Reel Repair by Alan Tani

General Maintenance Tips => Tools and Lubricants => Topic started by: foakes on December 02, 2025, 03:31:54 AM

Title: Mini Tool Boxes — US General @ Harbor Freight
Post by: foakes on December 02, 2025, 03:31:54 AM
I saw these a few months go at Harbor Freight, and thought they might be pretty handy for tools and parts and other things.  They are the same quality as the larger US General toolboxes.

They were $18.99, which I thought was a good price.

Colors were red, blue, black.

Had to go down to Harbor Freight today to get some impact torx and hex drive 1/2" sockets.

They added (3) more colors —- purple, grey, and green.

Previous colors were $12.99, new colors were $14.99.

Bought all six colors.

These are really cool little tool boxes that will fit a lot of purposes.

Best, Fred

https://www.harborfreight.com/mini-steel-toolbox-purple-73279.html

Title: Re: Mini Tool Boxes — US General @ Harbor Freight
Post by: Gobi King on December 02, 2025, 02:02:08 PM
Fred
How easy are the drawers to slide in/out?

Good find !
Title: Re: Mini Tool Boxes — US General @ Harbor Freight
Post by: quang tran on December 02, 2025, 02:17:36 PM
I got one from Lowes white color ,look  like these but have Kobalt name on it . Draw pulling in and out not smooth
Title: Re: Mini Tool Boxes — US General @ Harbor Freight
Post by: jgp12000 on December 02, 2025, 02:52:35 PM
Wonder if they make trays or drawer dividers for these?
Title: Re: Mini Tool Boxes — US General @ Harbor Freight
Post by: happyhooker on December 02, 2025, 03:50:00 PM
Steel, not plastic.

Frank
Title: Re: Mini Tool Boxes — US General @ Harbor Freight
Post by: foakes on December 02, 2025, 04:09:26 PM
These have the double ball-Bearing slides, just like the big boxes, they are powder-coated, they have rubber inserts in all three areas, magnetic closers, rubber non-skid tabs underneath.

I know a lot of professional mechanics who use US General large roll-away boxes.  A good value and very tough, lifetime.

There are many dividers either available for these, or one can customize their own.  Just look online, these are selling like hotcakes on Saturday morning.

Your wives or girlfriends will snag a couple of these from you very quickly.

For me, I see possible uses as small electrical parts, nuts & bolts, fasteners, 1/4" socket sets, wrenches, hobby stuff, tackle repair tools, sunglasses, knives, and maybe a few hundred other uses.

Snap-On has a comparable box for $131.  Six of these cost me $84 + tax.

The difference in quality is "0".

Don't take my word for it, just go to HF, and check one out for yourselves. These are a solid and useful value.  Anyone on our site will see and appreciate the super-surprising quality and price-value on these immediately.

They are so smooth and so well built.  Plus attractive and immediately useful.

I got these for myself, but they would make excellent Christmas gifts also.

Best, Fred
Title: Re: Mini Tool Boxes — US General @ Harbor Freight
Post by: Benni3 on December 02, 2025, 05:37:26 PM
I got this toolbox about 15years ago $200 he said it was snap-on,,,, ??? But you never know 1955 snap-on emblem? I was almost sure it was a us general but when i got a side shelf for it at harbor freight it didn't fit,,, :o ok,,,but you know how much the price difference is on these things us general $279 vs snap-on $1470,,,,, ;D
Title: Re: Mini Tool Boxes — US General @ Harbor Freight
Post by: JasonGotaProblem on December 02, 2025, 06:49:06 PM
You could buy a snap on sticker and still be a multi day offshore trip ahead
Title: Re: Mini Tool Boxes — US General @ Harbor Freight
Post by: foakes on December 04, 2025, 03:02:21 PM
HF extended their special prices on these until Sunday.

Here is a very good comparison, that helps explain the value of these boxes.

