Snap-On 1966 KRA300B Dumpster Save

[Alienbaby17]

I had been kind of in the market for a “new” tool box lately to use as a roll around box in the garage and driveway. I was bumming around online and found an ad on Facebook Marketplace that simply read something like, “Toolbox really old and heavy-duty. $25”

I was pretty sure it was a KRA 300 as they have a pretty unique design but it was missing the emblem and the photos were pretty bad. I asked the seller for more photos and this is what they sent. After seeing them I was sure of what it was.

The main problem for me was that it was about an hour away in Wisconsin. I was looking at a busy weekend and didn’t know if I would have time to kill several hours going to get this thing that I really didn’t need.

In the end I decided it wasn’t worth the trouble it was going to create to try to get that weekend and talked myself out of it. I did inform the seller that it was a Snap-On box and that if I were going to sell it I would probably list it in the $100-150 range even in that condition. I even sent her photos of the old catalog pages for this model to prove what it was and to hopefully help her sell it for a fair price.

Shortly after I sent my message I got a reply from the seller. She said that if I didn’t come get it her husband was going to put it in the dumpster! I had to save it! I told her I would see what I could make work and try to get out there in the next day. She responded that she had talked to her husband and that I could have it for FREE and they would hold it until the end of the month for me. So I made a trip out to Wisconsin the next weekend to pick it up.

 

[tool_scrounge]

Nice save!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Great story and a nice free project box!

 

[Alienbaby17]

The next weekend I drove to Wisconsin to get the box. It was a nice day for a drive but there was construction and my “hour plus” trip turned into well over two hours.

When I got to their home there was actually a dumpster in the driveway! This thing really got saved at the last minute! The people were extremely nice and even helped me load it up. It was crazy heavy for its size. I’m sure it didn’t help that someone had welded a big flip up 1/8” steel bench to the back of it. I also noticed that the casters seemed bigger than I expected. They were actually 6” X 2”. It had also at one time had the optional three drawer lower section but was currently missing one of those drawers. Another of the small top drawers was out and missing it’s slides. Still I was pretty happy I had made the trip.

I got it home and started cleaning it up and out. I wanted to cut down some of the weight for easier mobility so I removed the flip-up bench from the back. Then I gave it a good cleaning and found several modern used Snap-On roller bearing slides in the bottom but no friction slides like the box came with...strange.

The fact that it was missing one of the lower drawers helped me decide to sell off the other two remaining ones. I’m going to be using it pretty much for a roll around box to store tools and parts in for whatever project I’m currently working on so the fact that the bottom would be open appealed to me.

Every good Snap-On box needs the emblem though and I lucked into finding one on EBay for about $35. Once I put it on the box I decided I didn’t like it that much. It was the correct badge for a ‘66 but it looked small on there to me. Also the thought of spending $35 on a box I was enjoying having nothing into kind of bothered me.

As luck would have it the next day at the swap meet I was digging through a box of old tools and found this 70’s emblem and sticker. I bought them both for $3. That night I popped the old emblem off and put this 70’s one on. I know it’s technically not correct but it looked better to me and it kept my total investment (excluding the gas to go get it) at $1.50.

I ended up putting the original emblem I bought on EBay right back on EBay. I really only wanted to get the $35 I spent back. There must be quite a demand for these because it sold for around $65. I was now up money on the box!

 

[Alienbaby17]

My Snap-On dealer at the shop was on a month long trip to Europe so I called Snap-On about some new slides. The were extremely helpful and knowledgeable. I ended up buying four new slides for around $8 each and they were at my door in less than 48 hours. Before anyone says I should have gotten them for free because of the lifetime warranty, they did ask if I was the original owner. I think if I were they would have sent them for free. I just laughed when they asked and said I wasn’t even alive in 1966. I didn’t mind paying.

I completely disassembled the box and cleaned and lubed everything. Then I fixed a couple bent slides, replaced the missing two and a couple that were beyond saving and she was good as new. I did spend around $20 for new drawer liners from Harbor Freight.

I ended up selling the two extra drawers to a local collector for $100 for the pair. He was very pleased to get them. It turned out he had been looking for some since he had purchased an old box nearly ten years earlier.

By the time I was done with it and you factor in parts I bought verses parts I sold I think I’m up $40 on the deal and got this very nice, very functional tool box out of it! Pretty happy.

 

[3baygarage]

Good story and good save. I picked up a top box last week with that first emblem you had. Posted in the garage sale thread. I couldn’t see the model # but you gave me an idea where to start looking in the cats.

 

[LXCam]

That’s a cool story! And nice job bringing her back to life.

 

[Alienbaby17]

Thanks all! I’m pretty happy with how it worked out.

I’d still like to find a handle for it and maybe another pair of swivel casters to make it easier to move around the garage.

Will probably end up making the missing trim piece for the one drawer.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Awesome! My favorite snap on roller. I have 2 of them and am on the lookout for another.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Thanks Ricky Joe , I appreciate the offer! I am a long way off in AZ , so I will continue to look locally.

 

[Alienbaby17]

I have one that I have always wanted the lower drawers for. Wish I could have gotten them. You can have my casters if you want. I prefer to build an angle iron rack and put casters on the bottom that all four swivel. I've not gotten to that yet, but could in the next week or so with proper incentive. Or Oldtuleguy may want the whole box. I would sell it for $125. I also have the handle and trim piece. Somebody let me know something.

I’d love to get the handle, trim piece and swivel casters if we can work something out. Are the casters on yours 6” X 2”?

Thanks.

 

[Leviton]

Nice save. The world thanks you.

Wonderful story.

 

[Shelbylex]

Great story and great save!
I hope I will find one for reasonable price one day...

 

[rsanter]

Awesome! My favorite snap on roller. I have 2 of them and am on the lookout for another.

I have one I could part with if,you will be through my area

Bob