craftsmans new $10,000 tool box

[Fedwrench]

Sorry to burst your bubble but most of the ground beef at fast food joints and stores is from South America iirc from my environmental ecology class in college.

Ok then, I guess I change it to read assembled in the USA of Global Components.

 

[Zrexxer]

If I ever pay $10,000 for a box from Sears, it will contain at least a dozen plasma televisions

 

[truckdriver]

Tool boxes should be red, black and blue are acceptable, yellow is not. Just kidding, it's all personal preference, I personally don't like yellow, although I did have a bright yellow 'Cuda years ago. But for the right price and country of origin I'll use a pink tool box.

I had a nieghbor who was a truck mechanic probably since when they still used gas engines. I had seen one of the Kawasaki green SO boxes and loved it. When I told him about it he said(use your imagination)" ##### is pink and tool boxes are red. Any other color and something is wrong". I haven't even thought of another color since.

 

[theamcguy]

I have 2 Snap-On Roll Aways and a Mac Roll Away but when it was time to add a fourth I bought a 56" ITB for less than $1200 delivered. It holds all the tools and rolls around if it needs to. The drawers might not open as smooth as the Snap-On or Mac but it's not like I need a a Come-Along to get them open. My opinon save the money for tools get an ITB box they are worth it. Oh it gets lots of Ooos and ahhs especially when they hear the price.

 

[Bull]

Never heard of ITB before....I will have to Google them.

I have 2 Snap-On Roll Aways and a Mac Roll Away but when it was time to add a fourth I bought a 56" ITB for less than $1200 delivered. It holds all the tools and rolls around if it needs to. The drawers might not open as smooth as the Snap-On or Mac but it's not like I need a a Come-Along to get them open. My opinon save the money for tools get an ITB box they are worth it. Oh it gets lots of Ooos and ahhs especially when they hear the price.

 

[Toolhorder]

1. Then how do you explain the fact that people on here have purchased and reviewed the HF 72" box and say that it is, in fact, of quite good quality? Heck, people have even said that their smaller boxes are of good quality.

2. Yes, exactly, $1500 is a fantastic price for a toolbox, especially a 72" monster with the specs of the HF piece. So, a company is providing consumers with a low-priced yet excellent quality product. Are you telling me that two 72" HF boxes would not hold all of your tools? In that case, buy a third, even a fourth and be at $6k instead of $16k.

3. Don't be worried about "starting a fight." We are talking about toolboxes, maybe even disagreeing about them, but it's still just a talk.

Okay cool I didn't want you to think I was calling you cheap for liking the HF box I was just saying the people who shop there generally do so because they can't shop on a truck or don't want to spend that much. Honestly I haven't looked at any boxes from HF and can't really comment other than what I'm used to seeing at HF which is generally all junk. I don't go off what other people review on sites too much. Everyone is different with different experiences. All those reviews could be from non professionals who don't even open the drawers but to change their oil 4 times a year. For them it works and they'll review it good. For others it may not after continious use in a shop. I generally look at how it's made and like to touch it, push down on the open drawers, etc..
I could buy cheaper boxes to store my tools but I don't think they'll last to be honest. SO just sent me 3 sets of new sliders under warranty and I don't think HF will do that. The powdercoating on both my boxes have held up well in the shops I've worked at and I doubt that will happen on a HF box. My emblem fell off once and SO replaced it no charge. The warranty for me is why I buy from SO. The quality too is a little better IMO. Plus I don't want to support china by buying from HF. I feel better knowing an American put my box together for another american to support american industry.
Plus I admit a SO box conveys a certain image in the shop. It says "hey, I'm a real tech and invested in being a tech".
Shops see that much money in a box and tools and know you're not a revolving tech.
Listen I'm not putting anyone else down or anything, we are all different people with different needs. I usually only buy SO but recently began looking at a Montazuma truck box. I may buy one for my FJ.
For some people that HF box is more than they'll even need and that's fine for them. They won't expect SO quality and don't care what the box says on it. I'm cool with that. I just know what has worked/and not worked for me and SO is the choice I make for tool storage.

I couldn't find the 72" box on HF's website so I couldn't see if it's made by US general or whatever. So if it's made in America forgive my comments.

 

[FastEddieG]

I couldn't find the 72" box on HF's website so I couldn't see if it's made by US general or whatever. So if it's made in America forgive my comments.

Here it is. And it is US General.

-Ed

 

[autobody]

I wish we could find out how many, if any, were sold. Also, we should take a poll and see what price people would pay for the box in here, maybe Sears will get the message.

 

[FastEddieG]

I don't go off what other people review on sites too much. Everyone is different with different experiences. All those reviews could be from non professionals who don't even open the drawers but to change their oil 4 times a year.

Here's some reviews/discussions on the box from right here on GJ if you're interested. This is too much box for me (merely an amateur hobbyist), but it definitely peaked my interest.

Thread 1

Thread 2

-Ed

 

[ossaguy]

Except for the top drawer,they have single slides on them,and they don't have the stffeners on the bottom like a SO wide guy has.I think there are too many shallow-height drawers.The one I looked at felt like the folded hutch door could come crashing down on it's own,it took almost nothing to get it coming down.

It just doesn't seem heavy-duty enough,except in the price tag,to me.

What I wish I could get,would be if SO would make a single-bank "Tallboy-Wideguy"
That is a one piece top/bottom like the KRL777 was,but only with 50 in wide drawers top to bottom,and at the same low profile height of the KRL777 ( about 60 inches high )

I think that would be a cool box!

Steve

 

[Toolhorder]

Here it is. And it is US General.

