Today's tool box

[SoberDingo]

So I'm in the market to upgrade my tool storage from a small 26" box from craftsman to something much larger. My question is should I buy name brand used such as a snap on or matco box or should I spend the same amount of money on a brand new craftsman box? I was in Sears a few weeks ago and they seem to have really stepped up the quality. How do today's craftsman boxes stack up when compared to older snap on, matco, and mac toolboxes from say a decade ago?

 

[Jarhead0408]

No way dude. I'd avoid the new Craftsman boxes like the plague. If you are patient you can snag a good older Waterloo built Craftsman box. Barring that, I'd buy a used truck brand from Craigslist, or just go to Harbor Freight.

 

[SoberDingo]

What's wrong with the new boxes if you have a moment to explain? The more I know the better I can decide with confidence. I'm in no real rush. I just can't buy any more tools since I'm all out of space in both my smaller boxes.

 

[Jarhead0408]

The newer Craftsman boxes are much thinner than they used to be. Also, a lot of their chests come with dinky plastic wheels.

Check this thread out: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=153445

 

[Jeremy77]

I recently (within the last year) bought a 26" Craftsman Heavy Duty 3pc. stack brand new. All 3 pieces were made by Waterloo at their Missouri factory. My Understanding is that all of their Heavy Duty and Premium Heavy Duty chests and cabinets are still U.S. made by Waterloo. While certainly not as stout as my Proto box at work, it's more than adequate for my home shop use. Sears currently has the 40" 2pc. stack for around $650 at my local store. I'm looking at upgrading in size and can't put out tool truck or industrial grade $. Looked online and around town but nothing so far. If nothing pops up soon, I'll probably go with the Craftsman as it's much better quality (and U.S. made) than the comparable Husky and Kobalt models Ive looked at.

 

[Jeremy77]

Don't confuse the Home series and Evolv chests with the better models. Those things have the really cheap wheels, slide drawers and ate about as stout as an empty Natty Light can.

 

[zkling]

Go get a harbor freight 44" bottom box. You will have something better than 80% of new and used boxes in the sub $400 range. Unless you are willing to wait.

 

[Jeremy77]

I can't argue with the quality and price of those HF boxes. You will see many good reviews on this site and elsewhere for them. Being Chinese made was the only deal breaker there for me. A lot of times I can't, but if at all possible I avoid supporting the PRC when making purchases.

 

[SoberDingo]

Well I have $1000 or so to spend. So 40" and up is what I was aiming for since I want to be able to store what I have and have plenty of room to add more to the collection. I was also checking out strictly toolboxes, that company that's always advertised here on this forums main page. Anyone ever use one of those in the workplace?

 

[Jeremy77]

I haven't but for 1k, you should be able to find a pretty decent box in the 40"-44" range. Have you looked at the Kennedy and Waterloo web sites? Could have one shipped, and if you like the Craftsman boxes, you could get the same style from Waterloo but with different colors and layout options for roughly the same price.

 

[jonti48310]

Use the "Search" button up at the top man and you'll find what you're looking for.

 

[colin39]

Look at strictly toolboxes.com as well.

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

HF 44". Use the leftover money to fill it up.

 

[LordPsychon]

Go with HF - thick steel, good casters, decent slides, inexpensive. If you are opening the drawers multiple times a day, you may need to replace the slides sooner rather than later - that seems to be the issue with the HF boxes.

 

[bobcatdan]

Personally, looking at the newer grip latch craftsman boxes, the most heavy duty of the 18" craftsman boxes, I think the look just fine. I'm considering a 26" top box for road box for my pick up. If you watch for when sears has say the 40" on sale for 50% off, I'd say its a good buy. To me the biggest decider at that point since price is more leveled I would say is which drawer arrangement you like. One thing I have notice is reviews are a little weak, mostly for shipping damage.

 

[Tim37]

I would go with a used box that has already depreciated that way in a few years if you want to upgrade again you can sell it and get most of your money back. That's what I would do no matter what brand.

 

[Adam.C]

Should I buy name brand used such as a snap on or matco box or should I spend the same amount of money on a brand new craftsman box? ?

Many GJers have asked this same question and there is no easy answer. In the $1000 range, you may not be able to pick and choose between a host of used tool truck boxes for sale in your area. In the Philadelphia/NJ area, $1000 is about the minimum asking price for any recent model Snap On roll cab.

