New Box Under Student Discount?

[alanjello]

Hey everyone

I am in my second year of getting an Associates Degree in Automotive, and have been working at a shop for a couple years now. My boss has always told me to buy nice tools and i bought some before going to school and a ton more under my Snap On student discount, and now my 26" Craftsman box is too small for my needs.

I was originally thinking of finding a cheaper old Snap On box on craigslist, and getting it so all the drawers work well however I am having second thoughts and am thinking about getting a new box under my student discount.

I guess what I am asking is do you think it would be worth it for me to get a brand new box for the discount, or a used one that I might replace with a new one later on anyways?

Thanks

 

[930dreamer]

My view is never go into debt.

 

[oilfieldtrash4]

I say if you can pay cash and it doesn't hurt you too bad then go ahead and buy one. If it's on credit I'd say pass.

Word of advice for you since you're young. It's more about how you spend your money than how much you make. I have a brother in law that's made double what I have my whole working life. He doesn't have two nickels to rub together and I've done well for myself.

 

[hickmlg09]

I am looking into either a camo or green snap on tool box with my student discount. Saving up the money. I have to hold myself back everytime we get a new magazine with tools cause I will go in debt. What is your student discount at your school??

 

[cgv69]

I guess what I am asking is do you think it would be worth it for me to get a brand new box for the discount, or a used one that I might replace with a new one later on anyways?

Depends on your local market, which box you want and the amount of money and time are you willing to invest in this endeavor?

I think the KRSC46 series is a great box for a tech starting out and it would take a while to fill one of those up. With the student discount they generally go for ~$800 and I rarely see a used one around here for much less then that. So in that case, yes, going new with the student discount makes sense.

On the other hand, you may want a bigger box and in my experience, I've seen better deals on the larger used S-O boxes on Craigslist then you will likely get with the student discount. Case in point, the KRA4114\4107 is a fairly popular combo and full retail for that set is ~$3700. The same set with the student discount will run ya ~$1650. Nice discount but I bought the same set used for $1000.

The main downside to going used is it involves spending a lot of time hunting down the right box and requires you to have the cash on hand to jump if and when you find the right deal. Also, depending on your market, real deals may be far and few between?

Good luck

 

[DSLTRK]

Get the Road Chest from S-O. It's built like a tank, weighs just under 200 lbs empty.

 

[Murphy4570]

You can find KRA2411's or KRL7022 type boxes on CL all day every day for a couple grand or less. I'd go for one of those.

 

[P0300]

i was in the exact same boat as you, i has in my 2nd year for automotive also getting an associates degree. i ended up just getting the classic 60, i think i paid around $1100 for it.

 

[Steinmetz]

Buy it on credit only if you can live in it on your off hours.

 

[MattPersman]

Krsc46 box or 2 these things hold a ton

 

[Lurch67]

I would look at resale value. If you choose a different professional, you may need the sell the toolbox. Small/Medium boxes would be an easier resell, IMHO. Not as many tool addicts out there, unlike these boards. Keep in mind selling and sold price are two different animals. Asking $2000 for a $500 box is wishful thinking. Than again you may find the right sucker, I mean buyer.

Also if you leave, and decide to keep the box, you probability only need a small box, unless you are a tool addict and need your fix.

On the other hand, I'm from the Tim Allen school of thought. Bigger is better.

 

[alanjello]

Thanks Everyone for your replies

I have been looking at all the CL's near me for several weeks now, and the only ones I can really find are the 54" boxes. As much as I'd love to have one, the shop I work at now has offered me a job once I graduate, and There is Definitely no room for one in there, because its an older Shop, and not really set up well

I was looking at getting a Classic 60 if I were to get a new box, because it looked to be decently large.

P0300, How do you like the Classic 60?

I'd say about 36-40" is the biggest I could go

 

[netcaretaker]

I have seen many KRL756 style bottom boxes on CL for well under 500, bought one myself for 300 in great shape. Found a top for it for 325 - if you are looking for a 36 inch box, you can not go wrong for 625 dollars in my opinion. Just saw a top and bottom set for 750 in like new condition, I would think that would hold you for a while.

I still have my KRA300B and KRA61B that i got used in 1979, so if you buy something good, you will have it forever.

Just my 2 cents, get what ya want man

 

[CWP1616L]

Get the KRL1056

 

[TheJohn]

As much as I'd love to have one, the shop I work at now has offered me a job once I graduate, and There is Definitely no room for one in there, because its an older Shop, and not really set up well

If you find a Snap-On Classic 78 for a steal and a Snap-On Classic 60 for a not-so-great steal, don't skip out on the better deal. I currently have a 55" Harbor Freight box (Comparable size to the Classic 78) and I've only been in the business for about 10 working months now. It's a good size that won't get packed to capacity too soon.

Don't let the size of the shop dictate your box. One thing you'll learn in this business is if you need it, you NEED it. There's no such thing as needing a tool but getting by without it. If you NEED the bigger box, then MAKE room for it. When i upgraded from my small Craftsman box to my Harbor Freight 55", i moved another tech's box over, and moved the brake lathe over a few feet.

Also, don't skip on quality. There's days i kick myself for buying the Harbor Freight over a used Snap-On Classic 78. There's a certain pride behind being confident enough to stand in a drawer, which I'm not confident enough to do with my Harbor Freight box. I've stood on my Blue-Point cart multiple times with it carrying a good load already, and didn't even think twice about it. I used to say i'd never shell out the money for Snap-on. I always said and thought Craftsman and GearWrench were fine for me, and now I'm buying Snap-On weekly.

