US General Tool Chests, Quality??

[Dave_Id]

Harbor Freight has one heck-uv-a buy on tool chests. I'm looking for feed back as far as US General quality. I used to work with a guy that was happy with the one he had, but that was a number of years ago. I'm not a person that buys junk, especially some of the stuff sold at Harbor Freight, although I have had good luck with their air tools.

 

[rustyfarmall]

(quoted from post at 12:07:04 01/14/11) Harbor Freight has one heck-uv-a buy on tool chests. I'm looking for feed back as far as US General quality. I used to work with a guy that was happy with the one he had, but that was a number of years ago. I'm not a person that buys junk, especially some of the stuff sold at Harbor Freight, although I have had good luck with their air tools.

The very last purchase I made from Harbor Freight was a 3/8" drive air impact. It was total junk. Air blew right straight through as soon as I connected an air hose. That was two years ago, and now all the catalogs they send me are immediately shredded, and I won't set foot inside one of their stores.

 

[Gun guru]

If you buy cheap junk you will get cheap junk.
What is the price of this toolbox?
A new Kennedy machinist tool chest, in steel is $380 new. Production tool catalog, www.ptstools.com

If you have to have a tool box, get a used Kennedy or snap on or Waterloo.

Kennedy is still made in the USA I think.

Harbor freight tools are garbage. A guy that works with me bought a screwdriver package from HF for $6.99. 2 screw drivers, a set of driver bits and a set of socket nut drivers.....Junk. You can feel that it is junk due to the lightweight feel of it all.

 

[Goose]

I bought an 11 drawer, 3 unit chest from HF a few months ago on sale for $139, and it was all I expected. Drawers glide easily, have padded bottoms, etc. Rolls easily. Quality wise, it appears to be as good as some I've seen for twice the price or more.

HF has taken great strides in their quality over the past several years, and the way they're growing, they must be doing something right.

Our local HF occupies a building last occupied by TSC. TSC finally had so much stuff crammed into the building, you literally couldn't turn around in an aisle, so they built a new facility with several times the space. The way HF is growing, they'll soon reach that same point.

You can't just unilaterally label HF cheap Chinese junk anymore, they're a serious contender. The only thing I stay away from is their stickon DA sander discs. They stick too good. You have a he11 of a time peeling them off the pad. But, I'm going mostly to 3M's "Hook It II" discs anymore anyway, and HF doesn't sell them.

 

[John A.]

Dave, If you are talking about the Red U.S.General tool boxes I believe they are the best value for the money spent. They have a 13 drawer bottom, a 8 drawer top, a side 42in vertical chest and a 7 drawer end cabinet on the other side.
They have a Big 56 in long, 11 drawer base too.
You should have gotten in on the Dec sale, about $100 off the big pieces and $50 off the smaller ones
Go For It!
Later,
John A.

 

[MarbargerFarms]

I have one of their 5 drawer service carts. The drawers slide very smooth, and have decent amount of room. I find the quality to be better them most craftsman boxes.

 

[r_d97]

We bought the red 5 drawer service cart a month ago at work and liked it so much we bought another. This tool box is the real deal. As some others have noted some of the stuff is still pure junk. This tool box is not one of them. Craftsman or Mac should have a tool cart this nice.

Edward

 

[Mark-Mi]

You will find dozens of pages over at The Garage Journal. They all think the box is the best thing since sliced bread.
The Garage Journal tool forum is a great place to hang out if you like tools. Mark
Garage Journal thread

 

[Dave_Id]

Thanks to all of you who responded. I realize most of the tools at HF are junk. I do have a couple of Kennedy roller cabinets, one at work, and a small 3 drawer one I bought in the late 70's in my garage, but I was looking for a replacement for the one in the garage. It won't get much use, more of a storage unit then anything. I'll check out that link that someone sent, and look at the Waterloo site also, but the money is right.... Thanks again.