Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[Rock Crawler]

Intersting. When I went there they had a stack of the side shelves in a pile, I did not see any options other than the 1 stack sitting between the 4 and 5 drawer cart.

 

[TMGT]

Intersting. When I went there they had a stack of the side shelves in a pile, I did not see any options other than the 1 stack sitting between the 4 and 5 drawer cart.

I'm not sure there was a side tray for the 4 drawer originally, there is about a 90sqin difference between the 2 trays.

I believe the 4 drawer "Tech" cart is not as deep if I remeber correctly from when I was comparing them and I know the tray for the tech cart is smaller in both dimensions.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Anyone have the 30" 5 drawer tool cart? I was going to make something to put a tool box I have that I cam roll near my wood lathe to hold odds and ends. With a coupon it's only $10 more than their 4 drawer cart but seams a little stronger. I was hoping to put the folding flat side try on it at the height I would like so I could put a grinder on it. If needed I could beef up the side tray and make the base of the cart wider to make it more stable. Next week I could be passing by HF so I was thinking of stopping in and picking up a few things (like the T-handle allen wrenches). The Yukon work bench looks like an option but I think it would be a little too high (37") for the grinder to sit on and it's kind of wide for where it'll sit even without a side tray. I could just not put the casters on it to lower it down but it's not going to be mobile (it weights almost 150 lbs).
View attachment 566087

I have one of those. I cannot conceive any way you could successfully mount a vise on it. The optional side shelf is not that strong either except for a small clamp on vise HF also has. All depends on the size and weight of the vise and the end use. Carefully evaluate your end use. The tool cart is pretty good and the drawers work well for what it was intended. I segregate my various tools into boxes by trade; this one houses my mechanic tools. I have a 6" vise on a HF grinder stand that works properly for that use also. Dividing my tool the way I do creates a lot of duplication but HF prices allow like each box to have a set of screw drivers.

Ron

 

[TMGT]

I have one of those. I cannot conceive any way you could successfully mount a vise on it. The optional side shelf is not that strong either except for a small clamp on vise HF also has. All depends on the size and weight of the vise and the end use. Carefully evaluate your end use. The tool cart is pretty good and the drawers work well for what it was intended. I segregate my various tools into boxes by trade; this one houses my mechanic tools. I have a 6" vise on a HF grinder stand that works properly for that use also. Dividing my tool the way I do creates a lot of duplication but HF prices allow like each box to have a set of screw drivers.

Ron

I didn't see where he wanted to mount a vise, just a grinder, I assume to sharpen the lathe tooling?

The side shelf might be a little light for a bench grinder unless it's smaller, the shelf says it's rated for 35 lbs, however a lot of the lower priced 6in grinders are about 20-30lbs with wheels so might work for you.

 

[California]

I would want a grinder to be located far enough from my tools that it doesn't throw grit into them. That shelf would be too close. (And likely not strong enough).

 

[crazyal]

AL, are you saying your GRINDER weights 150lbs??!! I know HF sells a grinder STAND.. I had one before the great fire of 15'.. it was ok for a "normal" grinder.. alittle low.. but manageable.
It liked to walk... until I nailed it to the floor using the provided holes.. but that's more of a grinder balance problem than a stand problem..

The grinder weighs close to 35 lbs, which is at the upper limit of the side shelf. It's a slow speed wet grinder so you don't push hard. The mechanic's carts have 2 locking wheels which should be more than enough to stop it from moving. It doesn't turn fast enough to worry about vibrating or walking.

This is a Tromek grinder. It turns at about 100 rpm, very slow and the wheel sits in a water tray so the wheel is always wet. The wheel has, nor does it need a guard like a regular grinder. You can reshape a tool on it but it would like watching grass grow. You don't push hard on it so the rubber feet are more than enough to keep it from moving. Because there's no guard you can grind on either side of the wheel so either you need to be able to have access to both sides or be able to turn it around easily. With the optional diamond wheel you can even grind on the side of the wheel. The smaller tray would need to have something larger attached to it as it's smaller than the footprint of the grinder.

I did a search but didn't see the coupon for the 4 drawer cart.

