This is true. Depending on the level, it may or may not have ball bearing slides, and may or may not have channeled frames. The only Craftsman sets worth buying are the HD Ball Bearing sets which are both ball bearing slides and channeled frames.

 

Home Depot Black Friday 2014 Tool Deals | ToolGuyd

 

I meant the black HF stuff.

 

I bought the 8 drawer 50th Anniversary Roller Bearing model in Black and Grey. I'm happy with that one on clearance for $199. The non-bearings ones didn't seem too sturdy.

 

I just put together all of my Christmas Costco gift cards and bought the kirkland tool chest costco sells. It's 42" wide and 63" tall. For some strange reason I thought it would fit in my wife's prius but that didn't happen. Had to call my in laws to bring their Escape and it barely fit. I'll take some pictures tomorrow when I get home. My local Costco didn't have any so I had to buy it here in ft wayne.

 

I got the red 44" HF chest and top box for Christmas. It is much bigger than I expected, so all of my tools fit with room to grow! My only complaint is that the top doesn't like to stay closed without locking it, but I don't want to lock it all the time. I'll lose the key, and for some reason it won't stay in. I may have to rig up a magnetic catch or something to hold it down.

 

I thought I'd throw this idea out here. As you know Radio Shack is down sizing, so there are a number of stores that will be closing. I was in one the other day and noticed that their small parts drawers have snap-on quality glides. This may be an opportunity to pick up some of these super cheap. The insides come out so that means all kinds of options for storage for a fraction of what a lower tool cabinet would cost.
There are three stores in my area, two of them are closing. I went in and asked about the drawers and who would be the person to make the decision on selling them. I offered to take all of them at about $25 a cabinet and maybe we could work out a deal on all of them. Then left my contact info to see what happens.
Good luck, maybe we can score some of these!
Cheers,

- Jeff

 

<edit> **** - i didn't realize i resurrected a thread from 2015. whoops.

The "Flux 125" welder is WIN in my book - it's the perfect snapped bolt extractor! And for $90 (on sale - frequently), it's cheaper than a few nice ez-out sets. If you don't have a welder already, and don't intend to actually weld much, get this little thing. I bought it when i found six snapped header bolts on my Hemi Ram, and it welded a nut to each and every one, and let me just spin them out. I've since built an exhaust with it, welded a few brackets, etc. but the bolt/nut welding is where it's at.



And by far my most favorite is the Pittsburgh 3 ton low profile jack - i got it years ago for $100 and it's going strong. It's the only jack that got under my lowered NB1 (reached the pumpkin no problem) AND was tall enough to lift my Dodge Ram. My favorite feature was the foot pedal, however. I did enough weird **** with it supporting an engine or transmission or whatever while under a car, and being able to lift it with my foot was amazing while my hands were busy. Strangely the latest version doesn't seem to have the foot pedal but it's still in the box art... not sure if it's an option in the box.



And finally - hammers and pry bars. Hammers and pry bars are ******* expensive everywhere else. In HF, they're like $5. Always a good buy

 

There is a harbor freight win/fail thread. This would be of benefit there

 

6 inch metal chop saw. FAIL. Gears shattered on the 3rd or 4th use.
https://www.harborfreight.com/6-in-5...saw-61204.html

Chicago Die grinder FAIL. It works, but it uses massive amounts of CFM so my BIG air compressor can barely keep up. Also cuts slower than a hack saw.

https://www.harborfreight.com/air-an...der-32046.html

Three ton Aluminum Race jack, WIN. Wanted a quality Jack for my miata AND my Tacoma. Fits the bill nicely. For the price, it had better be a WIN. Coupons never apply to it.

https://www.harborfreight.com/3-ton-...num+floor+jack

Buy carfeully...

 

My wife got me a Kobalt rolling tool chest from Lowe’s last year. Not a huge fan of anything Kobalt, but it’s a really nice chest. All heavy duty ball bearing, heavy gauge steel, nice maple top, etc. I don’t think you can do better for around $350

 

If its the one they're always selling I thinkI orss shopped it with HF one and the HF had thicker sheetmetal/sturdier drawers and more usable sized drawers.