what tool chest would you recommend?

[austinaubinoe]

Im looking for a pretty substantial tool chest because my tools are all over the place. I was browsing the snap on sight, and those things are close to 10 grand. I had no idea these things were so expensive!

how much did you guys spend on your big tool chest?

[austinaubinoe]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Used-Snap-on-KRL761-toolbox-Rad-Pack-Lime-Green-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem2a0a44f7ceQQitemZ18056 0918478QQptZMotorsQ5fAutomotiveQ5fTools#ht_768wt_1 167


Used is probably the way to go! This one is only 2.5 hours away, and only 30min from carlisle, pa. Ill be there for spring carlisle at the end of september.






This one is only an hour drive! http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Snap-tool-box-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem27b4e6103bQQitemZ17053 8700859QQptZMotorsQ5fAutomotiveQ5fTools#ht_500wt_1 182


I believe I get a lifetime warrantee on any snap on product, even if I am not the original owner. Is this true? Oh and as You can see Im a big fan of all the crazy colors snap-on offers!

[stumpXJ]

The "General" brand from Harbor Freight makes REALLY nice boxes (no, really.). I paid almost 6 grand for my Matco set-up and will never do it again.

~ James

[austinaubinoe]

I though harbor freight only sold smaller chest and carts? Did you buy your matco chest new?

[stumpXJ]

I bought my Matco new off the truck with a craftsman trade in about 8-9 years ago:

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n257/topfuel443/garage/DSCN1329.jpg

But, you should really check out the General brand, they have very nice boxes for the money!

These are often on sale for $1599. You can also use the 20% off coupon.

http://www.harborfreight.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/370x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/image_2065.jpg

Here is a full set from US General.

http://www.harborfreight.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/thumbnail/370x370/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/image_4671.jpg

All from Harbor Freight.

[kcjeep6]

I have the US General and love it. This thing is the best built inexpensive tool box I have seen. Blows Craftsmen, Costco and some of the Proto's away.

[kastein]

man... after seeing the prices some of you pay for tool chests...

... it makes me want to start a company making them!

:shocked:

I can take a whole month off work and use the time to build a 100% solid oak tool chest (with materials I bought) and STILL save money vs those!

[stumpXJ]

yeah, but then you would have a wooden tool box. Who wants one of those? :D

[TunnelRat]

I have a MAC 11-drawer workstation that I picked up in A&P school. I like how it's set up, but there's no way I'd pay full retail for it. It's nice to have a nice flat top that you can work on. I put a piece of clear lexan over the top so I could stick pictures and whatnot underneath.

[old_man]

I have the US General and love it. This thing is the best built inexpensive tool box I have seen. Blows Craftsmen, Costco and some of the Proto's away.

I also have one of the large US General boxes. It is pretty heavy gauge metal, powder coated, and has nice roller drawers. I can't really fault anything about it. It is way nicer than even most of the top of the line boxes at Sears.

[kastein]

yeah, but then you would have a wooden tool box. Who wants one of those? :D

I don't, but saving enough money to buy another of any two of my vehicles is a pretty powerful argument!

[crimsondragon]

For 6 grand, I'd expect the chest to come with its own hydraulic lift of some sort. For the record I went with a Craftsman chest. I think it cost $250 on sale.

[austinaubinoe]

I was looking at craftsman just for the heck of it and they all felt little cheap.

I dont think I could ever bring myself to drop $1500 at harbor freight either.

I think ill probably end up buying a used Snap On one. Any body know about there warrantee?

[austinaubinoe]

For 6 grand, I'd expect the chest to come with its own hydraulic lift of some sort. For the record I went with a Craftsman chest. I think it cost $250 on sale.


X2, I could believe the price of a new snap on chest. I knew they were a pricey brand, but DAMN that what I bought my jeep for!

[chaz_88_MJ]

I have a Blue Point which is Snap On's off brand. Picked up both top and bottom box for $800 from my Matco dealer. The only thing I would recommend when buying a box is to make sure it has ball bearing draws.

