Upgrading my work tool box, want some input please!

[ckblum]

Hey everybody, I'm looking to upgrade my tool box at work. I'm an aircraft maintence engineer - structures apprentice (AME-S). I started with a cheaper six drawer Craftsman, ran out of room fast and bought a flimsy 10 drawer Husky top and bottom 32" wide but very shallow drawers only about 14.5 deep in the bottom and 10.5 up top.

So I've been looking at 3 boxes and I'm tossed up between cost and quality. I would like something I know I won't have to upgrade for a long time if ever again. We don't have nearly as many tools as mechanics.

Anyways the 3 boxes I've been looking at are below. Please give me some input on what you all think (Snap-On fanboys welcome! I wanna hear your side too).

Pretty self explanatory, low, mid and high (but still lower SO grade).

HF 44" of course! $359 w/ coupon
http://www.harborfreight.com/roller-cabinet-44-13-drawer-gloss-red-industrial-uality-69387.html

Proto 41" Cabinet, $1149 (CAD)
http://www.protoindustrial.com/en/i...c2a_Proto®-440SS-41"-Workstation---15-Drawer/

Finally Snap-On KRA4813, $2345 but I get 35% off being an apprentice.
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=681721&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

 

[lugnut71]

My opinion is to find a used snap-on master series, such as a krl722 or the older version that is a krl761. Awesome box, perfect work height, not too big to move around. You will love it and can always turn into a home box if ya ever run out of room. Usually you can find these from 1500-2500 for nice used one.

 

[ckblum]

A little big for me still. I've seen some similar used but usually around 3-4000 up here in Canada. Hard to find, they don't come up often. Besides I don't quite need that much room, 54" is prett long. If there was a 42" box with 22-24 inh deep drawers that'd be sweet too.

 

[ckblum]

Used stuff around here seems to be mostly Crapsman, in the $9-1200 range so I pretty much ruled out used boxes.

 

[zkling]

Outside of used, I would probably go for the HF44", unless my wallet was making me sit lopsided

I personally don't think that proto box is worth what they are asking, just from a quick glance in that link.

Seems like an extreme spread your cheap box is ~ 1/6 of the high end box.

Do you already have all the tools you need? If not I would definitely purchase the HF44" and spend the rest on quality tools to fill it up. If you happen to find a box you like better in the future you could always sell the HF for at least $100, loosing only $250. Where as with the snap on and proto, you are probably looking at ~50% resale as soon as you take it off the truck. Which could equate to a loss of $500-$1000

Just my 2¢

 

[willhollin]

Where are the Proto boxes made?

 

[sberry]

I am usually a fan of cheap but there is weight differences, the Snap is heavier and has bigger wheels. Its a thousand dollar quality issue. In this case it might not be a deal breaker if I could easily pay cash.

 

[zkling]

Where are the Proto boxes made?

I THINK, as in don't quote me on this, that Waterloo makes them for Proto. So... USA, Mexico or Canada.

 

[sberry]

Outside of used, I would probably go for the HF44", unless my wallet was making me sit lopsided

I personally don't think that proto box is worth what they are asking, just from a quick glance in that link.

Seems like an extreme spread your cheap box is ~ 1/6 of the high end box.

Do you already have all the tools you need? If not I would definitely purchase the HF44" and spend the rest on quality tools to fill it up. If you happen to find a box you like better in the future you could always sell the HF for at least $100, loosing only $250. Where as with the snap on and proto, you are probably looking at ~50% resale as soon as you take it off the truck. Which could equate to a loss of $500-$1000

Just my 2¢

That is some pretty good math and in reality the HF boxes have been bringing better resale than that..

 

[zkling]

That is some pretty good math and in reality the HF boxes have been bringing better resale than that..

Thank you sir. I was just trying to offer as much help as I could. Hate to see a young guy start out in the hole when not needed.

Ironically it seems that Craftsman has the highest resale value for all tools box brands. Kennedy by far the worst (Usually <25% of retail) closely followed by snap on.

I was just kinda figuring low on the $100 resale value of the HF, could probably get more, especially if taken care of.

 

[Farmall450]

Very true!

 

[sberry]

That is the new math. Tools have become super competitive with the advent of modern steel making that the cheap stuff now works well and is such a bargain that you could wipe a good chunk of it off the bench in to the scrap (no resale) and still come out good especially when one considers all the other factors in owning a tool.

 

[oilfieldtrash4]

That is some pretty good math and in reality the HF boxes have been bringing better resale than that..

Hf boxes have better resale value than snap on boxes.

