Looking into buying an older Snap On Tool Box

[Spencer_Murphy]

I am looking into getting an older Snap On toolbox for my house. I currently have a smaller 1960s Snap On toolbox and two craftsman 26" stack boxes (One is a 1970s red & gray and the other is a blue craftsman from 2014). The box I am looking at is a KR series, the box is 50" wide and 22" deep according to the owner and he took pictures of the tape measure to show proof of the measurements he took. The ower has another two KR1100 addon drawer sections he would be willing to sell that are sitting on two other toolboxes. I will try and upload some pictures. I think the 50x22 is a KR1000. What is a good price to pay in 2025 for a 50"x22" KR1000 and what is the going price for a KR1100 addon section. Lastly what is the part number for the Overhead cabinets for the KR series of toolboxes ? I found one for sale but the owner has yet to send me his model number so I can verify measurements. Like I said I will try to post pictures as soon as I get them to my phone.

 

[Speed-Racer]

It is hard to go wrong with a used Snap-On box. Condition (& maybe accessories) are more important for a KR1000 from 1980/1990.
Area determines supply and price, also how far your willing to travel. Your going to have to search in your area and be ready to act on a deal.

Several good threads on restoration and repaints, but that is more more than you could imagine. I would hold out for a clean one.

1988 Catalog - Collecting Snapon

 

[EricN.]

Speed-Racer Thanks for the link. I love the old catalogs

 

[Mr_B]

I guess a ballpark range on a kr1000 is 500 to 1K all depending on condition, I seen a good one at 700 .
Price is all down to condition .
you can base top section pricing off that to some extent .
Ideally you want good condition as gets spendy and time consuming if go down restoration path,
A clean up, a couple pairs of drwaer slides and new drawer liners about far as want go and even that costs fair chunk of $ so be sure haggle good deal .

 

[seber]

Drawer slides are expensive. Everything else is labor.

 

[Spencer_Murphy]

Update to the thread. The box is actually a KR660B. What is a good price to offer for a KR660B and a KR1100 in 2025. I will post pictures later today when I get them.

 

[tool_scrounge]

Update to the thread. The box is actually a KR660B. What is a good price to offer for a KR660B and a KR1100 in 2025. I will post pictures later today when I get them.

What country and state are you located in? It does make a difference

 

[Professor Fate]

Drawer slides are expensive. Everything else is labor.

Aren't Snap-On boxes lifetime warrantied? I bought a used Matco top and bottom a few years back and they sent me all new slides under warranty.

 

[ecotec]

Aren't Snap-On boxes lifetime warrantied? I bought a used Matco top and bottom a few years back and they sent me all new slides under warranty.

Original owner lifetime warranty… and then at their discretion.

 

[joel63]

Update to the thread. The box is actually a KR660B. What is a good price to offer for a KR660B and a KR1100 in 2025. I will post pictures later today when I get them.

KR660 is a nice box. That long bottom drawer with ball bearings is sweet. I bought one new in '89.

 

[Spencer_Murphy]

What country and state are you located in? It does make a difference

United States, State of Maryland.

 

[mjdarg]

I paid 1500 for my Snap-On SM0047, which is the military version of the KRL761B. I had to replace several latches, but the slides just needed a regreasing to be smooth. Its 54" x 24".

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/show-your-new-tool-arrivals.103272/post-10087454

 

[SouthernIllinois]

Took me almost two years to find these 1981 boxes in this condition.

 

[Steve_P]

^ two years is short time for that find; those boxes are like new. I remember commenting on how pristine they were when you initially posted those pics.

 

[GW Butch]

Took me almost two years to find these 1981 boxes in this condition.

Given your handle that might be my old box. But I had a 647 (?) 3 drawer middle section.

 

[tool_scrounge]

KR660 is a nice heavy duty box. I recently picked up the mating KR650 top chest. The only bummer was one bearing slide was damaged. A replacement slide pair was over $150 including shipping, Handling, and tax! Make sure the drawer slides are good.

In California. A nice KR660 is probably $500-600.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

Given your handle that might be my old box. But I had a 647 (?) 3 drawer middle section.

The local (Effingham, IL) dealer has this. Said an aircraft mechanic traded it in. He really wasn’t trying to sell it. They have a brick and mortar warehouse / store that is open to the public. They had this on display in their “showroom”.

 

[Shocker]

As someone who has restored one of these boxes I can say they are really nice little boxes.

I have found that vintage USA boxes from Snap-On,, MAC, Matco and Cornwell are all over the place on value vs price.

I restored a complete Mac MB1500/1510 boxes. They came out great even though they were in a autobody shop. I think they are comparable to the KR660/650 set and I got $1500 for it locally about 9 years ago.

I would take some time and go through Craigslist and FB marketplace to see what similar boxes are going for locally.

Here in my area, that box set would go for $1200 to $1500 I think.

 

[GW Butch]

The local (Effingham, IL) dealer has this. Said an aircraft mechanic traded it in. He really wasn’t trying to sell it. They have a brick and mortar warehouse / store that is open to the public. They had this on display in their “showroom”.

That’s where I traded mine in on a KRL1023. Not an aircraft mechanic, just a guy who bought too many tools over the last 55 years. I’m glad it found a good home, they had it on display for a couple years in their shop. (The roll cab served as a microwave cart in our first apartment in Phoenix circa 1985)

 

[SouthernIllinois]

That’s where I traded mine in on a KRL1023. Not an aircraft mechanic, just a guy who bought too many tools over the last 55 years. I’m glad it found a good home, they had it on display for a couple years in their shop. (The roll cab served as a microwave cart in our first apartment in Phoenix circa 1985)

I'll be damned.

Lee Kaufman was my dealer back in the late 1980's before I joined the Navy.
Back then I had a very similar box I bought off him - I thought I was Hot $hit when I got that box..lol

After I retired from the Navy and commercial fishing, I moved back to Effingham County.

I had been looking for a box set like I had back in the day for a long time but only found overpriced, beat up boxes.

On a whim, I emailed Lee's Tools about what I was looking for.
I guess Lee is largely retired but still piddles around in the warehouse. He saw my email, remembered me and had his son call me. I guess Lee didn't really want to sell the boxes - he wanted to keep them out of nostalgia but when I assured him they would be going to a good home, he agreed to sell them (at a Snap-On type price..lol)

Lee's Son, Scott, is the one who told me it came from an aircraft mechanic.

When I went to look at them there was no middle box but there was a small Mac side box which I didn't buy.

Here is a pic of what I saw when I first went to look at it in their T-Town warehouse.

 

[GW Butch]

I had a Lauda Air sticker on the box, which did come from an aircraft mechanic I knew

 

[SouthernIllinois]

I had a Lauda Air sticker on the box, which did come from an aircraft mechanic I knew

Small world!