Everybody's got some Snap-On...

[SouthernIllinois]

The boxes are 1981 models - same as I had back in the late 80's when I was in the bodywork trade. I bought them purely put of nostalgia.

My Snap-On tools are an odd mix of stuff I bought 1987-1989 when I worked in a bodyshop before I left for the Navy, the rest I have picked up over the past year or two.

Now that I am retired and have built a home, hobby bodyshop I have started buying a little here and there again.

My best friend has a bodyshop that's just up the road. The Snap On guys stops every other Thursday afternoon. I have managed to find an excuse to be hanging around when he stops.

Nothing on an account - if I can't pay full price then and there, I'll wait until I can.

The dealer is a younger guy who is a pretty good guy and so far, I have no reason to complain - he has given me some pretty decent discounts for paying full on the spot.

My retirement project car is a 1965 Corvair so I really don't have a need for any new metric tools - I have the standard stuff I bought back in the 80s.

Any holes in my sets from tools that have been lost in the past 36+ years I have replaced mostly from eBay.

 

[Pexto]

Outstanding!
There may be a manufacturers date stamp on one of the tray sides, under the right light you may be able to make it out. That's how I found out the year for mine

Hey, thanks for the tip! I had previously looked it over briefly and hadn't seen a stamp. But I just went and looked again, with a strong flashlight held obliquely. Lo and behold it's a KR488 with a "96" stamp that I assume is the year.

 

[KwikFab]

No Snap On tools here, although it'd be cool to own a few! I've seen some that would've come in handy for a few jobs as I wrench on all my own vehicles.

Could never afford any though.

Have to say, awesome tool collections the lot of you have!

 

[drmarkr]

I have some Snap On.....

 

[ecotec]

I have some Snap On.....

Is your toolbox huge, or are you tiny?

 

[ecotec]

You have your own scissor lift?

 

[Beerhippie]

Is your toolbox huge, or are you tiny?

I wonder what those are made of? If actually steel, he's a man of steel to be holding them at arm's length!

 

[ecotec]

I wonder what those are made of? If actually steel, he's a man of steel to be holding them at arm's length!

I have seen a screwdriver like that. They are really cool garage art.

 

[liliysdad]

Scored a little more today…

 

[ecotec]

Scored a little more today…

Wow… you had a very expensive day. Early Father’s Day gift to yourself?

A couple of my favorites there… the 1/4”LLF and the 1/2”LLF.

 

[ChevyEFI]

And your point would be what?
Tons of loose product on the truck, easy to pocket something.

Especially if you can reach the ceiling.

 

[liliysdad]

Wow… you had a very expensive day. Early Father’s Day gift to yourself?

A couple of my favorites there… the 1/4”LLF and the 1/2”LLF.

Not exactly cheap, but not nearly as much as you’d think. Facebook Marketplace is a hell of a thing, you just have to act fast!

 

[drmarkr]

I wonder what those are made of? If actually steel, he's a man of steel to be holding them at arm's length!

The handles are plastic but the jaws are aluminum. I just bought a new formula continental off a guy in Florida that is retiring from racing, and he threw these in the spares box to give to my son. He bought them at a garage sale for $20.....I googled them and people are selling these things on ebay for $500-800, lol....anyone want them? Special today for $450, and I'll cover the shipping!!

Ecotec, yes, when we started the major remodel on our shop after the fire in 2019 I rented a lift for one week. It took me about 48hrs to realize that buying a used lift was going to save me money, and it certainly did. We used the bejeesus out of this thing doing the project, and I still use it all the time. One of the best purchases I've ever made.

 

[Beerhippie]

Not exactly cheap, but not nearly as much as you’d think. Facebook Marketplace is a hell of a thing, you just have to act fast!

"If you don't act now, I can't save you any money!"

Paraphrase of Ron Tonkin.

 

[micromind]

"If you don't act now, I can't save you any money!"

Paraphrase of Ron Tonkin.

Lol....I lived in Albany back then; I remember those commercials!

 

[50of4064]

Hey, thanks for the tip! I had previously looked it over briefly and hadn't seen a stamp. But I just went and looked again, with a strong flashlight held obliquely. Lo and behold it's a KR488 with a "96" stamp that I assume is the year.

That is how I am reading it, nice!

 

[AJHD]

Especially if you can reach the ceiling.

Haha. I'm only 5'5", so I usually have to stand on my toes to reach the ceiling. Not so much pulling the tool out of the bungees, but more so to put it back. It ***** being short.

 

[joel63]

Powr-Kraft with original paint. Most of them have turned orange from time and sunlight.