 

[rancherbill]

I'd take a look as the SPG boxes at Costco. They are made in Canada. I have seen one and they are heavy duty. I roughly compared the weight of their boxes to snapon and they are in the same class as to weight. IMHO, weight givews a good idea of the metal gauge and the quality of slides. Thin metal and cheap slide are lighter.

HF 245#
proto 275#
snapon 280#

http://www.costco.ca/SPG-International-54-in.-Tool-Canopy-plus-12-drawer-Cabinet.product.10336868.html
it has a hutch so weight will be higher
SPG 520#

http://www.costco.ca/CatalogSearch?langId=-24&storeId=10302&catalogId=11201&keyword=tool+chest&sortBy=PriceMax%7C1

 

[ckblum]

I'm surprised not a lot of people are giving me flak for comparing an HF and a Snap On. Thought I would have some ******** "you wanna be the best, you gotta own the best" attitudes.

So far I was leaning towards the HF 44, mostly based on price. I was kind of unsure about the drawer slide quality. Especially the detent system on it. I like my drawers to stay closed and not wander open when rolling around.

 

[ckblum]

But on the other hand the SO comes in black and I really wanted a black tool box.

 

[zkling]

I'm surprised not a lot of people are giving me flak for comparing an HF and a Snap On. Thought I would have some ******** "you wanna be the best, you gotta own the best" attitudes.

That's because 99.9% of the folks on here are practical, mature, knowledgeable people. Yea we all like Snap On, sure, is it better than the HF, of course, but would not judge you on the box you pick. People should judge you on your quality of work and work ethic, if they judge you on your box, they are obviously not worth your time.

Now if you happened to have a SO box and filled it with HF tools, people would probably judge you as someone that cares about status and image. But having a HF box filled with quality tools, definitely something a sensible young professional would do.

Who would you rather marry the girl that has a $1000 purse and no money inside or the girl that has a $50 purse and $10000 inside?

But on the other hand the SO comes in black and I really wanted a black tool box.

I'd be more than happy to paint the HF44" black for you for $1000
Seriously if the color bothers you that much get it painted. I have seen a few people plasti dip and or vinal wrap their box and it turned out really good.

 

[Jim Johnstone]

Have you looked at the entire line from International? I am leaning to their boxes for my work box (tool and die apprentice). They are all made in Canada and have a line ranging from entry level consumer stuff to really heavy high end that would compare to snap on for quality.

Sent from my SGH-I727R using Tapatalk 2

 

[bobcatdan]

The proto box is nothing to write home about. Home depot use to sell the same box under the husky name for $500. The SO box does have a lifetime warranty and is technically the best built 40" box made based on specs. I have owned that box and it will last a lifetime. That said the HF box has proven itself to many people here so I will not diss it. Comes down to how much you want to spend.

 

[NOZZLEMAN]

Buy the Snap... it will be the last box you ever buy !! Almost everybody on here ******* about how much SO costs but then recognizes they are the "gold standard" in boxes. These are the same guys who ***** about customers not wanting to pay for their skilled labor...
PRICE.... QUALITY.... SERVICE.... PICK TWO- YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ALL THREE

Good Luck

 

[MattPersman]

I have that snap on box in orange in my garage at home and its a great box. The quality is very good it will last and last. And you can get the color you want.

 

[djcslice]

I would really consider drawer layout. I have the hf box and think its great except the layout leaves something to be desired.

Most of the budget boxes have less desirable layouts.

Have you considered Menards boxes at all? The 36" has a nice layout.

 

[wafrederick]

Plus look how many times a day the drawers get opened and closed a day and you get what you pay for.Craftsman toolboxes are good for home use only,not for pro use.Spot welds are poor and fail in the long run.My father has a Snap On at his shop,over 20 years old still opens and closes although it has been tipped over 3 times.

 

[BajaBound]

Hf 56"

 

[DirtRoad]

http://www.strictlytoolboxes.com/al...-side-locker-56-inch-21-drawer-combo-set.html

Done

 

[Blown V2]

A little big for me still. I've seen some similar used but usually around 3-4000 up here in Canada. Hard to find, they don't come up often. Besides I don't quite need that much room, 54" is prett long. If there was a 42" box with 22-24 inh deep drawers that'd be sweet too.

Is this too narrow? Being 24 inches deep may make up for that though. Unless of course you want a double bank box, or can't justify the price.

 

[Jagmandave]

Costco, $600.00 - $700.00

all stainless steel, heavy (weighs 650# empty) and very well made.

Just sayin.....

I've been very happy with mine and it still looks like new.

