Buying a MAC toolbox

[78C-10]

Hello all, I just needed some advice and opinions on a toolbox. I am a heavy equipment mechanic and am currently working out of three toolboxes, two Craftsman 40" toolboxes and one Cornwell tool cart, all of them are full to the gills too. It does get to be a pain rolling three boxes around from bay to bay or wherever else I am working. We don't get a dedicated bay like in the auto world, we have to move wherever the machines are in the shop. Anyways, our MAC tool man has a new MB1357 Macsimizer on his truck that he would like gone by year's end. This box retails for $8000 and with a $700 trade in on my current boxes he will sell me the box for $4000, for a total of $4700. I was never one to believe in spending this kind of money on a toolbox but it would be nice to just have one box that stores everything.
It seems like a great deal even though I'll have payments, I will try to get it paid off as soon as possible so the interest doesn't pile up. I'm trying to decide if I just keep my three (paid for, no payments) little boxes or take the plunge into my first big name box. Have any of you bought a bigger box and regretted or not regretted it? What are any of your experiences with the big name boxes? Thank you for any and all opinions and advice.

 

[sdelivery]

consider making a big box with smaller boxes on a custom frame with large casters....2 or 3 roll cabs can make a great tool box with little cost.

 

[Tronyadorable]

8 grand ? Buy a 90's F350 with a Reading tool body and drive it home every night. Park it in front of whatever bay the job is in.
Get the ac so you can take a nap during lunch.

 

[Sims5]

I'm pretty new to having my own tools, but I'll throw my advice out here for you. I'm wondering if having one big box and a Tool Cart would be the best thing for you. Possibly leave the big box in one location and use the cart to take the tools needed for each specific job. $4000 for a new $8k box is a pretty good deal. The local dealer here told me the first year would be interest free and then if I had a balance it would be 1% of the balance. This was on a new box that he was selling me at 25% off. I ended up buying a Macsmizer used box for the cost of the smaller new box. Just don't get in over your head! Good luck with your decision.

 

[CNGsaves]

Also the math doesn't add up . . . . . . if you get "trade in value" of $700 by giving him all your C-man boxes and still will owe $4,700 . . . . . that does NOT make the Mac box $4,000 . . . .

. . . . . . . . that makes the Mac box $5,400 less the $700 for C-Mans turned in.

[ EDIT: See posts below as really $4,000 net. ]

Have you shopped CL or Ebay ??? I can guarantee that someone IS or WILL BE in financial problem around Christmas time and needing to sell their SnapOn, Mac or comparable truck- brand toolbox . . . AND . . . a BIG tool box!!

I'd vote to skip until Mac truck salesman finds you a REAL deal !! Otherwise, start shopping CL/Ebay and save your money.

Now if the Mac guy has complete toolbox like green one below with top hutch and side cabinet, then the $5400 deal (ie $4,700 net after trade-in) may be a winner.
https://www.google.com/search?q=MB1...-find-Tool-box-for-the-shop%2C1258254;600;450

 

[Sims5]

I was thinking the same thing CNGsaves but it sounded like he needed to make payments. If he doesn't need to finance then there are some great deals out there on CL, Ebay,.... Just recently found a Facebook page that people list Mac, SnapOn, Cornwell... Items for sale. Boxes and Tools at good prices.

 

[78C-10]

Thank you all so far, CNGsaves, essentially the box is $4700, he is giving me $700 trade in so I will owe $4000 for a total of $4700.

 

[CNGsaves]

OK . . . . . so the deal is NET owed $4,000 and you give him your C-man boxes AND your Cornwell tool cart.

Mac salesman could have called the price of the Mac $4100 with $100 trade-in or even $8,000 Mac box with $4,000 trade-in for C-mans. The NET owed is important, BUT also important is REAL street value of what you're turning in.

What does YOUR research reveal as to street market price for your C-man boxes?? They worth the $700 number talked about or something else?? IF . . . those C-mans can sell for $1,500 then your proposed Mac box will be really costing you $5,500.

