I'm thinking about some new tool storage.

[hickory n Steel]

Out in my garage/ shop all I've really got is a pegboard and my old Dayton/ Waterloo 6 drawer top box that belonged to my grandfather.
I'm not looking to replace the box but it's showing it's age and the drawers are small / shallow , so I'm looking to get a 2nd box.

I love American made most of all, but the affordable domestic stuff all seems flimsy and around me 2nd hand is gonna be worn out or overpriced so that's not really gonna work here I don't think.

I'm thinking of going the US general route, they're affordable enough and the 5 drawer cart I put together for my dad seemed pretty well made.


I am trying to decide between 2 different 30" carts from HF, the 4 drawer and the 5 drawer.

The 4 drawer cart seems like a good option, especially with the large top space these cars have which could easily take care of all the storage concerns I currently have, it would probably be awhile before I have even that filled up in addition to my top box.

The 5 drawer box isn't that much more expensive, and I kind of like the idea of that top right drawer they have. I don't know what I'd really use that particular drawer for but might eventually wish I had it.


Which box would you choose ?

I feel like the 4 drawer could be enough till it eventually isn't somewhere down the line but if I can outgrow it I could probably outgrow the 5 drawer too.
I've already got the tool bug bad, and I'm not sure it's a good idea to buy excessive storage that I'm compelled to fill up 

[pep]

When assembling use red locktite, or at the very minimum blue.

 Higher dollar box you're buying better slides, and casters just FYI

Only you know what is the best fit stick with it.

[slip knot]

I haven't been in HF in a while but from what I recall the carts had most of thier storage under the lid on the top. A bit different animal than a roll cabinet. Back when I was looking for more storage I opted for the 52in? Roll cabs instead of a cart because I wanted to put a top box on it.

[hickory n Steel]

I haven't been in HF in a while but from what I recall the carts had most of thier storage under the lid on the top. A bit different animal than a roll cabinet. Back when I was looking for more storage I opted for the 52in? Roll cabs instead of a cart because I wanted to put a top box on it.

Yes a lot of the storage is under the lid.
I'm fine with that because I don't need much more additional storage than what these offer anyways and I like the top area they've got.

[muddy]

Personally I'd go with the 5 drawer. To me that extra drawer is worth the $50 difference. Also more storage is always a welcome thing.

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[hickory n Steel]

Personally I'd go with the 5 drawer. To me that extra drawer is worth the $50 difference. Also more storage is always a welcome thing.

Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk

That's what I'm thinking,  and that particular drawer it adds appeals to me for some reason.
Maybe I can fit my 3 chargers and my tool batteries in there.

Their bottom box is tempting also, but I like the idea of the deep top, and those holes on either side in the top for my handle pry bars maybe, or screwdrivers.


Another thing I liked about the cart is that my pancake compressor might be able to fit in the bottom.

[goodfellow]

I don't have such a cart/box in my shop. I never had a use for one, but they do seem very efficient for a shop where you must be very mobile in your work assignments. With that in mind, I'd take the advice of guys like Tim that are working professionally in such shop environments. They really understand what works and what doesn't, and what's cost effective vs. what's not.

[hickory n Steel]

I don't have such a cart/box in my shop. I never had a use for one, but they do seem very efficient for a shop where you must be very mobile in your work assignments. With that in mind, I'd take the advice of guys like Tim that are working professionally in such shop environments. They really understand what works and what doesn't, and what's cost effective vs. what's not.

I wish I could say I was doing things that specifically warrant the cart and it's mobility,  but for me these HF carts just seem like an efficient box for their size.
My uncle has one and bought one for his youngest son who both use them as regular tool boxes.
I think my uncle has a couple and a typical stack too, but I don't believe they're necessarily using them as mobile carts.

[hickory n Steel]

I wasn't sure when I was going to buy this cart, but they're about to be on sale for $219 June 4th-6t so hopefully I have time to go and pick one up while they're on sale.

[hickory n Steel]

Has anybody tried the matching surge protector/ power strip they offer for the HF boxes ?

