, glove box holder, maybe other things.

Overall I'd give it a B on usability and an A+ on value. Some things I don't like:

- Some of the drawers in the top part are very shallow. I know it really shouldn't matter some stuff (like open/box wrenches) lay very flat. Still don't like it. Limits my options. I like my sockets to stand up in my holders. Can't do this in the shallow drawers. I like my wrenches to lay at a 45 in a holder. The biggest wrenches won't fit. If you add foam or liners it's even more challenging. It's not a showstopper, but I'd rather have 1-2 fewer drawers and more space in them.

Bottom part from the link above is good. I wish the bottom drawer was a little deeper. But it's pretty good as is. I want to be able to fit a few more larger items in it. I know have them on a shelf.

Lastly, it's a little taller than I like. I'm not 6', so maybe it's just me. The top of the top box I can see, but it's just a little too tall. 1-2" shorter would be ideal.
For the money it's very hard to beat. If you're 5'11 or taller it's probably fine.

The other two I really like are the Milwaukee with charging outlets in the top. The very top is much nicer and more usable. That's a nice toolbox for me. Somebody else mentioned that Husky ones. The newer ones look pretty good as well.

If I hadn't already bought this I'd be looking hard at the Milwaukee on sale.

[RippyD]

I'm a Snap-On guy, even though I'm not a pro, but it's hard to argue with his logic.
Off-topic, but how have you found warranty replacements? My concern with Snap-On is that it seems to rolling-tool-truck driver dependent. Craftsman is ok with replacements. Problem is I longer want many of their tools: a replacement Phillips driver that sucks is of no use to me. Struggling right now to find the right tool brand.

(Maybe this needs its own thread?)

[Bill1234]

Off-topic, but how have you found warranty replacements? My concern with Snap-On is that it seems to rolling-tool-truck driver dependent. Craftsman is ok with replacements. Problem is I longer want many of their tools: a replacement Phillips driver that sucks is of no use to me. Struggling right now to find the right tool brand.

(Maybe this needs its own thread?)



Masterforce by menards makes alot of tools in the USA and has a lifetime warranty on them =)

[RippyD]

Masterforce by menards makes alot of tools in the USA and has a lifetime warranty on them =)
No Menards near me. How is the quality? I'm pretty good on wrenches and sockets until I break one. Replacement screwdrivers from Craftsman are worthless. The Wiha and Wera screwdrivers I have are very good. May just get a set and be done. Lowe's and Home Depot have their on brands with lifetime warranty as well. Quality isn't there for me.

[DaveT435]

Dude...just got done looking at a huge tool box at Harbor Freight. Typically their stuff doesn't hold up and I'm skeptical of getting tools and stuff from there, but I gotta say, I was impressed. I'm a Snap-On / Mac kinda guy, but this was descent. I mean even from a perspective that it looked like it might hold up nice. I don't make a living out of mine, so for home use I'm guessing it would be just fine. Anyone have a box from there or any experience? This equivalent tool box from Snap-On is $5,000+.

We bought my son one. They are good tool boxes. The bearings in the drawers are better than the ones in my Craftman. Good heavy duty tool box.

[Bill1234]

No Menards near me. How is the quality? I'm pretty good on wrenches and sockets until I break one. Replacement screwdrivers from Craftsman are worthless. The Wiha and Wera screwdrivers I have are very good. May just get a set and be done. Lowe's and Home Depot have their on brands with lifetime warranty as well. Quality isn't there for me.

Excellent quality. All best grade steel made on craftsmans industrial line supposedly. I can send a link to sets I bought

[galaxy]

Off-topic, but how have you found warranty replacements? My concern with Snap-On is that it seems to rolling-tool-truck driver dependent.

No problems with Snap-On warranty here. I've called and had a couple very old items replaced no questions asked. Sent me a ratchet rebuild kit and a brand new screw driver that I broke the tip off. Just call them from the website. Obviously they have to mail it, but still hassle free. They didn't even want any old parts sent back.

[pilotpip]

I used to love craftsman. The stuff I have from 20 years ago is great. Any hand tools I've bought in the last 5 years have been junk. My wife got me a nice tool box with ball bearing slides, and it's held up well. I probably buy a matching top before they're gone. Especially after this was announced: Stanley Black and Decker Buys Craftsman (http://www.finehomebuilding.com/2017/01/06/stanley-black-decker-buys-craftsman)

Most of the tools that I need sparingly, or are some sort of one-time-use specialty item come from HF or Northern tool. Both sell decent stuff, that gets the job done. I'm sure the same can be said about their tool boxes.

