Kennedy 277 box

[Vinko]

No pics (yet), but bought one used for about $150. Straightened out bottom, took off casters, degreased and polished, and changed out wheels which had begun to melt for some American-made urethane with really nice bearings.

Not a bad little box to store overflow of tools.

Now for drawer liners and a new lock.

 

[dieseldodge01]

Can't beat American made quality. Kennedy boxes are some great boxes. I have to talk them up, I live close to the factory

 

[gpstraub]

I've got what I think is a model 266 that my dad gave me. From my dad's recollection it was purchased in the late 70's. It's got friction slides but I try to go easy on it and don't overload the drawers. Works great for me

 

[jride200]

Yeah, thats the 266. I've got an identical one in brown.

 

[Vinko]

I thought I wouldn't like the wrinkle brown, but it has a certain appeal and character to it.

I got to say that the SO box I have (Classic 78) is more "serious", but they're too very different things.

Closer, is the KR557 which I have. Prefer it to the Kennedy, but I like the kennedy friction slides better than the SO ones.

Easier to take out (not that this feature is one that you do often ) I also like the internal track (does SO called it a "false channel?). THe kennedy seems a little more sturdy on that point.

SO is thicker gauge metal. Drawers more sturdy.

Anyway, Kennedy's a nice addition for storage.

Cleans up real nice with WD-40.

 

[mkdive]

Cool box,

<---waiting for pics!

 

[Rickster]

I just sold off two Kennedy's like that one in my garage sale. One wrinkle brown and the other gloss red. They are a very sturdy box. The sliders seem to work smoother when the drawer is totally loaded down. For a while I had all my punches and chisels stored iin one drawer and it held them without conplaint.

 

[Vinko]

Rick, what did you get for the boxes? And do you remember the model numbers?

I ordered a new Kennedy lock and liners from MSC. 35% off during their sale. Their regular prices were about list, but I noticed a lot of other places had quite inflated prices on Kennedy accessories.

Kennedy also makes (or rebrands?) some drawer organizers (multi-comparment) that look very useful for taps and the like. Might have to get one of those. I got one for my SO Classic 78 (about $20 from SO made in USA) and it's been super useful for organization.

Put the new urethane wheels on too.

Photos when I'm finished

 

[Packard V8]

I've got several Kennedy machinist boxes of various sizes, plus a very beat version of the #266 mechanic's box. For years, it sat in the doorway of an automotive machine shop, getting rained-on and finally I just had to do a toolbox rescue. It will never be a show car, but with just a clean-up it is a very usable basement-size top box.

Wish I had taken some "before" photos. The PO had screwed a laminated solid wood plank to the top. Sitting in the weather had caused the glue to let go, but at a glance, I had thought it might have been a factory option. Since the drawers are available with the top closed, it made a small workbench, I guess.

I like the Kennedy #525 for keeping small stuff sorted.

jack vines

 

[Rickster]

Don't remember the model numbers. I think they went for around $60 each.

 

[Vinko]

 

[TheGrooveking]

Its pre-95, after 95 Kennedy started using square holes punch in the inner side panels for mounting the slides. I have 2 - 295's, a 277, 2 - 285's, 1 - 266 (was my father's also in red but I sprayed in Kennedy brown), a Versa cart, and about 8 Kennedy machinist chests & risers.

Great stuff for the money. Proven by that some of it I have/used for over 24 years! Ca;t go wrong with Kennedy IMO.

TheGrooveking

 

[arkangel06]

Kennedy make some of the best boxes in the world.

 

[mrholeshot]

I had a set of the brown wrinkle Craftsman machinst boxes. The top box had a drop front and had been sitting in a basement in mayland sincce 1970. They looked new when I got them. I've been kicking myself for selling them a few years ago. The Brown wrinkle really has a stange appeal. I liked them so much I had them in my bedroom. The wife wasn't crazy about tool boxes in the house. It's her domain, lol

 

[Vinko]

I had a set of the brown wrinkle Craftsman machinst boxes. The top box had a drop front and had been sitting in a basement in mayland sincce 1970. They looked new when I got them. I've been kicking myself for selling them a few years ago. The Brown wrinkle really has a stange appeal. I liked them so much I had them in my bedroom. The wife wasn't crazy about tool boxes in the house. It's her domain, lol

The brown wrinkle finish also holds up pretty well. And cleans up very well too. I soaked a rag in WD-40 and wiped off a lot of the metal chips and coolant that had accumulated on it, over it, and in it for the past however many years.