 

[goodysgotacuda]

Tools make you money, not the box. I bought a regular tall Kobalt box and worked out of it at BMW; held my tools just fine..To this day I haven't needed to stand in any of the drawers..

 

[camarotoolman]

I'd pay off student loans, get a depenable car, place to live, before I would go in debt for a fancy tool box. I just payed $35 for aMac middle box, a little paint stripper, some paint, a key and it will look new. 2 hours work. Have Mac side box for sale on feebay.

 

[Davefr]

Hardline hand tools are generally a good choice under the student discount pgms. (they're resale value is = or > then what you pay so you really can't loose).

Boxes are iffy. Resale value is generally a little lower then what you pay and they can be a tough sell if things don't work out. I'd be very cautious about getting a box. You'll have lots of opportunities to get boxes at a good discount once you enter the workforce. (both new and used)

 

[P0300]

I like the classic 60 a lot. i hope that it will be the last box i'll ever have to buy, and get a top for it and a locker as i need them. the bottom drawer has double slides, and every other drawer has one so about 3 weeks ago i got an extra set of slides for the top drawer that ran me about $30. its a good box

 

[thejudges69]

You can find KRA2411's or KRL7022 type boxes on CL all day every day for a couple grand or less. I'd go for one of those.

Everyone posts this same comment all the time, show me some on Craigslist, and I don't wanna here well there were some, in my area neohio there are hardly any under 2 grand, I drove 300 miles round trip for a good buy on a 761 with a hutch. Cause everything around me was 3 plus.

 

[FunkyfullWidth]

If you have the means, then definately buy as many tools as you can with your discount, including a box. Lets not get into the debate of whether or not a tool box is a tool or not.

Either way, you can buy a brand new box with your discount and will be able to turn around and trade it in or sell it for just about what you got into it. a few years from now. When I was still a student I bought a classic 78. That was the biggest box the program allowed, through SO at least. The box filled up FAST, and I keep it at home. My work tools... different story. Get the biggest box you can afford. Being able to keep all your tools neatly organized in your box and laid out for you to easily grab adds up to alot of time savings, which equals money.

 

[thejudges69]

My nephew graduates wyotech in a week and a half. They have an exclusive deal, only snapon in the shop, snapon offered a kra2422 for 2395 with his student discount. He ended up passing and buying a mac mb-1080bl for 2800 we encouraged him to finance so that he can use any moneys he has saved for hand tools and all his tool needs and a deposit on an apartment at his new work. Not sure what your discount was but snapon was all over the board for discounts to students mac was a flat 50% off anything he wanted, no questions. I would say get what's going to work down the road too, if you need a bigger box in a couple years there will be no student discount to help you out.

 

[sparky7]

As a new tech you need tools not an empty box we had a guy at our shop that was a damn good mechanic and he worked out of a cardboard box for 3 months before he found a used toolbox on craigslist.

I chose to spend my money on all tools with my dicount, i bought a us general 44 inch box and it served me well for a year and a half until i unpgraded to a used matco 4s 55 inch.

 

[str8axle55]

Where are you going to school, Franklin? I worked out of my C-man top/bottom for about 10 yrs at independents, and dealerships. After about 5 yrs flat rate, I bought a KRL1001, when I could afford to pay for it. There always seem to be plenty of used boxes around, and several dealerships are going to built in boxes. I would prob stock up on tools @ student prices, and buy a used box to start with. Do you have a box to use now?

 

[atwageman]

If I was just starting out, I would put all my money on tools, especially with student discounts. Find a used box or get a craftsman or HF box if you want something new.

 

[netcaretaker]

Ok, here we go, for someone that is looking at getting a tool box to start out, and I only looked on my local craigslist. If I looked out farther I am sure I could have found some better deals -

These are all snap-on so you can get parts:
$750, not to deep but would be a great first box
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/tls/3445339709.html

$1100, I would have loved something like this for my first box
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/tls/3462292848.html

$800, pretty sweet, I was thinking of buying this one
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/tls/3470614793.html

And the best deal local I think right now is this one
Top and bottom for $1000, older one for $750
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/pts/3458222960.html

Added some other brands:
$650 Matco http://raleigh.craigslist.org/tls/3464703887.html
Second Matco for $650 http://raleigh.craigslist.org/tls/3341990477.html

I think those would be much better then a new box, and they would allow someone to save some money and they would find out what works best for the type of repairs that they might work on and upgrade to it in the future. All boxes do not work well for all types of repair - heavy machinery vs. lets say VW might dictate the type of storage someone would need.

Everyone posts this same comment all the time, show me some on Craigslist, and I don't wanna here well there were some, in my area neohio there are hardly any under 2 grand, I drove 300 miles round trip for a good buy on a 761 with a hutch. Cause everything around me was 3 plus.

 

[jdsac]

If you are just starting, the place to put the money is in the tools, not the box.
Buy the specialty snap on stuff at the discount if it makes sense. Even at a discounted price, you probably can get tools from other decent brands for less.
The Harbor Freight 44" bottom box will work well for you unless you slam the drawers & otherwise abuse it. Most of the time you will wind up getting out the basic tools all at once to put on your roll around cart anyway.

 

[braol]

From the deals I have seen posted on here I bet you could get just as good or better deal than the student discount later on. Nothing wrong with working out of a cheap box for a while. Spend your money on tools right now and buy a 2nd smaller box to go with what you have now. Then in 5 or 10 years you will know how big a box you need and you will appreciate that nice box after working out of a cheap one for a while. Or you may end up not wanting an expensive box. I work with a guy that has 5 craftsman 3-pc toolbox sets that he works out of. Nothing wrong with that.