Tool Chest Recommendations?

[KZJonny]

In an effort to do a better job of keeping my work surfaces free of random tools at all hours of the day, I'm looking into some kind of 'proper' tool storage in the garaged. So, a rolling tool chest seems like the best way to accomplish the task.

For the moment I'm reasonably sure that just a bottom unit will hold most of my commonly used hand tools and then some. I figure something in the 40" range of boxes should be fine. I wouldn't rule out finding something use locally, but most of what I find is used Snap On or Mac stuff and that is generally selling for $2K++ for used. Yeah, it's good quality and all, but I do not earn a living off this stuff. I just need a box that is reasonably good quality and will help to keep my more organized.

From reading around, and seeing things in person I think I'm at least going to be in for something like Husky heavy duty line, or Maybe the US General stuff from Harbour freight, or somethign in the Hornak mid-range?

Open to thoughts and suggestions. I'm not in a hurry and happy to wait on sales and all that. Also in Canada, so that limits availability of some brands for practical reasons. I am close enough to a Harbour Frieght that ordering in some of the US General bits is possible, and I *think* the ones I am looking at should fit in my wagon. Tho, I have read that they come mainly assembled and *very* well packaged, so that might be a stretch, or at least I would need to peel it before bringing it home.

 

Anyone used any of these mid-grade brands before. Do they seem to hold up to "serious DIY" level stuff? I just don't think that the regular Craftsman/Mastercraft stuff is going to do the job, or at least I can just see replacing it in 5-10 years, at which point I may as well have just ponied up for the used Snap On box in the first place.

[Infosecdad]

I have Craftsman double rolling chest and it's been great for the last five years.

You just have to make sure you get the mid/higher end with the good, heavy drawer slides.

It's similar to this set of them:

https://www.lowes.com/collections/CRAFTSMAN-S2000-52-in-Red-Tool-Storage-Collection/GR_2970

I'm sure there are better ones, but it's been good for my budget level and it's packed with stuff.

[KZJonny]

We don't get the Craftsman linesup of tools up here in Canada, but we have something similar in the "Mastercraft" line carried at Canadian Tire.

Their 'top tier' stuff would be really more like a better made DIY line of tools, probably a lot like that one. Actually, I would be willing to be some of them are the exact same, given it's appearance and striking similarity to the Mastercraft MAXIMUM line of toold and chests. If youv'e been reasonably happy with it, perhaps I should go take a closer look.

Realistically it's like everything else. I could probably spend forever trying to find just the right one or something on a great sale or used, but in the meantime my stuff remains a mess and costs me time. Might be a reasonable idea to just get started with something and decide if it is enough, or not. Then if I did upgrade down the road, I would at least have an idea of what it is I need/want in a tool chest. Never really had a nice one to compare anything else to....

[GearJamr]

I have a Craftsman tool chest.  Had it for over 15 years.  One of the drawers finally doesn't close properly, but still does the job nicely.  I got it before Sears disappeared.

I'd be willing to put it in writing that something from CT would be better than Princess Auto, so can't hurt to take a look.

[KZJonny]

Yeah, the set that I was considering from CT was the 41" 'MAXIMUM' chest. I don't think that much of the regular 'Mastercraft' line of stuff is worth owning, unless it is very ocassional use. That said, I DO have some of those tools. Anyway, pricedropper sale tracking indicates that for the last few years, it goes on it's deepest sale in April some time, and a much less significant sale regularly the rest of the year.

So, if it drop down to the 40% off it is probably actually worth in April, I'll go get some. If not, then maybe the US General Stuff from Harbour Freight. We'll see. Unless of course the price of everything at HF goes up by some ridiculous amount because of the eleventeen percent tariffs coming in on everything shortly. I love that word, tariff. Gonna make everything more expensive for North Americans. F yeah! 

[KZJonny]

I'll also just throw it out there that while true for MOST stuff at Princess Auto, I've been pretty impressed with their Pro.Point line of stuff, considering the price. Better than most of the regular lines elsewhere, and at least as good as MAXIMUM stuff, for often 2/3 the price. Lifetime warranty on much of it as well, so if you manage to somehow break an impact socket they just hand you a new one.

I'll also saw that the returns and customer satisfaction at PA has been 500% better than my experiences with the same at CT.

[BoozeRS05]

I bought this recently to help organize my tools and time. I have them on my bench top, side by side, without the wheels for the cart. Much cheaper option and only 20” wide, but well made/sturdy, and works great for me in a small garage.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/OLYMPIA-20-in-W-x-12-in-D-5-Drawer-Steel-Tool-Chest-and-Cabinet-Combo-with-Power-Outlets-410-037-0111/326987414

[KZJonny]

That would be good and an additional worktop box, as you say. Part of the reason I am looking at a minimum ~40" size range box is that I already have 2 x 27" boxes that are probably larger than that, and they're already full... + 2 x 60" wide x 6' tall shelving units ++ probably 100+ wrenches that are currently hangin on boards on the walls in my basement +++ 2 or 3  x 36" water resistant portable toolboxes also stuffed full.

So.... I am actually thinking what I might do is get a full 40" roll cart +upper for the garage floor, and possibly another 40 - 52" lower unit if I can get casters low enough to slide it under my workspace. This MIGHT be enough space for the tools I currently have, and I don't expect to stop buying more any time soon.... 

[Max Capacity]

Harbor Fright, US General is what you want to get. I have had Craftsman for decades, but when the garage was built, I just picked up the US General service cart (orange). I have (orange)pegboards on the walls above the work bench and near the air compressor. I also have an 26" old Craftsman roll around bottom and top with tools. I have the walls painted a sand color, so the orange stands out nicely. 

Here's from Feb 21 2022. I'll have to go get photos with a camera, as the iphone pic's come out upside down.

 

[KZJonny]

7 minutes ago, Max Capacity said:

Harbor Fright

First time I've seen that nickname, but some of the tools there indeed would scare me to use, if it is my personal safety on the line...

[KZJonny]

8 minutes ago, Max Capacity said:

Harbor Fright, US General is what you want to get. I have had Craftsman for decades, but when the garage was built, I just picked up the US General service cart (orange). I have (orange)pegboards on the walls above the work bench and near the air compressor. I also have an 26" old Craftsman roll around bottom and top with tools. I have the walls painted a sand color, so the orange stands out nicely. 

 

 

But yeah, I am going to go have a look at the US General stuff some time. If it seems up to the task, I may see about getting some if it goes on sale, which seems to be the thing for HF.

It is across the border tho, so getting it into the wagon would be a pain, considering how much it weights and all, but whatever. Easier to just buy things in Canada, but the selection here is slim.

[Max Capacity]

Boy that was difficult, had to find the camera, take photos, download, save to pictures, then find them in pictures...

These should give you some ideas.

 

Yeah, I like the way the drawers slide on the HF US General tool box, I tested a few different brands.  Oh, sorry about the miss-spelling. I do have a lot of their tools.