Why is Red the Standard Color for Tool Boxes?

[Suprman]

just wondering why red is the color of choice for most tool boxes?

 

[Theloniousmonk]

they used to be standard black, but during the Depression alot of mechanics didn't get paid for the work they did... so the mechanics strung the customer up, gutted em like a pig and the mess covered the boxes... alot like barber poles being white/red from bandages...

 

[Packard V8]

For the same reason machinist's chests are brown wrinkle finish.

jack vines

 

[Suprman]

For the same reason machinist's chests are brown wrinkle finish.

jack vines

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The message you have entered is too short. Please lengthen your message to at least 10 characters

 

[Joe B.]

For the same reason machinist's chests are brown wrinkle finish.

jack vines

Then why are the Gerstner ones painted to look like smooth wood?

 

[ZRX61]

It hides the blood.

 

[Deafautotech]

I don't know but my boxes are red and price was cheaper when I got used... Also snap on think either black or red are so low cost to paints... Or am I wrong??

Many techs asked for other colors, my dealer said it need be special order or take little time to arrive...

 

[ZRX61]

Also snap on think either black or red are so low cost to paints... Or am I wrong?? ...

Red is just about the most expensive color.

 

[NJHandyGuy]

Because if it were pink or purple FEW techs would buy them

 

[mrholeshot]

I think that I read somewhere that Snap-On painted tool boxes red so they really stood out inside garages. Deep down i'm a traditional guy. As much as I like all the new colors I always end back up with red. I've had Orange, Blue, Black (never again) Mica Green and Red. I wouldn't mind sporting some lime green ones but I'm sure I would tire of it quickly. I find the red easy to keep looking clean

 

[Monte]

Depends on where you´re lookin...

Hazet: Blue
Gedore: Blue
Stahlwille: Green
Beta: Orange
Bahco: Orange
Facom: red/black or silver-grey/black

 

[Joe B.]

I think that I read somewhere that Snap-On painted tool boxes red so they really stood out inside garages.

Probably some combination of Snap on and Craftsman. It was not long ago that Sears ruled the world.

 

[Theloniousmonk]

Red oxide and yellow oxide are two very durable pigments... if that makes any sense.

 

[plinker]

I prefer green or black, myself. Blue is also nice.

 

[crewchief888]

I think that I read somewhere that Snap-On painted tool boxes red so they really stood out inside garages. Deep down i'm a traditional guy. As much as I like all the new colors
I wouldn't mind sporting some lime green ones but I'm sure I would tire of it quickly. I find the red easy to keep looking clean

the only non red boxes i have are my 90th anv harley boxes in cranberry, and one SO roller cab i painted to match our race truck one season.

if i was to buy a new box i'd either be in the cranberry/polished trim, or deep purple.

i'll stick with red....... i'd have to take out a 2nd mortgage to buy new boxes

 

[HookWorse]

Red is just about the most expensive color.

Red is one of the most expensive paint colors. Kinda like John Deere green. You pay for it.

 

[Daddy_Rabbit]

Red is just about the most expensive color.

Only because it's the most popular color. Sell more, make more $.

 

[canuckian]

lol...I guess I'm non-traditional then...both my box and cart are Electric Orange!


didn't red used to be the most expensive paint to buy? something about the type of pigments used in the paints? I know years ago it used to be the most expensive color for car insurance.

 

[Daddy_Rabbit]

It's still the most expensive to buy ... the stuff about the pigments is bull ... again, it's the most expensive because it's the most popular.

 

[mrholeshot]

Only because it's the most popular color. Sell more, make more $.

No, red paint has a small amount of gold in it (really) and the reason it cost more.

 

[Suprman]

I think that I read somewhere that Snap-On painted tool boxes red so they really stood out inside garages. Deep down i'm a traditional guy. As much as I like all the new colors I always end back up with red. I've had Orange, Blue, Black (never again) Mica Green and Red. I wouldn't mind sporting some lime green ones but I'm sure I would tire of it quickly. I find the red easy to keep looking clean

why never again on the black? was thinking of going all black on my tool boxes

 

[canuckian]

why never again on the black? was thinking of going all black on my tool boxes

my last roller was black and it showed every scratch and nick plus it was impossible to keep clean (if that kinda thing is important to you). I'll never have a black toolbox again (unless I find a deal i can't pass up LOL), but in saying that, all 4 of our vehicles are black so I guess I'm just a glutton for punishment!!

 

[Daddy_Rabbit]

No, red paint has a small amount of gold in it (really) and the reason it cost more.

lol ... uh, no.

