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Which Tool Box is better Mac Tech 1000 vs Snap On Classic 78

scissorman

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Dec 7, 2014
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662
Location
Pleasanton, Ca.
I had once thought about the classic 78 and after seeing it in person and able to touch it I quickly made up my mind that I wanted something sturdy and not that piece of thin ****. I love Snap-on boxes but definately NOT their classic series boxes. I bought the Tool Vault 72" 17 drawer from strictlytoolboxes.com and couldn't be happier. I've had the box for 2 years now with no issues and it was only $2975 delivered.

To answer your specific question between the two I would choose the Mac box over the classic any day.
 
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bixxjs

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Joined
Jan 22, 2017
Messages
293
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United Kingdom
I had a 41" wide Snapon a few years back,paid a lot of money for it.Got divorced and my x wife got it in a finanancial settlement.Was an awesome box,really well engineered and the self closing drawers were awesome.
But I agree with the other members,why spend so much money when youre just starting out.Buy a good quality used one off ebay.
 

JDon99

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Aug 8, 2013
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1,039
Location
Desoto, MO
My snap on guy told me that snap on and Williams were not connected in any way. He could be wrong of course but you would think he would know.

Either your SO guy is blowing smoke you know where, or he is a ***** lol.
 
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hudd1256

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May 9, 2016
Messages
71
Location
Iowa
Well thanks guys. I talked to my father today and he said he would help me out on a newer Krl1003 my snappy dealer has in stock. So we will see. That is the box I want in the end but I really don't want to spend that kind of money right now. An after looking at the extremes the cheaper ones I could afford are not as comparable to a Mac Tech or a S/O classic I am wanting. So I don't think they will work.
 

Ed_EOD

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Dec 4, 2009
Messages
603
Location
North Pole, AK
If you get a used Snap-on box for a good price, And you take good care of it, it'll always be worth at least what you paid for it. As long as you are patient with selling, a good shape box doesn't really depreciate beyond the initial new-used loss.

I have a 20+ year old KRL that was used in a shop. It has a couple dings and scuffs, but I wouldn't trade it for any new box, short of a bigger KRL. When I bought it it had a couple broken slides, so I called Snap-on and they shipped me replacements free of charge. Can't beat that service!
 
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Mhyde52

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Dec 19, 2015
Messages
125
Location
Averill Park, NY
I'm leaning toward the used Mac. My old man keeps telling me not to buy a Mac because the resale isn't as good. With that though the buy in for a Mac box is also cheaper. If I wear to buy the used Mac I would have to have my old man help me out because I don't want to have to take a tool loan out till May.

Top and bottom double bank Tech 1000 for that $ is a good deal, if it's in great shape.

Your old man has it all wrong. You SHOULD buy the used Mac BECAUSE it doesn't have as good of a resale. That is part of the used market in any area. Take advantage of it.
 

Mhyde52

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Dec 19, 2015
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Averill Park, NY
And to answer the original question, I'd take a new Mac Tech series over a Snap-On KRA. I strongly dislike lock-n-roll.
 

kythri

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Jan 3, 2007
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Lebanon, OR
Top and bottom double bank Tech 1000 for that $ is a good deal, if it's in great shape.

Your old man has it all wrong. You SHOULD buy the used Mac BECAUSE it doesn't have as good of a resale. That is part of the used market in any area. Take advantage of it.

The Mac deal is not for the top and bottom, it's for the bottom only.
 

mcmtech

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Feb 12, 2014
Messages
449
Location
New Orleans, La
I had a couple friends in tech school with mac tech1000 boxes. They seemed far better built than the Kra/classic series snap ons. I'd get the mac of those two.
 

jp828108

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Jun 28, 2011
Messages
484
Location
Ohio
I like my classic 78. Its not the top of the line, but it has held up fine to the 2 years I spent in a shop setting before deciding to do something different. Also consider saving the money and picking up a used box from the tool dealer. I bought a used snap on box for my house when I was working in a shop for 900 bucks off the Matco man. It wasn't as wide as the classic 78 but it was a top and bottom box so i believe it offered as much or more storage is memory serves. If you do buy used if you can pay cash it's amazing what kind of deals you can get on quality used stuff.
 

maintenancemike

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Apr 4, 2016
Messages
39
As a former wrench, I'm very happy I never invested nearly that much in a box when I was working as a mechanic.

