I will be graduating from tech school here in May and am looking to upgrade to a bigger box. We get tools from both Mac and Snap On at a discount. I am thinking about buying the biggest box I can get from one of them. I am also considering buying a used Mac Tech 1000 with a full length top box for $1500. So I was wondering what peoples opinions of these two boxes are.
Which Tool Box is better Mac Tech 1000 vs Snap On Classic 78
- Thread starter hudd1256
- Start date
Why not buy a HF or Costco tool box for $300-$500? There is no guarantee you will do this for the rest of your life. In addition, you can buy Craftsman (USA made) tools and box through Craigslist for very cheap. If you spend a lot of money on expensive tools and tool box, your profit margin become very thin or nonexistent. If fancy tool box and tools make you a better mechanic then go for it.
Its not that wouldn't take a lesser brand box. I did consider a Homak, Kobalt, or a Waterloo, but not a craftsman. My dad has several of them in his shop. They last about five years than bow the drawers or brake the slides. My big deal is if I walk up to a box and I can twist a drawer around I don't like it.
foompla
Well-known member
I hate the slides in the snap on with a passion
Why? Do you find them hard to get apart? I have a S/O bottom box from the late 80's and I find the slides on it hard to get back together. The ones on my top box from the 90's are much easier to get in and out all I need to do is flip the slide up with a screwdriver to pull it apart.
kythri
Well-known member
What is the depth of the two boxes you're looking at?
foompla
Well-known member
I've never seen any that are smooth to open. I've never taken them apart.
IDK I've been around the boxes at my Deere dealership an at my tech schoola and I find them to be fairly smooth. I love there Lock an Roll system. When I bought my current box I took all the slides out an I hit them with I think some Fluid film or CARQUEST Silicone spray. I remember it being really sticky.
gdocktor3
Well-known member
Get the Mac. It's every bit as good as the Snap On, even buying it used. No need to spend double that on just a Snap On bottom when you can get the top and bottom Mac for $1500.
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txvwnut
Well-known member
I'm going to vote snapon. Been using them for over 30 years and can't complain at all. I have KRA1000 I bought new in 1988 and the slides are still as good as the day it was new. I too look at a box and grab the drawers to see how far they rack or warp compared to a snapon.
bob15
Well-known member
Have you looked on C-list? Many times you can get boxes cheaper there, than with the discount from school.
Not sure what vintage Craftsman your father has, but the early 90's ball bearing boxes are well made and won't blow the bottom out. Even the old C-man Pro-2000 boxes of the late 80's aren't bad either.
Forgot to add, my old Mac Economizer box ***** compared to the older C-man B-bearing box......
Not sure what vintage Craftsman your father has, but the early 90's ball bearing boxes are well made and won't blow the bottom out. Even the old C-man Pro-2000 boxes of the late 80's aren't bad either.
Forgot to add, my old Mac Economizer box ***** compared to the older C-man B-bearing box......
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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.
Between the two, go with the MAC box. It is the better buy if it is in good shape. No need to start out with all of the snap on credit debt. By a used truck brand or get one from here:
http://www.strictlytoolboxes.com/
http://www.strictlytoolboxes.com/
I'm always looking on Craigslist for used snap on boxes and tools. I would much rather buy either box used on C-List or Ebay than from our tool man at school. It just seems right now boxes that I want are hard to find and I have greatly out grown my current box. Plus I was doing some figuring earlier an I can easily fill the biggest box we can get on student discount an would have to buy a bigger box sooner than later.
You can always add on a side box later or get a separate service cart. Most techs keep the majority of tools in their service cart, and put there testers and specialty tools in their box.
Thanks. Extreme Tools are a pretty good box. I saw them at the Clay County Fair one year an thought they were very sturdy. The one thing I saw wrong with them is the trade in value. When you go to sell that box people will always be comparing it to a truck brand.
adamgoldberg
Member
- Joined
- Sep 24, 2013
- Messages
- 6
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
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
American Locomotive
Well-known member
There was a huge thread on here a week or two ago about going big on a tool box when you don't need to.
If you go out and buy a Classic 78, you're going to have a $5,000 box that's half empty. You'd have to make $5,000 at your job before you break even, and that's not even counting any tools you might have to buy.
This is why the guy on the truck often has repo'd boxes for sale at a discount. Someone who isn't making any/enough money thinks that the biggest box you could get was the right way to go.
Boxes hold their value. Buy a used smaller box (or a HF box), wait until it gets full, then sell it and/or get another box.
If you go out and buy a Classic 78, you're going to have a $5,000 box that's half empty. You'd have to make $5,000 at your job before you break even, and that's not even counting any tools you might have to buy.