 

[bamatj]

I love Kennedy boxes. They will easily last over 35 years if you dont get to crazy loading down the drawers. I have seen several with friction slides thats been used daily (well 5 days a week anyways) for over 30 years and still going strong. Ive had mine loaded down pretty bad and it didnt seem to mind. But I do have one that is wore out badly, I would imagine somebody loaded it down with stock.

 

[Vinko]

I just found a Kennedy 295 (bottom box with 5 drawers and that lift up drawer on bottom). Not bad. Would've preferred the the 277, but the 295 is a bit wider I think. Haven't measured.

Also got a middle box and top box of same width.


Put new wheels on. Unbending, straightening, and cleaning up the bottom box now. The middle box looks like it fastens only the top box.

I paid a bit too much. Over three bills for it. But I got another for $80 previous, so can't complain too much.

Waiting on an MSC 35% off sale for new liners for the bottom, as well as a few other accessories.

Going to get more locks from Kennedy keyed to the same lock as the others.

 

[bdk1976]

I really like these older Kennedy boxes. Just bought a Kennedy roller like that, along with a 520, and a 70's(?) craftsman rollaway off craigslist last week in really nice shape. Also have a red wrinkle top box (looks exactly like gpstraubs, but with a few small paint chips) and a small brown kennedy flip top box with green lift out tray that I've gotten on CL and garage sales over the past couple of years.

The best part is that I have exactly $89 in all of them (and *maybe* 30 min and $5 in gas total to pick them up - the red kennedy was even delivered!). I think $100 *might* buy me a single light gauge top box at sears these days.

I also have another Kennedy 520 I picked up for $20 that needs restoration - by far my worst toolbox purchase over the past couple of years due to its condition, but should have it finished for $35 or so with new paint and felt, but that's on the back burner for now.

I can't understand why any hobbyist would buy a new box these days. There are lots of deals like this out there if you are patient and persistent.

 

[Vinko]

anyone know if the Kennedy 295 (I just got a used one) has any trays that are specially designed for it?

I saw this tray:

http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNSRIT2?PARTPG=IMLMPLW&PMPXNO=2011788

which MSC says is designed for 27" cabinets. I think the 295 is a little bigger than that, and I wouldn't mind getting a tray that'll fill the whole drawer.

I think this tray will fit the 277 perfectly though, which I also have, pictured in a post above.

I suppose using the available Kennedy trays with a 295, you're going to have gaps where the tray sits. Wanted to avoid that because I've got some small parts that'll get lost, or knocked around a bit.

 

[Kevin54]

I really like these older Kennedy boxes. Just bought a Kennedy roller like that, along with a 520, and a 70's(?) craftsman rollaway off craigslist last week in really nice shape. Also have a red wrinkle top box (looks exactly like gpstraubs, but with a few small paint chips) and a small brown kennedy flip top box with green lift out tray that I've gotten on CL and garage sales over the past couple of years.

The best part is that I have exactly $89 in all of them (and *maybe* 30 min and $5 in gas total to pick them up - the red kennedy was even delivered!). I think $100 *might* buy me a single light gauge top box at sears these days.

I also have another Kennedy 520 I picked up for $20 that needs restoration - by far my worst toolbox purchase over the past couple of years due to its condition, but should have it finished for $35 or so with new paint and felt, but that's on the back burner for now.

I can't understand why any hobbyist would buy a new box these days. There are lots of deals like this out there if you are patient and persistent.

You can find Kennedy's easy. Most machinist all have Kennedy's. It seemed to be the box of choice. I picked up the 8 drawer Kennedy and a two drawer base to go with it at a garage sale a few years back for $25 in like new condition. I had an 8 drawer top, two drawer base, and 7 drawer roller base I got at another sale for $125.00.

Also don't overlook some Waterloos if you see them advertised in CL or somewhere. Some of the Waterloo machinist boxes are the exact identical twin to Kennedy other than the name badge on front.

I think to date I still have 4 Kennedy machinist chest. Two 520's, two 526's, and an MC22 base. I've probably sold twice that many as I come across them every now and then.

Here is the portion of Kennedy's site where you can download their catalog for the boxes and components. http://www.kennedymfg.com/Kennedy/Catalog/

Also someone mentioned above about weight in the drawers. The drawers will hold a ton of weight. I have had mine loaded town with quite a bit of steel and never had a drawer fail or bend. V-Blocks, 1-2-3 blocks, machinist grinding vises all add up to quite a few pounds. The Kennedy's will handle it.