So i'm looking to get a workbench/tool box/shelving in the garage. Went to sears, looked at the craftsman stuff, and it just looks flimsy. The steel is thin, seems like i'd wreck it in no time. Lowes/Home Depot stuff was the same. Chinese made thin-gauge ****.

Snap-on workbenches are 1600, tool boxes looking at several grand - they're just too much damn money though i'd love them.

Anyone have alternatives with high quality, or have the craftsman stuff and it actually is durable? I'm not a shop so I don't need it to withstand working on it all day, but I'd like to have some quality stuff rather than some chinese garbage.
I need a workbench with a SS top (oil/liquids on it so no wood), a smaller 5 or 6 drawer tool chest, and two 48" wide shelving units.

 

Snap on and matco are pretty damn expensive but good stuff. Check out griot's garage. A friend of mine has all griots stuff in his garage and they really are amazing. Griot's isnt your cheap stuff though, some are on sale some arent but the best bang for the buck. Check out their stuff, you might find something you like for a good price.

 

I can't justify the expense, like you, of something that won't see daily use... but I want something that will last (ie. is heavy). I used/abused a cheap crapsman for so long the slides no longer slide.

I ended up with this from HF (it was on sale for about $300):
http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-to...net-68784.html

Extremely heavy (the casters are cast iron), ball bearing slides, etc.). It's also modular so you can build it up as needed:


It looks like it's currently $389. 20% off coupons don't work on tool boxes/chests... so keep that in mind.
http://images.harborfreight.com/tabv...ets/8072/2.gif

 

Let me know how that works. My understanding of Harbor Freight was their stuff is cheap. But if it works nicely, then i'm interested in checking in out.

 

Some stuff @ HF is ****, no doubt about it... but this seems to be pretty decent stuff. I looked for a long time and finally pulled the trigger on this one after looking at most of the players out there. Is it as nice as a matco? No. Is it 1/4 the price? Yes. 1/4 a good? No... about 3/4 as good... so it's a great value when on sale.