Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[crazyal]

I ended up with the 5 drawer cart but the difference really is that the 4 drawer cart has two shallow half shelves (side by side) while the 5 drawer has three half shelves. Two shallow ones and a deep one. The 5 drawer cart is also deeper. The main reason I went with the 5 drawer was for the side shelf. It's bigger and felt sturdier. I didn't like the way it locked into position so I welded it so mine is always up.

It's funny that they put the side shelf under the handle. When I bought mine the directions had you put it on the opposite side as the handle (which wouldn't work if you had the side shelf). The nice thing is that you can easily customize things to fit your needs. I actually have a grinder on the side shelf so I mounted it about 5" lower than what it was designed for. Simply drilling a couple holes and I could mount it at any height. At the time the side shelf only came in red (and there was only 3 colors to choose from for the cart).

 

[Threepoint]

I hate that I'm leaning towards a blue one. I don't really want to spend the money, but I'm getting annoyed with myself for having wrenches and sockets tossed everywhere in plastic and cardboard boxes. Not sure I want the smaller one though. That 44 x 22 double banker is calling me. Really, really, REALLY don't want to spend the $450 on it though.

The 44" x 22" was $399.99 on Black Friday last month:
Harbor Freight Tools Black Friday Ad for 218 | BlackFriday.com

Procrastination is sometimes rewarded, so maybe they'll reprise the sale next November. But for $50 more, I'd go for it now! :laughing:

 

[Ford850]

Look at the photo, I put them side by side... Visually take the aerosol shelf away and you see that you have nearly the same exact vertical space between the 2. If you want, I'll go back tomorrow and jam a tape measure in both to show you the numbers. For all intents and purposes.... The bottom shelf height is same same.View attachment 583667

That picture doesn't show the extra brace on the 5 drawer model. There is a structural brace that is under the aerosol shelf, and is on all 4 sides. That reduces the access to the lower shelf from all 4 sides by a couple more inches. I think the 4 drawer model does give you at least 2" more access to the lower shelf. It was a drawback when I was buying one and considering both models. In the end it was worth it to me to lose that low space and I went with the 5 drawer for some of the other benefits mentioned earlier.

 

[Rock Crawler]

That picture doesn't show the extra brace on the 5 drawer model. There is a structural brace that is under the aerosol shelf, and is on all 4 sides. That reduces the access to the lower shelf from all 4 sides by a couple more inches. I think the 4 drawer model does give you at least 2" more access to the lower shelf. It was a drawback when I was buying one and considering both models. In the end it was worth it to me to lose that low space and I went with the 5 drawer for some of the other benefits mentioned earlier.

You still can put just as tall of an item, you would just angle it slightly as you went in under that channel and then once under there you have almost the same height to stand it back up. But both will accept any 5 quart oil jug it similar gallon-ish jugs with plenty of clearance to spare. Your not going to fit a 5 gallon can under either of them....

 

[Ford850]

You still can put just as tall of an item, you would just angle it slightly as you went in under that channel and then once under there you have almost the same height to stand it back up. But both will accept any 5 quart oil jug it similar gallon-ish jugs with plenty of clearance to spare. Your not going to fit a 5 gallon can under either of them....

Yeah that's true if you can angle something to get it under there. In my case I wanted to store a large tool box, but it doesn't fit due to those braces. I thought about removing the front brace but it gets too wobbly with the drawers full. Not a big deal to leave the brace in place and lose some access since the rest of the 5 drawer has a lot to offer.

 

[Michael Aos]

I couldn't find the blue in stock anywhere when they were on sale. The folks I talked to said they are in-and-out usually the same day.

I wound up getting the black 44" and 14.5" end cabinet.

I was really, really tempted to get the 56" but I was concerned I wouldn't be able to unpack it myself.
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The 44" x 22" was $399.99 on Black Friday last month:
Harbor Freight Tools Black Friday Ad for 218 | BlackFriday.com

Procrastination is sometimes rewarded, so maybe they'll reprise the sale next November. But for $50 more, I'd go for it now! :laughing:

 

[Rock Crawler]

I couldn't find the blue in stock anywhere when they were on sale. The folks I talked to said they are in-and-out usually the same day.

I wound up getting the black 44" and 14.5" end cabinet.

I was really, really tempted to get the 56" but I was concerned I wouldn't be able to unpack it myself.
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I want to get the 56" bottom roller chest and the 14.5" end unit to put against my 72"/56"/14.5'/16" combination, to the right where you see the refrigerator. Ill go red for the 56" and blue for the 14.5" and have the 2 blue side chests against each other and between the 76" and the 56" Everything will need to slide down that wall. Dang it. I need a bigger shop!

 

[Rock Crawler]

Okay guys and gals... Another non HF item that I bought and thought that some of you may have at least some interest in. It's the Ridgid hand held wet/dry shop vac. Think if the old 1980's dust buster but brushless, 18 volts and actually works.... For dry.

Ridgid R86090 Hand Held Shop Vacuum Review. - YouTube

 

[Rich B1]

Ok, all this discussion of tool carts.......so right time to ask.

I am helping a young guy who races flat track with motorcycles. Kid is quite talented.

But, time in the pits seems to be a fire drill of grabbing things to work on the bikes. But it seems to me, we use the same stuff 90% of the time. So I want to simplify.

I am about to pull the trigger on a 4 drawer service cart to give to him. Reality is, we really only use a handful of tools normally. But we change sprockets, clean the chain, check tire pressure, lubethe chain, etc. we don稚 need a lot of tool storage, we do need a place for the sprocket carrier, spare chain, lube, rags, gloves, etc. in other words, i want what we use 90% of the time in one place.

The slightly taller storage area under the cabinet of the 4 drawer is an advantage from how I am looking at the carts. The smaller overall capacity should cut down on the temptation to put tools in that are not needed.

Thoughts?

BTW, took advantage of the Black Friday pricing on the tool storage. Got a 44嚢22 set. Merry Christmas to me! Went from overflowing drawers to a couple of empty drawers. And no, don稚 need more tool! Kept my Craftsman side cabinet. Much better storage than I had before.

 

[L120]

I'm the type of guy who needs a tool chest for everything. Yes, I like mech tools in an upright. Oh...did you know you can stack the base chest to give a huge storage capacity? Anyway, I like wood tools in a chest, electrical & plumbing in a chest, and definitely all welding tools in a chest.