matco 6s quad bay

[travis85904]

Hey guys, I'vebeen browsing the forum for a while now but never posted. My qquestion is this, im an automotive student and I'mlooking to buy a ddecent toolbox and I have an opportunity to buy a matco 6s quad bay with the hutch for a very good price (around 4k) and it seems to be in pretty good condition. I'm gonna go check it out tomorrow but just wanted to get people's opinion on it. Seems to me like if it'sas good as Iit seems then it may be the only box ever need to buy

looks kinda like this, but it has a hutch as well

 

[Thumper]

.....ohhh boy.....you might wanna rethink this..........that's a big *** box.

 

[jim1987]

.....ohhh boy.....you might wanna rethink this..........that's a big *** box.

Why?

 

[wagzilla]

Nice toolbox that should last you a life time!!

James

 

[travis85904]

That's what I was thinking too but at the price I could get it for itseems like it would be stupid of me not to do it

 

[wagzilla]

Why is he selling it so cheap??

 

[RedneckWelder]

That. Is. NICE

Not my cup of tea on the color but damn that's a big box that will hold a LOT of tools. A lifetime box for sure.

I love the three wide drawers.

 

[IFMJohn]

I've got a 4s and love it. I like it a lot more than everyone's snap-on and cornwell boxes. My 4s is almost full though and i expect that I'll need to upgrade within a year. I've been working on semis in the field for about 6 months now.

If I could go back, I would've gotten at least a triple bay with at least 2 full length drawers.

 

[Thumper]

Why?

Simple...He is an automotive student and is about to spend a chunk of money on a VERY NICE massive toolbox that will probably last him a lifetime IF....now this is a big IF...he makes a career out of his schooling and don't bail out when he hits the real world of auto repair....'cause it ain't always sunshine and ice cream.
Personally i would suggest a modest size box to start with loaded with swap meet or discount quality tools until he knows he's gonna stick with it...

 

[ADSR]

Simple...He is an automotive student and is about to spend a chunk of money on a VERY NICE massive toolbox that will probably last him a lifetime IF....now this is a big IF...he makes a career out of his schooling and don't bail out when he hits the real world of auto repair....'cause it ain't always sunshine and ice cream.
Personally i would suggest a modest size box to start with loaded with swap meet or discount quality tools until he knows he's gonna stick with it...

I see where you're coming from. But at the same time, he'll never lose money on that box if he sells it.

 

[jim1987]

Simple...He is an automotive student and is about to spend a chunk of money on a VERY NICE massive toolbox that will probably last him a lifetime IF....now this is a big IF...he makes a career out of his schooling and don't bail out when he hits the real world of auto repair....'cause it ain't always sunshine and ice cream.
Personally i would suggest a modest size box to start with loaded with swap meet or discount quality tools until he knows he's gonna stick with it...

I guess I skimmed over that student part. But if he has cash (op you listening?) CASH to buy it, go for it. I bet it'd be a long time before he'd ever loose money on it. And he could always have it as a home box. Doubtful he'd ever need more and has a bigger box then most pros here for less money.

 

[Skin]

If that 4k is for outfitting yourself with tools pass on the box. A lot of new guys make huge mistakes buying boxes first then they hardly fill it and need to borrow things all the time. Doesn't make a good impression.

 

[mypov]

There are definitely down sides to having a box that size - one downside is moving - tool boxes have wheels so we can get to the next better job, and believe you me, we move a lot. Well, maybe not, but I would say the vast majority of people move about in jobs. The other major downside to having a box that size is maneuverability in your shop itself. I have a snappy box that is a little smaller then the one you've posted, and I had to get a service cart too because it was just to much of a hassle moving that thing around the shop. The last downside, which will only be a downside while you are learning, and spending the money, is filling the damn things.
Get a smaller box, that you can take your time filling, yes you may have to buy another box, but you can take your first one home, or trade it in.
Just my 02

 

[travis85904]

what would you guys think between the used krl 722 or the new kra2422 with discount? The only thing i don't like about the krl is it looks like it's definetely been put to use alot, tho i haven't seen it in person yet it just looks pretty beat up,

 

[TejDarkmoon]

Here's my advice. Get one of the HF 44" boxes http://www.harborfreight.com/tool-s...ossy-red-industrial-roller-cabinet-69387.html

Then set aside about 2k of that 5k as a emergency fund just in case. Use the rest to buy tools.

 

[1970W-30]

http://www.strictlytoolboxes.com/to...ional-tool-cabinet-w-stainless-steel-top.html

New + 1000 more for tools

 

[Marc Benjamin]

That is a lot of box and true that you won't lose money on it for a long time.

lol, you better look for a paid in full receipt that matches the serial. That or make sure the guy looses your name and number after you load it up.

 

[rodsnratfinks]

I love Matco boxes. That is a fabulous deal and well worth the snag if you have you other bases covered. That said, what everyone else is right that it's a bit foolhardy to buy a box like that before you have most of your tools. Realistically, you are better served by identifying what tools you actually will use and avoiding the glamorous gadget tools that the truck guys try to sell you. Get a full range of bread and butter hand tools and specialty tools. If you have to borrow something three times, buy it. But be smart. There are a lot of tools that are much better value used than paying new truck prices.

As for your box, buy a good used box, but don't pay a lot. Older ball bearing slide tool boxes come up for around 1k all the time. I wouldn't (and didn't waste time with a HF box because I was able to find a tank of a Mac box for around the same price as those go for.

 

[WhiffySpark]

Just to fill in some gaps, I have 5 grand coming my way from an auto accident and yes i was planning to use that on tools and a box, I've already invested about a grand in snapon tools and even with the 50% student discount it didn't buy much. The other box i was consider was a kra2422 which i could pick up for 2150 with my discount and i also saw a used krl722 on cl for 2 grand. And i fi g ure even Iif i don't make a career out of it i can always use the box at home but yeah i guess i did kinda get a little too excited when i saw That huge box for such a good deal... what would you guys think between the used krl 722 or the new kra2422 with discount? The only thing i don't like about the krl is it looks like it's definetely been put to use alot, tho i haven't seen it in person yet it just looks pretty beat up,

You can buy a new 722 for less than 3 grand

 

[warmpancakes]

http://www.strictlytoolboxes.com/to...ional-tool-cabinet-w-stainless-steel-top.html

New + 1000 more for tools

not even remotely close to the same size box, hes at 4k for the matco, and it has a hutch. for 4k id have to think hard thats a great deal and im not a fan of matco boxes

 

[fm2176]

Gotta agree with the majority...get a smaller and much cheaper box for now and fill it with tools. I got started as a trailer mechanic at 18, moved to automotive shortly after, and ended up as a road tech for a forklift dealer. If I'd have gotten a massive box from the start it would have gone to waste after I got my service truck.

A wise person above mentions the fact that many people don't last long as mechanics. I disliked the conditions at Great Dane, grew bored working in the dealership shop and finally found a job I loved as a road tech. Lasted two years, lost the job, and am now pushing 14 years in the Army.

 

[CNGsaves]

QUESTIONS:

a) OP do you have backup plan and room "at home" if the student auto tech thing doesn't work out?? Any backup buyer worst case scenario??

b) Does it have stainless steel top??

c) What color is the actual Matco quadbay you're looking at ??

If the color is not too crazy (ie reason for low price . . . like pink), then less than $4K for quadbay with hutch is great deal.

Purchase really depends on target job and whether THAT JOB will have room for the big box, and it will be effective. You will still need a cart anyways.

Ultimately your call as looks like once in lifetime opportunity, as long it doesn't drag you down financially or just too big for target job.