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/5086/dscn0111yz8.jpg

[AIbandit]

Thanks for the reviews on HF I've been looking for a chest looks like I'll go that way :D

[Jeepman401]

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=&item_ID=82840&group_ID=20768&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

Thats what I have
The only recommendation I can give you is to buy something bigger than you can ever imagine needing, you will fill it up

2 years after I went from a box half the size, mine was full
unfortunately, now its not. It got broken into and cleaned out a few days ago

[NorCalChris]

The only recommendation I can give you is to buy something bigger than you can ever imagine needing, you will fill it up


x2 on that. I bought a snap on classic 78, its 54 inches wide, 2 feet deep and over three feet tall(59 inches). I filled it up the day i got it. My next box is the classic 96 which is what jeepman401 has. Not my picture, but heres the same box as mine, color and all. I also have the stainless steel top that goes with it
http://i1032.photobucket.com/albums/a404/dbpenn3/snap%20on%20classic%2078/toolboxpictures001.jpg

[2stix]

tool storage boxes are waaaaayyyy over rated. unless of course you NEED one. most boxes are on wheels because you may be tranfered to a differant work station and such if you are a professional mechanic. are you? if this is for your garage, get anything cheap that will hold and hide your tools. even garage sales will have some old ones that will work just fine. back in the late 70s early 80s, my highschool had an awsome autoshop. filled with snap-on, matco, proto, 2 lifts, even about 10 complete engines we could take apart and reassemble. but not one tool storage box. all the walls had huge wooden cabinets that were about 8 foot wide and about a foot deep. they swung open and everything was hanging inside the doors and on the back panels. specialty tools like valve grinders and such had their own boxes and were stored away in cabinets and such. point being is that unless you NEED to be moving the box around to bring ALL your tools to the vehicle, dont bother. get a small cart for just what you need for the project. otherwise your tools will all end up out of the box anyhow. im 45 years old and still have my first craftsman non roller slides box from when i was 16 and it still holds tools. imagine that. through the years ive picked up cheap boxes and use them too. but my best boxes are the old school filing cabinets ive picked up cheap from here and there. they can be stuffed full of heavy parts and larger tools and slide even better when full. i have about 8 of those 4 drawer filing cabinets and a few shorter but wider ones. impressive looking? no, but nobody looks at them wanting to steal them either. untill they see whats inside of course. if they need to look like tool boxes you can plaster stickers all over them. the only time my rollaway tool boxes move is maybe during an earthquake, or when i slam the drawer too hard looking for a tool that is most likely on the decklid of the car im working on. other than that those things dont move. if you want to impress your buddies, get the biggest snap-on, mac, matco, whatever, box you can. if not, just get a low cost, even used box and take the rest of that cash and buy new tires, and wheels, and lockers, gears, geeeze for the 10Gs of that snap on, you could build one hell of a killer jeep. BUT, if you are a professional mechanic, get the best snap-on box you can and fill it. your boss will know your serious about your carreer choice.

[austinaubinoe]

Im not a professional mechanic. But my dad is a pretty big woodworker. Used to do it professionally. We have a shop full of Jet equipment. and tools are all over the place! were getting ready to sell are suburban house and buy a farm house somewhere (divorce :( )
But anyways, my dad kinda promised me the ultimate garage since were gonna have HUGE amounts of space.


Still anybody know if the awesome snap on warrantee carries over for the life of the product?



Oh and I really like that lime green, but will probably try and find something in a darker shade!

[Shorty]

Ill be there for spring carlisle at the end of september

someone confused about the seasons, or has it been rained out all summer?

as for tool storage, look into Stanley Vidmar boxes-- fully customizable and tougher than anything else I've used. Ebay can be your friend if you can find something set up to your liking.

