What route do you go? Box before tools, or...?

[rsanter]

You need a good box to protect you tool investment and a place to work out of.
Notice I said good box not top of the line or expensive box.

With that you need good tools, but not everything need to be top of the line.
Start with a couple really good ratchets, a socket set and quality basic set of wrenches.
Larger and small than normal use sizes can be just good quality stuff verses top quality

Sad thing is that I have overall a more complete set of high quality tools now that I am no longer a mechanic than when I was working as one

Bob

 

[davethorik]

I started working at a machine shop and the first box I bought was a little Kennedy 520 top chest, I got it used for $50 with a bunch of good tools in it.

I didn't need to upgrade my box then...but I logged on to C/L one day at lunch and someone had just listed a Kennedy roller, side cabinet, middle, and top chest for $250 when I got there had to help the dude unload his tools from it he said he made the listing 15 minutes ago and couldnt believe it sold that fast (where I worked at the time was roughly 50 seconds drive to the guy's house). I got a bunch of "You ****" comments from my coworkers, who thought it was funny I came back from lunch with a tool box.

That was 7 yrs ago. I still have those boxes at work, but I need bigger.They didnt fill fast but I grew into them. My situation was a little different but it has worked for me.