Latest Harbor Freight Tool Challenge

[Garys Garage]

I bought my Snap On box new 30 years ago for 3800 dollars. Use it every day and still works like new. Has a few battle scars from floor cleaners and others slamming drawers closed with tools not laid down. I guess I could get 1300 out of it ( would not sell it for that it is worth much more to me). 2500 dollars to hold my tools for 30 years. I have no complaints. I bought a used one just like it ( and it is full too) for 2000 7 or 8 years ago and I would not sell it for less than that. I believe mine was first to have roller drawers and still work perfect. Harbor Freight box is way better than any cheap box was 30 years ago. I guess if it were a hobby I would have one. I figure I only have to work another 20 years so I will stick with what I have. One of you guys do a comparison with the pair listed in 30 years and let me know how it comes out. A friend of mine bought a used bottom box (SO over 20 years ago) and had a problem with it ( it was 30 years old) and dealer gave him a brand new box.Another friend of mine is still using the same box for 50 years. The drawers dont slide like new but it still works every day! Everyone just needs to do what is right for them.

 

[Aberdale]

Great discussion, guys. Here's another wrinkle. It sounds like many of you swap and trade and upgrade boxes every few years. A few others probably bought a box when they were younger, then bought a bigger/better box when they could afford it, and will have that box forever. I think I'm in the latter camp.

I bought a new Cman box back in the early 80's, and it did fine for 20 years. It wasn't anything special, but it was great to me because I never experienced anything better. About 10 years ago, I bought a used Macsimizer at an auction because it was going pretty cheap, and was close to new. Man, what a difference. Did I get an adrenaline rush just opening the drawers? Well, maybe. I did, (and still do), get a little smile and a huge sense of pride and appreciation for good quality craftsmanship every time I open the drawer or clean and put away my tools.

I expect the Macsimizer to last me the rest of my life, and I have no intentions of trading or upgrading. However, I still have the old Cman box as a secondary for storing backups sets and odds and ends.

So what's the point I'm making? Both boxes have been great, and both have served a different purpose at different stages in my life. I tend to get attached to stuff, especially when it performs well. I have no doubt that anyone who buys a HF box today will look back without feeling like it was a great investment at the time. It is a great value. But if you ever get to experience the quality of a top-of-the-line box (a Macsimizer/KRL level), then you should be thankful and consider yourself fortunate, because many people will be never be able to afford it ever.

Dale

 

[mrholeshot]

I'm one of those guys who traded boxes every few years. The Macsimizers I have now are about 5 years old. Ive used them longer than any box I've ever owned. I don't get attached to anything material.

 

[shotgunfatcat]

I'm a shade tree mechanic. I don't make any big money on anything I do, but I take pride in everything I do. I used a proto top box and a "custom" bottom box for most of my early life (I am younger) with craftsman tools (my backup set was SO, lol).

If I were to have bought a box 8 years ago, I probably would have gone with a c-man or HF. But it comes down to the fact that I like nice things. I have been slowly upgrading to snap-on or other top brands I stumble across. This is for my own personal use, I am young, I don't have all the money in the world, but again, when I go to use something, I want it to work, I don't want it to break on me, and I want to have it for many years.

My proto box is almost new, and in pretty new condition. Through normal use, the top hinges are all bent, the drawer lock doesn't catch all the drawers, etc.

I had a friend with an old single wide top and bottom SO from the seventies, I decided to pick it up. 30+ year old box and it is better than my almost new proto. And this is why I would pay for the more expensive box if I could.....

I don't know the quality of the new HF box, but with my experience's so far, I wouldn't think they would last.

A dull quarter is still worth more than a shiny penny.

 

[mrholeshot]

30 year old Snap-On boxes were really well built. I've seen a few survive coming of the back of a truck at 30mph. Some of the new ones can't survive a tip over. As far as the HF boxes goes It's a lot of box for the money. Way better than Craftsman other than the Industrial/professional.

 

[SnowBlaZeR2]

I've read this entire thread and imo, both are nice boxes. I'm a starting out tech and have been using my Cman 11 drawer top and bottom box for 2 yrs now. I'm outgrowing it quickly and don't have the 4000 dollars for a SO the tool truck is trying to get me to buy. I'm probably going to go with the HF box and if I do, I'm going to see how many years I can get out of it. It's got a tougher finish, look, and construction compared to my Cman boxes, which i can grab a hold of and flex the metal bare handed. Can't do that with SO and this HF box. What I like about the HF box is that its got a rugged look to it and as i said, is pretty sturdy and constructed well. I would like a SO, because of their warranty, construction, quality, and looks, but I don't have the money to buy one out right and honestly would rather spend my money on other things. Personally, I would be happy with this HF and would not feel that I was settling by any means

I've got to say, I have an older Craftsman box so I can't really give a valuable opinion on many of the newer boxes from Craftsman as far as durability goes. I do however spend way too long "playing"(my wife's term) with the tool boxes at Sears every time we go there. I notice an extreme difference in quality between the different lines. They have their Evolv, homeowner's, basic, heavy duty, premium heavy duty and Professional lines. I have had hands on every single one. I will agree that the lower ends are flimsy, but the Pro, the premium and even the heavy duty are very solid. I wouldn't park my car on top of one, but they are built very well. Better than the HF I would say. I have been going back and forth about dropping the money for a 52" set for awhile now when I get my new garage. Maybe I will just get a couple of the HF boxes and paint them though. Who knows?

 

[shotgunfatcat]

I've got to say, I have an older Craftsman box so I can't really give a valuable opinion on many of the newer boxes from Craftsman as far as durability goes. I do however spend way too long "playing"(my wife's term) with the tool boxes at Sears every time we go there. I notice an extreme difference in quality between the different lines. They have their Evolv, homeowner's, basic, heavy duty, premium heavy duty and Professional lines. I have had hands on every single one. I will agree that the lower ends are flimsy, but the Pro, the premium and even the heavy duty are very solid. I wouldn't park my car on top of one, but they are built very well. Better than the HF I would say. I have been going back and forth about dropping the money for a 52" set for awhile now when I get my new garage. Maybe I will just get a couple of the HF boxes and paint them though. Who knows?

Your car, what about this?

 

[King Bojack]

That truck's a fake, prolly made of plastic and weighs about 50 lbs or so.

 

[shotgunfatcat]

I am not saying the picture isn't doctored by any means, but I doubt the truck is fake.

 

[mrholeshot]

That truck's a fake, prolly made of plastic and weighs about 50 lbs or so.

No, Its for real. Snap On has done this for years. They started I think back when the 650 series boxes came out and they set a Snap-On truck on them. It's a very careful procedure to get the dump truck up and set on them ever so careful. I had a friend who worked for the crane company that did the first few jobs. The trucks were unloaded.

Still pretty impressive.

 

[shotgunfatcat]

I hope they remember to lock the casters.

 

[Davefr]

That truck's a fake, prolly made of plastic and weighs about 50 lbs or so.

It makes for an impressive image but it's not that far fetched.

The truck probably weighs 20,000 lbs and there are 6 KRL's. That's a little over 3000 lbs per KRL.

However the top chest for these boxes (ie KRL 1201) weighs in at about 500 lbs empty and fully packed with tools it could probably weigh 2000 lbs. That means the truck is about 50% more weight per box then a fully loaded top chest.

However the truck scene was obviuosly staged under idea conditions. (ie boxes perfectly level and no movement).

I say it's real.

 

[beelsr]

there's a video of how they set it up. very carefully...

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