Toolbox replacement time. Suggestions?

[my5thmopar]

My older craftsman is worn out. I would like to get up to about 5ft box. Probably too many tools. I’m going to repurpose it if I can fix the slides. I’ve looked at Husky, Kobalt, Craftsman and HF. I’m not going to buy an expensive one, I’m not utilizing one daily. What should be looking for other than drawer capacities and the total box weight? All the ones I’ve looked at seem very similar and might even be made by the same folks. I did like that the Craftsman was at least assembled in USA. What ya think ? Craig

 

[cudamike13]

Get one with Ball bearings in the slides. You will be glad you did.

 

[Plymouth 65]

Get the best made one you can afford. No substitute for quality! 65'

 

[toolmanmike]

I sold MAC Tools for almost 30 years. Our tool boxes are some of the best built in the industry. Since I retired I have been in a Harbor Freight store a time or two and I must say, their boxes are pretty damn good. They are fairly heavy material and construction and the fit and finish is good. The roller slides are smooth and the price is reasonable.

 

[Steve welder]

Im not familiar with new Craftsman boxes but the ones ive had were not made that well, the drawer slides did not hold up
If I had to do it all over id look for a good used Snap On or Mac box
Instead a few years back I bought a HF 5' long box. It's overloaded with tools and although there are a few minor issues, it has held up very good. The drawers work flawlessly
However I dont use it every day and if I was a auto/truck mechanic by trade id only buy a box I thought would last me 30 years minimum

 

[ACME SS]

I still have my 70's era craftsman boxes and they are used for supplies and seldom used tools cause the drawers are junk! To answer your question...and I'm frugal like you..is that the harbor freight box I purchased works pretty good for the money I spent. I also replaced the craftsman box with a 6' long stainless steel workbench with butcher block top that I got a few years ago at Sams Club. It has a large drawer that I put all my pneumatic tools in. The slides on that particular drawer have given me trouble because of the weight in it but what did they expect me to put in it, foam peanuts?

 

[go-fish]

I like my Husky. I bought it on a sale and it was already marked down. To make things sweeter I was able to use a military discount.
My usage is the same as the op. Weekend usage. Mine has the power strip inside the box and I do use that everyday to charge the Milwaukee battery for the cordless leaf blower. So, I would recommend getting one that has a power strip.

 

[toolmanmike]

So, I would recommend getting one that has a power strip.

Or adding a power strip. Thanks for the reminder. Something I need to do this spring.

 

[halifaxhops]

I got a Yukon from HF, needed a new one. Tell you what I am very impressed with it have some heavy stuff in the draws and they slide smoothly.

 

[Kendog 170]

The old craftsman are crap compared to roller draws. I just removed all my draws and lubed the slides. Much better now. I'm sure no one does this with these older boxes. I agree HF boxes are decent.

 

[Mr. Sinister]

I saw this Kobalt setup at Lowes a couple years ago and it was about $1,200 it was a good weekend warrior toolbox but wish I would have bought one, great for mobile tech.

 

[srduster340]

$I got the 56" box from HF, $700. I was impressed with it so I got their new roll cart, $500. Very happy with both. All it does is hold tools.

 

[Projectile Dart]

A friend of mine who used to build engines for a living owned multiple snap on boxes that he bought when he was young, and many more HF toolboxes he bought later on in life. He always said that they're cheap enough to break multiple times before they reach the same cost... and he had not been able to break any of the HF boxes yet. When he passed away he left about 15 boxes to his kids and 80% of them were HF brand.
For the record, as far as his tools went, about 90% of the tools he owned were off tool trucks, and the other 10% were specialty equipment or measuring instruments.

 

[PROSTOCKTOM]

Make sure to get bearing slides and drawers that lock requiring that you lift up the handle to open. I cant stress this enough.

I have multiple Snap On boxes, but would never pay the kind of money they want for them today.

My first Snap On top and bottom 30-years ago didn't have lift up handles on the drawers. One day I rolled it across the garage without locking the drawers.

There was a small dip in the center of the floor where a drain is. Long story short I totaled out both the top and bottom box when all the draws came flying out and

they crashed to the floor. I was in shock, but thankful no one got crushed in the accident.

Tom

 

[R72Demon]

My vote would be for US General from harbor freight.

 

[LO23M8B]

See if you can find a used snap-on or mac in good condition.

 

[Dartswinger70]

I have Mac and Snap on .If you want a good one that wil l last a lifetime that's the way to go. Used is good also.

 

[Sublime one]

As so many others have said bearings on slides. The new line at HF iconic or irony or something like that sure look like truck knock offs for a very reasonable price. If you are not earning a living out of the box tool truck box’s are over kill on cost my opinion. And I assure you I have put the Snap On guys kid thru college. But I use mine hard (think industrial application) just no need for a residential setting box To be that pricey.

 

[Kendog 170]

There was a small dip in the center of the floor where a drain is. Long story short I totaled out both the top and bottom box when all the draws came flying out and

they crashed to the floor.

If you open most of the draws on a tall box it will tip over. Ask me how I know. When I was a young gun this happened but I was lucky enough to see it going and pushed it back in time. If I had my back turned it could of killed me.

 

[4spdragtop]

I saw a coworkers Snapon box do exact same thing while working at Toromont. Cat. The silence(for about 2 seconds) afterwards was deafening lol. Then the cursing started. Less than a year old and he was METICULOUS. I think the damage was in the thousands...

Make sure to get bearing slides and drawers that lock requiring that you lift up the handle to open. I cant stress this enough.

I have multiple Snap On boxes, but would never pay the kind of money they want for them today.

My first Snap On top and bottom 30-years ago didn't have lift up handles on the drawers. One day I rolled it across the garage without locking the drawers.

There was a small dip in the center of the floor where a drain is. Long story short I totaled out both the top and bottom box when all the draws came flying out and

they crashed to the floor. I was in shock, but thankful no one got crushed in the accident.

Tom

 

[RustyRatRod]

That top line from Harbor Freight is hard to beat for the money.

 

[royslead]

I haven't been in a Harbor Freight in a while to even see the upper line you guys have mentioned. For the money a lot of people like the US General boxes they have but I've always said they don't offer enough space. The drawers don't pull out all the way and don't go the full depth of the cabinet in the first place, if I remember right. Anyways, I have a couple employees using Husky boxes and one just got one from Home Depot or Lowes that has a good size bottom, a hutch and and side locker for under 2k. It seems ok, time will tell. I agree bearing slides are a must, if you're putting actual tools in them. My own: I had Mac, Craftsman when starting, went to a Matco for 22 years, then bought a couple Snap On. They're at home now. Prior to that my old Craftsman's were my home set, which my son has now. I'm about to buy another as well, so ill look into those HF, Husky, and used. You certainly can get a deal on a retired tech's box if you look, especially if they left "fed up" with the job. I learned a long time ago and always recommend a guy gets the biggest bottom they can afford because you'll always have a work bench.

 

[hemi71x]

*
56 in. x 22 in. Double Bank Roller Cabinet, Red

 

[Bad Sport]

That top line from Harbor Freight is hard to beat for the money.

Yup. I needed a quick box a few years back and I bought one pretty nice box for the money.

 

[srduster340]

*
56 in. x 22 in. Double Bank Roller Cabinet, Red

That's the one I use at work. Have one at home with the top hutch as well.