[NorCalChris]

if this is just for your garage, look into kobalt tools. they seem to have some good stuff. i just looked at there boxes. seem ok for home ocasional use. heres a box some would like to have in their garage. http://www.lowes.com/pd_112374-55738-LWTB08-5319D_0_?newSearch=true&catalogId=10051&productId=1119495&Ntt=112374&N=0&langId=-1&y=0&x=0&storeId=10151&Ntk=i_products&ddkey=http:CategoryDisplay
its priced pretty good, but it doesnt hold as much as my snap on does (weight wise) the drawers only hold 99 lbs, and peoples reviews say more like 50. so far i read that the box is good for garage use, but not every day opening and closing of the drawers. the bearings are the biggest complaint i read about. And to tell you from experiance, bearings have always been my biggest complaint about boxes. I wonder if someone could buy snap on drawer slides and bearings and retro fit them to a cheaper box???? harbor freight maybe?
i have an old tool box down at my great grandma's house, an old diesel tech i knew used to use it. Ill go down and check it out and see what brand it is.

[NorCalChris]

from looking online at the is general tool boxes, http://www.harborfreight.com/72-inch-20-drawer-roller-cabinet-red-glossy-finish-67428.html
it seems to be pretty good. the only complaint i saw was the drawer slides on (1) drawer got stiff. other then that people say the box is good. also, on hf's website there was a person who posted a review who listed a full review of this box at GarageJournal.com. im gonna go there right now and look for it.

[NorCalChris]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-1237.html i found that, plus one at pirate, http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=370179&pp=25. both are reviews for us general

one thing i forgot to mention, snap on uses ppg paint on their boxes, ive always wanted to buy a cheaper service cart, re paint it with the ppg stuff, and then badge it with sanp on badges and see if anyone notices. lol

[knucklehead 61]

i prefer Snap-on tools & boxes. they cost more but will last a lifetime of rough use.
the empty boxes cost WAY more than 10k...
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g251/knucklehead_61/shop/DSCN4642_edited.jpg

[yossarian19]

FWIW, a few experiences...
My old man has a Snap-on top box, not ball bearing slides or anything, and a tool cart under it. Oils the slides every few months. Been going strong 25 years or so.
My boss, we're both mechanics, has a big-ass Matco cart he paid 7 grand for. No complaints, but he says he wouldn't do it again. Said starting over, he'd buy more used and more Craftsman.
Service writer at my shop, he used to be a technician till a bad car wreck hurt his back, had a Craftsman box with the ball bearing slides. He now has it as his house - and something like 10 years later, he has no complaints.
Me, I've got a cart that I like and when I find the need, I make a hanger for the large / bulky tools that I need close to hand. I plan to buy Craftsman with the ball bearing slides, unless I can find a used Mac, Matco or Snap-on box for the same price or less.
Think "features" not "name"
Ball bearings
Powder coated
heavy metal
quality hardware
locking drawers, if you feel the need

[Boatwrench]

My snap-on box was purchased new in 1976. It worked hard for about 18 years and is now a weekend warrior. This box is pre ball-bearing slides, that is it's only draw back.

Pay the money up front, the boxes will last a lifetime.

[chasdb]

If your just tinkering at home the chrafsman boxes are great for the price. I'm on my third Snap-On roll cab and believe in them and have had great support from my dealers. I have seen a Mac boxes tear at the seams due to the weight of the tools in the side boxes but it was replaced under warranty. My first rollcab had roller bearing drawers (before the lock and roll feature) and spring suspension wheels. The drawers were held in by plastic detents on the hinges when closed. From across the shop, which had a slight slope to the floor, I saw one drawer roll open when it reached the end of it's travel the jolt alowed another drawer to jarr open, and another until the springs sagged and all the rest started to open when the box tipped and smashed several drawers. The rep warrantied that box but swapped back to the standard wheels. When you have 50k+ in tools and productivity is a factor in how you get paid, you need to be organized, be able to keep track of you tools and be able to secure them at the end of the day. I work for a heavy equipment dealer and the big wrenches and sockets aren't light. Several of my drawers have double up roller slides. The big boxes don't get pushed around daily, you push a tool cart and go back for more. Now my tools are in a Peterbuilt service truck and my box sits at home with my woodworking tools. There are many deals on used boxes, be sure to get a receipt as I have heard of shops getting cleaned out. If you wrench for a living keep a tool inventory list up to date and make sure yor employer has coverage.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j42/chasdb/07252010069.jpg

[Jeepman401]