This is why the guy on the truck often has repo'd boxes for sale at a discount. Someone who isn't making any/enough money thinks that the biggest box you could get was the right way to go.
Boxes hold their value. Buy a used smaller box (or a HF box), wait until it gets full, then sell it and/or get another box.
I considered that as well, but it seam side cabnets are so expensive even for Snap on. To gain 900 cubic inches on my current box I was going to have to spend like $800.
An I do try to use the tool cart method. I keep my air hammer, bits, 1/2 and 3/8 impacts with my more common sockets in my cart. My trouble is at my dealership we have to have "X" amount of speaclty tools because our dealership all, but refuses to buy them for us.
In that price range: $1,500
http://www.strictlytoolboxes.com/toolbox-sets/extreme-tool-boxes-56-18-drawer-rxe-series-tool-cabinet-top-chest.html
http://www.strictlytoolboxes.com/toolbox-sets/extreme-tool-boxes-56-18-drawer-rxe-series-tool-cabinet-top-chest.html
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A little more: $2,000
http://www.strictlytoolboxes.com/toolbox-sets/56-tool-vault-21-drawer-tool-cabinet-w-top-chest-side-cabinet.html
Point is, you can get a lot more for your money that what you can bying a truck brand tool box. That money saved is money that can be spent on tools. Secondly, if it really matters to you that much you could put a snap on badge on the thing and call it a day.
http://www.strictlytoolboxes.com/toolbox-sets/56-tool-vault-21-drawer-tool-cabinet-w-top-chest-side-cabinet.html
Point is, you can get a lot more for your money that what you can bying a truck brand tool box. That money saved is money that can be spent on tools. Secondly, if it really matters to you that much you could put a snap on badge on the thing and call it a day.
My problem is I will easily fill the Classic 78 an I really don't want to buy a new one an make payments. I have enough cash on hand to buy it out right I just don't want to spend the money while I'm still in school. An I've already spent well over $5000 grand on tools over the past five years.
This is the used Mac I'm looking at on Craigslist.
http://rmn.craigslist.org/tls/5983770382.html
I figure I can fill it to just a little under 70% full with what I have sitting on my shelf at home, what's in my cart, an what's in my current box.
A little more: $2,000
http://www.strictlytoolboxes.com/toolbox-sets/56-tool-vault-21-drawer-tool-cabinet-w-top-chest-side-cabinet.html
Point is, you can get a lot more for your money that what you can bying a truck brand tool box. That money saved is money that can be spent on tools. Secondly, if it really matters to you that much you could put a snap on badge on the thing and call it a day.
LOL. That's what My roommate did with his Homak box.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Get the used MAC set. A 2 foot deep top and bottom that's 50 inches wide is no brainer if it's in good shape. 
Spend your money on your tools. The tools are what allows you to make your money. The tools could be stored in the finest of cardboard boxes and they wouldn't care.
JDon99
Well-known member
How much is the Classic 78 with your student discount?
kythri
Well-known member
Read that Mac toolbox ad again - appears the seller is only selling the bottom box, not the top.
Like $2000 usually. At tool fair last summer you could have picked it up for $1799. But Im still not sold on the classic series my dad has three current snap on boxes an one of them is a classic. The drawers don't open all the way so there's like two inches at the back you have to finagle to get deep sockets out from under the drawer above it.
*If that's worded too shittly its because I couldn't explain the problem any better than that.
*If that's worded too shittly its because I couldn't explain the problem any better than that.
I wondered why that seemed like such a good deal.
JDon99
Well-known member
Is your SO guy a Snap On Industrial rep? If he is, check on a williams w55rc11, basically the same box as the classic 78.
kythri
Well-known member
kythri
Well-known member
This would be about perfect I knew more about the box.]
The Strictly Toolboxes website should provide all of the details on that box:
http://www.strictlytoolboxes.com/to...-tools-41-portable-workstation-combo-set.html
Scroll down to specs.
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peterbilr98
Well-known member
go snap on there sick got 2 of them
WittHay
Well-known member
If you work at a John Deere farm equipment dealership you will need a large amount of tools that have to be wheeled around the shop. Buy the strongest box you can afford.
My opinion is buy the box in the brand you eventually want. If you want a Snap-on Krl or Epiq in the future buy the Snap-on. If you think you will need a Mac triple bay buy the used Mac and trade it in later
My opinion is buy the box in the brand you eventually want. If you want a Snap-on Krl or Epiq in the future buy the Snap-on. If you think you will need a Mac triple bay buy the used Mac and trade it in later
bobcatdan
Well-known member
The tech series and classics are about a horse a piece and a lot comes down to which one you like better. The SO is a click wider, but I do believe the tech has heavier rated casters.