Us general tool box vs craftsman

I don't know if they are any better than some of the older craftsman boxes. Just bought a new top and bottom 44" Series 2 in blue. It's fantastic so far. The other day at Lowe's I played with a new Craftsman one that was the equivalent of mine and it was nowhere near as good.

The drawers were shit and slid horribly. US General is good to go. There are different grades of Craftsman, and they have changed over time. Some have ball bearing slides, and some don't. Also, the drawer hold-closed feature works differently for different boxes.

Bottom line: Look at the specific boxes. I have both brands. Quoted: I have both and the Harbor Freight are times better. I have both. I am buying US General all day long if I need a replecement.

Quoted: Yep. Quoted: Quoted: I have both and the Harbor Freight are times better. Quoted: I'm sure Craftsman is Better than horrible freight. The older Craftsman GripLatch tool boxes were pretty good - they were virtually identical to the Waterloo boxes at another hardware store.

I suspect they were made by the same company, although at least some of the Craftsman boxes were made outside the USA. However, the newer Craftsman boxes are garbage IMO. The US General stuff has a pretty good reputation, and is certainly better than current production Craftsman stuff.

That said, I love my SnapOn box, but you pay a huge premium for them Quoted: My wife worked at Seas for 15 years. One of my 1st purchases was a Craftsman box. No clue on the HF boxes but the Craftsman boxes are shit.

Rails come off the drawers, wheels are shit. Well, that wasn't always so. Quoted: Funny,. And I'm not talking about messin' around with the Camaro in the garage, I'm talking about heavy industrial use in a manufacturing plant, with the drawers being opened and closed dozens of times a day.

Never so much as worn out a lock. I won't talk shit about U. General boxes, in fact I've heard great things. But when you say Craftsman boxes are shit, I'm gonna call you out for talking out of your ass.

Quoted: Quoted: My wife worked at Seas for 15 years. Quoted: Several people in this thread have pointed out that Craftsman quality has gone down. Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: My wife worked at Seas for 15 years. Quoted: Would like to see a picture of this. This is what you seek if you want an american made, lifetime box on the cheap. Quoted: This is what you seek if you want an american made, lifetime box on the cheap.

I have my grandfather's craftsman box from ,it built like a tank. Quoted: The older Craftsman GripLatch tool boxes were pretty good - they were virtually identical to the Waterloo boxes at another hardware store.

Quoted: Disregard the above advice unless you have great impulse control or deep pockets. GarageJournal has been by far the most expensive thing to ever happen to me. Quoted: Quoted: Go check out the many, many, many threads over at Garage Journal. That place is the ArfCom of garage shit and they seem to like it.

Quoted: this I had craftsman, but now I have 2 huge listas, and two HF benchtop and the 44 like above. Its way ahead of craftsman by light years. Its amazing smooth and heavier built. It also has better handles and comes with liners. I now own both Craftsman and Harbor Freight toolboxes. For added security, the locks use a tubular-shaped design. A power strip provides six outlets and two USB ports, but unlike other brands, the magnetic power strip can be moved and attached to most metal surfaces and has a six foot cord length for added reach.

The lid uses gas struts for safety and has a full-width lid stiffener to provide extra stability. Owners of this combo love the magnetic power strip and incredible storage capacity.

Assembly is a snap, requiring only the installation of casters and handle. However, be warned that the locks might take a little getting used to, due to their unusual shape.

You and your significant other might end up fighting over this offering from Thor Kitchen. Those who have purchased this unit describe it as a heavy-duty work of art. The rubber drawer liners keep tools and utensils from sliding around, and function smoothly when fully loaded. This model is often sold through third party companies and, as such, several issues regarding customer service and shipping have been reported. Use caution when buying from third parties and always try for a certified dealer when not buying direct.

Designed for owners of precision tools, each gauge industrial grade metal drawer is lined with felt and uses 60 pound-rated friction drawer slides. Six adjustable drawer dividers make it even easier to keep your tools organized. A drop panel conceals the drawer space and can be stored in the bottom while the chest is in use.

Both the drop panel and upper till are secured by a tubular lock. Owning a Kennedy chest has been a rite of passage for many machinists, and the B makes for a great gift. However, issues with shipping tend to be more pronounced due to the gauge steel construction. Many individuals have had dented or otherwise damaged units delivered as a result of poor handling. Buying a tool chest is a bit more complicated than a standard tool box. The sheer size means holding products to a higher standard.

But what features are important, and which type of storage should you invest in? As much as you might think storage space is the most important feature of a good tool chest or cabinet, that should only be the starting point. The best tool storage units will allow you to organize your tools efficiently and last you for many years. Look for heavy duty frame construction, preferably using gauge steel although some thinner gauges may also work well.

The drawers should use ball bearings for smooth movement and less risk of derailing. Good drawer liners are also essential, as these protect your tools from sliding around or getting too dirty. Remember that a good tool chest should outlast many of your best tools, so going for cheap means paying more down the road for a replacement.