But I think any of those discussed above come with a large premium for the name and the truck. Consider Lista, IMO higher quality, lower price. http://www.motorheadextraordinaire.com/pdf/LC_toolbox.pdf, also if you've got some time (you don't need the box in the next week or two), you can get scratch & dent for about half list price (but they have only what they have) http://www.motorheadextraordinaire.com/2-junkyard-specials
Automotive guys don't seem to know about these. In my opinion, it doesn't even matter to them if the box is bigger, better, stronger, and cheaper, made in usa, lifetime warranty, better casters, and a better organization system. They just want the name no matter what.
Snap on falls apart where I am, not lista though.

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maintenancemike

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Apr 4, 2016
Messages
39
Any tool box compared to snap on will come in second place. For home use there are a lot of boxes that would be just fine however, if you're talking about who has the best, well that would be snap on.
Snap on is pretty light for a serious industrial setting. I guess they would work if you don't move them around, but the snap-on stuff just doesn't hold up to industry. My co-workers' box started falling apart in a year. Considering it was over double the cost of my Lista, it just isn't a wise investment. Plus, the weight capacity is half per drawer, and they're made in a foreign land, unlike my usa made box.
I can put a 700 pound indexer on it and it doesn't wince at all. I'd say snap-on is junk if no one got offended.

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maintenancemike

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Apr 4, 2016
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Yeah. My triple I paid about 4,000.00 for. The snap-on lists for over $10,000.00.

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maintenancemike

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Apr 4, 2016
Messages
39
Lista cheaper than Snap-on?

I thought they were comparable in price...
About half is what I have gathered.
My box is a double bay with an additional narrow width cabinet, an odd duck. It sells for about $3,000.00 new.
I added a stainless/hard maple top. So, it measures 78" x 30" x 41.5" tall.
I can continue to add on cabinets for about $800.00, and it has 6 poly/aluminum casters rated at 1,200 # each.
That's 7,200 lbs. worth of tool-carrying capacity. The epiq series is snap-on's nearest box. How much is an epiq triple bay?
lista all the way!
Yes, sir.

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M-technik-3

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Western Mass
Can you save the discount for later on down the road, after you get employment? Or is just going to be more debt taken on via school loans?
 

maintenancemike

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Apr 4, 2016
Messages
39
Yeah, but, who pays list?
I guess quite a few people. I see those same boxes at the pawn shop and on craigslist regularly. They claim they paid 11,000, 17,000, or more new. I never understand, because these things are brand new boxes, often.

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maintenancemike

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Apr 4, 2016
Messages
39
Yeah, but, who pays list?
Actually, I just looked up that box again on the website. $15,800.00 +is the retail on it. So, if you got it for 10, some guys might feel like they got a deal. I am not one of those guys, but to each his own.
I didn't bother pricing the stainless top or any of that. Crazy.
I have snap on ratchets, but man I can't believe the gall they have charging as much as they do. They aren't paying their employees that much-my uncle worked for them in their wisco plant.

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Mr_B

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Nov 21, 2016
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5,378
Location
Reading
Never would buy snapon mac or matco boxes new as just too overpriced . Can be wise used buy if got time and ability travel to get a good used deal .
Hand tool investment more important than the box so research and spend wisely .
I see way too many young guys in debt due to boxes it ridiculous ...
Look at lista and look over all of strictlytoolboxes.com again as they got some good stuff (extreme/gaitorbuilt 55" boxes) plus is possible change drawer layout if really had to .
 

kythri

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Jan 3, 2007
Messages
6,330
Location
Lebanon, OR
I guess quite a few people. I see those same boxes at the pawn shop and on craigslist regularly. They claim they paid 11,000, 17,000, or more new. I never understand, because these things are brand new boxes, often.

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"They claim" is the operative part here. They're trying to get out from under a a bad "investment" and profit at the same time.

In 95% of those cases, not only did they not pay what they claim they paid, they flat haven't even paid yet, other than a few weekly or monthly payments that they've now discovered they can't afford.
 
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hudd1256

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May 9, 2016
Messages
71
Location
Iowa
Can you save the discount for later on down the road, after you get employment? Or is just going to be more debt taken on via school loans?

