Snap on KRA 149

[mthurman]

I have a stainless steel Snap On KRA 149 Electronics box. It is complete except for keys. It is in pretty good condition except for some rust on the chrome hardware and what appears to be an Id number engraved on it. I've seen some of the red ones on the internet but this is the only stainless steal one I've ever seen. Can anyone give me an idea of what it may be worth?

 

[mthurman]

Here are some more pictures...

 

[Mowgliprynne]

Are you planning to sell if so how much ? Been looking for one too buy

 

[seber]

The painted version generally go North of $200. Now we have had tremendous inflation plus yours is stainless. I'm out of that computation.

 

[Steve_P]

I know nothing about that box other than it sure appears to have a lot of rust for something that's stainless steel.

 

[dr_clyde]

I'm no expert on these Snap-on boxes, but I highly doubt that's stainless. More likely you just got ahold of a bare steel one that missed the paint line or had someone strip the paint.

Easy check would be to see if a magnet sticks to it. If it does, it's more than likely just a simple stripped or bare steel box.

AFIK, SO never sold any stainless boxes, at least I've never seen one.

Still a nice box, still worth a good chunk.

 

[cgrutt]

More likely someone stripped paint off steel box would be my guess. Wouldn't a stainless steel version have a different model number than the standard box? Also doubt stainless would rust as badly. Check it with magnet as suggested above. Assuming this is 1971 version based on plate here is a pic from 1971 catalog they don't show option for stainless steel.

 

[Earp69]

I'm no expert on these Snap-on boxes, but I highly doubt that's stainless. More likely you just got ahold of a bare steel one that missed the paint line or had someone strip the paint.

Easy check would be to see if a magnet sticks to it. If it does, it's more than likely just a simple stripped or bare steel box.

AFIK, SO never sold any stainless boxes, at least I've never seen one.

Still a nice box, still worth a good chunk.

There are many non magnetic ss grades.

 

[dr_clyde]

There are many non magnetic ss grades.

And none of them are really appropriate for making a toolbox.

If you did want to make a stainless box
, you’d most likely use 304 which is a grade of stainless commonly used for sheet metal applications that don’t require high levels of corrosion resistance. 304 welds and forms easily, is relatively inexpensive and is easy to source. A magnet doesn’t stick to 304 because it’s austinetic and magnets aren’t attracted to austenite.

Why would you use ferritic stainless? They have issues when welded and can crack along the welds, and toolboxes have a lot of welds.

 

[seber]

And none of them are really appropriate for making a toolbox.

If you did want to make a stainless box
, you’d most likely use 304 which is a grade of stainless commonly used for sheet metal applications that don’t require high levels of corrosion resistance. 304 welds and forms easily, is relatively inexpensive and is easy to source. A magnet doesn’t stick to 304 because it’s austinetic and magnets aren’t attracted to austenite.

Why would you use ferritic stainless? They have issues when welded and can crack along the welds, and toolboxes have a lot of welds.

The word you want is martensitic, not ferritic. But absolutely correct on all points.

 

[dr_clyde]

The word you want is martensitic, not ferritic. But absolutely correct on all points.

I'm not an engineer or metallurgist, just a guy who's taken some metallurgy in college. That said, I use a LOT of stainless in my job.

You'd use a ferritic stainless for heavy sheet forming due to ductility, martensitic for something like cutlery or something where heat treatment would be needed.

Problem is the ferritic stainless is kind of a pain to weld and the corrosion resistance isn't as good as austenitic. Personally, I would choose a 304 just for the ease of weldability and the better corrosion resistance over ferritic grades. But the formability and ductility of ferritic may be more critical for the small bends and tight corners, I don't know.

You could probably form a toolbox out of ferritic stainless pretty nicely, and the spot welds probably would be ok. I concede that it's very possible that IF this is a stainless box and magnet sticks to it, it would be most likely a ferritic stainless.

I still don't think this is a stainless box, I have never seen Snap-on make or sell any boxes made from stainless at any point.

 

[mthurman]

Thanks everyone for the input. After checking further it appears to have been nickel plated. I knew that it wasn't bare steel and definitely not paint but whoever plated it done a great job as there were no signs of red and the chrome handle has the same type of rivets that it would have came with. Still a rare find.