Tool boxes

15872 Views 18 Replies 10 Participants Last post by Mr_Andy, Dec 25, 2014

hunter scar

Discussion Starter · Dec 17, 2014

I am a young mechanic starting out and I need to get a new tool box. I don't want to spend the money on the big names like snap on and matco. Im looking at the homak boxes, husky and craftsman. Anybody have any recommendations to get? Im looking to spend under $900

1 - 19 of 19 Posts

codykthekilla

· #2 · Dec 17, 2014

I spent 1100 on my stainless craftsman and its been holding up just fine for the last 3 years. Not one issue. Not sure of name but model number 706. 106000 bottom, 706. 105950 top.

hunter scar

Discussion Starter · #3 · Dec 17, 2014

They seem like nice boxes i will look at one

Zmann

· #4 · Dec 17, 2014

craigslist ?/

1970something

· #5 · Dec 18, 2014

yup. i have never bought a new box.
and don't be afraid to ask your snapon or matco dealer about used boxes.

i picked up a large snapon upper for #300, and a giant matco lower box for $800 rite off the truck.
all that was wrong with them was a few scratches and no keys.

Mr_Andy

· #6 · Dec 18, 2014

Like Tom said, go used and save bigtime. Matco, Snapon, Blackhawk, S-K, are all going to last forever anyway so you're pretty much buying a new box that's maybe dirty.

Craigslist in my area always seems to have a dozen or more current ads for boxes, often times package deals where some out of work mechanic is just selling all. Especially this time of year.... Also if you have pawn shops in your area, a week before Christmas couldn't be a better time. Otherwise throughout the year I found that the end of the month is always the best time to haunt the pawnshops as the first of the month is usually rent and other bill time....

Good luck!

05KRSD

· #7 · Dec 18, 2014

Harbor freight? They usually have good deals on boxes.

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Mr_Andy

· #8 · Dec 18, 2014

There's a world of difference between HF and long lasting quality.

Even Craftsman ball bearing don't hold up to use.

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hunter scar

Discussion Starter · #9 · Dec 18, 2014

Thanks for the info, I have been watching craigslist. I will have to run the tool trucks down and see what they got used. I have been looking at this one, anybody ever had one? Homak H2PRO 56in. 8 BK04056082 | Tool Chests| Northern Tool + Equipment

Zmann

· #10 · Dec 18, 2014

i am not a snob and for personal use I would own them

but if i rolled in to a shop and saw my mechanic was pimpin a harbor freight box I might have to ponder my decision to let him wrench on my truck

did his choice in cheap boxes stop at the box or is he pimpin HF tools and torque wrenches and things that could effect the repair quality

now a snap on box full of cheap tools would probably get by on me LOL
then again no one wrenches on my stuff

Mr_Andy

· #11 · Dec 18, 2014

Zmann said:
but if i rolled in to a shop and saw my mechanic was pimpin a harbor freight box I might have to ponder my decision to let him wrench on my truck

...FAIL

02 CCSB

· #12 · Dec 18, 2014

I carried a lot of my junk on a tool cart. That being said I had a Craftsman ball bearing top, mid and rollcab for seven years as an auto tech before buying my Snap On box. They worked fine and I now have them at home 16 years later. The way I see it a good tool cart is the way to go, a box is just a home for tools you wouldn't use everyday. Good luck, it's a good profession but tools add up real fast.

1970something

· #13 · Dec 18, 2014

hunter scar said:
Thanks for the info, I have been watching craigslist. I will have to run the tool trucks down and see what they got used. I have been looking at this one, anybody ever had one? Homak H2PRO 56in. 8 BK04056082 | Tool Chests| Northern Tool + Equipment

i would pass on that box. it has a lot of dead space for the money.

you want drawers to put tools in, not a locker on the side to hang your jacket.

hunter scar

Discussion Starter · #14 · Dec 19, 2014

That was the only thing I did not like about the box

codykthekilla

· #15 · Dec 19, 2014

Like 02 ccsb said a tool cart or roll cart is really the way to go. I bought a used cornwell roll cart for 500, nice to work out of and easy to work from one bay to the next one, seems to be really efficient. Recently traded that for a new snap on slide top roll cart and was able to trade it in for what I originally paid for it. Now the craftsman box is mainly for storage and tools not used very often.

thorguy57

· #16 · Dec 23, 2014

I had a smaller snap-on tool box and went with a bigger Cornwell box because he was the guy that constantly showed up week after week and I would never know when or who the next snapon guy would be for me. The Cornwell guy was constantly there to warranty any tools I had broke. That being said, if I was still doing it for a living I would go back to a Snapon box. Mine sits in my garage at home now so its not a big deal but I still get frustrated with it every time I get a tool out. Granted I probably have it a little over loaded but everytime I try to pull out a drawer where all my air tools are at or my 3/4" sockets I always have trouble getting into them. I had some drawers just as overloaded in my smaller Snapon box and never had a problem with the latches. This one is also has ball bearing slides. Yes you do pay for the Snapon name but they also do have better quality when it comes to boxes. A guy a worked with had a Matco that also held up pretty well. My advice? Run field service so you don't need a box.

Really though if it were me I would look for ad's where guys are retiring and selling their box and tools as a package so you can save a few bucks. If you are just starting out as a diesel mechanic I would say wait to by an expensive box until you figure out if it is really for you. You might enjoy working on trucks now but when you are doing it day in and day out and making flat rate that might all change in a hurry. Just my $.02, which can't buy you #### anymore.

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gottagofast

· #17 · Dec 23, 2014

I have a Mac 44" roll cab (20 years old) w a Chinese 44" top chest (10 yrs old and identical to the HF) plus another 44" hf cab and chest set w 18" side box (drawers)..... I'm not a professional but I do a LOT of wrenching for a 'novice' lol.
Can never get enough tool space..... Wish I would've bought the 72" set of hf boxes now.... Lol

Sure there are better boxes out there but nothing wrong w the hf boxes. Well except one thing... The Mac roll cab has full width drawers and the hf roll cab has one long and one short at every level.... I have a few tools that are over 3' long and won't fit in the hf boxes.

If someone can readily tell that you have a hf box they most likely do their own wrenching.

Just starting out I suggest going low budget on the box and saving your money for tools.

Once you have been wrenching for a couple years and ur sure this is the life for you THEN start deciding how much you want to spend on a big box...

scott2001

· #18 · Dec 24, 2014

my craftsman cam from sears like 300 bucks but spend the extra and get ball bearing drawers. had it for like 4 yrs and its over loaded.

fixing to get another one for work and yes ill buy the same thing, I mean its not that high and I just put my tools in it. lol

Mr_Andy

· #19 · Dec 25, 2014

This cat is definitely a fine quality tool box

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