Finally, while mobility is a plus, take a moment to decide how important it is before passing up a quality stationary cabinet. These heavy-duty units have plenty of storage space with room on top for extra work space or to nest a tool chest.

Unfortunately, due to the size and weight, tool cabinets have very limited mobility even with wheels and function best in a stationary location. Some smaller tool chests can be taken on the road, making them an excellent choice when you want to keep your tools mobile. Some can even be placed on top of or beneath your workbench. They can also be placed directly on a cabinet to increase your overall storage. The downside is that a tool chest by itself has far less storage space than other options.

Tool chests typically have smaller drawers than cabinets but there may be a higher quantity of them. These units are very similar to tool cabinets, but tend to be slightly lighter and easier to maneuver around the workspace. The top is a finished surface so you can pull up a stool and do all your work from there. Unfortunately, the addition of a workspace means you cannot nest tool chests, limiting the overall amount of storage available. There are a lot of companies out there that offer tool chests, but a few names stand out among the masses.

The following brands of tool chests should always be at the top of your wish list:. One of the best-known names in tools, Craftsman is just as good at providing quality storage for those tools. Contractors can benefit greatly from investing in a Craftsman tool chest they can keep in the shop or take on the go.

Available at Sears. Available at Home Depot. Kobalt produces quality power tools, and their storage solutions are designed to take just as much abuse. The greatest advantage Craftsman has ever had over Milwaukee is their extensive use of advertising. However, any seasoned handyman or contractor can verify the outstanding quality of Milwaukee products. Their tool storage units are no exception and can be found in commercial and industrial workshops the world over. Best known for their quality and durability, Masterforce tool chests are an excellent investment.

Despite being less famous than many other brands, their products can hold their own in a side-by-side comparison with Husky and US General. Available at Menards. When producing quality tools, many manufacturers forget that poor storage can result in damage to even the best of tools.

Matco understands this dilemma and offers a wide range of tool storage options designed to help keep your tools safe and organized. Expensive but can last a lifetime. Available at Matco Tools. Not only do they produce quality tool chests using common designs, but are most famous for their unique triangular tool box designs.

Somewhat related: GJ is tied with Tacomaworld for most arfcommers spotted outside this forum. I have both, the HF box is light years better. Quoted: IMO for a homeowner or hobbyist to just hold tools in why pay more than you have too. Quoted: This. View Quote View All Quotes. Quoted: Quoted: Not even close. Craftsman sucks. I'd go with general if I had to choose between the two. Quoted: Quoted: IMO for a homeowner or hobbyist to just hold tools in why pay more than you have too.

Quoted: A expensive gear puller or socket will earn its keep by saving a mechanic time and money in broken parts. A tool box will never speed a job up.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: IMO for a homeowner or hobbyist to just hold tools in why pay more than you have too. I bought a Craftsmen rollaway back in , back then was not a bad box.

The new HF boxes even smoke the old Craftsmen boxes, the new Craftsmen boxes are junk. I tell guys starting out working on cars or trucks get the HF 5 draw cart, should stand up to working full time in a shop for at least 10 years. My wife bought me US General tool chest for Christmas, we are still waiting on it to be delivered.

I did some research and the reviews seemed to be better than the craftsman and Kobalt brands from lowes. This one. Most of my tools are Craftsman, over ten years old, and good tools for what I use it for. The crap they put out today is not even close in quality to the older stuff. Quoted: My wife worked at Seas for 15 years. Not even remotely close.

Craftsman homeowner quality is absolute garbage. The only Craftsman tool box I have seen come close to hf generate tool boxes are the industrial ones. If you buy nothing else from Harbor Freight, buy their tool boxes. I hate that harbor freight makes decent tool boxes, but they beat any husky, craftsman ect box. Look up the reviews on YouTube. It does go on sale from time to time. It weighs almost lbs empty and has soft close drawers.

The HF boxes are very nice, too, but they cost more. Just checked out HF and the went to Home depot and Lowes. HF boxes are far superior to both Husky and Craftsman. Quoted: The Craftsman boxes are made of much thinner metal. Quoted: Quoted: I'm sure Craftsman is Better than horrible freight. Crftsman makes made? The really cheap ones are terrible. I looked at both a couple of years ago planning on buying one for my Grandboy. Craftsman wasn't even in the same league as the HF.

Felt like it was made out of recycled Budweiser cans. View Quote I'm here. The US General Pro boxes are pretty stout. I'm not sure if Craftsman makes a comparable box but if they do it will be 2X as much as HF.

View Quote Both are Chinese. View Quote Not even close. And I paid less for the HF box then the smaller Craftsman box cost me over a decade and a half prior. As soon as I can get the boxes. The local HF has been out of stock on both for over a month now.

View Quote Disregard the above advice unless you have great impulse control or deep pockets.