Tool cabinets?

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I need to replace a Craftsman red 5 drawer bottom roller cabinet 26 inches wide.  I bought it off Craigslist, and have lived with the non-ball-bearing slides, but now it is starting to fall apart, especially the heavily loaded drawers.  I emptied the contents of one of the drawers and weighed it as 14 pounds, so not as heavy as I thought.  Instead of another tool box on top of it, I have my plasma cutter.I was thinking of buying another red/black Craftsman 5 drawer bottom roller cabinet, and stepping up to the ball bearing slides, rated 50 pounds per drawer.   Right now on sale, I can buy this for $220, model 105813. Then I would add a middle cabinet, probably a 3 drawer for $130 on sale, model 100912.  And put my plasma cutter on top of the middle cabinet.  I am leaning to the 26 or 27 inch wide size, as I think that the large cabinets might be heavy to move around.I have a good Craftsman cabinet, ball bearing, black, Griplatch that I have been happy with for the most part, although the latches are occasionally uncooperative.   That might be a little better and more expensive than the cabinet I was looking at, but I was reluctant to have two black cabinets.   On the other hand, one of them would be topped with a plasma cutter, while the other is topped with sheet metal stakes, so it is not like I should get confused about which is which.However, there a bewildering variety of tool cabinets on the Sears web site, so it is hard to know what to buy.  Many of them are rated for 50 pounds per drawer, but there is a range of prices even among the drawers rated for 50 pounds.Do I need a latch with ball bearings slides?Looking around on the internet, some folks like Craftsman, some don't.   Some claim that Harbor Freight or Husky are as good as Craftsman.  One advantage of Craftsman to me is that I can get exactly the configuration that I want, choose the number of drawers, etc.  I don't want a top box because I want to put my plasma cutter on top.  Home depot does have the International brand, which is rated for 75 or 100 pounds per drawer, perhaps that is the way to go, there seem to be a decent selection on line, if not in the store.Obviously there are very expensive cabinets out there, and I could spend $2000 or more, which really is more than I think is reasonable.  Realistically, I need to stay under $1000 for the bottom and the middle cabinet combined, I would have to think some before I spent more than $500.   I am trying to avoid stainless steel, because I like to use magnetic labels on the drawers.  Anyplace else I should look for tool cabinets?   Any comments on what I should buy?Thanks in advance.   Some of my tools are welding related, although I admit this is not exactly a welding question.RichardSculptures in copper and other metalshttp://www.fergusonsculpture.comSyncrowave 200 Millermatic 211Readywelder spoolgunHypertherm 600 plasma cutterThermal Arc GMS300 Victor OA torchHomemade Blacksmith propane forge
Reply:Smaller boxes like the ones you are looking at are the way to go in my opinion. I have small slider drawers and large rollers drawers capable of holding huge loads. I always liked sears boxes but do not think there would be a difference between Lowes, Harbor Freight, Grizzly or wherever else.Latches are nice if you move your box the drawers will not come open. You should be able to find a fine box in your price range at Sears.
Reply:Good ball bearing slides have a detent that keeps them from opening at the wrong time.  There is a difference in quality and steel thickness between the different boxes, so I would check them out before buying.