I'm mostly curious about the magnet strip and whether it stays in place well or not.

[skfarmer]

I have one. Don't use it much but it sticks plenty  strong enough from my experience.

[hickory n Steel]

I have one. Don't use it much but it sticks plenty  strong enough from my experience.

That's good to know,  I plan on grabbing one when I purchase the box on Friday as long as they have the match to whatever color I end up buying.
I plan on going orange,  but since they're doing the parking lot sale next weekend I will be limited to whatever colors they have in stock by the time I get there after work.

[nelstomlinson]

On sale is my favorite color.

[hickory n Steel]

My favorite color is free, but that color must be too expensive to produce or something because they still refuse to offer it.

[hickory n Steel]

They weren't on the floor but I asked, and I lucked out.
They had the box, power strip, and magnetic can and driver holder all in orange.
I'm not sure I really need that last one but they asked if there were any other accessories I wanted them to check for so I went ahead and had them grab me one.

[hickory n Steel]

[goodfellow]

Nice cart -- congrats on the new purchase.

[hickory n Steel]

Nice cart -- congrats on the new purchase.

Thanks,  I'm happy so far but I still have to nail down how I'm gonna set it up and probably get some decals to put on it because that's something I like to do.

[hickory n Steel]

The aluminum pull that comes with the box just didn't suit me so I had to make something better out of a well worn old DOE wrench I had laying around.



I have it flipped around because I want to see if anybody can guess the make of this old wrench.

Hint : It was made in the Northeast.

[jeffmoss26]

great color!

[hickory n Steel]

great color!

Certainly better than the white one.

I can't imagine anybody wanting a white toolbox unless they were going to airbrush or pinstripe it or something.


I think it would be cool if they offered orange with green drawers, grey with red drawers like the 50's Craftsman boxes, or orange with yellow drawers and black trim so I could put a big Garfield sticker on top.

[hickory n Steel]

 I decided the bottom will be for my cordless power tools, batteries, and chargers.
That is at least until I get tired of having them so close to the ground ( I'm still young enough that it's not an Issue for my back yet ).


I took the power strip I use for my chargers and glued a couple of neodymium magnets to it that I had laying around  so I could stick it inside the back right leg of the cart, a little electrical tape to prevent scratching and it's good to go.

It plugs into the power strip on the side where I've got my 2 lights and fan plugged in, so that's basically my light switch right as I walk out into the garage.


I also decided to move the tray and handle both up so I could put the magnetic accessory tray on the left side in the spot I liked best for it, I also just kind of wanted to move the large side tray up.



The handle sticks up above the level of the top which means I couldn't use it as a work surface,  but with that and many common use tools being in the top I'll be much less inclined to set things on top of it.
The lid doesn't exactly close 100% on that side now, but it can still lock, and I don't see a problem with this otherwise. There seems to be enough play in the system that this shouldn't be putting any kind of unnecessary stress on anything.

Yes I'm a bit limited in what I can put in the side tray now, but I never wanted to load it up with spray cans anyways.

[muddy]

Looking good!

Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk

[hickory n Steel]

Looking good!

Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk

It's getting there.

I still need to order some Ernst wrench racks, a couple of their drawer organizer trays, and maybe a couple of thier pliers racks.

I'm not so sure on the pliers racks now.
For now I've decided to put the pliers In the top right drawer, and if they won't fit I can't trim it down like I did the HF wire frame pliers rack.

[hickory n Steel]

Lemme guess, somebody was just about to say Barcalo weren't they   

[hickory n Steel]

I decided I wanted a little more tool holding capability on the left side, so I took a couple of those cheap HF magnet bars that I had and I bolted them together back to back.



I mostly just wanted this for my WILDE handle pry bars and an random screwdriver or two, so I don't mind having it in a position where I can't utilize the entire thing.
It wouldn't hold a lot of weight anyways, and in fact I had the 36" WILDE bar on there and that end started to slip a little.

It's good for exactly what I wanted it to do and nothing more,  I'm perfectly fine with that.