 

[Rock Crawler]

The grinder weighs close to 35 lbs, which is at the upper limit of the side shelf. It's a slow speed wet grinder so you don't push hard. The mechanic's carts have 2 locking wheels which should be more than enough to stop it from moving. It doesn't turn fast enough to worry about vibrating or walking.

This is a Tromek grinder. It turns at about 100 rpm, very slow and the wheel sits in a water tray so the wheel is always wet. The wheel has, nor does it need a guard like a regular grinder. You can reshape a tool on it but it would like watching grass grow. You don't push hard on it so the rubber feet are more than enough to keep it from moving. Because there's no guard you can grind on either side of the wheel so either you need to be able to have access to both sides or be able to turn it around easily. With the optional diamond wheel you can even grind on the side of the wheel. The smaller tray would need to have something larger attached to it as it's smaller than the footprint of the grinder.

I did a search but didn't see the coupon for the 4 drawer cart.

I actually posted the coupon back a few posts. The 4 drawer is $99, just save that image to your phone and take it with you.

 

[Rock Crawler]

The grinder weighs close to 35 lbs, which is at the upper limit of the side shelf. It's a slow speed wet grinder so you don't push hard. The mechanic's carts have 2 locking wheels which should be more than enough to stop it from moving. It doesn't turn fast enough to worry about vibrating or walking.

This is a Tromek grinder. It turns at about 100 rpm, very slow and the wheel sits in a water tray so the wheel is always wet. The wheel has, nor does it need a guard like a regular grinder. You can reshape a tool on it but it would like watching grass grow. You don't push hard on it so the rubber feet are more than enough to keep it from moving. Because there's no guard you can grind on either side of the wheel so either you need to be able to have access to both sides or be able to turn it around easily. With the optional diamond wheel you can even grind on the side of the wheel. The smaller tray would need to have something larger attached to it as it's smaller than the footprint of the grinder.

I did a search but didn't see the coupon for the 4 drawer cart.

Here, I'll post it again for you.

 

[Code54]

I bought the 4 drawer for $99 last month just have a tool cart near the vehicles when I am working on it. I am really impressed with it for $99

 

[Michael Aos]

They now have a 30" 4-drawer for $159.99 and the 2nd generation 5-drawer is now $209.99.

I think the 30" Bulk Storage Tech Cart is new too.

 

[TMGT]

They now have a 30" 4-drawer for $159.99 and the 2nd generation 5-drawer is now $209.99.

I think the 30" Bulk Storage Tech Cart is new too.

Or you could get them for 99.99 and 169.99 with coupons rockcrawler posted earlier, 4 drawer one is good until 12/31 and the 5 drawer is good until 9/13 I believe.

 

[PhysAssist]

Incorrect, it is a $70 difference between the 4 drawer at $99 and the 5 drawer at $169. For this reason I went with a pair of the 4 drawer units at $99 each and then used the 20% off for each of the folding side shelves.

You absolutely will need to enhance the folding side shelf if you intend to put a grinder on it.

As for the quality of the tool cart, I love it.

The 4 drawer has more space beneath and fits larger items like gallon jugs of chlorine that the 5 drawer will not accept. For the 70% cost increase I did not desire the 5 drawer version.

When your pricing this stuff, throw the paper adds in the nearest trash can and use the Harbor Freight Coupon Database phone application instead. Otherwise, your throwing money in the nearest trash can.

I agree on pretty much all points- the 4-drawer cart is the better deal for the money.

It was kind of a pain to put together, but it's strong and serviceable, and well worth it.

I think the shelf maybe could hold a grinder, but it wouldn't feel very secure, and on my cart anyway, the side shelf made the lid hard to close- like they weren't made to fit each other very well.

 

[crazyal]

The shelf will be lower than the lid, 30" seams to be a good height, so it shouldn't be a problem. The single drawer cart would be enough storage but it's a big deep drawer and what I want is at least one smaller shallow drawer for things like screws. It'll most likely have a drawer full of sandpaper. Then one with bulky items (that could go in the top. It would be nice to be able to close the lid to keep wood shavings out of it. I have all the different coupons saved on my phone and next week I'll stop in. Hopefully they have at least one on display of each. Just looking at the pictures it looks like the only difference is that the 5 drawer has one more half width drawer and one of the half width drawers is taller plus it's a little deeper. But the specs say it can hold more (about what the one extra drawer could hold). Right now I'm leaning towards the 4 drawer as I can't see the benefits for my intended use.

