old mac tool box or new HF type box?

[bigugly78cj5]

i have been looking to pick up a cheaper tool box to use...this will be used professionally as a tech till i can get some extra money to get something a little better... i found this old faded mac tool box on craigslist and i like its size and wide top drawer and its 27 inches deep for 700...or i was looking into one of the cheap HF or costco boxes for around 400


what are yalls thoughts on the old mac tool boxes? heres a picture....

 

[rsanter]

I like that box but not the price
Looks like a $500 box to me

Bob

 

[Vinci]

An old Mac (or any other high-end manufacturer) will be better than a new HF box.

 

[oilfieldtrash4]

Since it's temporary storage you're going to want to spend the least $, least amount of time looking, lose the least amount when you resell. The HF wins all of those.

 

[Jhoff310]

I'm an advocate for the HF box. For a few hundred more you can get a top, bottom, and side drawers. The only downfall to the HF boxes is they are not keyed the same.

Jeff

 

[cruzzer]

go with the mac.. no question.. its worth it and most likely you can get it a bit cheaper than the asking.. Its a better box by leaps and bounds than anything HF makes/made or will ever make.. and when you go for a new box you can trade this in or take it home and use it.. it will last forever. I have a craftsman box that didnt even make it a year.. cheap POS box.. company bought it as they are footing the bill for the truck mounted box I have no input.. tho even bolted down the cheap box broke in 5 different places.. I had my matco box in my service truck for 8 seasons.. even broke loose and rolled. it has a couple dents but it still functions 100% and I could still sell it for the $450 I bought it for back 15 years ago.

 

[toolstools]

Id go the mac hands down. For the money. What size is that? 56x20? Id probably keep using it too

 

[Capt Chrysler]

14 tool boxes in 17 years as a tech. Go with the MAC.

Capt. Chrysler

 

[zkling]

I would go with the Mac, but see if you can work on the price alittle. What is up with the one red drawer? Do all of the drawers work PROPERLY???

The Mac has...
-Better quality overall
-More drawers = more storage space, plus it is 27" deep compared to the 18" of the HF, so you will have quite a bit more storage. Like ~2x the amount.
-Heavier
-Looks like much better casters
-Much better resale value. The HF box will be hard to sell USED for one day at $300 let alone used professionally for any amount of time.

If you could get it for $500-600 and everything work I would think it would be a no brainier to go with the Mac. JMHO

 

[nuclearlemon]

An old Mac (or any other high-end manufacturer) will be better than a new HF box.

not necessarily....my 1960s snap on box ***** compared to some of the newer no name roller drawer boxes

 

[Turbo_Prop]

Get the Mac.

 

[Grumpy365]

If the Mac has roller bearing slides, get the Mac. If it doesn't I would pass.

 

[volaredon]

An old Mac (or any other high-end manufacturer) will be better than a new HF box.

YUP and when you decide later to either sell it or trade it in youll get your $ back....

 

[ihatelaramie]

Even though I'm a proponent of the HF 44" box, I'd say go with the Mac, especially if you can get a better price. It's a quality, professional box, with better resale value, since it'll likely be a temporary box. Just my .02

 

[volaredon]

Since it's temporary storage you're going to want to spend the least $, least amount of time looking, lose the least amount when you resell. The HF wins all of those.

no... even temporary you want something good... you won't lose on the MAC as long as you don't tear it up, you're gonna get your money back, I don't care how well the HF is taken care of its still a HF box....
new, that MAC box was at least $3k.... if you can get it for $5-600 its a steal

 

[rob in nh]

get the mac, its a much better box. i have an old snapon and a new hf. the hf is really a pos compared to any name brand box

 

[NUTTSGT]

If it's on CL for 700, there's almost no doubt that he will deal on it. Go look at it and offer 500 cash. If you can work the price down, I'd go for the MAC box.

 

[Aberdale]

Since I own 4 MAC boxes, I'd recommend going with the MAC. A lot of guys underestimate the MAC because it's not a SO. But I'd rather own a MAC box any day. One of the best values out there.

At $700 that box would sell pretty fast here. Maybe the color would hurt it a little. I would offer the owner $600, and feel pretty good if I got it at that. Since you are planning to upgrade later, you will easily get your purchase price out of it on a trade in or resale. You won't get close to your purchase price back on the HF.

JMO.

'dale

 

[crewchief888]

for home use i probably wouldnt hesitate to buy a HF box if i needed it.
but for "pro" use, i'd look for something of better quality, and even at that price you could come close to getting your money back on a trade in.
if not, then it would make a good garage/home box in the future



just my $0.02

 

[Cryptic1911]

I'm all for people buying the HF box, but the amount of storage you'll get in that MAC box will far outshine the HF box with that 27" depth. You'd have to get probably 4 of the HF boxes to have the same amount of storage since the HF boxes are only like 18" deep

 

[Bob C]

Get the MAC. It is far better than anything HF could dream of.

 

[bigugly78cj5]

thanks for the replies guys... i went and checked out the HF box tonight....and that 17 inches deep *****...but it would work...so im gonna try for the mac box tomorrow assuming the sun tan is the worst of its issues and the slides are ok with no rust on it. well see...

 

[foreverfalcon40]

I would choose the MAC box over the HF one. I bought a classic 80's SNAP ON box as I am a Diesel Mechanic and I love it so much that I am adding similar top box and another side locker. That Mac box will hold its value. When I get some time off taking my box home and restoring it. Plus the Mac box looks better then the HF

 

[shannonw]

I like the number of drawers on that mac

+ the depth over HF. HF seems a bit small to me, but i like lots of drawers for tool separation not a few large ones, a good mix is nice. But i'm home user lots of hobbies i like the separation and variation.

Thats why i like this old matco

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=133655

i'd replace it and hell wouldn't mind spending some bucks but the drawers are a perfect setup for me. There's a guy clue by with a 7 drawer side box that matches i'd like to add on but he's asking as much for the thing as i paid for the box. however i may just end up going that route as i like the number of drawers. i'd love to have one like that mac with 22? drawers.

 

[77thor]

An old Mac (or any other high-end manufacturer) will be better than a new HF box.

Agree 100%

 

[bigugly78cj5]

Well just to update this one.... I called the guy, His shop had a window and the sun faded the front of the box, the sides are still normal red. he said the slides and all work perfect but not sure if he has the key still. but over all the box is in good shape, ...i asked on the price and either i read wrong or a typo but he wants 800...i offered 6 but shot that down...

Can anyone tell from this picture if this slide is roller bearings or the old rail only style?

 

[alpinewhite]

What kind of crappy paint did they use that "faded" red to tan just by being exposed to the sun?

 

[crewchief888]

What kind of crappy paint did they use that "faded" red to tan just by being exposed to the sun?

both mac and matco had paint fading issues from the mid 80's through the early 90's.
didnt make any difference if they were exposed to sunlight or not.

i had one box that faded within a couple months, knew of several others that were the same way. one co-worker had 2 sets of matco boxes replaced because of paint issues.

 

[foreverfalcon40]

That box still worth 8 give him 700, that top shelf is full length hold all your sockets and ratchets few odds and ends...rest of the drawers you divy up! run out of room grab a top box and sidelockers!

 

[jabberwoki]

Old american all the way!!

 

[Modifieddriver]

If my count is correct.

We have 16 folks here saying get the MAC and 4 vote for the HF.

Fade and all, I'd go MAC.

Some other red painted HF off shore made stuff I own turned pink from sun exposure in weeks, not months or years. I wonder if the HF boxes will do the same?

 

[wornoutoldman]

Can anyone tell from this picture if this slide is roller bearings or the old rail only style?

Those are rollers.