Old tool boxes

[whateg01]

So, I tend to kill time perusing the Craigslist ads locally, and nearby cities. There is always somebody trying to get a lot of money for a new-ish Mac, SO, Matco, etc. tool box. Even for somebody who uses their tools every day, they seem so overpriced. I know they are nice and feel a lot better than the stuff you buy in the box store, but still, they seem expensive.

But, then I see ads for older toolboxes of the same brands, and people want premium money for them, too. Some might be collector items, maybe, but most probably aren't. The thing I don't get with them is many are friction slides. Is the rest of the box that much better that one would rather have friction slides over ball bearing slides in even the cheap stuff at the store? Or is it a name/trophy thing?

Dave

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Generally speaking, older name brand boxes with friction slides are built better than newer boxes at Lowe's, Home Depot, Sears, etc, with ball bearing slides.

Generally speaking.

 

[RatchetMan]

Generally speaking, older name brand boxes with friction slides are built better than newer boxes at Lowe's, Home Depot, Sears, etc, with ball bearing slides.

Generally speaking.

This is very true. I have a 60 year old Snapon stack with friction slides that are super smooth. I can't imagine has many times the drawers have been opened and closed over the years and the slides are still solid.

 

[crewchief888]

i'll take a good set of friction slides anytime vs. the (POS) BB slides that most consumer grade boxes have in them now.


most of my boxes are friction slide...

 

[bobcatdan]

Friction slides if propperly cared for work just fine. My grandfather's 50+ year craftsman used every day it's entire life is built like a tank and better then any 26" stack on the market today. It's a '63 and I also have a '63 SO kra300. The craftsman is every bit the box the SO is.

 

[Backpack Hunter]

I have a 70's? Mac that is pretty nice, but I do like the ball bearing slides on my Harbor Freight 4 drawer cart better. It's not like the Mac is difficult to open and close, but the HF is smoother.

 

[Packard V8]

Some of us have been using friction slide boxes for fifty years. Most of the dozen or so older boxes I use have smaller drawers, so they don't get overloaded.

My new Shark Stainless box has such large full-width drawers, even with good ball bearing slides, they're HEAVY to open when maxed out with 1/2"- 3/4" stuff.

jack vines