[Harry Da Hamster]

^^^I'm pretty sure a lot of their tool as of recently, before the acquisition, are already made from Stanley.

[KirkH]

I just went and looked at the US General toolbox at Harbor Freight this evening. The drawers are not quite as smooth as the more expensive ones but the cabinets feel heavy and good quality. I will probably pick one of the $329 boxes up. Didn't have my truck tonight.

[KirkH]

Northern Tool has a sale right now and they usually have better quality than HF. Im thinking about getting this work cart.

Ironton 4-Drawer Tool Cart — 500-Lb. Capacity | Work Carts| Northern Tool + Equipment (http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200657584_200657584)

This one looks equivalent to the OP's HF chest

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200581343_200581343

[Bill1234]

While I did mention master force tools, their boxes are also decent quality from the reviews.

[RippyD]

I used to love craftsman. The stuff I have from 20 years ago is great. Any hand tools I've bought in the last 5 years have been junk.


^^^I'm pretty sure a lot of their tool as of recently, before the acquisition, are already made from Stanley.
<Tool rant>
It depends on the tool. My Craftsman screwdrivers have always been iffy - way too soft. Took me until a few years ago to realize that unlimited replacement crappy screwdrivers are worthless. Rather than getting free replacements I finally learned it's better to just get good drivers. My Wiha and Wera drives don't wear out. I also learned about JIS. I worked on motorcycles for years and had no idea why I kept stripping Phillips screws. (I detest Phillips and all it's various, subtle variants.)

Based on ~40 years of experience and some reading, Craftsman tools have always been made by somebody else. The manufacturer depends on the tool and when you buy it. And even then it depends on on how they spec'd the tool - a good tool company could still make a crappy Craftsman tool.

There are some Craftsman pliers being sold now that are clearly OEM'd from Knipex, who arguably make the best pliers available today. Getting those during a Craftsman sale is a great deal. The only issue is if you take them back in 10 years for a replacement you have no idea what you're going to get if they've stopped sourcing those from Knipex. For this reason I see the Craftsman warranty as low value. The industrial and pro tools from Craftsman can be better. Still have to look closely at the tool. Most of these were still made in the U.S. last time I checked.

I've mostly moved on to other brands and don't buy a lot of tools anyway, but I would consider the Craftsman industrial or pro. Rather than hoping my Craftsman ratchet is made my Facom or Matco, I'll just buy those brands.

[Levithan9]

I work as a professional automotive technician. When I got into the auto repair game back n 94, I was all about THE BOX. I felt that, if I had a nice expensive box, the seasoned techs would take me seriously.
The only thing I learned was that the tool truck guy was serious about my money every week.

I got out the game around 97, and stared doing computer work, as the tech bubble was just getting started . I made dam good money, but when it all went to hell, I ended right back in auto repair.

Only this time, I was smarter.

I started my career....AGAIN...but this time with a Craftsman box I picked up on Black Friday 2002. Kept it until 2006. Sold it and went and got a Harbor Freight 42" tool box, with side cabinet for both sides, and the top chest. Total was $854. I still have it.

I went last year and get the 72" tool box. The metal is a little thinner than the boxes I got in '06, but it holds my tools, and that's all I need it for. I have a $1800 Snap-On roll around that has all my essential tools in it, as it's easier to roll them around then to constantly make trips back and forth to my home base tool box.

When the snap on guy saw my box, he was kinda mad. How come I didn't get one of his boxes, he asked. Because this box was less than $1,000. That's why. But it holds over 50k in tools and diag equipment. I don't need a 20k box and a $500 a month payment for something I can't drive.

I spend my money where I need it most...in QUALITY TOOLS THAT HELP MAKE ME MONEY!! In all my years, I've never seen a toolbox turn a wrench, or diag a check engine light.

That being said, the harbor freight tool boxes are dam near second to none. They are affordable, well made, hold up over time, and they will retain their value for the remainder of your life, granted that you at least take SOME care for it. I also have 3 of the 5 Drawer Rollaround Service cart. One at home, one for my diagnostic scanner and lab scope, and another that is loaded with some decent tools for my helper.
I may get made fun of every once in a while....but it's no laughing matter when I take trips, buy neat stuff, and always have cash on me. When the guys ask me how I always have money for stuff, I always tell them...because I'm not making payments on a box for 5 years.

[KirkH]

Boom. Best post of the thread right there. Thanks.


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