I did the Craigslist thing before buying the HF box. Even a used Snap On box being sold at half of new is 10x what I paid at HF. Maybe there's some advantage to the expensive ones, all I know is that my drawers hold tools, slide in and out, and the box rolls around my shop. Ultimately it's a metal box, not a complex device.

such is the nature of craigslist, everybody thinks their used crap is worth 80% of retail.

Its been a while since I looked but there were decent deals to be had on houstons craigslist. Lots of boxes were there for several months so I assume the sellers should be highly negotiable.

I think a 5-10 year old box that costed 5k new should sell for $1500-2000, for example. But I may be nieve.

I paid 800 for mine on craigslist but I think it was only around 2500 new.

You don't really need a fancy tool box, but they are definately a nicety.

I found 4 new in the box 46" Craftsman Professional Boxes at the Sear Outlet by me. They were made by Waterloo. These things have been discontinued for a few years now and do not come up on any search of their website. I picked one up at 50% off. This thing is nearly as stout as any of the lower end Snap On boxes. Nothing like the average crap box you see at Sears. The only thing I kind of wish I had checked out first is the HF box.

http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/a...psdnbuqy08.jpg

The harbor freight boxes are pretty nice for the money. I was about to buy the larger one until coming across a deal on an older snap on box. The snap on box was a few hundred dollars more, but sturdier and should hold its value better.


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Craig's List patina worked best for me. Love this old Snap on box.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1417751041.jpg

Be cautious of buying "almost new" Snap On or other truck brand tool boxes off CL or elsewhere. Insist on getting documentation of payment in full to the vendor - or get SN's and call up the vendor to confirm there is no outstanding lien on the box.

Wife bought me this yesterday; I think this woman's a keeper :)

Craftsman 11-Drawer 3-Pc. Combo Tool Chest: Storage from Sears

Here ya go everything you need, https://kansascity.craigslist.org/tls/4741638300.html

For a change, how about something portable? I haven't been to a Sears for a few years but just last week thought we'd check out some appliances. Anyhow at the entrance were all sorts of Craftsman gift type items, mech. gloves, basic starter tool sets, etc.. Noticed these boxes for $19 as a special. Not sure if its a nationwide Sears offering but are nice quality, all steel and priced reasonable. I don't need anymore toolboxes including plenty of oldies.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1417914277.jpg

More about Sears Craftsman portables. Probably 5 years ago, Sears had a clearance on their 'replica' vintage tool boxes. $5 each! Styled and exact to the 1940-50's type offered by Craftsman. I use them for my older woodworking tools, chisels, old routers, bits, etc..

Nice set! I always go for the used Snap-on option myself but that stainless box from Sears is nice. I saw it in the store a while ago and really liked it. :cool:

Good point if it's almost new. Most of them are bought on lay-away. The ones I buy are always old, though. :cool:

I like that, but, why can't they make 'em so the handle folds flat?
I've had this little Lumidor for longer than....well let's just say it's older than some people I know. I've looked for others with a flat top, but there aren't many around it seems. This one has a tray inside too, just like the bigger guys do. It'll hold 50 lbs of tools too.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1417975104.jpg

I'll have this box till the day I die. :D

I was about ready to buy a HF lower box, but was able to snag a sale at Sears and get a Craftsman for about the same money I already had a CF upper so it made it more of a matched set, even though a red box with red drawers and ball bearing slides was no longer an option. :( need to get some vinyl and make them all match! Yes I'm OCD!!!

So you don't like my mis-matched set?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1417980699.jpg

That would bug the **** out of me! I'd be repainting that top box!

I hear ya brudda. This is a Kennedy machinist set, which is dedicated to my bicycle tools and spares. Classic brown wrinkle from the factory which kept me awake until I gave it a wrap job using a roll of stuff I liberated from work, (back when we had a sign shop...)

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1417982801.jpg

Herr_oberst,

What's the verdict on those rubber coin tiles? I have been wanting to do those, but would love to hear your experience, and where you got them, cost, etc...

Thanks,

JA

I recently repainted my 35+ year old Craftsman tool chests (same colors as the bottom chest). Used Rustoleum semi-gloss black for the drawer facings and Rustoleum high-gloss Sunrise Red for the cabinets. Turned out great, very happy with them.

I bought those 4 or 5 years ago; they aren't Racedeck tiles but a less expensive copy ..not rubber, but plastic. (Racedeck is plastic, too.)

Here's my observations.
• If you use racedeck or similar, put down a layer of that blue foam that's used for floating wood floors, otherwise they "click-clack" when you walk or drive on them.

• Make sure that you square up the floor jack with the tiles when you lift the car, otherwise they can dent. (buy extras)

• The really do make a nice improvement over any garage paint I've ever seen. My floor was cracked, chalky, old. These cover a multitude of sins and wipe clean.

