Can You Really Compare Harbor Freight To Snap-On? (Yes) 

If I opened a box from Snap On and found loose rails, rubbing surfaces and the other things you pointed out it would immediately be returned. You don’t pay that much money for that low level of quality.

As a professional mechanic, I've always said "storage doesn't make you money." I still use the craftsman box I got when I was 21.

Girl: "Matt where do you keep condoms?" Matt: "Third row from top on the right next to the endmills"

Spending thousands of dollars for a toolbox is crazy in my option. I work as a hd diesel mechanic and my us general has held up great.

I was bothered by the extreme tools name, until you mentioned that one could use it to store vaping supplies and monster energy drinks - I'm sold.

I'm 70. Still using the gray and red 10 draw Craftsman my parents bought me when I was in high school... Not making them like that anymore.

The toolbox nightstand is a game changer, thank you for the insight😂 this is the kind of forward thinking we need

@10:06 "any flat surface will quickly become a workbench" THANK YOU!!! I always wondered if this is normal or if I had a problem.....

Us general will be a good box for 95% of users.

As a wife and mother I think that using a tool box for a night stand is absolutely... ...BRILLIANT! But if you go this route, make sure you have a his and her tool box nightstand that matches.

As an update, I would say the higher quality Icon boxes from HF are more comparable to Snap-On than US General. I was at a store the other week and looked over the icon boxes and was really impressed with the build quality and overall feel.

I'm 69 and a Class A Gas & Diesel mechanic with too many year of experience using tool boxes daily. I've had Craftsmen, Cornwell, Mac, Snap-On and an old Delco Shock Display box I repainted and used for years for pretty much just air and electrical tool storage. Of all the boxes, the most immediate feature I felt I wanted was the feel. As I would be opening and closing the box hundreds of times a week, I wanted a handle and slide mechanism that I could become acquainted with in more or less the same way one becomes married to the feeling I'd get driving a well constructed race car. Something that intuitively I could just use without having to think about it and was secure in the knowledge that it was doing the job it was intended to do. The Cornwell was my favorite. Best slides, heavier sheet metal and actual comfortable chrome, no sharp edges anywhere handles that were screwed onto each of the drawers. My next favorite would have been the Mac's. 3rd would have been the Snap-Ons. Just the feel made the biggest difference. Next the ease of removing the drawers... Snap-On's method sucked compared to the others. I found the Craftsmen boxes pretty good too but their bottoms always seemed to cave when they were overloaded... I know, my fault, but when you're using them for work they tend to get overloaded.... so I just went ahead and added a piece of 1/8" diamond plate to the bottoms under the wheels... and put on bigger wheels while I was at it. Problem cheaply solved. Of course my days were many years ago and the new boxes just weren't around then at all.

They sell rubber stripping wheels for your drill and they're great at zipping off any soft materials from paint w/o damaging it. You'll notice there are inexpensive options.... and then the 3M stuff... I went w/ 3M so no clue what the cheaper ones will do.... but it should zip that foam crap right off!

The amount of data and variables you pack into a video is seriously beyond perfect. You time it excellently for over achievers and bare bones people alike. Huge fan Matt, can't wait to see what you have next.

I used Harbor Freight tools almost exclusively when working in the shipyard. They were good quality and if they were "lost" they were easily replaced. I never had any of those tools break in use and I still have them 12 years after I retired.

It’s clear to me that you definitely can compare the two end cabinets. Also, HF definitely doesn’t deserve the bad reputation you make fun of like that their tools can only be used once, they have a bunch of awesome stuff that’s definitely high enough quality for the price you pay. They key is buying the right thing at the right place. No need to be loyal to any specific brand.

Wow, I can't believe I stumbled on this gem of a channel. How is it you only have 50k subs??!!

"Something useless like a crawlspace or the kitchen" The way the Man Show would say it!

To see that many flaws on a small box costing over a grand sealed the deal. And your reference to Rolex not being for telling time hit different. Great video. Thank you!