To score a great box, you'd probably need to call the guys with older KRLs who are asking $2000+ and see if they will accept less. I think the perfect buyer for these is someone with a good relationship with a Snap On rep who can get replacement slides and parts for free.

How do today's craftsman boxes stack up when compared to older snap on, matco, and mac toolboxes from say a decade ago?

I've not been impressed by the Craftsman boxes I've seen. Snap On's entry level Classic series (KRA) are significantly nicer. Some Craftsman boxes may struggle to compete with the HF boxes.

Comparing boxes is difficult. I reviewed the spec sheets of a variety of 40" roll cabs. The differences between boxes can be misleading. For example: The 36" wide Snap On KRA2407 "Classic 60" had 50% more usable drawer space than the 41" wide Craftsman Premium Heavy Duty roll cab, despite both being 40" high. (the difference was in their depths and number of drawers).

Tho seemingly smaller, the Snap On was also 100lbs heavier (320lbs). Craftsman's "Heavy Duty" premium box (218lbs) was actually the second LIGHTEST box in the comparison, beat by the offering from Montezuma (208lbs). The HF 44"(245lbs) was 27lbs heavier than the similarly sized Craftsman. And I think of the HF as a light weight box (and it is). Even getting the box weight as oppsosed to the higher shipping weight can be tricky.

I would expect a 40" box to feel like an upgrade from a 26" box, but in fact the Craftsman box I reviewed used the drawers from their 26" box and added a narrower bank beside. In my mind, that's not much of an upgrade.

The Snap On's list price, at 3X more than the Craftsman, was also misleading. Few pros pay retail for these. The 36" roll cab, being a less desireable size, may only fetch $1000-1200 second hand, making it only marginally more expensive for a pretty big increase in storage, and quality.

I would exhaust the used market before buying a new $1000+ box.

 

[tlpatter]

I wish I could find a classic 60 in my area for 1000 or under. I will be going into the maintenance department at my current employer in month or two. Working on diecutters and flexos you don't need anywhere near as many tools as say an auto tech so I think it would be perfect for what I will be doing. Everybody wants 1200-1500 around here.

 

[countryroad82]

I looked at the Craftsman boxes recently at a Sears. Was not impressed they all felt tinny for lack of words. My 14 year old 26" stack with friction slides is a far better unit imho. Were it me and you're using it for homeowner type stuff or heck for work, I would look into a HF or even 2 and fill 'em up. Strickly Toolboxes has some pretty nice stuff, there's a few members that have them and they seem to be holding up pretty good. Of course you can wait and find a good deal on a truck box, which is what I would personally do. I have 2 SO boxes and I love them, which I bought new. I caught them on sale deals and I really couldn't pass up my KRL7022 for what I paid, I'm very happy with it.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Well I have $1000 or so to spend. So 40" and up is what I was aiming for since I want to be able to store what I have and have plenty of room to add more to the collection. I was also checking out strictly toolboxes, that company that's always advertised here on this forums main page. Anyone ever use one of those in the workplace?

Check out Strictly Toolboxes, HF 44" and spend a week or two perusing through your local CL to find a decent used box.


EDIT: If you have a truck at your disposal, don't be afraid to travel 100 miles to save a few hundred on a box.

 

[SteveCh]

strictlytoolboxes.com

You can at the least browse their offerings and get an idea of what's out there. I decided on them after browsing Sears, HF, Tool King, etc. etc. etc. a few yr. ago and saw only junky stuff. I took a chance on stb after reading about them here on the forum. They deliver free to your home or wherever you want, and I am quite pleased with the 56" box I bought. Can't say enough about it.

Like I said before, at least give their web site a look and ponder the drawer layouts, etc. They are also really good about talking to you over the phone if you have questions or can't make up your mind.

 

[bobcatdan]

I wish I could find a classic 60 in my area for 1000 or under. I will be going into the maintenance department at my current employer in month or two. Working on diecutters and flexos you don't need anywhere near as many tools as say an auto tech so I think it would be perfect for what I will be doing. Everybody wants 1200-1500 around here.

