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Science Channel has how the make snap-on box

t100

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I'd never buy a brand new car, nor a brand new box.
 
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Toolhorder

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i see what you are getting at, but coming from a professional tech who works on German cars, i can tell you in ten years the tool box would be worth more than the vw. Plus i can write off the purchase of the box on my taxes whereas i can't the car. Lastly, the tool box will likely never have a failure. the vw on the other hand...

all kidding aside, from a tech standpoint a toolbox is something you buy once and have for a while. More like a house purchase than a car. I personally don't own a snappy box. I have secondhand matco box that was every bit an 8k box that i paid considerably less for. How the prices are figured out, i do not know.

but to follow your car theory-- how can you justify spending double or triple the money for a bentley contiental or audi a8 when a vw phaeton is the same car built on the same chassis layout? You pay the premium for prestige as well as better build quailty.

Consider the snap on box the bentley of tool boxes. Cheaper boxes do the same job. But prestige and trade in value are w/ the snappy.

He's obviously not a technician and doesn't understand the value. There are a million threads on this forum that are exactly the same as this one. One guy doesn't "get it" about SO prices and the other guy tries to explain. I gave up awhile ago. To the people who don't get it feel free to buy whatever you want and think you saved money over getting the SO box. No problem for me. I just got 7 slides replaced on my box and 4 lock n roll pieces replaced without a hassle. Try that at Sears or HF. Also went people in the know see my box they know I made a real investment in my career and I'm more likely to be a better tech. That's just my opinion, most guys that don't make a big tool investment are down the road in short order because they **** anyway.
 

chadster1

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Aug 25, 2009
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Terrell, Texas
....... Also went people in the know see my box they know I made a real investment in my career and I'm more likely to be a better tech. That's just my opinion, most guys that don't make a big tool investment are down the road in short order because they **** anyway.

The image you present makes a difference in business. That is the same reason that I am washing my tool truck on a Saturday afternoon instead of riding my 4 wheelers.
 

Lookin4'67Galaxieconv

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Jul 2, 2008
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Atlanta, GA
The image you present makes a difference in business. That is the same reason that I am washing my tool truck on a Saturday afternoon instead of riding my 4 wheelers.

Thank you! When I see a truck for a well known business driving down the road, all dirty and looking broken down, that always leaves a negative image. Positive image for the opposite. It ain't rocket science. :spit:
 

ToolGuy75

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Sep 12, 2010
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California
He's obviously not a technician and doesn't understand the value. There are a million threads on this forum that are exactly the same as this one. One guy doesn't "get it" about SO prices and the other guy tries to explain. I gave up awhile ago. To the people who don't get it feel free to buy whatever you want and think you saved money over getting the SO box. No problem for me. I just got 7 slides replaced on my box and 4 lock n roll pieces replaced without a hassle. Try that at Sears or HF. Also went people in the know see my box they know I made a real investment in my career and I'm more likely to be a better tech. That's just my opinion, most guys that don't make a big tool investment are down the road in short order because they **** anyway.

That statement is so far from the truth its laughable. I've been working as a tech for dealerships for many years and some of the best techs i've ever worked with used cheaper toolboxes loaded with quality tools. The box doesn't make you a good tech, it might make you LOOK and FEEL like a better tech but it doesn't give you better skills. I started out using a Craftsman box for the first 12 years with no problems, then i used the Harbor Freight box for about 4 years with no problems, and just recently bought a used Snap On KRL1022 in "like new" condition for really cheap on CL. Whats even funnier is the 2 guys in our shop with 15k + Snap On boxes are the ones with the most comebacks, and the best tech in our shop who is the shop foreman has a 30yr old Craftsman box......
 
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RLRRLRLL

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Sep 8, 2009
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Spearville Kansas
That statement is so far from the truth its laughable. I've been working as a tech for dealerships for many years and some of the best techs i've ever worked with used cheaper toolboxes loaded with quality tools. The box doesn't make you a good tech, it might make you LOOK and FEEL like a better tech but it doesn't give you better skills. I started out using a Craftsman box for the first 12 years with no problems, then i used the Harbor Freight box for about 4 years with no problems, and just recently bought a used Snap On KRL1022 in "like new" condition for really cheap on CL. Whats even funnier is the 2 guys in our shop with 15k + Snap On boxes are the ones with the most comebacks, and the best tech in our shop who is the shop foreman has a 30yr old Craftsman box......