I can't get the discount once I'm out of school. An I'm already employed at my dealership. I have to work for them for three years after I graduate because they sponsored me through school. Now I have decided I'll buy an extreme tools box with a three bay set up or a two bay with a triangle box on the top.
 

hoston23

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Joined
Oct 30, 2013
Messages
437
Location
godley, texas
Mac tech 1000. I've had several, liked them much more than the classic 78 I had. If I was you I'd get the triple Bay though

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rsanter

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Dec 22, 2007
Messages
18,522
Location
visalia ca
both the snap on classic and the tech series are their second tier lines. I have never been impressed with the classic series but they are decent.
I have a tech1000 and really like the box, but then I got mine just a couple years old for $700.
for $1500 the one you are looking at better be mint or one of the wider triple bay versions or they need to bring the price down a bit

both the classic series and the tech series will see a higher depreciations rate than their top series and the mac will see a higher depreciation than the snap on just because of the name.
I love my snap on boxes but I will only buy used as like buying a new car I really hate to take that 'new box' depreciation hit.

bob
 

M-technik-3

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Feb 16, 2008
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Western Mass
I can't get the discount once I'm out of school. An I'm already employed at my dealership. I have to work for them for three years after I graduate because they sponsored me through school. Now I have decided I'll buy an extreme tools box with a three bay set up or a two bay with a triangle box on the top.

Sounds like BMW Step Program?
 

Mr_B

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Nov 21, 2016
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Reading
I can't get the discount once I'm out of school. An I'm already employed at my dealership. I have to work for them for three years after I graduate because they sponsored me through school. Now I have decided I'll buy an extreme tools box with a three bay set up or a two bay with a triangle box on the top.

Those triangle boxes don't hold a lot for the price. I would go 72" triple bay or 55" twin bay and add the full 25" depth 19" wide side hang drawer cabinet at later date if don't need full size and expense immediately, advantage of 55" with side cabinets is easier future transporting size sections plus cabinets little more rigid .
Having top as light duty working surface is massive advantage, changed my working environment ease and organization when went just bottom large cabinet with clear worktop space, can add small box on top too if ever needed .
The extreme 25" depth boxes hold good amount of tools for the $, they do a 30" depth 72" which heavier gauge drawers but that about $850 more, very nice construction though .
 
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turnthewrench

Banned
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Jan 19, 2017
Messages
163
Location
Winter Park, FL
Why not buy a HF or Costco tool box for $300-$500? .

Agree!

To the OP,

Son, you ought to be worried about making profits, not big expenses. Heck, you're just starting a career! - Breaking even wouldn't be a terrible thing at this point.

Just get a sturdy, affordable toolbox that would last 5 years or so, and focus on mastering your trade before you spend your hard earned money on fancy storage and / or tools.

As suggested above, HF and others would fit the bill.

:thumbup:
 
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hudd1256

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May 9, 2016
Messages
71
Location
Iowa
Agree!

To the OP,

Son, you ought to be worried about making profits, not big expenses. Heck, you're just starting a career! - Breaking even wouldn't be a terrible thing at this point.

Just get a sturdy, affordable toolbox that would last 5 years or so, and focus on mastering your trade before you spend your hard earned money on fancy storage and / or tools.

As suggested above, HF and others would fit the bill.

:thumbup:

I agree this is what I plan to do. I'm stuck between a Extreme PWSRC4129TX or a RX722519RC. Either way I only plan on having it for a few years then I would like to trade up to a KRL7023 hopefully.
 

ADSR

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Joined
Jan 12, 2013
Messages
10,713
Agree!

To the OP,

Son, you ought to be worried about making profits, not big expenses. Heck, you're just starting a career! - Breaking even wouldn't be a terrible thing at this point.

Just get a sturdy, affordable toolbox that would last 5 years or so, and focus on mastering your trade before you spend your hard earned money on fancy storage and / or tools.

As suggested above, HF and others would fit the bill.

:thumbup:

Those boxes are junk. At least when costco sold homak, they were better. But homak is still ****.
 

turnthewrench

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Jan 19, 2017
Messages
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Location
Winter Park, FL
Those boxes are junk.

Those boxes are being used by many a professionals, i.e., people who make money turning wrenches. If I'm not mistaken, that's the purpose of the OP.

Whether he has the money to pay for a more expensive one up front, that's up to him to decide. But choosing HF and such, will not prevent him from doing such. Spending too much money will - at least in the short run. What's "too much" is also for him to decide.

Similar situation when you decide to buy a JUNK bond...

When you buy a bond, you are lending your money to someone (the government or a private company) who promises to pay you back the money when the bond matures, plus interest. The ability of the bond issuer to meet its obligation is expressed in the bond's credit rating. Whether a company defaults on its bonds or not depends on its ability to pay back its debt.




To make profits or not depends on his ability as a mechanic and businessman, not in the darn box holding his tools.

:beer:
 

B_Lafayet

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Joined
Jul 3, 2014
Messages
62
I agree this is what I plan to do. I'm stuck between a Extreme PWSRC4129TX or a RX722519RC. Either way I only plan on having it for a few years then I would like to trade up to a KRL7023 hopefully.

Sounds like a plan, but do not expect to get much on resale for those Extreme boxes.
 
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