The list of HF boxes that can even be compared to a Kennedy is VERY short, and almost everyone that has been paying any attention to the HF 44/56/7X box threads knows that.
I'm not a HF fan either, but not because of the build quality of those particular boxes; and comparing almost any box to a Lista or Vidmar is like comparing a Chevy Nova to a Cadillac, so no surprise there
The real test of a box is time and use. Kennedy's stand the test of time better than almost any box ever made in any class outside of the Cadillacs like Lista and Vidmar.
I have Kennedy 520's that are 80 years old. Still in perfect working condition. How many boxes, even those that sold 10X as many, can claim that? Heck most of them are in that great big scrap bin in the sky.
Kennedy has never got big into roller slides, at least not in the machinist box lines. Why would they? More money for zero gain. The drawers are deliberately small and shallow. it's for precision tools storage, not to see how many wrenches you can cram into a drawer. Yes machinists tend to load lighter than Mechanics. Its the nature of the game, but even my 50's Kennedy Mechanics boxes, have held up better than almost any other similar mechanics boxes of similar age.
While Kennedy's have traditionally not held great resale value in many areas, that seems to be changing fast. It certainly has in my area. I see very few great deals any more and more and more thrashed boxes asking premium prices. Both of those boxes would be $100 - $150 at least here...
Kennedy's are tinny? Not in my experience. Compared to a Lista? So are most if not all Snappys...