I've seen that alot, guys that work with bare minimum being great techs, and guys with huge snap-on boxes and all snap on tools that are mediocre. Im not saying that all techs that own snap on **** or are not as good as others, as i know plenty of techs with all truck brand stuff that are great. At the shop i used to work at (small independent shop) there was the boss, a mechanic, and me(i mainly serviced cars). The boss, worked out of a standard tray, no drawers, and had a c-man 26" combo. He worked out of his tray mainly. The other mechanic just had a 40" snap on combo. Mostly snap on tools, this guy just started working in a service station when he was younger and learned by doing. But time and time again, my boss was the one to go to. I learned alot from him, and base my tool buying(somewhat) on what he used. As what he had worked, and most of his stuff was napa, c-man, and sk. He had a few random snap on sockets but thats about it. Thats when i learned its not the tools, its the tech.
 

BerninicaCO3

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Jul 6, 2007
Messages
164
Hmm, I think it's a bit of both.
Well-- I am new to turning wrenches, but experienced in other fine crafts.
The best craftsman starts with a small decent set, learns to use what he has, gets better, realizes he needs something improved, or something more, and expands organically.

Like an old neighborhood that is properly matured and a pleasure to live in,
versus a planned community that's shiny, but artificial and maybe not so well planned after all.

I can see a guy who just buys $20,000 in tools off the bat, not learning to use one type of wrench before he bought 10 other types, so he never really learned how or where each type can be used, never explored all the possibilities of each variety of tool.

Where this experience is coming from: in sculpture, best to start with a small set of quality chisels, do all that you can with them, and when you've reached their limits and there's a job that just can't be done without a dogleg chisel, or a bent spoon gouge, THEN buy that chisel. If you buy the 80-piece swedish mega set before you've ever even picked up an exacto knife, you're LOST.




On the subject of appearance! I don't know :) You can't be TOO clean, ostentatiously upscale, or people think (perhaps correctly) that you're making a few too many bucks and it's coming out of their pockets. There's the attitude that the best bargains are from the forgotten cobwebbed corner of an old antique shop? Versus the store so swanky, you just know there's got to be a 200% markup funding that park avenue address.


Question about that video:
what is Made In USA?
Do all the components have to be USA also, or can you buy Indian sheet metal, Mexican ball bearing slides, and Chinese casters and merely assemble it here in the states and call it US?
 

Chadro

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Feb 13, 2010
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887
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Eastern Missouri
Let's put it this way, If I could afford one, I'd like to have one. I like MAC, Matco and Cornwell boxes as well, though. I do agree about one thing, the best techs I've ever seen always seem to work out of a Craftsman box. Maybe the Diesel world is just different from the Automotive world, I don't know.


My dream box would actually be a Macsimizer, but my Craftsman gets the job done for now. That *************, lol.

On a side note, I don't know much about Cornwell boxes, but they sure are nice. All those ones Stacey David has on Gearz are beautiful.
 
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Toolhorder

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Nov 9, 2009
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Montana
I'm not saying that good techs have Snappy and bad techs have lesser quality boxes. I'm saying when you invest heavily in a profession you're more likely to also invest more of yourself as well.
I've heard the "It's not the tool it's the guy using it" statements before. Most of the people making such statements don't own professional quality tools either. These are the bottom feeders of the dealership. The guys who can't make it to work on time everyday, the guys who complain about every job and how much time it pays, the guys who have a messy work area, the guys who never want to go to school, etc..

To each his own, I'll keep my SO boxes (yes I own two now) and they'll last me a lifetime and my kids will use them when I'm gone.
 

Hiball

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Apr 30, 2009
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Missery
I'm not saying that good techs have Snappy and bad techs have lesser quality boxes. I'm saying when you invest heavily in a profession you're more likely to also invest more of yourself as well.
To each his own, I'll keep my SO boxes (yes I own two now) and they'll last me a lifetime and my kids will use them when I'm gone.

Very Well Said.. :thumbup:
 
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