+1, I am currently going through the hassle of trying to update my inventory after things were stolen. Believe me, its not fun trying to figure out every little specialty socket you had

[Yamadevil]

If your just tinkering at home the chrafsman boxes are great for the price. I'm on my third Snap-On roll cab and believe in them and have had great support from my dealers. I have seen a Mac boxes tear at the seams due to the weight of the tools in the side boxes but it was replaced under warranty. My first rollcab had roller bearing drawers (before the lock and roll feature) and spring suspension wheels. The drawers were held in by plastic detents on the hinges when closed. From across the shop, which had a slight slope to the floor, I saw one drawer roll open when it reached the end of it's travel the jolt alowed another drawer to jarr open, and another until the springs sagged and all the rest started to open when the box tipped and smashed several drawers. The rep warrantied that box but swapped back to the standard wheels. When you have 50k+ in tools and productivity is a factor in how you get paid, you need to be organized, be able to keep track of you tools and be able to secure them at the end of the day. I work for a heavy equipment dealer and the big wrenches and sockets aren't light. Several of my drawers have double up roller slides. The big boxes don't get pushed around daily, you push a tool cart and go back for more. Now my tools are in a Peterbuilt service truck and my box sits at home with my woodworking tools. There are many deals on used boxes, be sure to get a receipt as I have heard of shops getting cleaned out. If you wrench for a living keep a tool inventory list up to date and make sure yor employer has coverage.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j42/chasdb/07252010069.jpg

X500 i cannot agree with this more. The Snap-on boxes are expensive but you will not have to replace them (until you out grow them) and at that point you can trade them in for bigger models. As mentioned in a earlier post make sure you get something bigger then what you need. I bought this box
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=all&item_ID=79546&group_ID=17802&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog
in the same color black and next thing i knew i was out of room and lucky for me a buddy was getting the same box but in yellow repossessed and i took over his payments and picked it up for $1800. also if you go on the snap-on truck find a guy that is cool and try and work a deal with him. you have to notice how long has the box been on his truck? My black one was $7k+ and i got it with the stainless top and stainless drawr covers for $4k cash after a $600 craftsman trade in but this was only because he couldn't move it off of his truck for 4 months. also if you have a snap on dealer you buy alot of tools with they are more willing to work on the price for you

[austinaubinoe]

thanks for the replies. At the BP 5 minutes from my house there is a Snap On truck there every week. I may try and talk to him, or ask about the warrantee.

Ive decided at this point to buy a good used snap on.

[Yamadevil]

i would ask him what he has used... snap-on will cover defects for life. now with this said if you drop it on its side they wont cover it but if something fails they will. but with a good box it wont fail it should last you a long time(if you treat it right)

[Speedbump96]

harbor freight cheap as dirt and u can get a whole chest top bottom side cabinets for around 1500

[RichP]

I have a sear Craftsman pro, not the real high end but the one between. it's got a base, 5 drawers, 4 drawer on top of that and a 10 drawer cabinet on top of the whole thing, it's 8ft tall and the top won't clear my cellar ceiling. Darn thing is full. I could fill another just like it. I'm gong to go for one of those harbor freight ones so can drag out my tools to the driveway.

[NorCalChris]

Ive decided at this point to buy a good used snap on.

:cheers:

[its840]

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_009H0029000B?adCell=W3

on sale at sears for 1000$ both top and bottom 52" 26 drawer

if i had the money i would jump on this!!! beats my 6 drawer 22" unit.

[RichP]

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_009H0029000B?adCell=W3

on sale at sears for 1000$ both top and bottom 52" 26 drawer

if i had the money i would jump on this!!! beats my 6 drawer 22" unit.

Very nice yes.