 

[Pro-Painter]

Red paint cost more because it requires more color pigments then other colors. Ive seen some reds that have as many as 10 different colors added to make the correct shade.

But I doubt that it effects the price of tool boxes much.

 

[Chris Adams]

Tradition, that's about the only reason.

They started making them red in the early automobile era, and they were red for the same reason the model T Ford was Black.

It was cheaper to make them in only one color, red worked for one company, so it stayed that way, till it became 'normal' for an automotive tool box to be red.

Boxes from before automobile's were usually wood.

Red has no particular significance, cost difference or special meaning.

It's called marketing.

 

[Zebu Fellenz]

Not that it really matters but I think the red boxes are easier to keep looking clean. I have a yellow box and it seems like grease and grime migrate to it. I rarely cleaned my red SO chest but I feel like I'm at least wiping this one off at the end of every day just to keep it decent looking.

 

[mrholeshot]

lol ... uh, no.

While I haven't been into paintwork in about 15 years and I know much has changed but at one time red paint (according to PPG) had a small amout of gold in it. Bright reds like Corvette red and Porche red contained the most. The reason I know this is I was complaining to PPG over the cost of the paint. I got a newsletter from PPG explaining that a trace amount of actual gold had to be put in the paint to achive the brilliant red colors. Feel free to call PPG and ask them 440-572-2800

 

[mrholeshot]

Not that it really matters but I think the red boxes are easier to keep looking clean..

I think they are as well.

 

[4x4gearhead]

my kra6200 and krl1023b are both royal blue and arent bad to keep clean.

 

[mrholeshot]

why never again on the black? was thinking of going all black on my tool boxes

Black boxes show every weld, imperfection, fingerprint, scratch and speck of dust. I owned a set of Black Snap-On 1001/1201 in black. I learned to hate them in a hurry. They look like factory seconds right out of the box compared to other colors. My favorite is Snap-On's low gloss red. It shines but not like automotive paint.

 

[mrholeshot]

Extreme doesn't even offer toolboxes in red. Black or Blue

 

[MechanicNamedJohn]

Extreme doesn't even offer toolboxes in red. Black or Blue

Sure they do, you just don't see them on stricklytoolboxes

http://www.extremetools.net/

 

[mrholeshot]

Sure they do, you just don't see them on stricklytoolboxes

http://www.extremetools.net/

I stand corrected. I was told they didn't make them.

 

[MechanicNamedJohn]

I stand corrected. I was told they didn't make them.

You're actually partially correct. Some boxes are only offered in black and blue.

 

[Elroy]

No, red paint has a small amount of gold in it (really) and the reason it cost more.

...... Feel free to call PPG and ask them 440-572-2800

Are you suggesting we waste our time only discover you're wrong.

lol ... uh, no.

 

[mrholeshot]

Are you suggesting we waste our time only discover you're wrong.

Nope, just saying assumption is the mother of all phuck-ups. Just because you think something is wrong doesn't mean it is.

 

[Vinko]

Tradition, that's about the only reason.

They started making them red in the early automobile era, and they were red for the same reason the model T Ford was Black.

It was cheaper to make them in only one color, red worked for one company, so it stayed that way, till it became 'normal' for an automotive tool box to be red.

Boxes from before automobile's were usually wood.

Red has no particular significance, cost difference or special meaning.

It's called marketing.

This seems like as good an answer as any. I'd have said safety. Because you don't back a car up into something that's red. Or yellow. But that's probably not it.

I believe SO had grey boxes (as did Crafty) way back.

Semi-related: there was a discussion on a machinist board about the history of why machines were painted a particular color. I'll see if I can find it.

 

[Chris Adams]

This seems like as good an answer as any. I'd have said safety. Because you don't back a car up into something that's red. Or yellow. But that's probably not it.

I believe SO had grey boxes (as did Crafty) way back.

Semi-related: there was a discussion on a machinist board about the history of why machines were painted a particular color. I'll see if I can find it.

I love the idea of red being a safety color, but yeah your right, no way.

The reds from the early car era were not all that bright, shops were not all that lit, and even in my day we didn't back cars into the shop.

By the 50's virtually every shop had lifts.
Old style lifts you drove on straight, then if you wanted the car backwards, you swiveled it around.
Plus, boxes were so small that getting it in the way of a moving car would have required some effort.

I wonder when the first large boxes came out?
I never saw the 'deep freeze' size boxes till the 80's.

 

[PhantomEB]

Not like I care, just makes it easy to buy similar toolboxes so they all somewhat match.

 

[mrholeshot]

maybe it's just because it's the color that is most desirable