Troutbum1982
Member
Do they got anything on snap on, matco etc.??
Kennedy tool boxes??
- Thread starter Troutbum1982
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Chris_R/T
Well-known member
I own an older Kennedy 5 drawer rollaway with a 2 drawer top box. I use the heck out of it at work and it's held up fantastic, but I wouldn't put it at the same level as snap-on boxes ( can't comment on Matco since I've never used one frequently enough). Kennedy is good for the price though, I'd put it a notch above Craftsman.
Stick Figure
Well-known member
I've had a few Kennedy top boxes and all of them have been super durable and seem like they will take a lot of abuse. The one bottom box i have, has been repainted, stripped of its caster and moved off to do printer stand duty in the home office. I didn't think it was all that well built, but it was also pretty abused before i got it. It took a hi-lift style jack between corners to get the box 100% back to square before the rest of the body work was done. As far as ranking it above Craftsman.... Yes probably better than the new stuff, but not better than the old stuff. At least from what i have seen and have.
johnnybentwrench
Well-known member
dieseldodge01
Well-known member
Kennedy boxes are made to be in an industrial environment. I say they are very good boxes, they don't have the selection of sizes and styles of the truck boxes but they get the job done. I don't think I would trade mine for any other box.
JSGAuto
Well-known member
I have 2 full size boxes, and one small hand carry one.
They are meant to be bashed around in industry, as stated above. Made of good gauge material, and sliders. Large casters, the oversize center wheels on the bigger boxes allow for going over bumps easy. The finish on all of mine are excellent. Made in USA!
I don't really like the usual brown wrinkle ones (my one at work is). Just think its ugly looking.
They are really geared for Machinist, so make sure the draw configuration works for you. I bought the Maintenance Pro series for home, and it works very well as a mechanic's box.
The best part, Kennedy seems to maintain a good deal of its value!
They are meant to be bashed around in industry, as stated above. Made of good gauge material, and sliders. Large casters, the oversize center wheels on the bigger boxes allow for going over bumps easy. The finish on all of mine are excellent. Made in USA!
I don't really like the usual brown wrinkle ones (my one at work is). Just think its ugly looking.
They are really geared for Machinist, so make sure the draw configuration works for you. I bought the Maintenance Pro series for home, and it works very well as a mechanic's box.
The best part, Kennedy seems to maintain a good deal of its value!
mrholeshot
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It's a good box but the short answer is no other than price
TheGrooveking
Well-known member
I have 4 Kennedy roller cabinets, 297, 295, 205 & 277, along with a Versa Cart, a 266 chest and two 285 5 drawer intermediates. In the machinist side of things I have 2 of their 7 drawer, 2or their 8 drawer, the 11 drawer, 2 of the narrow machinist bases, 2 of the wide machinist bases, the 11 drawer deep machinist check and base. Along with both size cantilever boxes and 4 flat top boxes, plus the carpenter's box. All have been used from 11 to 25 years of use amd I've never had a problem with any of them. Solid boxes is an understatement.
As compared to Snap On or Matco, I have 4 Snap On and 9 Matco boxes and will report that they are comparable in quality/construction it's just that the SO & Matco boxes have better/nicer finishes. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Kennedy box and will be getting 6 Kennedy Maintenance Pro boxes/chest early next year.
TheGrooveking
As compared to Snap On or Matco, I have 4 Snap On and 9 Matco boxes and will report that they are comparable in quality/construction it's just that the SO & Matco boxes have better/nicer finishes. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Kennedy box and will be getting 6 Kennedy Maintenance Pro boxes/chest early next year.
TheGrooveking
Packard V8
Well-known member
Yes. Value for price.
jack vines
crewchief888
Well-known member
i had kennedy boxes when i worked as a machinist, and my 1st set of mechanics boxes were kennedys too.
the wrinkle finish was fine on the machinists boxes, never liked it on the mechanics boxes, way too hard to keep clean in a dusty,dirty shop.
nice boxes for the price tho.
the wrinkle finish was fine on the machinists boxes, never liked it on the mechanics boxes, way too hard to keep clean in a dusty,dirty shop.
nice boxes for the price tho.