What is street market price for Cornwell tool cart you'll also give the Mac salesman?? Those generally don't fall below $300 or $400 that I've seen on CL.

What does a used MB1357 Macsimizer tool box sell for in surrounding 200 mile radius of where you live??

 

[Sims5]

Don't settle for the box off the truck just because it's a "deal". Too big of investment to settle. For $4k there are a lot of options. I'm not sure I would like the drawer configuration of the mb1357. Just my opinion. A double or triple bay makes more since to me.

Here is the 1357 from Mac site.

 

[78C-10]

I paid $800 for the two C-mans ($400 each) in 2011 and $450 for the Cornwell cart back in 06. I realize he has to try and make something with selling these three if/when he gets them. Similar boxes in the area sell for anywhere between $3000 and $4000 used. What makes the MB1357 unique and what I like are all the drawers are full width of the box, 59". I'm not one for two or three bays. I think the full width drawers make the best use of the space. The C-mans I special ordered, they are full width drawers. They are 40" wide boxes.

 

[78C-10]

Sims5, I'm just the opposite, I like the full width drawers.

 

[78C-10]

The only thing I'm settling for is the color, it is black, if I ordered it would be blue or white or a combo of the two.

 

[Sims5]

Sounds like the 1357 is made for you then. I'm just "ocd" and probably couldn't have screwdrivers in a drawer with something other than other screwdrivers.

 

[Sims5]

Not sure if you can get blue drawer pulls or not. Maybe the dealer would throw those in on the deal, if they are available and he wants it off the truck real bad! Blue pulls on the black box would look cool and give you some of the blue you want. Just a thought.

 

[78C-10]

Yeah, when I first saw it a long time ago on his truck I fell in love with it but just couldn't buy at his price at first. He keeps dropping the price, like I said in my first post he just wants it gone so he can get a new box on his truck.

 

[sleepy127]

If you want it get it but don't trade your boxes in. Take the two cmans home and if you need them at work again you will have them

 

[sleepy127]

Also the full width drawers make sense. More usable space than in the same length box it just makes it a little harder for organization if you are ocd

 

[75toolman]

Hello all, I just needed some advice and opinions on a toolbox. I am a heavy equipment mechanic and am currently working out of three toolboxes, two Craftsman 40" toolboxes and one Cornwell tool cart, all of them are full to the gills too. It does get to be a pain rolling three boxes around from bay to bay or wherever else I am working. We don't get a dedicated bay like in the auto world, we have to move wherever the machines are in the shop. Anyways, our MAC tool man has a new MB1357 Macsimizer on his truck that he would like gone by year's end. This box retails for $8000 and with a $700 trade in on my current boxes he will sell me the box for $4000, for a total of $4700. I was never one to believe in spending this kind of money on a toolbox but it would be nice to just have one box that stores everything.
It seems like a great deal even though I'll have payments, I will try to get it paid off as soon as possible so the interest doesn't pile up. I'm trying to decide if I just keep my three (paid for, no payments) little boxes or take the plunge into my first big name box. Have any of you bought a bigger box and regretted or not regretted it? What are any of your experiences with the big name boxes? Thank you for any and all opinions and advice.

Just a heads up.The wrench drawer in those mac boxes ***** really bad.Put your wrench rack in it and anything bigger then about 7/8 will hit on the drawer above.Horrible design.Since you are HD tech im guessing your wrench selection will go fairly big.

 

[CNGsaves]

So overall, you'll be going from 80" wide storage (2 C-mans with 40" full width drawers) AND a Cornwell tool cart . . .
. . . .
. . . . . . TO . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . just one 59" wide Mac toolbox (full width drawers) ??

I don't get the allure of this ?? Downgrade in overall storage ??

You getting a new Mac tool cart out of the deal ?? I'd want a Mac sidebox, Mac hutch, stainless steel top AND a Mac tool cart thrown in on the deal, before ever considering it. Will your tools even fit in the smaller 59" new Mac box ??