I think the "stop or grab halfway" is from them not exercising the rails fully after install, I have a US General box that did the same thing, I greased the rails and ran them in and out about 10 times each, smooth as butter now.

I love it when any company who was considered to produce bottom of the barrel products slowly improve their brand to rise to be among the top of the Pack.

Also, yes Us General boxes are stout! We had a 44" in the diesel shop and heavy equipment shop for 8 or so years, and still works just fine and no issues. I wish they were deeper, that's my only issue.

The new ICON boxes from harbor freight are insanely good for the price.

I once called their stuff cheap. A manager was annoyed and said, “they’re not cheap, they’re affordable.”

I’m a cheap bastard, so often my favorite toolbox is the one on clearance with a fixable blemish that never gets fixed. That said, in my experience the old middle of the road craftsman boxes always lasted longer than you wanted them to because they felt cheap(Kalishnakof theory loose tolerances last longer). Bit older harbor freight still seems to be excellent bang for the buck, my current “garage “ (for the last 7yrs) is actually a covered patio and my roller box and service cart still show no signs of falling apart, they previously lived in a diesel truck shop. No experience, but I wonder about the “professional “ brand ICON at harbor freight

I remember my cousin who spent $20k from his snap on truck. I spent 1/8th of that for all my tools (Milwaukee, HF, Craftsmen). He still owes $8k, my shits all paid off and both of our shit is still running for the last 7 years. He’s even asked to use my impact a ton cause his snap on isn’t as strong 😂

Your music selection for title cards was unexpectedly prefect

Love to see an update comparing Harbor Freight's ICON boxes to the rest.

I have no interest in buying a tool box any time soon, but, boy, I can listen to this guy talking about anything. So funny, knowledgeable, and self-deprecating. Lovely stuff.

A Craftsman night stand I love it.

I would definitely return that snap on box for another one. The drawers should slide out smoothly no hang ups and it certainly should not have a drawer rubbing against the frame

I’m a mechanic by trade, I have considered buying boxes off the trucks that show up but I just can’t beat the affordability and longevity of US General boxes. They hold up amazingly well and to get a giant rolling cart and hutch for the price of a snap on 4 drawer cart I just can’t get past it

I've had a 44" US General box for about eight years now. Half of that time it was used daily at a truck salvage. I have to say that I'm impressed with how well it's held up. I also own an extremely old Snap-on box and some older Craftsman boxes. All I can say is the US General box has had zero issues and is way better built than the Craftsman boxes. Only time will tell if it'll last as long as the Snap-on box.

Grab a 3m decal remover wheel for that sticker. They work great

Great vid. enjoyed thanks for sharing as I’m looking into purchasing a new box.

Very well done sir. Kudos for all of your hard work.

The US general series 2 boxes are very nice. I have the 54” base and a 22” top. Have almost daily use for the last 6 months and are holding up very nicely. For the money, you can not beat it. I would prolly never spend the money on a snap on box. Would rather buy a cheaper but good box and fill it with lots of tools.

I'm a residential estimator and I get asked how much to build a house all the time (the absolute stupidest question BTW). I use the toilet scenario all the time. I even created a flyer that shows the wide range of toilet prices and options. If there are that many options for toilets, imagine all the options that are also available for the other thousand plus items that go into a home!!! Great video.

One of the best tool reviewers I’ve seen. Great job 👍🏼

Matt, love your content, editing style, sense of humor, etc and of course all the cool stuff you build. Just watched the vid where you took the jag out to see how far a charge would last.... I was literally LoL'ing when you were one driveway away from home, entertaining and also very relatable. A solution for the adhesive left over from the giant crappy exTreme logo and all things sticky that still stick even though you want them to not stick. I have used two 32oz bottles of this stuff and have another 32oz under the sink for future sticky things. Unlike most other products it doesn't attack the adhesive it breaks the bond the adhesive has on the substrate. It's not a miracle cure and still requires elbow grease, I found the best technique was several rounds of spray, let soak for 30-60sec, rub with 3M scrubby pad and/or razor blade. I tackled 20yr old weather stripping, tar based seal tape and it's one of the few products that actually deals with silicone and it's residue. I'd imagine with all the other projects the leftover toolbox goop is probably out of site out of mind, but if you wanna go back and kick it's butt, this is a great solution. getremov.com

Loved "highly recommend if your garage backs up to something useless like a crawl space or the kitchen"

When I saw the Craftsman nightstand I knew we were simpatico right then! Great vids.

