If you have a Matco tool box PLEASE READ

[Tech92420]

I bough a Matco 4s box that was manufactured in September of 2016. Unfortunately the metal on the inside rusted, what's even worse is the matco tool box plant manager knows they rust and sells them like that.....
The first five pics are my box and the areas affected. The last two are the tool box plant manager's response. I censored my distributor's name because he is a good guy and I don't want him to get in trouble. He didn't know about this and was just as surprised as I am. I can't stop paying on it because it will destroy my credit. So I'm screwed. Hoping it won't rust through after I'm done paying it off and I can trade it in. Anyways please do yourself a favor and don't buy a Matco tool box. This isn't a one time thing that was over looked, ALL of their boxes have exposed metal on the inside and bottom.

 

[Tech92420]

Here are more pics. Fyi I live in California where it is not very humid and is always sunny

 

[InsanePyro]

Sell it or take it apart and paint it

 

[Orange65]

Yep- go to Walmart and buy some rust converter, then follow up with spray can primer and paint. Sorry you got a box with rust forming, but it is not detrimental to the operation or appearance (as it appears the rust is in out of the way locations) of the tool box. I am sure you paid a lot of $$ for the box, but sometimes you don't always get what you pay for.

 

[Empty Pockets]

I don't understand how or why manufacturers allow that sort of problem to exist, and worse yet ship the product. Let the buyer beware

 

[Mr_B]

shocking for the crazy matco prices, even HF boxes coated better than that inside.
One reason I never buy new truck boxes, buy old and good or old project and refinish it yourself.
saves a fortune and you get more than you pay for on used market with little effort .

 

[LXCam]

So if they're not going to do anything for you. Rip it apart and treat it, a couple days work for a lifetime box - big deal.

 

[ezover]

looks like they are trying to save a few pennies on paint, on massed produced items
the savings add up. long term it may come back to bite them in the ***.

 

[larry_g]

It seems to me this thread has been around for various brands of boxes. So it is not isolated to Matco.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Schurkey]

Are the rest of you seeing structural rust?

I see crappy paint coverage on the interior of the box. NOTHING that would affect "long term" structural integrity, depending on your view of "long term". I'm figuring ~50 years.

I bet my Snap-On box is the same inside.

 

[G-Ram]

Are the rest of you seeing structural rust?

I see crappy paint coverage on the interior of the box. NOTHING that would affect "long term" structural integrity, depending on your view of "long term". I'm figuring ~50 years.

I bet my Snap-On box is the same inside.

My question is, who in the **** wastes the time to actually INSPECT in the inside of their toolbox? I couldn't care less how much paint coverage the inside of my tool boxes have... Way more important things to stress about

 

[TheGrooveking]

My question is, who in the **** wastes the time to actually INSPECT in the inside of their toolbox? I couldn't care less how much paint coverage the inside of my tool boxes have... Way more important things to stress about

Have you spent thousands on a tool box?

I have multiple 6S boxes and they all had some similiar problems. It I too agree for the money they charge they should be 100%. When I received more mine I made the dealer go back at Matco and they took 20% off and threw in a free half side locker and pry bar cabinet.

TheGrooveking

 

[58Yeoman]

I've never looked behind the drawers of my HF roller and cabinet. It looks good on the outside and does what it is supposed to do. I still have the roller and cabinet that it replaced, both Craftsman bought new in the 70's. The outsides are pretty rusty from the humidity that I had had in my garage, and now shop. It's still holding up very well, and I now run a dehumidifier in the shop.

 

[n20junkie]

Get some chain and cable lube. Its a very high wax content oil. Spray that inside and it will never rust any more.


Yes the situation *****, but it's a box you need for work, so treat it nice.

 

[G-Ram]

Have you spent thousands on a tool box?

TheGrooveking

I sure have, not that it makes any difference whatsoever to my opinion on this matter.



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[Thirdyfivepickup]

man for a box of that $$$$ you'd think it would be coated a little better... and you'd think guys on a site called "Garage Journal" would be a little more sympathetic on a **** coating job on a high end toolbox.

 

[ard]

If you want more that people commiserating with you, please post a PDF of the actual matco warranty statement YOU RECEIVED. (Ive seen some stuff online, but what matters is the document you have.)

 

[bdbecker]

My Preformax boxes from Menards have this same problem. I wasn't surprised when I discovered it on them, but I would be disappointed if I spent the money on a brand name box and found that.

 

[Gmonkee]

Snapper was the other thread of this ilk a few months back.

Same angst and issue over price vs perceived quality level it should have been. There was no resolution with that either.

Now go check the insides of your new sockets if you get bored. They are are not chromed and the world still turns.

 

[ItsNemo]

At that price I'd expect it to be perfect. My Value Series International box is beautifully painted inside, nearly as good as the outside. I'd expect a box more than 5 times the price to show it.

 

[countryroad82]

While I highly doubt it will cause any serious issues in the lifetime of that box, it still ***** and shouldn't happen. As for the comments about who takes the time to deal with inspecting the inside of their box, I'm one of those psychopaths who enjoys the torment of once a year pulling EVERYTHING out of my boxes drawer by drawer, then pulling every drawer out to clean and wax the drawers and the inside of both my main boxes. I spent a fortune on those things, they will be the last boxes I buy other than maybe adding to the big box later. My boxes and tools live in a bodyshop environment that's not the nicest in the world to tools, I'll reiterate I have a small fortune in my moneymakers so I tend to try to make them last.

 

[countryroad82]

Just to give an idea of what I tend to do once a year, here's a pic of my KRSC46 a few months ago.





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[Bluedodge]

Shoulda bought a Harbor Freight unit.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

So if they're not going to do anything for you. Rip it apart and treat it, a couple days work for a lifetime box - big deal.

Agree.. that would be My plan.

The standards of quality and workmanship that went into finishing that box have proven to be a disappointment to Tech 92420.

Looks like it will be His job to finish the interior to a standard that many of Us would expect on a Matco Box. Maybe ask a couple questions as to the best paint and primer to use; and have at it.

 

[6768rogues]

I have lower cost tool boxes that still work perfectly after 30 years of neglect. Paying a lot does not mean it is that much better, only that you over paid. I would never pay their price and I would never, never make payments on a tool box. I buy things that I can pay for now, including cars and trucks for cash. No debt for 20+ years.

 

[James E]

Well, the Marco guy did say if it rusted through, they would reconsider the warranty claim.

It ***** that there is no coating in there, but unless your shop is at the beach and has a steady sea breeze blowing through it, it will never rust through or even develop any structural rust. Those bare metal areas will develop a thin coat of rust and then never get any worse.

 

[oldolds442]

Use the thing and quit crying about it...who cares what the inside looks like

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[racestatus]

I have a 3? year old 6s with a small amount of rust. its never grown at all. my coworker has a ? size matco its about the same size as my 6 he has had the same rust for 15 years.

 

[Matthew3901]

So I see the OPs point for the money he paid he expected a better quality box, including the fit and finish of all parts. I consider buying a brand new truck brand box like you are buying a Ferrari of tool boxes. I would want it to be flawless both aesthetically and functionally period.

I would also like to see the inside of a HF box to see if it has the same issues..

 

[davewo]

Spray it with a product called Fluid Film (available at Lowe's and others) and it will stop additional rust from forming.

 

[rburke65]

Yes....a HF unit or a Crapsman.....as good as. And a lit cheaper.