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Posted: 8/22/2019 4:39:47 PM EDT
I was thinking about buying two or three "tool cabinets" and joining them together, and then placing a real butcher block top across them to make a reloading bench.
So I checked out the Milwaukee brand, the Husky brand, Craftsman, then Harbor Freight, and the Menard's MasterForce brand. The HF ones seem to be expensive:  Attached File Attached File Attached FileThere are some similarities between some of the tool cabinets that makes me think they are all made in the same Chinese or Taiwanese factory. Are the HF ones worth it? |
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Posted: 8/22/2019 4:42:46 PM EDT
[#1]
It's all about the thickness of the metal used, and the drawer slides. Can't say whether HF are good or bad as I haven't looked at one though.
The sheet metal for all that isn't cheap, not to mention the hardware (heavy duty casters, drawer slides for that many drawers, etc) |
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Posted: 8/22/2019 4:45:32 PM EDT
[#2]
Harbor Freight makes an exceptional quality rolling toolbox for a wholesale/box store box...
Really smooth roller bearing drawers. VERY heavy gauge metal cabinet thickness. Casters are great. I think they are probably one of the best values period in this type of box. |
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Posted: 8/22/2019 4:45:54 PM EDT
[#3]
IMHO they are not- but only if you can find something that works... for less. That doesnt make them bad, but they're still "value" import stuff IMHO.
Check out the Sam's Club or Costco brand tool chests. I found a 72" version for $200 that works for what I need at a third of the equivalent HF. But it's for a home garage and I'm not piling a few tons of tools in it or using it as a ladder. If I did, I'd cut a few blocks of wood and reinforce the bottom frame (it rolls on four wheels). |
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Posted: 8/22/2019 4:46:18 PM EDT
[#4]
The HF ones seem to be much better quality at a lower price compared to Craftsman, Milwaukee, husky, etc. I got a 44” one recently and it’s legit.
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Posted: 8/22/2019 4:46:46 PM EDT
[#5]
Don't they get cheaper right after Thanksgiving? Sales, coupons, etc.?
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Posted: 8/22/2019 4:46:48 PM EDT
[#6]
HF ones are better quality than the other store brands.
Also, don't pay MSRP. There is always a coupon: http://www.hfqpdb.com |
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Posted: 8/22/2019 4:47:21 PM EDT
[#7]
In before Muh $10000 SNapOn.
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Posted: 8/22/2019 4:49:39 PM EDT
[#8]
I bought the 44". $450, but I can remember when the 18" deep model (they are 22" now) cost $350 or even less on sale.
I honestly don't know if tariffs affected the cost or not, as I understand most HF tools are made in Taiwan, not communist China. Anyway, I felt they were best bang for the buck of all the tool cabinets. Good bearings, nice and smooth, fairly heavy duty, domes with top and drawer liners. Most of the other cabinets feel kinda cheap. Maybe lighter Gage metal, or paint instead of PC. I know that the HF has a better load rating for the drawers than some of its competition. Reviews are good. Lots of people avoid HF stuff for more than one off type jobs, but a good bit of their stuff is pretty good. I think these cabinets are one of the gems. |
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Posted: 8/22/2019 4:49:41 PM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
HF ones are better quality than the other store brands. Also, don't pay MSRP. There is always a coupon: http://www.hfqpdb.com |
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Posted: 8/22/2019 4:49:48 PM EDT
[#10]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Don't they get cheaper right after Thanksgiving? Sales, coupons, etc.? |
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Posted: 8/22/2019 4:50:36 PM EDT
[#11]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Aren't tool cabinets usually excluded from their coupons? Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
HF ones are better quality than the other store brands. Also, don't pay MSRP. There is always a coupon: http://www.hfqpdb.com |
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Posted: 8/22/2019 4:51:49 PM EDT
[#12]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Don't they get cheaper right after Thanksgiving? Sales, coupons, etc.? |
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Posted: 8/22/2019 4:53:08 PM EDT
[#13]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Aren't tool cabinets usually excluded from their coupons? Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
HF ones are better quality than the other store brands. Also, don't pay MSRP. There is always a coupon: http://www.hfqpdb.com  Attached File |
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Posted: 8/22/2019 4:56:51 PM EDT
[#14]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Harbor Freight makes an exceptional quality rolling toolbox for a wholesale/box store box... Really smooth roller bearing drawers. VERY heavy gauge metal cabinet thickness. Casters are great. I think they are probably one of the best values period in this type of box. |
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Posted: 8/22/2019 4:56:51 PM EDT
[#15]
Because people will pay for them.
