Tool Boxes?
#2819454
09/10/20 08:06 PM
09/10/20 08:06 PM
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 795 Orlando, FL
Challenger340Kid
OP
super stock
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OP
super stock
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 795
Orlando, FL
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Looking to purchase a new toolbox for myself. Looking for something at least 52", any recommendations? This will be for home use, I've simply outgrown my current toolbox which is a 26", and I figured if I'm upgrading, I might as well go bigger. Not looking to spend a fortune, and I wouldn't rule out a quality used one if someone can recommend a good place to find those as well. Any recommendations, brand preferences, brands I should stay away from, etc are welcome.
Thanks!
1972 Dodge Challenger 340 Auto 3.91 (B5 Blue) 2015 Dodge Challenger RT Plus (B5 Blue) 2016 Dodge Dart SXT Rallye (B5 Blue)
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Re: Tool Boxes?
[Re: Challenger340Kid]
#2819472
09/10/20 08:47 PM
09/10/20 08:47 PM
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 10,607 Rittman Ohio
fourgearsavoy
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 10,607
Rittman Ohio
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I'm a dealership tech so I see all kinds of boxes and the big name boxes for the most part last pretty much forever. I've had the same 60" Cornwell box for over 25 years and it's probably the last box I will ever own. Quality ball bearing drawers are a must on the large drawers . You can find good deals on used toolboxes now in this crap economy . I looked at a Milwaukee tool box at a surplus store a few weeks ago and it was pretty good quality for a $1200 toolbox. I paid about $4500 for my box 25 years ago and I can still get a good trade in value. Waterloo makes a lot of your better mid level boxes so research boxes made by Waterloo Gus
64 Plymouth Savoy 493 Indy EZ's by Nick at Compu-Flow 5-Speed Richmond faceplate Liberty box Dana 60
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Re: Tool Boxes?
[Re: Challenger340Kid]
#2819502
09/10/20 10:04 PM
09/10/20 10:04 PM
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,356 Kentucky
dfsmopars
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,356
Kentucky
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Bought a used Snapon from a guy who was getting out. He built a 440 on top of the thing. There is no way I’d buy anything new. I agree about looking around and get a quality used box. Cat not included.
‘72 Charger, 5.9 Magnum, Tremec 5 spd., Pro-Touring ‘14 Big Horn, Quad Cab, 4x4, 1500
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Re: Tool Boxes?
[Re: AeroMonte]
#2819520
09/10/20 10:39 PM
09/10/20 10:39 PM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,762 It's a dry heat
gtx6970
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,762
It's a dry heat
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I bought one of these maybe 6 months ago. No complaints. drawers open and close really smooth loaded Right about $400 at home depot. The black ones are less than that
Ive had Snapon and Matco both over the years when I was a dealer tech .
I had drawer slide issues on my snap on box before it was 10 years old IMO Far FAR to much money compared to whats avail out there today
Last edited by gtx6970; 09/11/20 12:51 AM.
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Re: Tool Boxes?
[Re: gtx6970]
#2819553
09/11/20 12:34 AM
09/11/20 12:34 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,186 Canada -- Posts: 4034 -Registe...
5thAve
Doesn't care what this says anyway
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Doesn't care what this says anyway
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,186
Canada -- Posts: 4034 -Registe...
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I bought one of these maybe 6 months ago. No complaints. drawers open and close really smooth loaded
Ive had Snapon and Matco both over the years when I was a dealer tech .
I had drawer slide issues on my snap on box before it was 10 years old Never again ,,,,, IMO Far FAR to much money compared to whats avail out there today
One of mine is the same looking box but black. There are 2 sizes and I was after the wider one but got smaller one because it was on sale and after HD card discount was less then half price. The only complaint I have is the trays my tools came in are just a touch too wide for it. Had I bought the wider one they would have fit. My other tool boxes are the 40+ year old size asin not too wide so I have side boxes on both of them.
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Re: Tool Boxes?
[Re: 5thAve]
#2819556
09/11/20 12:46 AM
09/11/20 12:46 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 27,548 So Cal
autoxcuda
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 27,548
So Cal
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I bought one of these stainless deals at Costco 8 years ago. https://www.amazon.com/Drawer-Stain...Thor+Group&qid=1599799022&sr=8-3But mine had an open cabinet on right side instead of drawers. And for $600 it was about $300 less than the Harbor Freight at the time. Same box sold under a bunch of different nameplates It is more shallow than typical, so makes it nice for smaller home garage. But the drawers depths are a little wacky. You have to make your stand up socket drawer the second from bottom and it’s more depth than you need. Also the three top drawers are really too shallow to have your pliers standing on their sides.
Last edited by autoxcuda; 09/11/20 12:59 AM.
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Re: Tool Boxes?
