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YOUR RESEARCHLooking for Recommendation- Best Tool Chest?
Leading reported evidence
Fill with total junk or tool-truck brands
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The 'used' market around here is either filled with total junk or tool-truck brands that sellers are asking way too much for...
Leading evidence: 'Fill with total junk or tool-truck brands' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Fill with total junk or tool-truck brands' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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It replaced my ancient silver/red Craftsman setup which I'd had for 50 years -- and it was used when I bought it!
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The 'used' market around here is either filled with total junk or tool-truck brands that sellers are asking way too much for...
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62 x 40, and two others measured 42 1/2 x 40 all used five inch wheels.
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( 50th Aniverary models ) used every day as a Professional....But I also bought the biggest Husky they make and it is the best bang-for-the-buck ....Yes I used the Husky every day.....It is not a Snap-On but a lot of storage and smooth drawers for very budget friendly...
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Suggestion
I eventually plan to use my buddy's box and pan brake to make new metal drawers; I found that those ball-bearing sliders can be replaced with ones I found at Home Depot that slip into the slots of the existing metal drawers.
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Suggestion
I eventually plan to use my buddy's box and pan brake to make new metal drawers; I found that those ball-bearing sliders can be replaced with ones I found at Home Depot that slip into the slots of the existing metal drawers.
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Suggestion
A few of the drawers and ball-bearing sliders were missing, and after some dent removals, aluminum trim pieces replaced, some rattle can spray paint, and fashioning wooden drawers as a stop-gap effort to use the chests, they work!
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
( 50th Aniverary models ) used every day as a Professional....But I also bought the biggest Husky they make and it is the best bang-for-the-buck ....Yes I used the Husky every day.....It is not a Snap-On but a lot of storage and smooth drawers for very budget friendly...
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21 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
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Outcome without a verified action link
The "US General" is the mid tier stuff, easily the equal of most Craftsman/Husky/Kobaltetc, and the "Icon" line is their high end line, at or near tool truck quality for a bunch less (though still not cheap).
I'm looking for a good tool chest and trying to decide between
Husky
,
Kobalt
, and
Hyper Tough
. Which one do you recommend? I need something durable, with good storage and smooth drawer slides. If you've used any of these brands, what’s your experience—pros and cons? Are there better options in a similar price range? Appreciate any suggestions!
20+ years and I doubt I'll ever need to replace it. I like the soft-close draws on my Craftsman, so maybe that is something you can look at on the brands you are shopping:
I wouldn't rule out the line from Harbor Freight . I have a cheap Craftsman that has served me well for 40 + years . Also have a large Craftsman ( black pro line ) that I bought on clearance 15 years ago . No complaints on either .
I love my Kennedy tool chests, which I have had for 30 years, but I recently tried a cheaper brand, Westward from Grainger, and I am really happy with it. Especially like the rubber padded drawers.
I agree with Marv. The cheap Craftsman is poorly made. I bought one of those when one of the sears stores went out of business and it has never been right.
I have snap-on but that was from my years of being a tech. you look search fb marketplace for used lista cabinets. its not a chest but would work really nice.
I've had triple decker Craftsman, Several Snap-ons. ( 50th Aniverary models ) used every day as a Professional....But I also bought the biggest Husky they make and it is the best bang-for-the-buck ....Yes I used the Husky every day.....It is not a Snap-On but a lot of storage and smooth drawers for very budget friendly...
I bought the US General version from Harbor Freight and I'm very happy with the quality. They're built like a tank and take two people to lift.
I removed al the US General badging for a cleaner look.
I have two of the new harbor freight roll carts and they have been great and far nicer than the price suggest compared to many others. I have the 52in with the add on drawers on the side making it the same storage as the 72in for half the cost and I just picked up the 42in version as well as I needed more space and couldn't say no to the price!
When I needed more room than the beginners Craftsman box I had, I watched FB & Craigslist for old SnapOn boxes. Picked up an early '80's full stack with 2 side cabinets from an old retired marine mechanic. I'm 6'3" and I need to get on toes to see in the top. Amazing shape. Cleaned up the slides, works like new. Great box. Feels more substantial than the new boxes.
I have that chest -- same color too. Bought mine a few years back when there were having a very aggressive sale on them. I have a smaller Craftsman chest too, and the HF is much higher quality. Full extension glides, heavy gauge steel and heavy-duty casters -- you can't beat it for the money.
I think tool boxes fit into a couple of different categories.
you have the high end like snap-on, matco, lista and montazuma. these are super nice but high $$$. They're great when you find them used.
Then you really have the other tier such as HF US General, Kobalt and husky. There are other brands in this price range but they can be hit or miss.
I personally don't pay attention to the "I've had xxx for 20 years" or "my grandfather gave me xxx that he had as a child" because almost no companies produce anything of the same quality they did 15-30 years ago.
For most home mechanics, the second tier will work really well, or a used chest from the tier 1 guys.
I began my quest for metal toolboxes by looking through local ads and various websites. After I retired, the company's owner passed away unexpectedly, and the company went into liquidation of assets. One afternoon, I noticed several 32 cubic-yard dumpsters in the loading dock areas. When I looked inside one of the dumpsters, they had thrown out three blue Cornwall metal tool chests; one chest measured approx. 62 x 40, and two others measured 42 1/2 x 40 all used five inch wheels. After I called the deceased owner's brother and got permission to remove them, I went to a nearby U-Haul franchise, rented a box truck with a lift gate, and removed all of them. A few of the drawers and ball-bearing sliders were missing, and after some dent removals, aluminum trim pieces replaced, some rattle can spray paint, and fashioning wooden drawers as a stop-gap effort to use the chests, they work! I've measured other metal tool cabinets to find a drawer that matches the size and depth of these Cornwall cabinets but to no avail. Most of these toolboxes that I have examined at Home Depot, Harbor Freight, and Craftsman are somewhat similar in construction; the only thing I have noticed is that the thickness of the steel varies. I eventually plan to use my buddy's box and pan brake to make new metal drawers; I found that those ball-bearing sliders can be replaced with ones I found at Home Depot that slip into the slots of the existing metal drawers. However, no matter how many drawers are in any given tool chest, I keep acquiring more tools.....and I now believe that they seem to multiply independently.
I have a Husky also, very good for my home garage. I don't roll it around, it just stays in one place. It replaced my ancient silver/red Craftsman setup which I'd had for 50 years -- and it was used when I bought it!
The 'used' market around here is either filled with total junk or tool-truck brands that sellers are asking way too much for...
I have several mid-tier chests, Husky, Craftsman and the like, they are ok. I need another, and far and away the best bang for buck in new stuff is the Harbor Freight chests. The "US General" is the mid tier stuff, easily the equal of most Craftsman/Husky/Kobaltetc, and the "Icon" line is their high end line, at or near tool truck quality for a bunch less (though still not cheap).
Specifically, the stuff I'm getting ready to pull the trigger on is the Icon 73" roller, Icon 73" top chest, and US General 6 drawer service cart. 10 or 15% coupons for them pop up every month or so, and another 10% off if you go through the hassle of getting a HF credit card.
Again, the Icon boxes are not cheap. About $4,800 list for those two boxes before any discounts. But the tool truck versions are about 5X those prices for that much box. HF absolutely sells some trash, and 10 years ago the majority of their stuff was trash. But they really stepped up their game and now go with a cheap/better/best product strategy where the 'best' is usually excellent both in quality and warranty and still at attractive pricing.
I've seen an improvement in the quality of some of the HF upper end offerings as well. I looked at their toolboxes when I was shopping but I had size requirements and theirs didn't fit my needs. They did seem to have decent heft and build quality though.
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