Craftsman Toolboxes (Light the fire!)

[Dragfluid]

This Craftsman box was given to me for Christmas when I was still in high school. I brought it with me when I went to the Tech Center to learn my trade and it served me for many years there after with an added ten drawer top and three drawer center section. Later, after I got a larger box, this became a cart. With a few modifications, it served me well for many more years under vehicles and along side a bench. Now it's proudly in my shed. The bottom drawer had been removed for whatever reason, but I still have it and will replace it one of these days.
After I get a painting area arranged, I'll give it a nice paint job.

 

[woody 73]

I have two craftsman boxes, one from 1985 and one from 97/ or 98 if my memory is still working. Now the funny thing is the one from 85 scares the living daylights out of me because it has a wobble to the two top boxes and it scares the **** out of me. I am afraid one day it will topple over but so far I never move it; and I never open more then one drawer at a time.

The 97 or 98 box is more sturdy but every now and then the bottom drawer will open up by itself (kind of like a ghost moving it) and I never move that box either.

I would love to find a nice set up but they price boxes in my area like they are made out of gold and only a king can buy one. If you like craftsman more power too you!

 

[SignalZero]

I only have about $110 into this 1980 top and bottom set after new keys, casters, drawer liners, and respraying some of the red. The plan is for it to replace the black and blue Chinese cart in the background.
My main box is the one in the back; the gray top and bottom are my first box(2007) which was a gift from my parents, so I'll probably keep those as long as I can. No problems so far.

 

[Empty Pockets]

I have 5 older CM red & gray boxes. 2 rollers, 2 mid and a top. I bought them new in the late 80s.
These boxes have served me well over the years. Sadly, CM has lost me in recent years as they shift production off shore and as their tool quality continues to decline

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[bubinga]

Does red and grey boxes work great I have one but I sold it I wish I would have kept it on top of it I had a nice husky from Home Depot Circa 1995. And it was a nice heavy duty box and it was the full 18 inches deep I sold the whole rig for 300 now I wish I had it and the bottom Craftsman box had 4 drawers all the way down not those stupid wasteful bins on the bottom which I despise I just think of the waste of space I'm sorry

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[bubinga]

I have a question. Who actually makes the Harbor Freight boxes that US general in the company that makes them or know somebody like Waterloo make them?

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[freddyford]

Look at the weight of the boxes. That will give you an indication as to how thin and cheap they are built. My HF44 weighs 245 Ibs, and the nearest comparable heavy duty Craftsman at the time was 170 Ibs. Their Premium unit was 218. Check out this older thread for proof:

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=153445

 

[maxpower_hd]

I agree with one poster that it is the gradual decline in quality over time that steered people away from CM. I have an old, mid 60's craftsman I use at work. The top was my dad's. He bought it new in 1962. The bottom is a matching roller I found on CL for $50. They aren't SO quality but they are better than the new ones. For a while I had a middle box that I bought new, in the 2000's and it was no where near the quality of the older ones. I think that is the way with most brands though unfortunately.

 

[FJ 432]

So what gives? Is it just a bandwagon fad to hate on Sears' boxes? I've gone to Sears myself and find that their higher end boxes are actually pretty decent, to what feels on par with harbor freights construction in terms of play on the drawers and thickness of the metal. Enlighten me! (And light the torches and get out the pitchforks because I so dared to mention the devil of the tool world )

Welcome back Ponchoguy.

 

[zendriver]

I agree with one poster that it is the gradual decline in quality over time that steered people away from CM. I have an old, mid 60's craftsman I use at work. The top was my dad's. He bought it new in 1962. The bottom is a matching roller I found on CL for $50. They aren't SO quality but they are better than the new ones. For a while I had a middle box that I bought new, in the 2000's and it was no where near the quality of the older ones. I think that is the way with most brands though unfortunately.

Harbor freight tool chests, just keep getting better and better, while prices stay affordable.


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[maxpower_hd]

Harbor freight tool chests, just keep getting better and better, while prices stay affordable.


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I guess I haven't seen a good one yet then. We have one at work and I'm not impressed with it at all to be quite honest. Not trying to flame. Just stating what I see. It was cheap enough for its size though.

 

[SJR033]

Look at the weight of the boxes. That will give you an indication as to how thin and cheap they are built. My HF44 weighs 245 Ibs, and the nearest comparable heavy duty Craftsman at the time was 170 Ibs. Their Premium unit was 218. Check out this older thread for proof:

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=153445

The closest CM box to the HF is size & price comes in at 228lb. With the CM box being slightly narrower. That is pretty close.

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-40-i...0937985000P?prdNo=12&blockNo=12&blockType=G12

 

[-Brent-]

Even the cheapest piece of **** toolbox isn't going to **** the bed in just 3 years.

... if it sits stationary.

I have seen boxes from a couple guys that service the airline industry (not just planes but airport service vehicles and such) that roll their boxes over varying surfaces and even the higher-end boxes live a much shorter life.

 

[Gmonkee]

Its all about the guage of the metal and how well the design and welds hold up.

My first toolbox was an ancient SK handbox with tray. It was 10th hand when I got it and probably still out there somewhere. Solid if heavy box, it was good.

From there to a weak small roller cabinet that inspired me to build my own storage for decades. I still build my own if not for mobile use.

I never looked back to even ask what happened to that flimsy tin thing.
Now more than 30 years past seeing the old SK a heavy older box has been purchased again, another nothing special hip roof hand box.
I will be able to use it all my working life and pass it to my son later on.

Made correctly brand and heritage matter not, poorly made low end faked garage bling has no value to any moderate to heavy user.

Sadly Sears has played the low end market and poisoned the waters for themselves. Then changing models and makers has made it hard to judge some in the used market.

 

[ibedayank]

What Sears has sold 10 years ago has no bearing on the quality of the **** they sell to day or 5 years ago for that matter. If the stuff coming from Mexico is so great and doing Mexico such great things why do all the Illegals still cross the border?

 

[softailgarage]

I've owned and restored enough toolboxes that I can confidently assure you that Craftsman (NEW Craftsman) boxes are beyond subpare. I've owned more Snap On than I can count, as well as Cornwell, MAC, Matco & Craftsman. Snap On by far makes the superior box. I currently have about 8 Cman boxes in use, 6 which are 10 years old and 2 vintage roll away sets + 1 '71 roll away I'm restoring. You can feel the difference, the vintage are strong, the 10 year olds are ok for home, but if you walk into a Sears now and check out the boxes, they're weak, wobbly and no thicker than a beer can (well, maybe a little thicker, but not much). And I don't care what anybody say's, my KRL will kick the snot out of your HF box any day

 

[Know Wosad]

A snap on drawer can support the weight of a 200 pound man hanging on it. Literally. Can yours?

If I make a box that will hold three 200 lb men hanging on each drawer would you be interested in buying it ?
Cash only. No buy by the week around my shop.