The guy that I bought it from bought it to use as a mechanic (before I was born). He soon found out that it would not work for that. He, then, took it to his parents house and put his dad’s tools in it. It was in the basement, which is why the paint hasn’t faded.

It was priced $400 at his parent’s estate sale… which was too much for me at that time. My wife told me to offer $100 without the tools. I gave him my phone number. We were only going to my in laws, which was about a mile away from the estate sale. He called before we even got there. He was very angrily taking the tools out… so I was treating the situation as something that could get weird. Anyways… that was more than a decade ago. The majority of the wear on the box has come from me.

While I love the box… I would never buy a box or cart with bulk storage on the bottom. It is drawers all the way down, or nothing.

I would not be ashamed at all to have that box. I'd find some use for it.

 

[joel63]

That is how I am reading it, nice!

Yes, you are reading correctly.
One thing, if I remember correctly the KR488 didn't have the middle shelf, you could order it and install it yourself as I did. The 2 that I have are from 1986. The first one I got I bought the adapter plate and installed the KRA-429 3 Drawer Tool box underneath the top shelf.

​

 

[joel63]

The boxes are 1981 models - same as I had back in the late 80's when I was in the bodywork trade. I bought them purely put of nostalgia.

My Snap-On tools are an odd mix of stuff I bought 1987-1989 when I worked in a bodyshop before I left for the Navy, the rest I have picked up over the past year or two.

Now that I am retired and have built a home, hobby bodyshop I have started buying a little here and there again.

My best friend has a bodyshop that's just up the road. The Snap On guys stops every other Thursday afternoon. I have managed to find an excuse to be hanging around when he stops.

Nothing on an account - if I can't pay full price then and there, I'll wait until I can.

The dealer is a younger guy who is a pretty good guy and so far, I have no reason to complain - he has given me some pretty decent discounts for paying full on the spot.

My retirement project car is a 1965 Corvair so I really don't have a need for any new metric tools - I have the standard stuff I bought back in the 80s.

Any holes in my sets from tools that have been lost in the past 36+ years I have replaced mostly from eBay.

Real nice looking Snap on KR 537/ 557 + side box Combination. Very popular set up in its day.
Gray box looks as if it's ready to work.

 

[50of4064]

The boxes are 1981 models - same as I had back in the late 80's when I was in the bodywork trade. I bought them purely put of nostalgia.

My Snap-On tools are an odd mix of stuff I bought 1987-1989 when I worked in a bodyshop before I left for the Navy, the rest I have picked up over the past year or two.

Now that I am retired and have built a home, hobby bodyshop I have started buying a little here and there again.

My best friend has a bodyshop that's just up the road. The Snap On guys stops every other Thursday afternoon. I have managed to find an excuse to be hanging around when he stops.

Nothing on an account - if I can't pay full price then and there, I'll wait until I can.

The dealer is a younger guy who is a pretty good guy and so far, I have no reason to complain - he has given me some pretty decent discounts for paying full on the spot.

My retirement project car is a 1965 Corvair so I really don't have a need for any new metric tools - I have the standard stuff I bought back in the 80s.

Any holes in my sets from tools that have been lost in the past 36+ years I have replaced mostly from eBay.

Love your choice in decore, the metal and the sliding barn door. No I am not going to show the wife....I have enough unfinished projects on my plate..lol....I lied, she will be shown....
Oh, and nice box's!

 

[captmoto]

UPDAT! UPDATE! UPDATE!
I was working on a lawnmower and grabbed a 5/8" spark plug socket from my truck toolbox and low and behold it's Snap On. I could not tell how it got in there if my life depended on it. Now I don't have to buy that 10mm socket someone suggested.

 

[bonneyman]

My best friend has a bodyshop that's just up the road. The Snap On guys stops every other Thursday afternoon. I have managed to find an excuse to be hanging around when he stops.

UPDAT! UPDATE! UPDATE!
I was working on a lawnmower and grabbed a 5/8" spark plug socket from my truck toolbox and low and behold it's Snap On. I could not tell how it got in there if my life depended on it. Now I don't have to buy that 10mm socket someone suggested.

Go ahead and grab a 10mm socket. One can't have too many of those!

 

[captmoto]

Go ahead and grab a 10mm socket. One can't have too many of those!

I'm OK for now.

 

[Beerhippie]

I'm OK for now.

So THAT'S where they went!

 

[micromind]

I'm OK for now.

Key words are 'for now'.......

 

[AJHD]

I'm OK for now.

That's cute.

