Toobox Question?

[onecheck]

What toolbox company would you recommend for an every day tech besides Snap On, Matco, MAc, Cornwell? :headscrat

[Merkava_4]

Kennedy!! :)

http://www.kennedymfg.com/

[Fins/413]

I looked at the 44" 13 drawer industrial chest at HF. On sale at the store for $400. It looked good to me. For $400 you could buy several and have spares.

[RRmech]

+1.....................Kennedy

Steve

[wantedabiggergarage]

I would ask, what do you have access to?


I would say Kennedy does make good chests, but they wouldn't be my only option.

International, non imported line (made in Canada), Waterloo makes some good series (also sold as Craftsman Professional). I read the HF recommendation, and if you don't have a lot of tools yet, I think it would be a good start (you really need the tools first, they make you the money).
Don't forget used, or your fellow mechanics upgrading.

[peterbilr98]

iv had a husky for several years i like it much better than my craftsman but nothing like my snap on

[GeorgiaHybrid]

onecheck,

How much are you wanting to spend on your box? That will determine a LOT. If your budget is $1500.00 or up, look at a used SO, MAC, MATCO. If under a $1000.00 hit up Harbor Freight, use it until you have your tools bought and payed for and then look to upgrade. The HF box can then become your home box.

In the $1000 to $1500 range, keep a close lookout on CL for areas that are out of state. You can rent a U-Haul and drive a LOT of miles to get a good box cheap. A friend riding along to help with the loading/driving chores will be a big help.

[Chris Adams]

iv had a husky for several years i like it much better than my craftsman but nothing like my snap on


Husky can be about anything, any make.
I have had really bad Husky boxes, have had really good Husky boxes.

Everyone makes them, from the super cheap Stanely to the higher end builders.

If you look at Husky be sure you are looking at their premium stuff, not the junk, which is no better than Craftsman bottom line stuff.

[onecheck]

onecheck,

How much are you wanting to spend on your box? That will determine a LOT. If your budget is $1500.00 or up, look at a used SO, MAC, MATCO. If under a $1000.00 hit up Harbor Freight, use it until you have your tools bought and payed for and then look to upgrade. The HF box can then become your home box.

In the $1000 to $1500 range, keep a close lookout on CL for areas that are out of state. You can rent a U-Haul and drive a LOT of miles to get a good box cheap. A friend riding along to help with the loading/driving chores will be a big help.

Im just starting out so I need to get more tools. Im getting conflicting reports. I get a student discount on Snap tools. The box link is listed below my cost $882.85

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?store=snapon-store&item_ID=82902&group_ID=21909

But I still need tools and money is tight.

A friend told me to buy this Harbor Freight box, get the tools I need, Then buy a used Snap on box later on down the line (total cost shipped with 20% coupon is $449

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95403

Some say take advantage of the Snap On discount and get the box with the student discount. Some say buy the HF box and get the tools u need now then buy the Snap On box down the road.

What is your opinion?

[dmw56]

I have a couple of Kennedys that are really nice and about 40 years old.

[GeorgiaHybrid]

You know how opinions are but here goes mine.

A beautiful box is nice to own, pretty to look at and impressive to show off. The last time I checked however, it did not do anything to MAKE MONEY. If you are planning to use a tool cart and have a larger box later down the road and a large cart will do what you need for a box, take a look at Snap-On's KRSC41 cart. That thing is larger than the box I started on.

You can also save the cash and buy a GOOD used box later with the money that you make from having the right tools for the jobs that you do. If you need a BIG box to start with, buy the HF box, replace it down the road with a good used box and take the HF one home.

[tw33k2514]

I am a student like you, and I have come to realize that I will have my whole life to have a fancy box. At the end of the day though it is tools I will be investing in. I just got a Husky box, and it is great for the price, and does its job.

I would focus on buying tools with your discount, and get the HF box. From what ive seen the HF box's look very nice for what you pay.

[GDA]

Suggest no matter what brand you go used. You can find great deals on starter to midsize boxes on CL. Here's an example of a nice smaller set that you will be able to sell a couple years down the road for probably what you will pay for it today.

http://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/tls/1179574475.html

[48548]

Montezumamfg.com I have one and really like it, strictlytoolboxes.com is where to get it.....

[-B-]

Equipto
Lista
Vidmar

boxes that will last a life time and run circles around any others

[CamarosRus]

LOOKING for comments on the misc EXTREME boxes.

I dont have room for any 72" box

Looking at the 56" Combos or heavier/more expensive 55" Roller

ANY real owners/users HERE ???????????

Thanks, Chuck

[48548]

I went with a montazuma portable box, but will say build very very well and I would imagine it would last a lifetime as mine is made out of 16 gauge steel. Check the product reviews section I remember seeing something about these boxes...