[Re: autoxcuda]
#2819583
09/11/20 07:45 AM
09/11/20 07:45 AM
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 4,956 new berlin wisconsin
Mr T2U
master
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master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 4,956
new berlin wisconsin
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The Harbor Freight boxes are plenty good for home use. $1100 for 96” box that you can upgrade end lockers, tops, side cabinets... i am a autobody tech. i have been using the HF 56" bottom box for the last 5 years it works OK. the slides have worn out on the top drawer, just replaced them with new parts from HF. the standard HF boxes have OK slides. if you have a lot of heavy stuff in the drawers it will mess up the slides. this is the case with any other aftermarket box. when looking at the box you plan on buying i would suggest opening a drawer fully and leaning on it to see how they bend and support the weight before buying. most non name boxes are built pretty weak compared to the tool truck brands. with that said i highly recommend looking at the new ICON line of tool boxes at HF. they compare directly with the name brand tool boxes sold like snap on and rest of the tool truck brands. the side lockers on these boxes look really nice. if i wasn't in the process of doing a custom modification car project i would buy the 72" box with side locker tomorrow and have no regrets. in the store i have opened the bottom drawer and can stand in it without it bending, i am pushing 260lbs. there is currently a coupon on the internet for 20% off your entire purchase of icon products. also i see a sign on the tool boxes they will give you 10% off if you finance it thru HF. i don't know if you can combine the 2 discounts, but my gut feeling is yes they will combine the 2. i also see a FREE DELIVERY of ICON tool box purchases in the store display also.
Last edited by Mr T2U; 09/11/20 07:47 AM.
perception is 90% of reality
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Re: Tool Boxes?
[Re: second 70]
#2819674
09/11/20 01:04 PM
09/11/20 01:04 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,478 Kalispell Mt.
HotRodDave
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,478
Kalispell Mt.
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I refuse to buy a $9000 tool box from the tool trucks, thats nearly as much as a new car (nissan versa or hyundai accent with rebates can be had just over $10,000). I can buy 9 harbour freight boxes for the price of a crap on, smackco or smac and they are way easier to deal with than the tool truck drivers who don't want to come out and deal with warranty issues unless you are spending tons o money on other tools or at least making payments and since I pay cash and not payments they barely come by.
I have had real good luck with craftsman (though the new ones don't seem as sturdy as my 15 year old one) and the US generals. I tried Husky cheap ones but the slides crumple up with anything but feathers in em.
The Icons feel a tiny bit better but not worth 4 or 5 times as much as a US general. The icon tools are no better than my craftsman tools but are almost tool truck price.
I do buy a handfull of tool truck tools, there are somethings that you just need really good stuff, I went through breaker bars like crazy till I steped up and bought a snap on, I even bought a really long 1/2 inch ratchet that holds up better than craftsman or Icon breaker bars do.
I am not causing global warming, I am just trying to hold off a impending Ice Age!
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Re: Tool Boxes?
[Re: HotRodDave]
#2819753
09/11/20 05:32 PM
09/11/20 05:32 PM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,762 It's a dry heat
gtx6970
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,762
It's a dry heat
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I refuse to buy a $9000 tool box from the tool trucks, thats nearly as much as a new car (nissan versa or hyundai accent with rebates can be had just over $10,000). I can buy 9 harbour freight boxes for the price of a crap on, smackco or smac and they are way easier to deal with than the tool truck drivers who don't want to come out and deal with warranty issues unless you are spending tons o money on other tools or at least making payments and since I pay cash and not payments they barely come by.
I have had real good luck with craftsman (though the new ones don't seem as sturdy as my 15 year old one) and the US generals. I tried Husky cheap ones but the slides crumple up with anything but feathers in em.
The Icons feel a tiny bit better but not worth 4 or 5 times as much as a US general. The icon tools are no better than my craftsman tools but are almost tool truck price.
I do buy a handfull of tool truck tools, there are somethings that you just need really good stuff, I went through breaker bars like crazy till I steped up and bought a snap on, I even bought a really long 1/2 inch ratchet that holds up better than craftsman or Icon breaker bars do. Yep, The aftermarket tool boxes have come a long way in the past 20 -25 years. And so have I. My last tool truck box was a Mac. I think it was 60" long lower cabinet. with a really thick wood top. I gave $4500 for it. Sold it maybe 3 years ago. Took everything I could do to get $1500 for it . I paid $400 for my 48" husky and have ZERO regrets. I will say the best 3/8" air ratchet is a Snapon, bar NONE . And worth the price to step up to it if you're trying to make a living with it.
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Re: Tool Boxes?
[Re: AndyF]
#2819839
09/11/20 09:40 PM
09/11/20 09:40 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,044 Central Michigan
nuthinbutmopar
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,044
Central Michigan
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I put a row of Lista tool boxes against the wall in my shop and then put a wood top on them. I really like the Lista boxes. Mine are Stanley-Vidmar, but basically the same thing. I bought a couple at auction, and found a guy who bought out a plant that was closing and did some trading. I've got 6 of the 54" high by 30" wide cabinets against one wall, for less than $1500... Machine shop auctions are a great source.
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Re: Tool Boxes?
[Re: nuthinbutmopar]
#2819886
09/12/20 07:08 AM
09/12/20 07:08 AM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 5,982 Greenville, PA
redraptor
master
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master
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 5,982
Greenville, PA
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Mine are Stanley-Vidmar, but basically the same thing. I bought a couple at auction, and found a guy who bought out a plant that was closing and did some trading. I've got 6 of the 54" high by 30" wide cabinets against one wall, for less than $1500... Machine shop auctions are a great source.
OMG! We had Stanley-Vidmar drawer cabinets in the inspection office where I worked. It was incredible how many steel gages and tools they held and the drawers glided in and out with ease.
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