Which Toolbox Would You Buy?

[unslow1]

The HF 44" is the best bang for the $$. I also seriously doubt you will find anything locally that can compare to it used. Most boxes in my area are severely overpriced.

I've *always wanted* a Craftsman tool box stack. Had my eye on that stainless 40" model with griplatch. Just can't bring myself to buy it due to the lack of quality. And at the $1000 price point you're into used Snap-On.

I would recommend a griplatch model though.

I have that Craftsman box. I really like the finish and griplatch. My two complaints are they make no side cabinets to add on. Then top drawers are too shallow. You are really limited on what will fit. No wrench racks. I would rather have less drawers that would clear socket trays or wrench racks. I also have the HF 56 in lower and the HF 26 upper and lower. If I had it to do over again I would get the 56in lower 2x 26 upper and put them on top of the 56 upper. Making one SAE and one metric. Then add side cabinets if you chose.

 

[archirelic]

I have that Craftsman box. I really like the finish and griplatch. My two complaints are they make no side cabinets to add on. Then top drawers are too shallow. You are really limited on what will fit. No wrench racks. I would rather have less drawers that would clear socket trays or wrench racks. I also have the HF 56 in lower and the HF 26 upper and lower. If I had it to do over again I would get the 56in lower 2x 26 upper and put them on top of the 56 upper. Making one SAE and one metric. Then add side cabinets if you chose.

I like that idea! Too bad I already have the 44 lower, a 26 Husky top box, and the HF 5 drawer cart.

 

[Don 18]

How far do you want to drive? This one looks like it could be promising:

http://columbus.craigslist.org/tls/3410273003.html

 

[bobcatdan]

That cleaned up would be a nice box

 

[j.robinson389]

How far do you want to drive? This one looks like it could be promising:

http://columbus.craigslist.org/tls/3410273003.html

That well within driving distance. I know beggars can't be choosers, but if I am going to blow my budget by 2.5x it will have to be a "dime piece" as they say; and that box, while nice and big looks WELL used. I will keep looking on CL especially since the HF 44" seems to be commonly had for $349 there is no rush to go out and get it, it'll always be available.

 

[Don 18]

That well within driving distance. I know beggars can't be choosers, but if I am going to blow my budget by 2.5x it will have to be a "dime piece" as they say; and that box, while nice and big looks WELL used. I will keep looking on CL especially since the HF 44" seems to be commonly had for $349 there is no rush to go out and get it, it'll always be available.

Yeah, most used tool boxes are used There will be a difference between used and worn out though. I'd bet that some elbow grease, a coat of wax and a better picture that box would look great. The trick with craigslist is to know what you are looking at, the ranges it sells for, check the listings often and when you find it at a great price jump on it.

When I was looking for my box, I would have picked this one up in a heart beat. Heck if that was near me today I'd go look at it to see what he'd take.

edit for when the posting expires -- the seller is asking $850 OBO

 

[Mickey O]

That well within driving distance. I know beggars can't be choosers, but if I am going to blow my budget by 2.5x it will have to be a "dime piece" as they say; and that box, while nice and big looks WELL used. I will keep looking on CL especially since the HF 44" seems to be commonly had for $349 there is no rush to go out and get it, it'll always be available.

Pictures can sometimes be deceiving, I went to look at a box that looked beat and rusted in the pictures, the ad said it was like new, it was like new, just bad pictures. But I've also seen the reverse and had *** hats tell me the box is mint only to find out it was a heap of **** after driving a distance (I think one ******* photo-shopped the rust off the toolbox).

But if you're in no hurry and you keep any eye on craig's list you'll find a nice box at a good/great price in time.

 

[archirelic]

I'm not too keen on what qualifies as a "great deal" in terms of purchasing a used Snap-On box, but they can be found & had on craigslist from time to time for decent deals. Take this one for example, I'm only "assuming" it's a pretty decent deal, like I said, I'm not too "in the know"

It's a 2 hour drive from me.

http://amarillo.craigslist.org/tls/3405709508.html

 

[sberry]

I agree you can find deals but at 350 for that 44 inch or what ever it i,,, bargain. In 10 yrs a guy could have it for 33 a year in todays dollars, you could replace it a few times vs a good used box and maybe several compared to new retail. And resale, I am with the guys here, one said, he uses his at work, does the job and not one disparaging remark.

You got to love the argument do you not though,, its a good reason to buy an expensive tool rack, in todays dollars because they hold their value and their resale is so good that we can end up the reason to buy them instead of a china special is that they can be had so cheap. It is a finanacial no brainer, the China box is a bargain especially when accompanied by some reasonable testimoney that says it works fine.

A guy wants one, its his money he is entitled, thats a valid argument but financial sense none. They are so cheap it makes near sense to toss scrap steel in them, would take 10 of them over one 6 grand box anyday. Of course a guy can add to it, finance a 6 grand box or a 400 one? The brand box might be better, even if it is, how much,,, twice, 5 x, 10X plus interest and or capitol tide up that depreciates.

A bud drag me to a sale, I was looking for pallet rack, I took a car, figured if I really wanted anything would be willing to send a truck back. I couldnt believe insane pricing for some well worked stuff banged around for years in an Amish stove shop. They had a wagon full of common hand tools, combo wrenches, sockets, ****, some Snappy and a few other truck brands, handfuls of beat *** arc struck hammered China wrenches sold for more than packing them out of the store new. If the auctioneer was drowing he couldnt have sold the truck stuff for **** but the Pittsburg still brought a dollar and it was beyond whipped and then some, same with the knock off boxes.