For comparison, here's a very nice Matco tool box for $5,000 that you'd be getting a LOT for the money. It's 74" wide x 82" tall white (. . . the MONSTER Mac !! )
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/tls/4782345201.html

Here's 67" wide Macsimizer for $2,800 that is black
http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/tls/4781852728.html

Here's Mac 3 bay (Tech 1000 series) for $3,500
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/tls/4773584447.html

Here's 58" Cornwell with top 2 drawers full length for $3,000 black with stainless steel top
http://topeka.craigslist.org/tls/4776033715.html

Here's 73" SnapOn Classic 96 red (39" tall and 24" deep) for $3,000
Likely can be had for much less as listed for 2 months on CL
http://topeka.craigslist.org/tls/4704366765.html

 

[Spareparts]

Build a angle iron frame with 750 lb. casters on it (2 fixed and 4 swivel) nice wide large casters with grease zerks and keep them lubed, will push easy. Get a nice top on it with a HD vise and you have a bench, for a lot less money.

 

[78C-10]

To me, the allure is getting all my tools into ONE toolbox instead of three, the second part is having a box that will last me at least another 20 years. I'll be 40 in January 2015, so if my body can handle at least another 20 years of heavy equipment work I need it to last that long. I plan on this box being the last box I will ever buy. Will the C-mans last another 20 years? I've notice a couple drawers already having a different "feel" to them as they open and close.

 

[Hybridss]

Go buy a used one from Craigslist for half the price...same condition. They are everywhere. I would never buy a toolbox from the truck.

 

[popper]

The tool box don't make you any money, the tools do. Look into a good used namebrand box, there are plenty out there at good prices. If you don't have the cash, save it up then purchase. Did what you do for thirty years, retired now.

popper
John Lynch

 

[Ruger_556]

Seems like a good price for that box if you like it 40" Craftsman boxes don't hold as much as you guys are making them out to... I worked out of one for a couple years, you could fit the contents of two of them in my current 57" box without any trouble whatsoever...

 

[MagnumForce]

You could buy 12 more Craftsmans of the same type in the next 20 years and still come out alright, just sayin

I wouldn't want the Craftsmans either but I think that kind of money for a 59 inch is insane.

 

[akacoke]

macimizers are really good boxes, i would save up and buy a good used one in 67inch, i would pick a macsimizer over any snap on box.

 

[78C-10]

Well, thank you all for your opinions and suggestions, I asked for them. I gave some thought last night and today. I am going to pass on the box and continue working out of my C-mans and cart. I may build the angle iron frame and put the two C-mans on it while I save and maybe buy a used one in the future. I don't need any more debt either, I would rather put that money away towards electric, insulation, and heat in the garage.

 

[popper]

I think you are making a wise choice. It's always nice to have something new but sometimes we need to step back and get our priorities in order.

popper
John Lynch

 

[saceone]

Why is there NOT a like button on this forum? Your conclusion seems like the smartest thing to do. Go build stuff!!

 

[Sims5]

Great decision 78C-10.

 

[Flivver250]

In my opinion Mac makes the very best boxes bar none. Nothing wrong with new. If you like it, do it.

 

[heavyzee]

i dont know how flush you are, but i bought a Matco 4S last month for $1000 damn thing looks practiclly brand new... a few scratches.... check craigslist... someone is always selling boxes

 

[78C-10]

Thanks guys, I feel I have made the best choice as well. I'm sure like a lot of big purchases in life, once the shine is gone I will have regretted buying the box after the first Mac card statement shows up and after the interest has compiled it won't be a $4000(net) box anymore. Like some of you have suggested and I already knew, I would rather save and look for one on Craigslist and pay cash with no debt. I also did the math, the MB1357 is 36,138 cubic inches and what I have right now is 35,930 cubic inches so I would only have 208 cubic inches of space left. If I'm going to pay big bucks for a box I want at least one empty drawer left to fill. Lol.

 

[78C-10]

Oh yeah, just for the record so no one thinks I'm a turd, I did not sign or commit anything to the Mac guy. I only have been telling him I'll think about it. He may be a little disappointed but I'm not backing out of anything. I'll only commit if he says "Ok, $2000" then we'll talk. Ha ha