I have a US General box and I’m perfectly happy using it in my home shop storing tools and other automotive parts.

Matt you just gained a subscriber….love your sense of humor.

I paid $169 for the HF End Cab and bolted it into my Chevy Express by the back driverside door. I lock it while driving so the drawers stay shut and use the hell out of it all day and it is still great after 5+ years.

Thank you for a review video that's not only actually watchable, but straightforward, honest, and pitched to the consumer who wants the really important information.

Thank you for the video and information! Do you think the longevity of the icon/harbor freight boxes will be the same as snap on? Specifically the drawers opening and closing freely, over many years.

Great vid! I’m still sticking with my masters series triple bank Snap-on. Can’t beat it

There is always the 5th or 6th option...buying a way better toolbox than you could normally afford because you go it used. This works out best for shopping right after Christmas and Fathers Day...lots of folks get a dad a fancy new tool box and the home garage is only so big. Proto and Husky seem to be most common for this but for estate sales it seem that Cornwell must have been popular in the 80's as those seem to be what the rural estate sales always have.

I still have my Snap On rollaway, top box and side cabinet I bought in 1968. The tools inside are a real mix of a lot of brands, the result of years of use. Still have the Snap On 3/8 drive ratchet that I bought in '68 as well. Still have a Craftsman bench grinder from the same year- it has ground a ton of metal over the past 53 years.

"Any flat surface will quickly become a workbench." Possibly the truest statement ever uttered on RU-vid.

Cool review. Thanks

Interesting video with good info. I’m a mechanic of over 20 years and I own a Snap On triple bank that is from 1999 and I know they are pricy but they are built to last, I’m expecting to keep it for another 20 years. And I’d return that end cabinet, that doesn’t meet the quality standards that Snap On has.

Like you I have a few makes of toolbox. First one bought 50 years ago, a Stanley is battered but still in one piece and works well. Next was a 1970s era Snap On bought used , has the welded on drawer runners and is just about indestructable. Next was a used Beach , almost as indestructable as the Snap on. Like you I reciently bought a couple of Husky boxes as the price was less than used Snap on Boxes and am very pleased with them . I have worked with guys who sink all of their money into New Snap On tools/boxes in an vain effort to look like they have great skills. Me I prefer to have a better car and a nicer house , but each to his own.

"however much money you want to take a dump in, there's a toilet for that" the greatest quote of all time

For that adhesive from the badge, RapidTac rapid adhesive remover may work well on it. That stuff has melted most adhesives that I used it on, including that for car pinstriping and trim.

would have loved to see the wall project in action, cheers!

That was a way more awesome video than I was expecting. I'm totally stealing that idea for the nightstand, because I'm not married!!! I'm betting you aren't either!!! High five! 😜🤚

When I retired from being an auto mechanic I sold my big Snap On box. It was 20 years old, very good condition, and I sold it for what I had paid. So with cash in hand I bought 2 -54" inch Chinese boxes. It's not like I'm working out of them 10 hours a day. So for me,.they will be just fine.

I work as an industrial mechanic, my job gave me one of the 3 drawer harbor freight tool carts…. After replacing the lift struts and drawer hinges several times I threw it in the garbage, I bought a 36” Milwaukee and that’s a hell of a great box for all day use, I still have my 3 craftsman tool boxs and they are over 20 years old now and still going strong at the house

Love the video. I also own about ten tool boxes from different manufacturers. Harbor Freight offers several different lines of boxes and they are changing them constantly, also the pricing changes and even the names. I got a US General box last year and it's the best one I have. If you go by rated weight that's not a bad criteria. Go to the store when it's not busy and see if you can find the store manager, tell him you're looking at buying or ordering an $800 tool box and ask for his help, he can tell you what the best coupons deals are and give you some guidance. The store manager knows what tools come back...and they get a lot of returns at Harbor Freight.