If you have access to a SO industrial rep, classic 60 is on sale threw them for $1600. The rep has told me he can do better then the sales price because of the discount I can get. I don't know what the best price they can do, but its worth a shot. Just throwing the idea out to you. I have a classic 60 and its a nice box for the size.

 

[Adam.C]

If you have access to a SO industrial rep, classic 60 is on sale threw them for $1600. The rep has told me he can do better then the sales price because of the discount I can get. I don't know what the best price they can do, but its worth a shot. Just throwing the idea out to you. I have a classic 60 and its a nice box for the size.

That's $1000 off list price! I suspect guys sell their Snap On boxes on CL for more than they paid for them new. People here make out like Snap On boxes are the world's highest priced boxes. According to my math, they may be the highest priced, but they are also the cheapest to own. I had a simiilar experience with a Porsche I drove for 12 years.

 

[u118224]

That's $1000 off list price! I suspect guys sell their Snap On boxes on CL for more than they paid for them new. People here make out like Snap On boxes are the world's highest priced boxes. According to my math, they may be the highest priced, but they are also the cheapest to own. I had a simiilar experience with a Porsche I drove for 12 years.

You're the first person I know of who's called a Porsche cheap to own. Everything's relative.

 

[VCaddy]

If you have $1000 to spend, I'd say the Proto J-444142 is worth a look.

http://www.zoro.com/proto-rolling-cabinet-41-x-18-x-42-in-black-j444142-15bk/i/G5292892/

 

[bobcatdan]

If you have $1000 to spend, I'd say the Proto J-444142 is worth a look.

http://www.zoro.com/proto-rolling-cabinet-41-x-18-x-42-in-black-j444142-15bk/i/G5292892/

Per Zoro, no results.

 

[VCaddy]

Per Zoro, no results.

Hmm, works on my end. Oh well, I'll blame it on Zoro's site.

Just plugging the model # in their search gets results.

 

[bobcatdan]

Tried again, 3rd time a charm. I wouldn't get excited about that box. Generaly blackhawk boxes are Waterloos from what I've seen. Granted that box does look more like the 40" proto. That box is the same as old Mac economizer series and husky back when husky was trying to be a good USA brand. It is about equal to craftsman box. I've known several guys who had them and none of them liked it a whole lot. Proto boxes are great option when the box in question is the same basic thing as a Mac tech or macismizer series box. Then the bang for the buck is great. Not so much on the 26" and 40" boxes.

 

[G-Ram]

Proto boxes are great option when the box in question is the same basic thing as a Mac tech or macismizer series box. Then the bang for the buck is great. Not so much on the 26" and 40" boxes.

I will second this. Bought a Proto 450HS 50" box a few months ago. Same as a Mac Tech Series, but half the price... I have nothing but good things to say about it. Even buying a used truck brand box, you're way better off in the long run. I would have bought used, but my location ***** when it comes to buying used stuff.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[motofool33]

I have a Few boxes at the shop,

Old School Snapon KR1000B(1989 i think) this thing is HUGE and HEAVY 28" deep drawers and lots of them Great box for 1000$ and under if your not pushing it around alot almost too heavy.

I also have a fairly new KRA4000 series 44" box, this one i am not impressed with at all i flimsey, and wont stay put when opening and closing drawers unless wheels are locked.

i also Have a 24" Matco Box that stands about 5ft single box, this is my favorite big enough for all the tool a home owner would need and space for those things you dont want laying around. and new slides are cheap compared to snapon. snapon 50$ a slide matco was 18$ each.

then i have had a few HF 44" boxes in my trailer and a triple stack raftsman ball bearing cheapie at home.

IMO look at a KR/KRL 56" used box, or a matco 40-56" box or even a mac one.
but the cheaper 40" lightweight series i wouldn't bother they dont have resell value and are not much above the stuff you get at sears or HF

if you got 1000$ to spend and youo want new check out the HF 56" or 2x 44" boxes on sale the 72" HF box was 799 or 899 recently.

extremetoolboxes has some nice stuff also.

id also heck homak at Northerntool they aren't too bad either.

 

[kythri]

Also, call your local Snap-on dealer. They might have something used, and they can certainly play with the numbers on something new - both as mentioned, how nobody pays retail, but also with certain promotions that may be active, as well as "trade-in" value on your Craftsman.