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Posted: 8/22/2019 4:56:51 PM EDT
[#16]
I bought this cart last month and paid $189.00.
It was well worth it. 
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Posted: 8/22/2019 4:58:01 PM EDT
[#17]
I got their shop light for my reloading bench, and I seriously could not be happier for the price. LED, bright white light, and weighs virtually nothing so it was easy to hang.
LINK |
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Posted: 8/22/2019 4:58:12 PM EDT
[#18]
CRAFTSMAN HEAVY DUTY
This has another section added into this one so theres a big price difference but I have been extremely happy in the quality of this for home use. I originally had the red cheaper ones and there is an obvious difference between the two. I use it enough and have had it for 5 years without an issue 75 lb. ball-bearing drawers with DynaGlide™ |
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Posted: 8/22/2019 4:59:12 PM EDT
[#19]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Harbor Freight makes an exceptional quality rolling toolbox for a wholesale/box store box... Really smooth roller bearing drawers. VERY heavy gauge metal cabinet thickness. Casters are great. I think they are probably one of the best values period in this type of box. |
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Posted: 8/22/2019 5:01:43 PM EDT
[#20]
I've been using a HF 5 drawer cart with a side cab as my work tool box for the last 5 or 6 years. No issues here.
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Posted: 8/22/2019 5:02:35 PM EDT
[#21]
Harbor Freight tool chests with a good coupon are among the best deals available.
A very nice Kobalt box from Lowe's just barely edged it out for me, but only because it was Black Friday, and I found a coupon code that would stack on the Black Friday price. The HF boxes are on sale very often. |
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Posted: 8/22/2019 5:03:15 PM EDT
[#22]
Use the coupon link page and be amazed at the discounts.
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Posted: 8/22/2019 5:03:21 PM EDT
[#23]
Do you even coupon bro?
I have the Harbor Freight one and its nice. I looked at the Craftsman and liked it a lot too but it was more. However the Craftsman I looked at in Lowes was made in USA. |
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Posted: 8/22/2019 5:07:28 PM EDT
[#24]
check the flyers
it says "compared to snap on" not compared to "crap at lowes or Menards" I just bought a box from Lowes, I really like it I didn't need super heavy duty |
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Posted: 8/22/2019 5:07:30 PM EDT
[#25]
Harbor Freight boxes are way ahead of the Craftsman / Husky / Kobalt boxes.
not as good as the SnapOn boxes, however they are also a fraction of the price. |
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Posted: 8/22/2019 5:22:31 PM EDT
[#26]
Icon toolboxes are showing up at HF now too.
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Posted: 8/22/2019 5:24:08 PM EDT
[#27]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Icon toolboxes are showing up at HF now too. |
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Posted: 8/22/2019 5:28:39 PM EDT
[#28]
I can't imagine all that heavy gauge steel, hardware, manufacturing is all that cheap. Still far cheaper than the big names.
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Posted: 8/22/2019 5:31:48 PM EDT
[#29]
Popularity and tariffs have made the price jump on these.
In the market for 3 of the 44" bottom boxes for a workbench project and am holding off both on price and availability. The local HF never seems to have any in stock. I have an older HF 44" top/bottom box setup, it has been great for the last 7-8 years, it cost a LOT less back then and the cashier let me stack coupons on it too. |
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Posted: 8/22/2019 5:32:24 PM EDT
[#30]
All's I know is them blue ones are the pimp shizzel! I'm buying another one for my SC home!
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Posted: 8/22/2019 5:36:17 PM EDT
[#31]
HF used to be the best value. Quality being about the same as the other brands. Not so sure now with the extra price for the deeper box. I have an older 44" , 2 Kobalt 3000's, a Kobalt 1000, a Dewalt combo chest/top, and a Husky. The Kobalt 3000's are the best, but I think they only sell one model now.
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Posted: 8/22/2019 5:36:31 PM EDT
[#32]
Harbor Freight tool cabinets are well regarded as being the best box for the money. They regularly have them on sale if you pay attention.
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Posted: 8/22/2019 5:38:20 PM EDT
[#33]
I got a killer deal on a 54" Husky Industrial box from Home Depot, otherwise I was going with a HF 44" box.
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Posted: 8/22/2019 5:38:32 PM EDT
[#34]
Tariffs are kicking HF in the nads pretty hard. Tool boxes and machinery are specifically excluded in their percentage promotions now.