View media item 31769

 

[CWP1616L]

Where are the Proto boxes made?

Depending on the model, either in Georgetown Ohio with the MAC boxes, or in Mexico with the Waterloo boxes.

 

[oldldh]

As the man said,

www.strictlytooboxes.com

If they can't ring your bell, it's cracked...

 

[ZRX61]

Everyone missed one aspect of an airport toolbox: How often is it going to moved around the hangar or towed across the ramp by a tug or picked up with a forklift? It's one thing if you're in a small 10,000sq ft hangar, but something altogether different if you're in a 50,000sqft+ hangar working on the sort of endless **** airline mechs have to deal with.

 

[djcslice]

Everyone missed one aspect of an airport toolbox: How often is it going to moved around the hangar or towed across the ramp by a tug or picked up with a forklift?

I think the OP missed that too...

 

[ckblum]

I didn't miss that. I work in a structural repair facility mostly and the hangar is a smaller one for helicopters, never had to have my boxes towed, but it does get fork lifted between facilities once in a while. My flimsy Husky has held up to our idiot forklift drivers so far, figured the HF would be quite a few steps up at least.

I actually just took a trip over the border today and checked out the HF 44 and 56 boxes. I wish I could get the 44 but with the extra depth drawers (18-20"?) of the 56. I also prefer the 56's drawer latches over the cheesy feeling detents on the 44.

I am wanting a bigger bottom cabinet only. No top cabinet, hence me posting only bottom cabs. I like the top of the cabinet for parts and working on jobs when I don't have a workbench nearby.

As for colour I was mostly joking, I have access to a full paint booth and supplies, colour won't be an issue haha

 

[pendragon1998]

HF 44" of course! $359 w/ coupon
http://www.harborfreight.com/roller-cabinet-44-13-drawer-gloss-red-industrial-uality-69387.html

Finally Snap-On KRA4813, $2345 but I get 35% off being an apprentice.
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=681721&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

To me, it comes down to this: If I had $1525, I could buy 4 HF boxes for the same price as the Snap-on (at 35% discount) and still have about $90 left for a new tool. Or, I could buy one HF box and have $1165 left over for quality tools or savings. Heck, you could buy a new HF box and replace it every 3 years when your old one started looking scuffy for the next decade.

I just don't see the appeal of dropping so much money on a Snap-on box (and this is kind of the lower end you can spend on them, right?) I'd rather have a HF box that, by all accounts, is a very decent box - plus have over $1000 to save or apply to tools and/or additional storage.

It's your money, do what you want with it though!

 

[ckblum]

I was considering the Snap-Ons because I do get 35% off listed prices being an apprentice. But I'm starting to lean away from it like someone mentioned earlier, I do have some more expensive tools to buy. And the HF holds it's resale (even more so up here I think) better than a Snap-On would if I had to upgrade again.

Wish I had a Snap-On box I could fiddle around with, people at work seem to be pretty **** about me playing around in their boxes haha, plus not many SO boxes, only 1-2 I think? Out of about 25.

I do like the Montezuma's. Again I wish I could see one in person, I love the grip latch handles, more than the HF latches!

 

[Exceller8]

Hf 56"

I love my HF 56"! I'd love to upgrade to a nice Snap-On box at some point, but for now this one does me just fine...

 

[ckblum]

Anyone know the difference between these two? Besides price... I also see the same 41" cabinet but 24" deep!

http://www.strictlytoolboxes.com/mo...fessional-41-inch-11-drawer-tool-cabinet.html

http://www.strictlytoolboxes.com/extreme-toolbox/extreme-tools-41-inch-11-drawer-tool-cabinet.html

Here's the 24" deep.
http://www.strictlytoolboxes.com/ex...inch-11-drawer-24-inch-deep-tool-cabinet.html

 

[ckblum]

Found this International 42" at Home Depot, $499 but the shipping charge is another $100. We have these at work for our tooling boxes and they seem very well made. If I can save the shipping and have it sent to the store I may end up getting one of these.

I still like that 24" deep 42 cabinet from strictlytoolboxes.com. Man I hate these decisions, always just comes down to money.

 

[CWP1616L]

I may end up getting one of these.

Don't do it. They put the casters on with sheet metal screws. Frickin cheesy as hell.

 

[ckblum]

Really? I'll have to check that out when I'm at work. We never move the work boxes, they stay at whatever fixture they belong to. My box moves around quite a bit though.

 

[ckblum]

Does anyone ever see the Extreme Tools 24" deep 41 box go on sale or is that as cheap as it gets?