[DeTomaso] Tool Chests at Home Depot vs Harbor Freight

Sat Nov 28 00:39:32 EST 2015

Fwiw craftsman chests come in several different levels of quality. I have a total of six toolboxes with ball bearing sliders and they have served me extremely well for 20+ years:

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Lori has some entry-level craftsman toolboxes and they are absolute junk. The sliders have all failed and its a struggle to get some drawers open even when they are practically empty. 

If you plan to keep it for more than a year, spend the extra money and get the ball bearing sliders. 

Mike

Sent from my iPhone

On Nov 27, 2015, at 21:27, Ken Green via DeTomaso <detomaso at poca.com> wrote:

>   I have looked at the tool chests you mentioned, and to be honest, in my
>   opinion, the US General chest deserves a look.  The 52 inch Craftsman
>   has a capacity of 20,660 cubic inches, the 56 inch US General has a
>   capacity of 28,200 cubic inches, so you do get more capacity.  Also,
>   the Craftsman chest is rated at 1,000 pounds, the 56 inch US General is
>   rated at 3,458 pounds.
>   If the Craftsman chest was made here, and it met my needs, I'd probably
>   go that way, and I did look at them last week.  I just strongly suggest
>   looking at the US General before buying a new chest, even though I am
>   not a fan of Harbor Freight.
>   Ken
>     __________________________________________________________________
> 
>   From: Julian Kift <julian_kift at hotmail.com>
>   To: Michael Shortt <michaelsavga at gmail.com>; Ken Green
>   <kenn_green at yahoo.com>
>   Cc: De Tomaso List <detomaso at poca.com>
>   Sent: Friday, November 27, 2015 9:01 PM
>   Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Tool Chests at Home Depot vs Harbor Freight
>   My toolboxes are Crafstman as well, I got a 52" heavy duty roller
>   cabinet and top box for $900 one black Friday a couple years ago, been
>   very happy with it.
>   It's this one;
>   [1]http://www.sears.com/craftsman-52-inch-12-drawer-premium-heavy-duty/
>   p-00958630000P?sid=IDx01192011x000001&gclid=CLanhsSqsskCFdgKgQodnqIEjg
>   [2]http://www.sears.com/craftsman-52-inch-8-drawer-premium-heavy-duty/p
>   -00958629000P?sid=IDx01192011x000001&gclid=CJvQ9OqqsskCFdcWgQodEVgEcw
>   Julian
>   ________________________________________
>   From: DeTomaso <[3]detomaso-bounces at poca.com> on behalf of Michael
>   Shortt <[4]michaelsavga at gmail.com>
>   Sent: Friday, November 27, 2015 7:45 PM
>   To: Ken Green
>   Cc: De Tomaso List
>   Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Tool Chests at Home Depot vs Harbor Freight
>   Personally I have always had Sears Craftsman boxes, but if I were to
>   consider another affordable brand, those Kobalt Stainless Steel units
>   at
>   Lowes have always caught my eye.
>   The Snap Ons are nice of course, but I can't see spending that kind of
>   money for a tool box and not being a full time professional mechanic (
>   but
>   if I hit that home run I keep swinging for, I'm getting one).
>   Michael Shortt
>   On Nov 27, 2015 9:57 PM, "Ken Green via DeTomaso"
>   <[5]detomaso at poca.com> wrote:
>>   I visited both Home Depot and Harbor Freight today.  I was a
>   little
>>   disappointed with the DeWalt tool chest at Home Depot.  For
>   example,
>>   the width (they call length) in the specs appears to include
>   handles,
>>   which I guess is a good number if you need to fit within limited
>   space,
>>   but not as good if you are looking at storage capacity.  Also, I'm
>   not
>>   quite sure the 8 drawers in the top cabinet are tall enough for
>   general
>>   use, probably fine for end wrenches if you have that many.
>>   I was very impressed by the US General tool chests at Harbor
>   Freight.
>>   I am not a Harbor Freight fan and would not buy a saw blade etc.
>   from
>>   them, but these chests look really good, specifically the
>   industrial
>>   roller cabinets.  They look very sturdy, and the drawers look
>   useable,
>>   but I still need to think about that.  The drawers felt better
>   than the
>>   Dewalt.  The casters also looked really good, which is a beg deal
>   if
>>   you will have to roll it around at all.  The 56 inch base weighs
>   440
>>   pounds and the top weighs 260.  They are not cheap, maybe twice
>   what a
>>   cheap chest is, but maybe 1/3 or less what a high end tool chest
>>   costs.  The 56 inch chest and top cabinet are about $1,100 + tax
>   it you
>>   get the right coupons.  They also have a 44 in (usually $379 but
>   $349
>>   for black Friday), and a 72 inch (usually $1,200 but there was a
>   $1,000
>>   coupon recently.  Harbor Freight sells an end cabinet that adds 17
>>   inches for about $200, so it can always be added to the 56 inch
>   chest.
>>   I can't imagine needing anything better for use in a home garage.
>>   Review also are really positive for these tool chests.
>>   Ken
>> 
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> References
> 
>   1. http://www.sears.com/craftsman-52-inch-12-drawer-premium-heavy-duty/p-00958630000P?sid=IDx01192011x000001&gclid=CLanhsSqsskCFdgKgQodnqIEjg
>   2. http://www.sears.com/craftsman-52-inch-8-drawer-premium-heavy-duty/p-00958629000P?sid=IDx01192011x000001&gclid=CJvQ9OqqsskCFdcWgQodEVgEcw
>   3. mailto:detomaso-bounces at poca.com
>   4. mailto:michaelsavga at gmail.com
>   5. mailto:detomaso at poca.com
>   6. mailto:DeTomaso at poca.com
>   7. http://poca.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso_poca.com
>   8. mailto:DeTomaso at poca.com
>   9. http://poca.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso_poca.com
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