Blew 200 bucks, and "yes" it was Horrid Freight

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67Dart273

67Dart273

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I have a ridiculously poor homebrew cart for tools, and since I work outside (the two post is out there ya know) I spend more time getting out and picking up tools that I do work, sometimes. Plus if I need to "run" to the store..................

So I looked at CL. Some guy had a Mac he wanted 300 bucks. Claimed it was "rare"

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Looked at Sears. Anything they had close weighed no where near what this one does.

Finally went and picked this up at HF. It ain't bad, and has nice big 5" casters. Just got done getting the thing together

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how bad can a tool box be? I got a Craftsman and I think its pretty 'cheap'. But it holds tools and has nice drawers
 
I've got several, mixed brands. There's a VAST difference in drawer rollers once you start throwin' some weight in there. This will do "fine." The reviews looked OK
 
I got one of those a year or so ago...they take a little while to assemble , and the drawers get a little flimsy with weight in them..otherwise good deal
 
I have a couple HF boxes. If the big name tool brands want to compete, they need to make a decent entry level box for a reasonable price.
 
I see those huge MAC, Snap On and Cornwall tool boxes on the car related TV shows, and I wonder what they cost. I'd guess at least 8-10 thousand. Does anyone know? I also wonder if they can really be good enough to justify costing 5 times as much as a Craftsman or another like brand.
 
I figure I can only put so much in this thing or I won't be able to push it on the rough ground, specially in rainy/ winter weather. So the weight will be somewhat "self limiting" and I figure that will help mitigate the drawer rollers if they are weak. So far as sheet metal, it's fairly heavy. The shipping weight is listed at around 150 lbs
 
I like the open space/catch all on the bottom. Good place to throw tools till you put them away. Saves cluttering up the work bench.
 
4spdragtop said:
I like the open space/catch all on the bottom. Good place to throw tools till you put them away. Saves cluttering up the work bench.
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I found what I think is a great deal for a snap on a large used roller box. It has 3 rows of draws, locks, super heavy duty with steel wheels and 1 1/2 inch thick oak wood worktop. It's dark blue and looks brand new. Paid $1800.00 cash and after shopping around for months on websites and craigslist couldn't believe how expensive top brand names were. Snap on, mac, even top grade craftsmen were a least $3000-$4000.
 
Added that HF box to the shop last year. Have one drawer full of hammers and all the sliders are smooth. Been pleased with it so far - other than occasionally fumbling to release a drawer latch.
 
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pishta said:
how bad can a tool box be? I got a Craftsman and I think its pretty 'cheap'. But it holds tools and has nice drawers
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I use a $400 Craftsman box, professionally. It's great and I saved $8,000 over a similarly sized StrapOn box.

Even if I had to replace my Craftsman box every year, I would still be money ahead for the next 20 years.
 
harrisonm said:
I see those huge MAC, Snap On and Cornwall tool boxes on the car related TV shows, and I wonder what they cost. I'd guess at least 8-10 thousand. Does anyone know? I also wonder if they can really be good enough to justify costing 5 times as much as a Craftsman or another like brand.
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You are about right on the price. Some smaller boxes are less but they have crazy boxes that can run double the that.

The SnapOn boxes and other premium boxes are really very nice, extremely solid and hold some retail and trade in value. My coworker's SnapOn box has remote keyless entry, just like a car. It's really hard to say anything bad about them other than that they are expensive.

For me, I can't justify the price, but I'm a cheap bastard. A $400 Craftsman box holds my tools the same way an $8000 SnapOn box does.

I can buy some really cool **** with the $7,600 I saved.

The thing is, it's so easy to get a SnapOn box, if you are in the trade. No credit, no problem. No down payment, that's fine, I know where you work, let me set you up on a weekly payment plan.
 
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So many new mechanics fall for that credit scam on overpriced tools and boxes. A friend of mine bought one of those special edition Mopar boxes, and while it was a nice box and had a cool paint job, he was paying on it and a crapload of new tools for several years and couldn't afford to do anything else during that time.
 
451Cuda said:
So many new mechanics fall for that credit scam on overpriced tools and boxes. A friend of mine bought one of those special edition Mopar boxes, and while it was a nice box and had a cool paint job, he was paying on it and a crapload of new tools for several years and couldn't afford to do anything else during that time.
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I needed a bigger tool box, and one of my other two was falling apart. I found 44" , stain. steel on craigslist for $450. When I went to look at it I didn`t even haggle over the price, it holds all my tools except for my plumbing tools, I keep them moble. STILL HAVE A CRAFTSMAN ROLLAWAY AND 8 DRAWER BOX TO GET RID OF. Would have to be local pick up tho.
 
The Mac cart isn't a rare one other than the fact that the cart is 10+ years old. It was a $700 cart new and still a good value at a couple hundred bucks. It was China built.
 
SOooooo, me keeping some of my tools in my dad's USMC av. bag that dates back to WW11 sorta dates myself and hints as to my " cheapness"???? ha

why do bother going to those big general swaps with nothing but GM parts?? to look for a decent cheap toolbox!
 
If a Snap-On rep sells a 7K toolbox, he's set for the month. They are like Ferraris, who cares what they cost, surely not the buyer. everyone can afford $64 a month..for 10 years...
 
toolmanmike said:
The Mac cart isn't a rare one other than the fact that the cart is 10+ years old. It was a $700 cart new and still a good value at a couple hundred bucks. It was China built.
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If it was 200 I may have bought it, but he wanted 300. Went out last night and did some "organizing." I think this box is pretty fair for the price.
 
I've got several old Craftsman tool boxes, tool carts and bench. Only because my FIL worked at Sears and got them for me at crazy good prices. That said, I have no problem with Harbor Freight stuff. In fact I'll be going at lunch to pick up some grinding wheel disks, welding wire...and as always some spontaneous purchases LOL!
 
Honestly, a toolbox doesent make you money. It costs you money, got a bigger box, now you have empty drawers to fill with new tools. Snap on rep keeps trying, but he knows where i stand. I have a scan tool on the payment plan,thats it. If i cant afford it,im not buying it.
I have a couple cabinets,non name brand, serve me well enough.
 
I worked plant maintenance in a textile mill for 10 years. Every mechanic in the company ordered tools and boxes through Sears and payroll deduction plan. Anyway... plant maintenance required dragging your tool box all over any and all terrains. I learned why everyones box had a additional angle iron and flat iron frame welded on before my shinny new box arrived.
Burning that pretty red paint in stick welding a reinforcing frame and heavier duty casters on it, fresh outa the cardboard, really sucked but... without it the box was going to warp so that the drawers wouldn't slide. Tool weight isn't their only enemy.
 
RedFish said:
I worked plant maintenance in a textile mill for 10 years. Every mechanic in the company ordered tools and boxes through Sears and payroll deduction plan. Anyway... plant maintenance required dragging your tool box all over any and all terrains. I learned why everyones box had a additional angle iron and flat iron frame welded on before my shinny new box arrived.
Burning that pretty red paint in stick welding a reinforcing frame and heavier duty casters on it, fresh outa the cardboard, really sucked but... without it the box was going to warp so that the drawers wouldn't slide. Tool weight isn't their only enemy.
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I've thought about that and am sure you are correct. This box will not move far, but it IS "rough ground." I am thinking of adding sheet metal to the bottom open section on three sides which will brace that quite a bit, and add a removable front door. It of course will NOT see 8-10 hours a day movement. "I'm a hobbyest" or at least I keep trying to tell myself that
 
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