I'm working on cleaning up a I believe kra 3 drawer tools box from the 70s that I got from my grandparents when they passed away. Obviously I'm not complaining about it as it is more for the sentimental value but as I was cleaning it I was shocked by how thin the sheet metal was. These were supposed to be the times when things were built to last by a top tier brand and yet my Harbor freight box is built better. What gives?
Surprised by old snap on tool box quality
- Thread starter Golfer
- Start date
I've seen older Snap On boxes like you're talking about and thought the same thing. Quite honestly I think there's been a shift in user preference to heavier-built, larger boxes with different drawer layout as well. For example, some of the order tool boxes I see don't have a large top drawer on a bottom box for a socket drawer, which seems to be very common anymore. That specific reason is actually why I've seen some older SO boxes with all shallow drawers sell at auction for noticeably less money. Snap On newer boxes are still on a whole other level than US Gen boxes, but I agree on the old SO stuff. Not that crazy about them.
Yea I've also noted the shallow drawer thing. Cars were built like tanks back then but the tool boxes were built with 2022 car sheet metal. It's just bizarre I suppose. I wonder if it's the same with the older like 1950s Era snap on stuff. What about other brands of the same time frame?
It was an era when a mechanic had (needed) a whole lot fewer tools. Most of what a typical dealership mechanic was required to own would fit comfortably in a “rally” box. No need to build it out of .125” plate to hold a 3/8” socket set (exaggeration intentional).
Ricky Joe
Well-known member
Good heavy boxes are 1950s Craftsman, older Rem Line, 1960s Kennedy, and the heaviest I have seen, 1930s Blackhawk. My experience only, but I have had a few boxes.
Lookin4'67Galaxieconv
Well-known member
None of what you're saying makes any sense to me. I own Snap On boxes from the '40s to '90s and none of the boxes have thin sheet metal.
Please post a pic of the box you're referring to.
FJ 432
Well-known member
I've owned a number of Snap On boxes from the 40's to a KRA7100 from 1989. I believe your comment is fair. The metal is a lighter gauge. IMHO the older boxes did not rely on folds that help strengthen the drawers and of course ball bearing slides that promote better drawer movement.
The older boxes with friction slides were built with dividers spot welded in and reinforcements welded on the bottom. Snap On got better with their manufacturing process. Regardless of the era Snap On's build quality is better or equal to anything out there. I do not believe any of Craftsman are equal at any era to the Snap On from the same era. And I've owned some of the best Craftsman has built. This is not to say I don't like Craftsman (I own a number of them).
Boxes I have owned in the past and present that I would qualify as tanks would be my Snap On K60/K200 combination, a Plomb tool mobile (which has roller drawers which were quite trend setting for their era), a Blackhawk bottom roller and Herbrand combination that was a beast.
The older boxes with friction slides were built with dividers spot welded in and reinforcements welded on the bottom. Snap On got better with their manufacturing process. Regardless of the era Snap On's build quality is better or equal to anything out there. I do not believe any of Craftsman are equal at any era to the Snap On from the same era. And I've owned some of the best Craftsman has built. This is not to say I don't like Craftsman (I own a number of them).
Boxes I have owned in the past and present that I would qualify as tanks would be my Snap On K60/K200 combination, a Plomb tool mobile (which has roller drawers which were quite trend setting for their era), a Blackhawk bottom roller and Herbrand combination that was a beast.
Something is a awry here, I’ve never heard anyone claim that the snap on boxes from the 70’s where cheaply made. It definitely doesn’t ring true for what’s in my shop and I own a HF Icon setup. I’d agree that the drawer layout sizing was dated, friction slides versus Ball bearing drawers, but even then they where tanks.
Picture of the box? Should be a model number stamped on the rear.
3 drawer? Is it a Mid box or are we talking about a toolbox you would carry?
Snap On boxes in general aren't that solid compared to others like Lista or Vidmar. I have a KRA box from the early 2000s. It's on par with my ~$300 Husky boxes. Actually I prefer the Husky boxes.
seber
Well-known member
Snap-on has always had two levels of quality boxes. The KRA series is made to be competitive with consumer grade boxes from Sears, etc. KRL is the heavy duty line that goes for big bucks. Today the KRA is called Classic. It is still thin metal.
I don’t believe they had KRL boxes in the 70’s? I was under the impression KRA was it and they definitely wasn’t trying to complete with sears back then.
Lookin4'67Galaxieconv
Well-known member
I don't think KRL boxes came until the '90s. I have a lot of Snap On boxes from the '80s, most are KR, one is a KRA. It's a nine drawer top box from 1983 and there's nothing cheap about it.
seber
Well-known member
You are right, it was KR. But I have a KR and a KRA from the late 70s. I don't remember the exact years I bought them but it was certainly before 1980 when I bought my last BMW. The difference between them is night and day.
Sorry guys. I'm as much of a snap on fanboy as the next. Not talking trash, just pointing it out since I'll need to straighten the sheet metal it used. What doesn't help is that the drawers are not folded over at the top which many newer ones do. I took measurements from my newer snap on box, Harbor freight box and my matco box. They all utilize thicker metal. Maybe if it were a bigger box it would have used thicker metal or maybe this was this bottom line box. I dunno. I'll try to get pics of the stamp later one but it's put away in the garage.
Attachments
This. Everyone here over 50 years old knows that you could tear apart an entire 1960-70s American car with a tool set that you could carry in a 6" X 6" X 18" box.
I worked with guys that had Mac boxes in the 1980s and they were exactly the same as my red Waterloo box- fairly thin metal, friction slides, etc. I'm not saying that Mac didn't make better boxes, but what they had was the same.
The chests are not overly stout in my experience and easily damaged. I figured it was to keep weight down as guys might grab the chest to move it home or something as needed. My KRA-55? was stout as all get out drawers weren't overly thick but the frame was ridiculous.
VolvoRyan
Well-known member
Different times.
I have my friend/mentor's 1975-76 KRA boxes. They did 30-40 years of dealership flat rate. At the end he was averaging 14 hours of flat rate in an 8 hour day, so he wasn't a slacker. Boxes are still in great shape, and plenty usable nearly 50 years later for daily use.
Things are definitely built to a different standard today.
-Ryan
I have my friend/mentor's 1975-76 KRA boxes. They did 30-40 years of dealership flat rate. At the end he was averaging 14 hours of flat rate in an 8 hour day, so he wasn't a slacker. Boxes are still in great shape, and plenty usable nearly 50 years later for daily use.
Things are definitely built to a different standard today.
-Ryan
It’s not about being a fanboy or not, your comparing a small top chest drawer thickness to a newer box that was powder coated, so the measurements are not telling the entire story. With that said… Yes those top chest drawers where pretty thin, I believe the exterior wall frame should be double walled and fairly stout. I’ve never owned a New box till I purchased the 73” Icon, I own a Snap On Roll cab from the 70’s, It’s a monster in regards to build quality, Even at 50 years old and friction slides it holds a ton of weight. It’s not Blingy like the Icon, paint is faded to a dull orange, takes two hands to open the drawers but it was cheap.
Good luck on restoring your grandpa's box, it’s been 10 years but I was able to secure slides via snap on for like 1.50 a piece. They offered to cover it under warranty but the Box was older than I was so I chose to just pay out of pocket.
Lookin4'67Galaxieconv
Well-known member
Those small three drawer boxes aren't going to be as stout as a roller box. For a more reasonable comparison, I'd compare a 1970s rollaway to a new HF roller for example.
Those are all fair points. That's good to know about the slides as I was going to start cleaning them up this weekend. That may be a better route. Thanks!
Good point, they are very different boxes.