It’s good to see a comparison from someone that actually owns the boxes they’re talking about. I’m not saying us general is close to the high end brands but they’re a great option for someone that can’t afford extreme or a truck brand. After using their service cart daily for the better part of a decade the only problem I’ve had was the lid struts.

Thank you for your review!

You my friend just earned a like and a new subscriber. Very well thought out, and informative. Great video dude🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼

I’ve been a mechanic since the 1980s. I’ve had toolboxes from Craftsman, Snap-On, Mac, Matco, and recently, Harbor Freight. The tool truck branded boxes were incredible 20 years ago, but it feels like their quality has crept downward as their price has crept upwards over the years. I bought the US General 44” top and bottom for daily use in a municipal garage after getting an obscene quote from Snap-On for similar boxes. I spent $700 instead of $7000, and I don’t see any drop-off in quality that would justify that difference. Definitely better than 80% of the quality for less than 20% of the price.

For the adhesive pad on the Extreme toolbox, a WD40 soak (Could be dabbed on with a sponge to prevent a lot of mess) should break down the foam and possibly some of the adhesive, if anything is left some rubbing alcohol should work to remove. There is also some products that are designed to remove stickers that could work as well

Your toilet analogy made me sub.. Idk why but it just felt so relatable

RV Mechanic here. I had a large Snap on rollaway that I paid way too much for. Within 2 years the drawers became loose and moved from side to side. And it started to rust at the seams. I inherited my Fathers 1960s Stackable rollaway Kennedy box. Best box I have ever had! 50 plus years old and the drawers open and close as smooth as the day it was made. The brown hammered finish doesn't have a scratch on it. The Snap on is rusting away in my shop at home.

If I was super rich I would keep my shorts and socks in a Snap-on.

Great video! I love the built in idea of your boxes! I can verify that the tool truck tool boxes are overpriced, but the best you can buy. I started out with a US General toolbox at the dealership I work at. Paid around $700 for the top and bottom box and a year or so later my Matco dealer offered me $1,000 tool credit to trade in on their toolbox. I ended up with a 4s triple bay with hutch at around $7,000 (would have been more like $10,000 but the hutch was a free promo with purchase of the bottom). Is the Matco box better and more premium than the HF box? Yes. Is it 10 times better to justify the price? No.

Good reviews and Comments i’m glad you talked about Xtreme ,not too many reviews on them but because of their Prices onEbay etc they keep getting my attention ,honestly for myself they are going to be used in the Engine Rooms of my boats and be mostly used by myself for organized storage most of the time not really a Working Out of box in the Traditional ways

My wife has a Husky with a wood top that she used for her kirchen countertop. It's pretty awesome really!

As a professional technician I can tell you that my service cart drawers are opened and closed about 13000 times per year. That's conservative at 50 times per day. My mac box made it 5 years of daily abuse before retirement and at year 3 the top drawer started to sag. Not one drawer issue on the snap on.

"Extreme tools is kind of a stupid name, like it should be filled with vaping supplies and monster energy drinks" Just take my up vote

Just bought my first box a 56" Icon I hope it's a good as it felt in store.

I was gonna compliment your video and how excellent you are at this but then I saw your sub count. You already know. Awesome.

Your sense of toilet humor is exactly my taste. Subscribed.

A thing in favour of Snap-On anything is that it seems to retain a lot of its original value in the used market, so there could be an argument that they could be cheaper in the long run.

Love that nightstand. Did it come with the wood top or did you add that?

Best toolbox I’ve seen so far from a fit and finish perspective are the Menards Masterforce black ones either the green handles. Nice latch, nice slides.

Thanks for showing me the (lack of) quality of that Snap-on. Lord, I'd scream if I paid decent money for something like that. It would be returned, that's for sure. Anyway, I'd think a toolbox connoisseur, like yourself, would be heavily into Lista instead of all these merely adequate manufacturers. At least you actually get what you pay for with Lista... Unlike Snap-on.