Packard V8
Well-known member
FWIW, back in the day, most shops in which machinists worked were much dirtier than those in which mechanics worked. The machinists who cared brought in a flap of canvas to cover their box. They'd fold it back to open the drawers.
To today's video game generation, any of the old manufacturing plants would be unimaginably dirty, dangerous, hot in the summer, cold in the winter. The guys who worked there mostly hadn't finished high school, were rough, crude and if the newbie showed any weakness, they'd hound him mercilessly until he fought or quit. A cousin of mine has his dad's machinist chest, which he had used at US Steel from the late '40s until the '70s. In one drawer is a nickel plated .25 cal automatic.
I spent a summer in Nashville Bridge. Loads of steel plate traveling overhead constantly. Punch presses, riveting, drilling, grinding, heating, burning, reaming; all for $1.65 an hour. That made me determined to finish college and never have to work like that ever again.
jack vines
back2class
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I'll chime in. I have owned KRA annd KR snap-on boxes. I have also owned a early 90's mac box and recently a Cornwell $1,2000 7 drawer cart. Through most of this I have had a Kennedy bottom chest. Quality seems to be about the same as the KR (same as KRL) snap-on boxes and older MAC. It is superior in quality (fit/durability/quality) to the cornwell and KRA boxes. As someone noted. Not as "fancy", but rock solid. My Kennedy is also the oldest and most abused...having been milsurp and several owners before me over at least a decade. Truth be told, I am completely unimpressed with the KRA boxes I have had and the Cornwell cart.
OP
Troutbum1982
Member
So in other words the mark up on the snap ons is for a name plate, shiny plate, and some chrome?? To me if it down to comparing apples and oranges that difference doesnt not justify thousands of dollars in my mind. At most I could afford a higher end kra model, if they are equivelant to that then the decision is pretty easy.
TheGrooveking
Well-known member
Its not an apples to apples when comparing say Snap On KRL or Epiq to a Kennedy, but it gets closer when you are comparing a KRA or older KR to a Kennedy. For instance all of my Kennedy boxes are friction slides and some have been heavily loaded for over 25 years and they are still working good. So if you want a solid well built box that will do its job without complaining or giving you problems get a Kennedy. A good analogy between a Kennedy box and a Snap On KRL would be a Toyota Camry to a Mercedes AMG65, both get you from point A to point B but one looks a little cooler and has some performance enhancements. Bang for the buck definitely goes to Kennedy, but don't forget the used market for Snap On and Matco boxes can offer up some big boxes for not so big bucks, it pays to look.
TheGrooveking
TheGrooveking
OP
Troutbum1982
Member
Well I cant afford a krl right now, been looking at used ones around here and they are pretty proud of them (even after being listed over and over) I really dont care about looks, I just want a box thats gonna hold up. It just seems with the pricing gap between the kennedy and snap on kra's it would be a little more practical to go with kennedy. Its hard around here, I live in a pretty rural area so I really do not get the chance to actually see very many of these boxes. This forum has been really helpful, thanks for all the input.
outofbounds
Well-known member
Kennedy Boxes are generally exceedingly common in the upper Midwest, I suppose because it is close to their home in Van Wert, OH, as well as the fact that Detroit is more or less Machine Shop central.......
However, I spotted these two unusual Kennedy boxes neither that I've seen before, ready to cross the auction block here in a few days.
Welcoming and insights as to age. They don't appear in the 70s catalog I saw on archive.org, and with the Script logo I'd guess 1960s.
Thoughts are welcome, as are comments to their relative rarity. Particularly interested as to the point behind a "half-cantilevered" box and where it it mounted so as to not fall over when open.
However, I spotted these two unusual Kennedy boxes neither that I've seen before, ready to cross the auction block here in a few days.
Welcoming and insights as to age. They don't appear in the 70s catalog I saw on archive.org, and with the Script logo I'd guess 1960s.