I thought it was silly, I would have marched right up to the store and got a new one but you got to admire anyone that can beat the snot out of a dollar for 10 yrs and sell it for the same isnt all dumb. Probably bought it all out of pocket.

 

[sberry]

Is the 2 hr drive one way or round trip?

 

[archirelic]

Is the 2 hr drive one way or round trip?

One way. So 4 hours round trip.

 

[Carl B]

I liked the HF 42" {44 with handle} so well I bought one for my son, then a second one for myself. I have a 65th Anniversary Edition Snap On box {bottom, side & top} as well. For Value for your money nothing on the market comes close to the HF offering. The quality of that box is very close to my old Snap-On.

PLUS - HF supplied additional side cabinets and top boxes - both excellent - at very reasonable prices, so you can easily and very economically expand your storage area as needed.

Personally - I like to save money when I can - but at $389.00 I wouldn't wait for another month to possibly save $40.00 - - - spend the money on yourself - and spend the next month getting your tools and garage organized... the time is well worth the few dollars more..

FWIW,
Carl B.

 

[crewchief888]

Question about used boxes, namely Snap-On. I work with quite a few guys who have hand-me-down older Snap-On boxes, and I know that Snap-On is the premier tool mfg, but these boxes when loaded with tools require two hands to pull open and even then the cart wants to roll by the time you pull that hard. Is this normal of older boxes, or a certain line of boxes? I do not want to spend $500+ and get that.

Also I do want to make it clear that I am more than willing to pony up the 400+ dollars if I came across a deal like frankush's 56-incher. I just haven't come across anything like that.

all they need to do is clean and lube the friction slides.

i have a set SO boxes date coded '76 & '79 that open fully loaded without a problem.
BB drawer slides are nice, but not absolutely nessesary for the average DIY/ homeowner boxes.

 

[Patrick123]

I am in the middle of redoing some Mac and Matco 70s/80s boxes and the old grease on the rails was like gum or worse. But after cleaning the rails and putting them back together they work fine.

 

[Mickey O]

all they need to do is clean and lube the friction slides.

i have a set SO boxes date coded '76 & '79 that open fully loaded without a problem.
BB drawer slides are nice, but not absolutely nessesary for the average DIY/ homeowner boxes.

I had an old 33" wide MBC box, the bottom deep drawer had two sets of large friction slides on each side, I had the thing full of 3/4" sockets, 3/4" extensions, 3/4" ratchets and I **** you not it opened and closed as easy as any bearing box I've had besides the Lista cabinets I had (the Lista boxes seemed to get better with more weight added).

 

[Glacial_Speed]

If the original poster (was it j.robinson389?) happens to decide on the 44" HF Roller box the latest coupon in the Sunday paper was for $359. Not $349....but better than $389.

 

[j.robinson389]

What about the Homak Pro Boxes that Northern is selling? Are these any better or worse than the HF Boxes? They look almost Identical. And right now are the same price.


http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200580683_200580683

 

[j.robinson389]

Nevermind, Site-to-Store shipping only.

 

[Dieselbutterfly]

be patient, buy used and get what you want.buy the best and you will never be sorry

 

[KPSquared]

The OP listed 3 choices. The anti-China crowd (usually MickeyO) ignored the entire post to push his COO agenda. Gets old fast. :banghead:

It's a proven fact around here that you cannot beat the HF 44" for the money and the new Cman cabinets are junk.

I've been watching craigslist and kijiji for months and there's never even been a used tool truck box under $2000. Then again I'm in Canada and the population density greatly affects the volume of used tools. . .there aren't really any. I've seen a Lista cabinet once in the last 5 years.

Based on reading every thread on here about the HF cabinet I could find (there are hundreds. . .) and watching every you tube video I could find ( quite a few) I've decided, without question, that for the money, you cannot beat the quality of that box. I'm planning a road trip in the spring. 9 hours one way to Missoula, MT to pick up 3 of them and the rolling cart. I'm sold. I'll never touch that much storage space for that price in a million years here.

 

[lortech]

I have thought of the two 26 top chest my self. Simply because I can know in a instance, where the metric and standard tools are. I am having a ****** of a time trying to find one 40 inch tool box but, with two 26 inch tool boxes, I am not limited to how I can have them arranged inside my truck since I do mobile automotive work. The can be installed back to back side to side, side to front. The only downside is the tool that work with both boxes. I could have two sets of the same in each box ...if i had the extra money.

I have that Craftsman box. I really like the finish and griplatch. My two complaints are they make no side cabinets to add on. Then top drawers are too shallow. You are really limited on what will fit. No wrench racks. I would rather have less drawers that would clear socket trays or wrench racks. I also have the HF 56 in lower and the HF 26 upper and lower. If I had it to do over again I would get the 56in lower 2x 26 upper and put them on top of the 56 upper. Making one SAE and one metric. Then add side cabinets if you chose.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Jake, this is reasonably close to you.

http://dayton.craigslist.org/tls/3396376277.html

More money but a decent sized Snap On box.

 

[Conductor562]

Of the options listed I'd go with the 44" HF

 

[kippieland]

I would go with the 44". The 26" appeals to me but I don't like the way it won't all the way. Not a fan of any of the Craftman boxes. Also, look on Amazon and you can find some good prices on Homak, International, and Viper. I have been impressed with both Viper and Homak. I have a small Viper coming tomorrow for a track box. My main box is a 44" International top and bottom....I got it off of Sears.com and Amazon for a total price of around $500(bought seperately for both around $250.) I like it better then the HF box. Keep an eye out and you might something that will fit your budget if your budget. Also look on Craigslist for the same brands and the HF box as well....people get them as gifts and sell them a bit cheaper. Good luck!