To everyone complaining about the cost of snap-on, it is made in the USA, in a union shop, they have to be paid union wages, not like some countries that pay their employees $1 a day, if you work with it everyday, it is apparent the difference, if you’re just using them at home, HF will be your friend. I don’t know who pays “retail” for this stuff, maybe if it’s a truck account, but if you’re a cash buyer, 40-50% off all the time, every time. But a lot will depend on your dealer, he actually does have to make money to pay his bills too. My dealer hooked me up on a epiq box, power top, hutch and 3 power lockers, money talks, bull$hit runs a marathon.

Awesome review!

What model tool box are you using for the night stand I like the idea alot

I was surprised by the quality of Husky toolbox. They’re online with craftsman and US General. Even cheaper than the Harbor Freight one.

As a certified technician myself, who works on cars every day, I can tell you while Snap on and Matco are definitely pricy, you get what you pay for. With that said, yeah, brand names will mark it up just because of the name, but quality is 100% better than competition. My box is Matco. All my drawers get opened up dozens of times a day. Can honestly say I’ve never greased my tracks every month like the owners manual to my box says, and in the 3 years I’ve had it, I’ve never had an issue with them latching or sliding closed. Most of my wrenches and sockets are snappy and matco and a few Cornwell too. They grab better, look better, way less likely to crack/strip a bolt, etc. Ratchets and hammers…snappy. Way better hardened steel than cheap Pittsburgh or even Icon. Craftsman is ok for at home use. But eventually those stripped or cracked, or the chrome faded. Never has happened with my snap on stuff. The price sucks, but it beats having to warranty something a dozen times “because I won’t spend money on good tools”.

Hey Matt, do you happen to know the exact model number for that Extreme box? Looks like they have a few different "series" of product lines.

Found the kobalt boxes from Lowes to be the best mix of quality and cost. No others in it's class came with soft close which is a big nice to have.

With them hiring the Mercedes engineer I'd in fact love to hear you break down a Kia Forte GT vs a Mercedes, dollar to dollar. Edit: You don't have a heatgun in one of those tool boxes to take the black goop off with?

When I ran custom car install shops back in the '80s I bought a used Snap-On 6 foot tall roller cabinet and top box combo from a Snap-On dealer in excellent condition for $700 (new they were about $2,500 at the time). I also got a used Snap-On side box similar to the ones in this video for $100. While I agree that they probably aren't worth the price when purchased new, buying used can make them a much better value. People trade in boxes all the time to buy newer, bigger ones, check with dealers and you can usually find a good box at a great price. Over 40 years later I still have them and use them daily.

Have the US General 30” 5 drawer mechanics cart and added the side cabinet to it. Been using it at work for a couple years at work. Has held up great.

Enjoyed ! Thank You !

I absolutely love my Snap-On toolbox, that said, I bought it used and haggled the price down because I knew the rep wanted to get rid of it ASAP. Being a tech, the majority of my love of Snap-On comes from my hatred of going places and typically disliking people. I want to put hands on a tool before I purchase it, so most of online is out and when borrowing tools within a shop, most of the things passed around are Snap-On or Matco. I learned the hard way that trying a Snap-On tool and then buying the comparable Mac tool just leads to disappointment. So between Home Depot, Harbour Freight, etc. and Snap-On, with Snap-On, I only have to deal with the single rep, and he comes to me consistently. It is an expensive way to go about life, but I also very rarely have tools break.

Here's a coment for the algorithm, thanks for the great video.

Just found your channel, you're awesome dude!

I'm having trouble finding a 12'ish inch deep box for mounting in my truck bed. Any leads?

Best thing about snap on boxes resell value they hold their price. I always got good money out of my used snap on boxes

The thing that shocked me the most is that these tool carts cost this much money. They seem like a pretty simple item.

Hey Matt, what is the sku for the Craftsman "nightstand" box????

Excellent, cheers for the info.