These are NOT flimsy. They are well made and solid.

https://youtu.be/Qn07sChkxOA?si=VJr2KLg2Z_9AY663

Best, Fred
Title: Re: Mini Tool Boxes — US General @ Harbor Freight
Post by: quang tran on December 04, 2025, 03:50:08 PM
Just look at mini toolbox at Harbor Freight yesterday , It is better quality than the one at Lowes with ball bearings draws . Walmart have some also ,I think it's the best of these 3 ,seem more room on top draw . These are Christmas Item so I'm sure they will be clearance after Christmas
Title: Re: Mini Tool Boxes — US General @ Harbor Freight
Post by: Dominick on December 04, 2025, 08:46:00 PM
Quote from: Joel.B on December 04, 2025, 04:46:13 PMthanks Fred, going to buy a couple for the wife and maybe one for me. She has a sewing/quilting room that I hear is pretty nice.
Now that is funny.  Dominick
Title: Re: Mini Tool Boxes — US General @ Harbor Freight
Post by: foakes on December 04, 2025, 09:48:19 PM
So far...

Told Sue how much I saved by buying these...

She just said I could have saved a lot more by not buying them!

Best, Fred
Title: Re: Mini Tool Boxes — US General @ Harbor Freight
Post by: oldmanjoe on December 04, 2025, 11:40:30 PM
 :)  I was in Harbor freight today picking up respirator filters , and took a look at the boxes . 

    You put more in those boxes than I thought was possible .   I may have to look again !   
Title: Re: Mini Tool Boxes — US General @ Harbor Freight
Post by: jgp12000 on December 05, 2025, 12:30:33 AM
Fred, I think you need some more tools...

I just got my 1st impact driver now I cant imagine not having "one" ;D
Title: Re: Mini Tool Boxes — US General @ Harbor Freight
Post by: Gobi King on December 05, 2025, 01:44:34 AM
Fred
I had to pick up one
Ball bearing slides, I am speechless

Use: given the size what are guys going to use these to store ?
Title: Re: Mini Tool Boxes — US General @ Harbor Freight
Post by: JasonGotaProblem on December 05, 2025, 04:21:58 AM
Quote from: Gobi King on December 05, 2025, 01:44:34 AMUse: given the size what are guys going to use these to store ?
That was my question. Seems like you could almost put one hammer in there.
Title: Re: Mini Tool Boxes — US General @ Harbor Freight
Post by: Midway Tommy on December 05, 2025, 06:50:14 AM
Way to dinky to be of any type of good use to me no matter how cheap the price may seem.
Title: Re: Mini Tool Boxes — US General @ Harbor Freight
Post by: JasonGotaProblem on December 05, 2025, 11:57:28 AM
They designed it in inches, but it got built in centimeters, and 5000 were made before they saw the first one.
"So what do we do now?'
"Saaaaale!"
Title: Re: Mini Tool Boxes — US General @ Harbor Freight
Post by: Gobi King on December 05, 2025, 08:55:20 PM
Look at Fred's pic, I enlarged it,
He has it all labeled!

Here is a pic for scale
Title: Re: Mini Tool Boxes — US General @ Harbor Freight
Post by: oldmanjoe on December 05, 2025, 09:02:17 PM
  It does make a good "Man`s jewelry box "
Title: Re: Mini Tool Boxes — US General @ Harbor Freight
Post by: foakes on December 06, 2025, 10:08:39 PM
There are a thousand uses for these boxes —- any type of hobby stuff, supplies, small tools, craft stuff, pocketknives, makeup, jewelry, candy bars, etc.

Here is what I did with the (6) that I picked up for $84 last Monday.

Also, did anyone know that the Snap-On comparable box that cost about $150 each, is made in China by IPX, then relabeled and shipped to Vietnam to avoid high taxes and higher tariffs?  It is a Chinese box without the ball-bearing slides.  The world we live in is full of deceit and purposely hidden information.  Asia has some really good products —- but many manufacturing companies are trading in their good name for high profit rip-offs and taking advantage of unknowing consumers.

Best, Fred
Title: Re: Mini Tool Boxes — US General @ Harbor Freight
Post by: Benni3 on December 07, 2025, 05:10:08 PM
Ya,,,,I'm going to get one for drill bits and maybe one for wet sand paper,,, ;D
Title: Re: Mini Tool Boxes — US General @ Harbor Freight
Post by: Dominick on December 07, 2025, 05:26:43 PM
Hey Fred, you know you can get paid to promote products.  How about a book recommendation?  Dominick
Title: Re: Mini Tool Boxes — US General @ Harbor Freight
Post by: Midway Tommy on December 07, 2025, 07:14:47 PM
Quote from: Joel.B on December 07, 2025, 03:10:23 PMI bought four boxes 

Somebody give me Tommy's address so I can send him one.

:d 😂😂🤣

6"x6"x11" 🥴 I have shoe boxes bigger than that. 😂