Minimize Tool Movement And Damage With This Highly-Rated Harbor Freight Storage Find

As you collect tools that every homeowner should have, you need a safe way to store them. Organizing them keeps everyone in the work area safer by preventing accidental trips or bumps. When tools are organized in the toolbox, you'll also reduce the chance of misplacing them or random theft, protecting the investment you've made.

Harbor Freight has a highly-rated mini toolbox from U.S. General that is a good starter option. As your collection grows, though, you'll probably need a larger unit that has more storage room. If you appreciate the prices you receive at a discount hardware retailer like Harbor Freight and liked the color options and look of the mini version, you may want to consider the U.S. General Top Chest Series 3 Toolbox from Harbor Freight. It costs $450, although members of the Harbor Freight Inside Track Club may receive an additional $100 in savings.

If you're focused on protecting your tools from damage, you'll appreciate some of the key features of the Series 3 unit from U.S. General. It has eight drawers spread across the front of the chest, each of which has a pre-cut, non-slip drawer liner that prevents tools from sliding around and potentially suffering damage. Each drawer uses a full-extension slide that allows you to smoothly and fully extend the drawer, so you can easily grab the tools without banging them into the frame. Each drawer can also support up to 120 pounds, allowing you to safely store heavy, awkward items.

Many people will start with the U.S. General Series 3 Roll Cab as a base unit for tool storage ($600). They can then add the Series 3 Top Chest to the top of the roll cab, taking advantage of the modular nature of the U.S. General tool storage system. In addition to the top chest, the U.S. General system includes end cabinets, lockers, and other accessories, allowing you to customize the storage components to meet your needs. If you own an older U.S. General Series 2 Roll Cab, the Series 3 Top Chest unit is backward compatible, so you can safely add it to your existing roll cab instead of buying a new one. If you don't have a roll cab, the Series 3 Top Chest has a flat bottom, so you could use it as a standalone unit on the floor or at the end of a workbench. 

The pre-cut liners perfectly fit the width and depth of each drawer in the Series 3 Top Chest, meaning there aren't any gaps at the edges where your tools could rub against the metal drawers. As you open and close the drawers, the liner holds the tools in place, preventing them from sliding around and crashing into each other. The liner material also provides a moisture barrier between the tools and the metal drawer, limiting the chances of rust formation. 

U.S. General is one of the top-ranked Harbor Freight tool brands, according to customer reviewers. The U.S. General Series 3 Top Chest is also popular among customers, as 99% of them would recommend buying it. On the Harbor Freight website, only 5 of 411 reviewers gave the tool chest a 1-star review.

Multiple reviewers appreciated having liner material included in the drawers. "It is nice that the drawer liners are included and, again, they are not the cheap type," one Harbor Freight customer reviewer says. Other reviewers mentioned the smooth drawer movement, which further prevents tools from sliding around. The ability to fully open the drawers and clearly see small tools stored toward the back is another advantage.

One key feature found with the Series 3 Top Chest is the ability to lock the drawers in place without needing a key. YouTube reviewer Jimmy's Garage says that if you're moving the toolbox around or if someone bumps into it, having the drawers latched prevents them from unexpectedly sliding open and potentially jostling the tools stored inside. The latching mechanism is integrated in the underside of the handle of the drawer, making it easy to latch or unlock the drawer as you're opening it or after you close it. "The drawer latches are simple and effective," one Harbor Freight customer reviewer says. "This is the best box for the money I've ever owned."