Review on Gladiator GAGB28FDYG: The Ultimate Full-Door Modular Gearbox Steel Cabinet by Nicole Soto

I bought 3 of these "gears". Now I have 11 different sizes and configurations. I obviously like her. In general: There are 2 types of gearboxes. They are RTA type (ready to assemble) and premium type. The RTA comes in a flat box and you assemble it with 2 size mounting screws and some nuts. They give you a few extra mounts. Another type of gearbox, Premium, comes fully assembled. In terms of the end product, the main differences between the two types are that the Premium is welded together and is slightly stiffer. I think premium metal *may* be a bit thicker. The premium shelves are easier to adjust as they simply fit into "slots" (so to speak) in the metal cabinet. RTA cabinets mount shelves with small mounting screws and nuts, so these shelves require tools (and access to the sides) to install or move the shelves. Also, the Premium has smooth sides and back, while the RTA has protruding screw heads, so what does it matter? For example, if you install cabinets side-by-side, the RTAs will have 1/4-inch spaces between them. I think the most significant difference between RTA and Premium is that Premium is about 30% more expensive. Also, Premium and RTA are not the same size. The finish on both types seems to me to be identical and high quality baked on enamel. If you buy a box with drawers, the Premium drawers slide better. RTA Assembly: Tools Required - MFG will provide a hex wrench, but you will need a #2 Phillips screwdriver and possibly a couple of small wrenches. This is much easier if you have a Phillips (minimum impact setting) drill/screwdriver. bit and a 3/16 inch hex driver. By the time I got to my 3rd cabinet I had shortened it to 30 minutes with the screwdriver and bits. The first probably took 50 minutes, the other would take maybe 20 minutes if I read all the (as usual) fairly detailed instructions. Most of the time, just looking at the pictures is enough. If using a drill/screwdriver, wrenches are not needed. They've done a few things to speed up the process, such as having most of the fasteners screwed into a socket in the mating part of the case. Overall, the quality is very good and the price-performance ratio is right. The quality and paint durability are excellent. The only reason for only 4 stars is that (obviously) Premium is better than this RTA, but you get what you pay for. Overall I'm very happy with them and have had some of my gears for about 10 years. I would highly recommend them or even more premium if your budget allows The only constructive criticism I have of the RTA is that I would wish for a better shelf mounting system.