[Diesel_Crawler]

LOOKING for comments on the misc EXTREME boxes.

I dont have room for any 72" box

Looking at the 56" Combos or heavier/more expensive 55" Roller

ANY real owners/users HERE ???????????

Thanks, Chuck

Don't have room? you can always take walls out you know. i have a 56" know and cant wait to get ride of it. waiting for my KRL1023 to come in :)

[arkangel06]

If you can find them Gray tools make nice tool box's

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Montezumamfg.com I have one and really like it, strictlytoolboxes.com is where to get it.....

I was going to suggest them too.

International is another brand you could check out.

[Skyline]

You know how opinions are but here goes mine.

A beautiful box is nice to own, pretty to look at and impressive to show off. The last time I checked however, it did not do anything to MAKE MONEY. If you are planning to use a tool cart and have a larger box later down the road and a large cart will do what you need for a box, take a look at Snap-On's KRSC41 cart. That thing is larger than the box I started on.


This is a really good idea. Look for one of the larger tool carts from Snap-on, MAC or Matco. One of these will probably fit all the tools you have when starting out. And it will never need to be traded up...you can keep it for your whole career. You can find a high end cart used for $300-400.

While starting to work out of your big cart, start saving for a nice roll cab...Snap-on is my favorite, but most major truck brands have nice boxes. You want one about 55-60" wide and full depth (29-30"). If you are patient, and shop CL and eBay with money in hand, you will pay $1,200-1,700 for a beautifull roll cab. Paying 20-30% of list for a lightly used box is MUCH better than selling your soul to the dealer and adding 50% PLUS in finance charges to FULL retail, (even with a student discount this same box will cost you $4,000-$5,000 new when you add in the finance fees.)

[fordracing200]

I'd go with the huge HF box, pretty good qaulity...beats craftsman ball bearing boxes thats for sure.

[Merkava_4]

A friend told me to buy this Harbor Freight box, get the tools I need, Then buy a used Snap on box later on down the line (total cost shipped with 20% coupon is $449

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95403


I haven't seen one in person, but going by the pictures I've seen of the box on this board, it looks pretty damn good. I don't think you can get a better price than that. Of course by buying that box, you're thumbing your nose at the guys that make a living building the boxes domestically. :D

[GeorgiaHybrid]

Merkava,

I have that box (in black) in my basement. The entire combo (roller, top chest and side cabinet served me well (and still does) It houses most of my reloading gear and a good percentage of my bullets and cases. The drawers are still very smooth with up to 250 pounds of lead or brass in them.

Tool boxes are not just for tools......:)

[scottmlew]

Does Kennedy make a deep (30") roller chest with lots of square inches of storage? I looked at their catalog and didn't see any 30" deep units, and I also didn't see any drawer configs that really excited me. Pricing is OK and quality seems top notch though.

[Merkava_4]

Does Kennedy make a deep (30") roller chest with lots of square inches of storage?

^ 24 inches seems to be the deepest they go.

My box is 30 inches deep with 27 inch deep drawers. Sometimes it hurts my back to reach all the way to the back of the drawer for a tool; I kinda wish it wasn't quite so deep myself.

[scottmlew]

^ 24 inches seems to be the deepest they go.

My box is 30 inches deep with 27 inch deep drawers. Sometimes it hurts my back to reach all the way to the back of the drawer for a tool; I kinda wish it wasn't quite so deep myself.

I can see that being a problem...but the 18" or so depth that I have on my Kobalt is pretty suboptimal. And I really, really crave some wide drawers...it's so annoying that I can't fit all of my sockets in 1 drawer, nor can I fit all of my metric wrenches in 1 drawer (I'm not even sure they'll fit in 2 drawers!)

[Delray]

LOOKING for comments on the misc EXTREME boxes.

I dont have room for any 72" box

Looking at the 56" Combos or heavier/more expensive 55" Roller

ANY real owners/users HERE ???????????

Thanks, Chuck

I have a KRL 54" wide 24" deep combo I bought used. It's a great set but I would never pay 10k to buy it new. It may take a little time but you can find nice used KRL's for 25%-30% of new retail that is a $10,000 box for $2,500 or so.

[Ttankersley]

I have the HF combo. What it lacks in looks and depth it makes up for in price. I picked up the top and bottom separately and uses coupons on them both. Got it for just under $600. The slides are smooth even when overloaded with tools. Been using mine in a shop environment since 12/08 and have yet to have a problem. It does it's job holding my tools just fine. If you need more room you can always pick up a used Mac, Matco, Snap On, or Cornwell tool cart. Even the cheap HF 4 drawer unit holds up just fine. It can be had for around $130 with the 20% off coupon when it's on sale.

Go with a box you can afford now and upgrade to a nicer one down the road.

The HF box in the pic is on the far right
Tim