 

[TMGT]

The shelf will be lower than the lid, 30" seams to be a good height, so it shouldn't be a problem. The single drawer cart would be enough storage but it's a big deep drawer and what I want is at least one smaller shallow drawer for things like screws. It'll most likely have a drawer full of sandpaper. Then one with bulky items (that could go in the top. It would be nice to be able to close the lid to keep wood shavings out of it. I have all the different coupons saved on my phone and next week I'll stop in. Hopefully they have at least one on display of each. Just looking at the pictures it looks like the only difference is that the 5 drawer has one more half width drawer and one of the half width drawers is taller plus it's a little deeper. But the specs say it can hold more (about what the one extra drawer could hold). Right now I'm leaning towards the 4 drawer as I can't see the benefits for my intended use.

Only thing I have my been able to figure out is where the extra weight of the 5 drawer comes from, it weight almost 1/3 more which can't come from the 1 extra drawer. It also has a higher load capacity so might be made of heavier materials?

Hopefully they have them side by side in the store so you can see which one fits your needs better, that's how I ended up with the 5 drawer over the 4. I haven't looked at the Series 2 real close yet though to see how much they differ.

 

[lostcreekranch]

The shelf will be lower than the lid, 30" seams to be a good height, so it shouldn't be a problem. The single drawer cart would be enough storage but it's a big deep drawer and what I want is at least one smaller shallow drawer for things like screws. It'll most likely have a drawer full of sandpaper. Then one with bulky items (that could go in the top. It would be nice to be able to close the lid to keep wood shavings out of it. I have all the different coupons saved on my phone and next week I'll stop in. Hopefully they have at least one on display of each. Just looking at the pictures it looks like the only difference is that the 5 drawer has one more half width drawer and one of the half width drawers is taller plus it's a little deeper. But the specs say it can hold more (about what the one extra drawer could hold). Right now I'm leaning towards the 4 drawer as I can't see the benefits for my intended use.

Do you already have the grinder you intend to use? I assume, for your turning tools, you’d want a slow speed wet grinder? The Delta I have weighs about 8 lbs.



Delta Shopmaster Utility Sharpener Model GR Knife Chisel Blade Part No.96996 | eBay

Here is similar from Micro-Mark but suspect Delta makes it.

Amazon.com: Wet/Dry Utility Sharpener: Home Improvement

 

[PhysAssist]

Do you already have the grinder you intend to use? I assume, for your turning tools, you壇 want a slow speed wet grinder? The Delta I have weighs about 8 lbs.

View attachment 566231

Delta Shopmaster Utility Sharpener Model GR5 Knife Chisel Blade Part No.96996 | eBay

Here is similar from Micro-Mark but suspect Delta makes it.

Amazon.com: Wet/Dry Utility Sharpener: Home Improvement

Thanks for the links Rick- I put them on my buy-some-day list.

 

[Travelover]

Only thing I have my been able to figure out is where the extra weight of the 5 drawer comes from, it weight almost 1/3 more which can't come from the 1 extra drawer. It also has a higher load capacity so might be made of heavier materials?..........

My sense when looking at them in the store was that the cheaper cabinets are made of thinner steel. Could be wrong though. I love the 5 drawer cabinet.

 

[crazyal]

Yes, as I said it's a Tormek grinder. It weighs about 35 lbs.

There's a couple clones on the market, one from Grizzly, that will save you money. But you'll end up buying the jigs from Tormek as they seam to be the best. If you want a razor sharp edge it's the way to go. They are really for touching up the edge ve reshaping a tool or repairing major damage.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Yes, as I said it's a Tormek grinder. It weighs about 35 lbs.
View attachment 566265
There's a couple clones on the market, one from Grizzly, that will save you money. But you'll end up buying the jigs from Tormek as they seam to be the best. If you want a razor sharp edge it's the way to go. They are really for touching up the edge ve reshaping a tool or repairing major damage.

Ok ..... sorry.

 

[crazyal]

Ok ..... sorry.

No problem. I should have posted a picture of it when I first asked the question. Most people aren't familiar of them.