This isn't a current picture, but I'm mildly obsessed with buying various types and sizes of 10mm sockets and wrenches for any occasion.

 

[KnurledNut]

My biggest Snap-on combination wrench. Had to break out the forklift for this one. 5/32”:


And my smallest socket:

 

[bonneyman]

A new Snappy addition - you just never know when you're gonna find one!
An SSDMRT8 ratcheting driver.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I have been "acquiring" tools for 57 years. I have ZERO Snap-on tools !

As a DIYer, they just were never in my budget.

 

[bonneyman]

I have been "acquiring" tools for 57 years. I have ZERO Snap-on tools !

As a DIYer, they just were never in my budget.

I hear ya! Bonney and S-K got me through 40 years of working. The only Snap-On I have are those that I come across at estate sales and pawn shops.

 

[bonneyman]

Found another Snappy!
9/16" combo wrench. A bit crusty, but should clean up well enough to use. And for $2 I wasn't going to leave it.

 

[zmotorsports]

Does a refurbished 1986 Snap-on tool cart count?

I bought mine new in the early 90's and has been my daily use toolcart every day since. I have had to replace the casters on it once but it gets the snot used out of it and keeps on going. I looked for several months a few years ago to find another but couldn't find one locally so ended up buying a Sunex that is very, very close in appearance and the exact same dimensions.

 

[mfairleigh]

Only these, but I’m lovin’ ‘em.

 

[50of4064]

I picked up a similar cart not too long ago; it must be from the same era. Doesn't look quite as good as @50of4064 's though!

It's getting a lot of use in my shop so I consider it $50 well spent.

That is a fantastic find! How cool is that!

 

[50of4064]

I hear ya! Bonney and S-K got me through 40 years of working. The only Snap-On I have are those that I come across at estate sales and pawn shops.

An S-K ratchet and socket set was the very first tools that I purchased when I was 14. Was working at a True Value and had the owner dock my pay till it was paid off. Still have them.

 

[51dueller]

I have chisel and punches sets as they were the easiest to get quality 15 years ago. There is also at least 40 year old speed handle made in canada. I also got the small vise grips to match my Eagle grips. Snapon needs to make 7" base long nose version to finish out my set.

 

[50of4064]

I bought mine new in the early 90's and has been my daily use toolcart every day since. I have had to replace the casters on it once but it gets the snot used out of it and keeps on going. I looked for several months a few years ago to find another but couldn't find one locally so ended up buying a Sunex that is very, very close in appearance and the exact same dimensions.

If I am understanding, the Sunex replaced the Snap-on? Might I inquire what role does the older Snap-on play at this time?

I bought mine new in the early 90's and has been my daily use toolcart every day since. I have had to replace the casters on it once but it gets the snot used out of it and keeps on going. I looked for several months a few years ago to find another but couldn't find one locally so ended up buying a Sunex that is very, very close in appearance and the exact same dimensions.

I bought mine new in the early 90's and has been my daily use toolcart every day since. I have had to replace the casters on it once but it gets the snot used out of it and keeps on going. I looked for several months a few years ago to find another but couldn't find one locally so ended up buying a Sunex that is very, very close in appearance and the exact same dimensions.

Is the Sunex your daily driver now? What is the old Snap-on cart up to?

 

[zmotorsports]

If I am understanding, the Sunex replaced the Snap-on? Might I inquire what role does the older Snap-on play at this time?



Is the Sunex your daily driver now? What is the old Snap-on cart up to?

My Snap-on cart is still my daily use cart (background). I equipped it with a MAC Tools aerosol can holder about 30 years ago and when I was trying to add another to my shop, I could not find another Snap-on cart nor MAC aerosol can holder when I was looking back in 2022. Then in December 2022 I was tired of searching for another matching Snap-on cart and just bought the Sunex cart and fabricated a replica aerosol holder. The Sunex in on the left (foreground) and the Snap-on background (right). The dimensions of the Sunex are exactly the same as the Snap-on with the exception of the Sunex having rounded handles vs. the squared corners on the Snap-on.

I do use the Sunex cart on occasion such as when I am already using the Snap-on for a job and another job comes through the door, but for the most part the Sunex is my backup.

 

[bonneyman]

A new Snappy addition - you just never know when you're gonna find one!
An SSDMRT8 ratcheting driver.

Well, I disassembled, cleaned, and lubed my Snappy driver. Gotta give credit where credit is due - the ratcheting action is very nice. Nothing will make me give up my EASYDRIVER ball drivers, but the Snappy is very nice. Fine action, very quiet, nice long shank with good magnet. Guess it's a win!