Thoughts are welcome, as are comments to their relative rarity. Particularly interested as to the point behind a "half-cantilevered" box and where it it mounted so as to not fall over when open.
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jgromada
Well-known member
I have a Kennedy 2 drawer tool box i have had for almost 40 years. Mine has a red crinkle finish. Superb quality.
I remember after getting it my uncle who had been a machinist that Kennedy was THE name in machinist boxes since the 1950s. Mechanics might have gravitated towards Snap On but for machinists this was tops.
I remember after getting it my uncle who had been a machinist that Kennedy was THE name in machinist boxes since the 1950s. Mechanics might have gravitated towards Snap On but for machinists this was tops.
I have one of those cantilever ones. Not rare but not common. Mine has a real weird part number.
I think I found it in a 90's catalog once. I think.
TailGunner3000
Well-known member
The cantilevered box is meant to be mounted to the side of a bottom roller.
outofbounds
Well-known member
Thanks for the insights!
Al Borland
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My Kennedy is 50 years old or so. Everything works great. Drawers are small, but it's not designed to be a mechanic's box. It was my father-in-law's and worked in a machine shop/model shop with him for years. My Matco box was a larger setup, 36ish inches wide as opposed to 26". Bigger, deeper, more drawers. Better mechanic's box. It lasted about 30 years in a damp shop environment. The attachment for a wheel eventually rusted thru, causing the box to tip/fall forward, throwing the top box and spewing tools everywhere. Yes it was locked. No, it didn't help. Did I mention it was 2:30 or so in the morning and set off the motion detectors and alarm in the shop?
bobcatdan
Well-known member
Kennedy are good boxes, I just bought a new machinists chest and middle box. If you are looking for a 26" box and willing to pay a made in USA price, they are a good choice. From what I see, Kennedy has really scaled back their offerings to their core boxes. A lot of the bigger boxes appear to be gone. My guess is since Cornwell bought them and they are making Cornwell boxes, much of their production has shifted to those.
isb cornbinder
Well-known member
I have 3 identical machinist tool boxes. The Craftsman is grey, the Beach is green and the Kennedy is ugly brown. The drawers and drawer dividers interchange. My guess is BEACH Canada made them all.
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Yeah they used to have big mechanic style boxes, a line like vidmar and a bunch of other stuff too.
davethorik
Well-known member
I have never heard anyone ever say that Beach made Kennedy tool boxes. Kennedy did make some for Craftsman.
RTM
Well-known member
CT-4 is the part number. As always we have the best info on GJ.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=216318
CHI_Tool&Die
Well-known member
Do the newer Kennedy boxes compare well with the older ones? The ones at my shop are older, say pre-1990, so I have no idea if the newer stuff is just as well built. Seems like most of you guys have older built models. I see a lot of guys on the machinist groups and Amazon complain about newer Kennedy boxes, but I’m not certain if this is general griping or if the quality has decreased. I’m trying to get a new 27” or 29” stack for work (tool & die shop).
I've got a set 2012-ish Kennedy boxes I bought off Amazon and they are (were?) still solid. Good thick gauge steel and perfect brown wrinkle finish and nice brown felt liners, no flaws. I can't vouch for the brand new ones but these are plenty sturdy. I have them stuffed to the brim and they hold everything and the drawers slide smoothly. Can't imagine a better quality box for the $$.
CHI_Tool&Die
Well-known member
Thanks redrighty! I'm in talks with our industrial supplier to get a Kennedy top box so I'm hoping the wife doesn't kill me when the bill comes in.
seber
Well-known member
I've bought and sold several dozen of them. They are well made and will hold plenty of weight without complaint as long as you don't try to move them around a lot. The bottom is not up to the standard of most mechanics boxes. They are designed for machinists and not meant to be rolled around. Most of the units I get are really cheap because the casters are defunct due to the bottom having collapsed. Add a piece of 3/4" plywood or steel plate and quality casters and you have a very nice box. Since they are designed more for machinists the drawers tend to be shallow. Make sure that will work for you.