[davidson99XJ]

You get what you pay for. I have a matco 6 drawer cart with storage on top too that I paid 1300 less then a year ago. Out grew it and moved on to a snap-on classic 78. Bought it as a repo. A guy had it 2 months and never made a payment. It was like 4300 new and I got it for 2750 plus taxes. Ask the snap-on dealer to show you why the are claimed to be the best box. Our snap-on guy opened up the drawers and stood in them bouncing around. In my option snap-on is the only box worth having. I work in a body shop and 5 out of 5 of our full size boxes are snap-on. Some of the guys have MAC or Matco carts. You can find good deals on used boxes

[stumpXJ]

You get what you pay for. I have a matco 6 drawer cart with storage on top too that I paid 1300 less then a year ago. Out grew it and moved on to a snap-on classic 78. Bought it as a repo. A guy had it 2 months and never made a payment. It was like 4300 new and I got it for 2750 plus taxes. Ask the snap-on dealer to show you why the are claimed to be the best box. Our snap-on guy opened up the drawers and stood in them bouncing around. In my option snap-on is the only box worth having. I work in a body shop and 5 out of 5 of our full size boxes are snap-on. Some of the guys have MAC or Matco carts. You can find good deals on used boxes


When the Matco truck delivered it, I stood my 300 pound frame in the bottom drawer of my box too, and the chest was empty. It didnt move. There is a difference, and I will have it for a lifetime, but they do make good alternatives now.... I was turning wrenches for a living at the time of purchase, so I could justify the expense, but for the weekend warrior mechanic, most any decent box will work just fine for years.

[yossarian19]

I've got a Harbor Freight 6 drawer at work, put it together as a Christmas present from the boss last year. 8 1/2 months later using it 40 hours a week, I've got no complaints.

Snap On, Matco and Mac may make the "best" boxes, but personally I doubt that the "best" is at all "necessary" even at the professional level. For some tools and items, the Big 3 brands are necessary or desirable. For a whole lot of others, they are selling you a whole lot of brand name appeal. Just my opinion based on experience to date.

[Monster Mopar]

I have a craftsman ball bearing box that I got when I first started turning wrenches. After 10 years of abuse it now sits in my garage, as I've changed careers. It's held up great, I even clipped it with a refuge collecting truck. The very bottom draw got damaged but still operates fine. If were to buy another box I'd heavily consider the same box again.

[XJLI]

i have a kobalt box and love it. my only complaint is that the drawers dont fully extend on the 'lower' end models. they are strong as hell, look and function great, and are cheap for what you get. i knocked my buddies over 'top' section and it fell almost 4 feet straight down to the pavement loaded with tools.. didnt scratch, bend, or tweak.

[MoparManiac]

I've got a Harbor Freight 6 drawer at work, put it together as a Christmas present from the boss last year. 8 1/2 months later using it 40 hours a week, I've got no complaints.

Snap On, Matco and Mac may make the "best" boxes, but personally I doubt that the "best" is at all "necessary" even at the professional level. For some tools and items, the Big 3 brands are necessary or desirable. For a whole lot of others, they are selling you a whole lot of brand name appeal. Just my opinion based on experience to date.

Agreed 100%. I don't have any professional experience, but from what I've seen it seems like alot buy it for the brand.

[asp]

Lista makes awesome stuff.

[blubullett]

http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-tools/tool-cabinets-and-carts/56-inch-11-drawer-industrial-roller-cabinet-67681.html

This box can not be beat for the money. It slaps all over all the Craftsman and Kobalt boxes and I don't own any Snap On boxes but I have played with them and It seems to be just as solid. You should really at least go look at that model, If you don't I bet you will regret it if you do eventually see one.

[hipper]

My personal box at work is a snap-on and I love it and have never regretted paying for it, but I make my living out of it. We have a Montezuma box that we got for a general shop tool storage and it is very well made and has roller brg draws and seems to have the same grade of metal as my snap on. The Montezuma boxs were origanly built just 30 miles from us but are now built overseas but are still based in Montezuma KS.http://www.montezumamfg.com/

[Action Fab]

Here is my almost brand new 5S Matco box I'll sell you for $5K... paid close to twice that a few months ago.
http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/2159/img091t.jpg

[Johnnie Walker]

I would go with Matco over Snap-on. Same quality and usually cheaper.

[joejeep92]

I use mac...their tech series is nice. I got the top box for mine. Big enough to kinda fit everything I need but small enough most shops will let you use it.