Opinion on H.F. tool box??

I need more tool storage space. Presently I have two Snap ons. Both are about 55" wide. One I have had for 30 years. It has the slides and not the rollers. It is getting worn. I dont remember what model it is but it is the one they made for awhile that had drawers in the front, drawers on the end and a bin on the back side for pry bars, sledges, etc. This has been my most used box. And my favorite one because it is extra deep and with a top tool chest if gives me a large lip all the way on front and end to lay things on. The other is a newer one. It has the roller bearings. I keep things seldom used in it, tap & die sets, pipe wrenches, scan tools, grinders, saws, etc. I have a budget of around $2000. I wld like to get one around 6' wide. I have watched Craig list but havent seen any thing in that price range. My tools are not partal to what brand of tool box they sleep in. So that is not important. I just dont want the welds brakeing and rollers falling out. Harbor freight has a big (their largest one) one around 56" wide that sells for around $800 I am thinking of getting two of them ($1600.) and bolting them together. Any thoughts on their quality.

I picked up the HF 56 inch back in the spring and i have to say i am impressed with its quality. Best bang for the buck hands down!!!

If you look you can find a coupon that drops them down to $699 each. Not sure about the bolting together part but I'm sure it's doable. I bought one about a year ago and it does the job just fine. I don't roll it around though and my only complaint would be the catch that holds it shut is aimed more for right handed people. I'm a lefty but it's not a deal breaker. Plan grabbing some more drawer liners as mine came with the mesh stuff that was cut to fit and basically sucked. Ended up at Lowe's and grab some solid drawer liners for mine.

Tool boxes, hot-rolled steel, 21st century technologies, chinese or union worker, or whatever..... it's not expensive or hard to design and build/source a good tool box by a large group of ppl.

Snap-On or HF, I would buy whichever is cheaper. If you're in for show and your pocket is deep, get Snap-On or any brand-name boxes.

i have that box and it's the best for the money. no regrets here

Hello John11139:
A little off topic - but.....

I have an older Snap-On box - from the mid 80's. I had some time free one Saturday, so I pulled all the drawers out of SO Box - cleaned the old grease {now tar like} off the slides - and applied fresh grease. It was like getting a new tool box !! The old friction slides seem to be more stable with less wobble than the newer roller bearing slides.. and fresh grease makes the friction slides work like new again.

I'd have to agree with everyone - the H.F. Offering is best bang for the buck that I've seen in the past couple years - especially if you get it on sale at a local store..

Good luck,
Carl B.

Still havent decided which way to go. Did some checking and what I can find about the large HF box is that they do not recomend putting another large top cabinet on top of it. Are other large boxes the same way? Wondered why they didnt make a top cabinet for that box. I guess that must be why. I think one box with a extension would be large enough (side cabinet) but I dont think they even make one for it. I dont know if one made for the other boxes could be munted. Seems like the other boxes (snap on, Mac, Cornwall, matco etc) pictured on Craig list or e-Bay dont show a top cabinet.

Carl B said:

Hello John11139:
A little off topic - but.....

I have an older Snap-On box - from the mid 80's. I had some time free one Saturday, so I pulled all the drawers out of SO Box - cleaned the old grease {now tar like} off the slides - and applied fresh grease. It was like getting a new tool box !! The old friction slides seem to be more stable with less wobble than the newer roller bearing slides.. and fresh grease makes the friction slides work like new again.

I'd have to agree with everyone - the H.F. Offering is best bang for the buck that I've seen in the past couple years - especially if you get it on sale at a local store..

Good luck,
Carl B.

Click to expand...

What is the best grease to use that will stay slick and not attract alot of dirt.?

john11139 said:

What is the best grease to use that will stay slick and not attract alot of dirt.?

Click to expand...

I've been using white lithium grease on mine for years, I wonder if I should look for a good synthetic grease now.



+1 on removing the drawers and cleaning the slides!!
The grease dries up and make it difficult to use the drawer. About every 8-10 years or so I clean out my box to clean the caked on grease off of the slides and apply new grease. After that the drawers slide like new!!! It also gives me a chance to really clean my box out and clean everything else too.

Chris

It seems like a good box. That said, why pay $800 for it when you could pay $700?

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