Craftsman crown top machinist boxes

[pendragon1998]

I've been looking at these Craftsman crown top machinist toolboxes. Am I right in thinking they're rebranded Kennedy boxes? How smooth are the drawers and how nice are these boxes? I'd like to get a nice box to store my measuring tools in, but I'm kind of torn between a vintage box like these and one of the HF 26 inch 16 Drawer Red Roller Cabinets (for the additional drawer area offered by the HF box). What's a good price on one of these Craftsman boxes?

 

[nine4gmc]

To be honest, it's just a nostalgia thing with those boxes. If you prefer function over a logo, I would go with the HF for the extra storage. That lil box is worth about $40-60 imo, I had the larger 26"ish size and it was flimsy ****, I sold it for either $80 or $100 and kept the Kennedy of the same size but much worse cosmetic condition that I got for $10.

 

[pendragon1998]

Yeah, that's kind of what my take is too. I really like the look of the vintage boxes, but it's really hard to say no to the HF boxes in terms of their quality (bearings, etc) and size for the money. If I could get the vintage ones super cheap, I'd be all over them, but a box like the one above can go over $100 on ebay (none around my neck of the woods on craigslist), and the HF 26" is something like $360 for a lot more box.

 

[zkling]

That should be a waterloo made one. HF box hands down over one of the machinist boxes. Those tiny drawer pulls piss me off to no end and I have thin, muscular fingers, can't imagine how those fat finger folks make due. I think they are a carryover from when machinist were expected to show up and possible take their tools with them at the end of the day.

 

[taumac]

I have them but honestly I agree with above. Go with the HF box. I also believe that any 26 inch chest would serve you a lot better than the smaller Kennedy made boxes or Craftsman Crowntop boxes.

 

[bagged89s10]

I've been looking at these Craftsman crown top machinist toolboxes. Am I right in thinking they're rebranded Kennedy boxes? How smooth are the drawers and how nice are these boxes? I'd like to get a nice box to store my measuring tools in, but I'm kind of torn between a vintage box like these and one of the HF 26 inch 16 Drawer Red Roller Cabinets (for the additional drawer area offered by the HF box). What's a good price on one of these Craftsman boxes?

Well you are comparing 2 completely different style boxes. The HF 16 drawer is going to give you the most storage is more heavy duty with the ball bearings slides. The little machinist box is good some small tools of you get it cheap enough and in good condition. I think I paid something like $20 for mine and it fit on my workbench so it worked for me. I use it to store my files and punches. I only bought old craftsman toolboxes because they were so cheap. I was going to buy the HF 26" box until I got a deal on some of the old craftsman boxes, I like the vintage look.

 

[CNGsaves]

+1 that the old Craftsman crowntop machinist boxes are light duty for purpose.

I like the look of them better than the Kennedy's for some reason. Also, most any CL listing I've seen for the Kennedy's had inflated prices of $75 to $100 or more, just for the small top box.

For right price, those Crowntops would be nice for files, punches, etc.

 

[taumac]

I've been looking at these Craftsman crown top machinist toolboxes. Am I right in thinking they're rebranded Kennedy boxes? How smooth are the drawers and how nice are these boxes? I'd like to get a nice box to store my measuring tools in, but I'm kind of torn between a vintage box like these and one of the HF 26 inch 16 Drawer Red Roller Cabinets (for the additional drawer area offered by the HF box). What's a good price on one of these Craftsman boxes?

Forgot to mention that the box you pictured is a Waterloo made crown top. There are some small differences between the Waterloo versions and the Kennedy versions. The drawers and slides are the same through.

 

[Bill Ramsey]

When you decide on something and go looking for it, it never shows, or never shows up cheap. Or at least that's always been my experience.

But when things just come to you inexpensively...well as others have said that makes any perceived shortcomings more palatable.

I have the Waterloo-made 26" Craftsman crown top brown machinist box that "came to me" when I wasn't looking for $20, but I would think a more "normal" market price around here would be $60-$100. I find it more than adequate for storage of smallish reloading tools, but I don't work with those tools all day every day, so its occasional use is not a problem for me (plus it always looks good on the bench top). Although I love vintage and I love Craftsman crown top, were I considering chasing one at $80+ for an identified purpose, I'd probably go with something HF.

 

[1badbird]

Got a narrow one and a wide one and only payed 20 each. Not a bad box for light duty, I keep one next to my drillpress for drillbits and what not. I have thought about adding different handles many times but never have, just hate having to use both hands to open the long drawers.

 

[Packard V8]

JMHO, but I'm a long-time fan of the Kennedy #520 seven-drawer machinist's chest. I have five of them, because there's nothing better for storing drills, reamers, punches, taps, dies, chisels, hole saws.

I have two of the larger #526 chests for the measuring tools.

Bottom line - they're machinist's chests for storage of smaller items. If one needs a mechanic's chest for large capacity, large/long tools, then have those in addition.