When I first wrenched automotive professionally, I bought a used HF box that was sufficient for a couple years until I got a deal on a SnapOn big box. The HF was absolutely well made and well finished - drawers were the right size, opened good, and held up to the beating of being opened a few dozen times a day. I would have bought a bigger HF box but got a smoking deal on a SnapOn that I couldn't turn down. |
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Posted: 8/22/2019 5:39:00 PM EDT
[#35]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Harbor Freight makes an exceptional quality rolling toolbox for a wholesale/box store box... Really smooth roller bearing drawers. VERY heavy gauge metal cabinet thickness. Casters are great. I think they are probably one of the best values period in this type of box. They have something that are pretty damn good for a great price. |
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Posted: 8/22/2019 5:39:49 PM EDT
[#36]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I bought this cart last month and paid $189.00. It was well worth it. https://shop.harborfreight.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/6/4/64031_W3.jpg |
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Posted: 8/22/2019 5:40:13 PM EDT
[#37]
I've got two of them and they are great values for the money. I compared all the budget brands, Home depot, Craftsman, Even Matco, which was supposed to be good. Nothing else came close to HF tool boxes for the money.
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Posted: 8/22/2019 5:41:42 PM EDT
[#38]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
HF ones are better quality than the other store brands. Also, don't pay MSRP. There is always a coupon: http://www.hfqpdb.com I've never heard anyone call the HF boxes expensive before. For their quality, they are an amazing deal. There are a ton of threads on Garage Journal about them. I'd get one but my garage is full. |
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Posted: 8/22/2019 5:43:25 PM EDT
[#39]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Aren't tool cabinets usually excluded from their coupons? The things weigh 400 lbs each, empty. I think they’re a steal for the price. |
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Posted: 8/22/2019 5:54:32 PM EDT
[#40]
I have a 72" by 22" bottom box and 56" x 22" top box on top. I have one side cabinet. We have 5 of the tool carts.
It killed me to buy chinese. I have never owned any foreign tools or boxes. However, I have about $1500 in the set up (not including the carts) and its great for the price. I found all the coupons, sales etc and bought them. Even had a scratch on top of the box and got a discount for that too. It so high, you cant even see the scratch on top unless you are 6'5" or so. never pay full price. My sons all have the 5 drawer tool carts and they work well too. |
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Posted: 8/22/2019 6:01:05 PM EDT
[#41]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
In before Muh $10000 SNapOn. Shade tree guys use HF. |
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Posted: 8/22/2019 6:04:41 PM EDT
[#42]
They are solid, pretty good deal with a coupon.
Angle iron frame underneath and nice drawer slides. 
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Posted: 8/22/2019 6:05:30 PM EDT
[#43]
Because they "Compare to Mac, Snap-On, etc".
HF has evaluated the market and come to the conclusion that they can have a higher profit margin than what they used to have with the same product. |
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Posted: 8/22/2019 6:05:32 PM EDT
[#44]
Just buy one of these. I have two, one in the garage and the other in my man room.
https://www.samsclub.com/p/20262-uhd-rolling-w-in-club-item-54182/prod19330105?xid=plp_product_1_2 
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Posted: 8/22/2019 6:07:13 PM EDT
[#45]
I dont own a hf box but lots of guys in my shop do. Its typically Kennedy boxes or the big red u.s general
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Posted: 8/22/2019 6:09:51 PM EDT
[#46]
Quoted:
I was thinking about buying two or three "tool cabinets" and joining them together, and then placing a real butcher block top across them to make a reloading bench. So I checked out the Milwaukee brand, the Husky brand, Craftsman, then Harbor Freight, and the Menard's MasterForce brand. The HF ones seem to be expensive: https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/369122/20190816_113335_jpg-1063606.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/369122/20190816_113241_jpg-1063608.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/369122/20190816_113955_jpg-1063613.JPG There are some similarities between some of the tool cabinets that makes me think they are all made in the same Chinese or Taiwanese factory. Are the HF ones worth it? |
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Posted: 8/22/2019 6:13:31 PM EDT
[#47]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
There is a difference between techs with a HF tool box and a Strap-On. Shade tree guys use HF. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
In before Muh $10000 SNapOn. Shade tree guys use HF. Plus, I buy all of my Snap On tools from the repo man when one of you fanboys can't make his payment to the dealer. |
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Posted: 8/22/2019 6:16:13 PM EDT
[#48]
How do you get those home and into the garage, borrow or rent a trailer?
Kharn |
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Posted: 8/22/2019 6:21:17 PM EDT
[#49]
Wait until the Icon tool cabinets start showing up with prices.
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Posted: 8/22/2019 6:25:10 PM EDT
[#50]
Buy them on sale.
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