Tool Chests - What do you like?

Tim

Tim

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Looking for brand and source recommendations. I'm want to add a large bottom and top tool chest set to my gun room.

- parts storage
- tools
- cleaning supplies
- all the crap that accumulates

I am not turning wrenches for a living (any more) or doing any big DIY projects, so I don't need Matco or Snap-On quality, but I don't want absolute junk either.

~50" wide is want I'm after.

Like this:

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SPG and Waterloo was the maker for many many many different branded boxes. Their all damn near the same.
 
Seconds on US general. They are a harbor freight brand however go online and youll find great reviews. I have both that and a craftsman. Equal in my opinion.

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Make sure you check the online prices from the big box stores. I recently bought a large tool chest to put in my office. I looked at it on the floor at Home Depot. When I got home and researched it online, the price was $50.00 less to order it from the local store and drive over and pick it up an hour later. I don't understand the reasoning behind this, but I was glad to save $50.00.
 
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US General. You can add to you hearts content. I have a 26x22 rolling chest. I can add a top box and two side boxes if I want to test it. I bought a open box deal which was 20% off. I saw them several months ago and knew they wouldn't last long (one of six colors) and they didn't. It's not a Snap On but it does the job.

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I own three Snap on, a Grizzly, two Craftsman and a US General.

The US General is surprisingly good quality, equal to a new Craftsman and actually better than my 30 year old Craftsman. The Huskys and Milwaukee’s seem to be similar quality to USG.

I’d price shop between a US General, Husky, Milwaukee and a Craftsman and Pick the one that is the size and has the features that you want for the best price.
 
I have had some serious issues with my husky box. the ball bearing supports have failed on my box 2 times and will be selling this box on craigslist when I take this box back for replacement. I am not a hard user of this box and have been extremely disappointed with the quality. I have a US General box at work and it is a monster. I use it hard and so did the guy who had it before me. I would look hard at older craftsman professional boxes as they are great quality and can be found pretty cheap on craigslist often.
 
LeeMajors said:
Us general is what I'm looking to upgrade to.
Click to expand...
I have several small boxes and US General is what I will be getting. Helluva heavy built box for the money. Way heavier built than craftsman boxes.
 
The.Harbor Freight/ lowes/home depot boxes would be good for what you want. The only potential issue is weight.limits. I store some reloading supplies in mine and the lead is heavy. You will feel some excess friction when the drawers are overloaded.
 
US General gets my vote

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Oh my gosh... I'm going to be sore tomorrow. I had a hell of a time muscling this 350lb tool chest down into the basement by myself.

But, it was worth it! I'm really happy with it, for the price of only $450.

It came with rubber, non slip liners, pre cut and placed in every drawer and on top.

I might go back and get one of the locking cabinets that hang on the side...

20200927_143439.jpg
 
US General - I’ll save y’all the long story but US put tariffs and restrictions on tool boxes. China one up the US and started making a thicker steel toolbox for less money to get around the restrictions.
 
Husky

I dont know if it's the same now, but a few years ago they had some of the deepest (front to back) of the options. So a little more space per cabinet.
Have a husky and really enjoy it
 
I've got a Homak RS Pro top/bottom. Got it on sale a few years ago, its a nice box and seems to be a good compromise between the US General and tool truck brands. You can catch them on sale at times for VERY good prices.
 
I turn wrenches for a living and have a a 68" Snap-On Epic box, but mainly work out of a large Matco tool cart. They are great for being heavy duty and hard to steal if someone gets in the shop (overpriced imo, but I still got a crazy good deal)...... for what you are doing, the Harbor Freight boxes is what I would go with. Their new "Icon" line is pretty impressive for what you are getting.
 
That's those Dragon fire or whatever the line is called boxes. That's about a $4,000 box that guy is standing in. One of my friends bought one, they're extremely well made, heavy as everything and would last a lifetime. It's something you'd put in your forever garage, definitely not something you'll ever want to try and move with you.

Pricewise it's hard to beat the new US General ones, they're much better built than even 2 years ago. If you look a bit on youtube you should be able to find comparison videos between the US general and most other big box store offerings. They're generally ranked very high, weak points being the wheels (they're small and only 2 wheels that rotate) they don't move around as easily and the sides don't have some of the hanging options that others do for different hooks, power strips, etc.
 
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