-Ed

Thanks, I couldn't find the damn thing earlier when I was looking on HF's site.
From the first look at the specs I can say the drawers wouldn't hold enough weight for me. I believe my SO drawers have double the weight rating of the biggest drawer on the 72" HF box. My full length drawer on my KRL761 holds over 240 lbs.? per set of sliders and I have two sets installed now so that could be a problem as the drawer is getting some resistance now to moving. All my sockets, ratchets and extensions are in there. I'm actually thinking of moving my sockets to the top under the hatch like another GJ member did.
Other than that it looks massive. I think for a home box it would be cool.

 

[Toolhorder]

I want to know what company makes it, waterloo? (the sears box)
And yes I will be trying to get the local floor models when they discontinue them, lol

 

[norry]

Sorry to burst your bubble but most of the ground beef at fast food joints and stores is from South America iirc from my environmental ecology class in college.

Used to be a combination. South American beef is cheap but tough, so they'd mix it in with US product.

As for the toolbox, don't forget that sweet used KRL's and high-end KRA's come up regularly in a similar size for $3000 or less. I have a '72 Craftsman mid and bottom that came with my '64 Snappy top (my first 'real' toolbox) and they're fine, but definitely not as strong as the Snappy boxes. If I were to shell out that kind of cash for a box, I'd go with used Snappy long before a $9000 Craftsman...

Oh, and my $0.02 on Mexico vs. China: Yeah, buying Mexican doesn't support the workers here and it supports corporate leadership acting crooked. But... at least it's not supporting a communist regime that, by supporting Iran, is indirectly supporting the guys shooting at our boys in Iraq. Personally I'll spend extra to buy American, but when that's not a choice I'll take Mexico long before China.

 

[rlme36]

I just saw this box the other day too. Couldn't believe that it was $10k. I just purchase 2 brand new lista cabinets that have more storage than that pee yellow box for less than a third of that box. And I get the added bonus of knowing it is a quality product made in the US.

 

[jeepnut24]

Our local sears had the giant yellow box for $7K... IMHO Im looking for the best quality for the money I have. However, I don't think crafstmans is the same company my father and grandfather filled their garages with over the years. Im not against a foreign tool if the quality is there. Id buy more American, but usually cant justify 2-4x the cost. We are now in a global economy where the execs don't listen to the consumer.

 

[rsanter]

I am not even willing to drop $10k on a SO box, much less a Cman box

bob

 

[DHS]

Fedwrench, Please educate...............

I understand anyone's point about ALL mfg leaving USA for offshore, somewhere !!!

but Why is it better to buy Mexican mfg boxes at SEARS than

Chinese mfg boxes at HARBOR FREIGHT........

Is it a political thing or ?????

I think its because if they have jobs in Mexico they might be less motivated to jump the fence.

 

[southernfriedcj]

Is there a 72" top box available for the HF box? I couldn't find one.
I've got a couple SO emblems that need a new home. Clone time!

 

[american lockpicker]

I would buy something from Mexico before I would something from china.

 

[tenorplayer23]

+1

.........and you're right, we do live in a global economy, but the issues in this thread are not about corporate executives not listening to customers. In fact, that is why much of what we buy today is made offshore. The fact is, there is market differentiation. For the professional who demands it, needs it or simply can afford it, there is a product and supporting price point, e.g., SnapOn tool boxes. For other users, there different quality products and their price points (like the Harbor Freight tool box or a Craftsman, or.....etc.) The bad news and what churns our stomachs is that many of these products are made abroad (some well, some poorly). But, consumer demand is what sets the price point and that in turn determines where it will be made in "today's world". If our US brands (like Sears Craftsman) don't build these products offshore, with the ridiculously low labor rates, they will probably fail to exist because some other supplier will fill that product/price point and take away the business. Sears "could" have built for them a SnapOn quality product if they want to, but that is apparently not their market (now or perhaps, ever). As long as the low manufacturing costs are available, they'll be used. And, someday soon, it won't be China.....it will be another part of the under developed world where manufacturing will grow.

See ya.

Our local sears had the giant yellow box for $7K... IMHO Im looking for the best quality for the money I have. However, I don't think crafstmans is the same company my father and grandfather filled their garages with over the years. Im not against a foreign tool if the quality is there. Id buy more American, but usually cant justify 2-4x the cost. We are now in a global economy where the execs don't listen to the consumer.

 

[drivinhard]

when (what year) did magnum production move to mexico? I think my box was made in 05 or 06 (36" magnum). Have been very pleased with it, it gets a work out all the time.

there's an older style blue 56" magnum/CM Pro box on clearance for ~$3300 locally, which ain't a bad deal IMHO.

 

[SouthernMercantile]

I wanted a good sized Tool Box for myself, Didnt want one I could DRIVE, so I turned to the places I usually turn, being the cheap a** B**** that I am, AUCTION...... I wound up with 2 nice Craftsmans 2 Rows of drawers 60 in wide boxes. Paid a whopping $340 for both, did a little work on the 2nd one and sold it to a fellow aircraft Mech for a huge $450. So mine was free and I wound up with a bit more than $100 bucks for dinner that night , ooh yeah and a few beers.

 

[kythri]

Deleting my post.

Suckered into another damned necro.

 

[wornoutoldman]

deleting my post.

Suckered into another damned necro.

^^^How in Hell does this keep happening to me?^^^

 

[TheCarbideRat]

http://kennedymfg.com/Kennedy/Products/

Fk it, Kennedy. I have my Kens on the toolbox thread.

 

[Andy Griffith]

I would have figured that the guy who designed the puke green 1960's sears refrigerators would have retired by now.