That said, I'll strongly second the suggestion to take a look at what you can get from strictlytoolboxes.com

 

[crbnfbr]

The 56" HF is under a $1000. It's thicker gauge steel, 3.5" deeper drawers and imho has a better drawer layout than the 44". According to the manual the 44" top drawer max weight is 80lbs compared to the 56" which is 220lbs. I'd personally try and find a used Lista or Vidmar. You can't get any heavier duty than those.

 

[LordPsychon]

The 56" HF is under a $1000. It's thicker gauge steel, 3.5" deeper drawers and imho has a better drawer layout than the 44". According to the manual the 44" top drawer max weight is 80lbs compared to the 56" which is 220lbs. I'd personally try and find a used Lista or Vidmar. You can't get any heavier duty than those.

How are the slides on it though? The 44" slides wear out rather quickly from what I've read (quickly = 1 year or so).

 

[Scott r c]

I just bought the 44" upper and lower and I am happy with it. I don't know how you guys work out of a lower box, its just too much bending over for me. I like stuff at eye level.

 

[akrisher13]

I used to work at Sears and hate all the boxes in the store. I did a good amount of research and went with a Homack 41" pro series top and bottom from my local Northern Tools store.

 

[Don53]

Checkout the Craftsman Edge Series boxes. They're not on sale right now, but seem to go on sale for 50% off relatively frequently... & you can usually use points, codes, etc. on them. I recently picked up the top & bottom 26" for just north of $500 and am very happy with it (for home use). Similar to the "premium heavy duty" line they have in the stores.

Specs are good, and a big selling point for me is COO is US (Mizz, by Waterloo). You may (or may not) like the drawer layout of the bigger versions.

Proto is another good option, especially if you want a US box. Buy from Zoro when they have their next 30% off flash sale.

 

[bobcatdan]

Checkout the Craftsman Edge Series boxes. They're not on sale right now, but seem to go on sale for 50% off relatively frequently... & you can usually use points, codes, etc. on them. I recently picked up the top & bottom 26" for just north of $500 and am very happy with it (for home use). Similar to the "premium heavy duty" line they have in the stores.

Specs are good, and a big selling point for me is COO is US (Mizz, by Waterloo). You may (or may not) like the drawer layout of the bigger versions.

Proto is another good option, especially if you want a US box. Buy from Zoro when they have their next 30% off flash sale.

The edge series is made by SPG International of Canada.

 

[crbnfbr]

How are the slides on it though? The 44" slides wear out rather quickly from what I've read (quickly = 1 year or so).

That's a good question; I personally don't own one, and I've never looked that closely at the slides. I would personally think they'd be at least slightly better than 44", considering the drawers that on have 1 slide per side can hold nearly double the weight the 44" of the top drawer that has double slides.

 

[Don53]

The edge series is made by SPG International of Canada.

I guess some might be, but the model number on my 26" top chest is 706-407620. Isn't 706 the Waterloo code? Sears Chat on two separate occasions told me the vendor was Waterloo, and it was made in Missouri... I'm sure Sear Chat has never been wrong!

Looking at Waterloo's site, their boxes look awfully similar to the Craftsman Premium HD and Edge series boxes: http://www.waterlooindustries.com/product/PCH-266BK

What your source for Edge = SPG?

 

[oldldh]

Assuming your budget of $ 1,000.00 is chiseled in stone...if not. a $ 200.00 budget increase opens up a "whole 'nuther world" from the Craftsman!!!

By using one's brain, and the Harbor Freight web site...

1...44" Roller Cabinet..........245 lbs............379.99 (On sale for as low as $ 349.99)

.....44" Top Chest................unk wt............289.99 (Total for set $ 669.98)

2...56" Roller Cabinet...........409 lbs............799.00 (On sale for $ 699.99--that's what my Wife got mine for!!!)

.....56" Top Chest................260 lbs............429.99 (Total for set $ 1,228.99)

3...72" Roller Cabinet...........528 lbs..........1,199.99

4...30" 5 Drawer Tool Cart....153 lbs............189.99 (Coupon code 85533436 will get it for $ 169.99)

I would buy the 56" roller cabinet AND the 30" tool cart for a total of $969.98, and you'd have all your bases covered...

I've owned a 56" Roller Cabinet for about a year and a half...it's just like new...and I love it...