• I can't remember the cost, I keep thinking 400 bucks, but it was a while ago, and when I went to look up the brand the website I used was NLA, so that renders the point kind of moot. I do remember saving considerable dough over the racedeck, and these are holding up pretty good (home garage, not commercial) so it might be worth your while to find a generic.

I know that WeatherTech is making tiles now, that look pretty damn impressive, a plastic with rubber embedded into it for traction and quiet. I have no idea the cost or how well they wear....

I pulled the trigger.
Bought rhis one from home despot for $498. It's a whole lot bigger than it looks. Over 5-1/2 feet tall and 41 inches wide.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1418062856.jpg

Ya shoulda seem me trying to lift that 140# upper box onto the lower unit, bout dropped a nut on the floor. Wasn't the weight as much as it was that it was so wide and awkward, no real good way to grab it. But I got it.



And as with all things, there had to be some sort of hassle:

They only had two in stock, and of course they were on the very top shelf with all sorts of christmas decorations hiding them.
Took a while for them to get a forklift, chain off the area, and then get the boxes down.
They were on a pallet (duh) and they wanted me to get a cart and move the boxes off the pallet and onto a cart.
I said really? Why don't you just drive out to my pick up and I'll slide them into the back?

So the guy says, there's a $10 pallet charge.

I say, I don't want the pallet, just use it to move the boxes to my truck.
But we're not done yet.

I get the boxes home and unpack them, lots and lots of packing stuff.

One 12" x 14" box contains the casters, handle, and hardware.
Cept there are no bolts/washers for the casters. Anywhere. I check again and again. nope.
So I head back.
A half hour later I'm on my way home again with sixteen 8mm bolts and washers.

You guessed it, they're 'sposed to be 5/16".

So I say to hell with it, and I go to the ace hardware store and but a box of 50 5/16" bolts for six bux.
Get it all together. What shoulda take 45 minutes has now eaten up most of the morning.

As I'm cleaning up the mess I'm cutting up the carboard with a razor knife so it'll all fit in the trash can.
As I always do, I cut the boxes so they lie down flat and take less room. So I take that 12" x 14" hardware box and turn it over. Guess what I see?

There, taped to the BOTTOM of the box on the OUTSIDE, is a package of 5/16" bolts and washers.

Did I mention the tool box was made in Vietnam?
The reason I mention that is because right now, some guy who packages up toolboxes in exchange for a bowl of rice is laughing his ass off, knowing that he won the game of hide and go seek the hardware.
Taped them to the outside bottom of the box. Amazing.


Oh yeah .... love the box, it's great, huge, everything is perfect, spent 4 hours filling it up with tools yesterday. Best $500 I ever spent.






BTW, that red harbor freight box? They e-mailed a discount coupon, $299.
Pretty darned cheap if you ask me.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1418063897.jpg

Here is my smaller box that I use for my BMX stuff & bike tools.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1418141922.jpg

Sammy- now that's funny! (I did the same but on those metal shelves... arghhh)

Nice box BTW

--------

Was at a Menards the other night and spotted these Masterforce on sale. Nice stuff. Quality slides, 100 lbs. per drawer, decent steel gauge, lmtd. lifetime warranty blab. Fraction the cost of Snap-on.

http://www.menards.com/main/tools-hardware/tool-storage/tool-chests-boxes/masterforce-41-11-drawer-mobile-tool-cabinet/p-1851883-c-13051.htm

http://www.menards.com/main/tools-hardware/tool-storage/tool-chests-boxes/c-9188.htm

that's a good deal, and color (colour) choices as well-

If I drive to WA I think I may need to go find a Menards in BC and get me one of them roll boxes. After the current exchange rate, it's a winner.

This one here looks to be nearly identical to mine and the price would be about the same before home depot discounted it $400.

The model you show has too many tall drawers IMHO. I have this model below - much better. Of course it is cheaper to have less drawers, so you have to step up the $.

G

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1203352689.jpg

Sammy- I liked the catch / drawer pulls. Some may not get too dirty but if I'm in the grime and grease, I like a positive and no slip on the drawer pulls.

Some of the other brands at Menards sure looked fancy in stainless, but had awful and stubborn drawer pulls (and I wasn't Mr. Greasy either.) Chincy China types. Bump them once and the drawer or slide is toast.

I have a 70's era Snap-on that's well trashed but still works good. No trim or extra fancy on the pulls and only has a curled down lip. They built them well back when and simple. Drawers are always in alignment when one pushes them closed from the side. Good luck trying that on most cabinets today and with a load of tools. It may work for awhile but do it repeatedly and they're junk.

Also have a few of the old Craftsman, roller / chest combo's. They've taken the beating, bumps and bruises. Far less quality than the old Snap-on but still decent. I think the steel is thicker than the new Craftsman.

Some of these new boxes with gas charged struts for the chest lids, Craftsman with built in radio and junk.... yikes. And whats with having to use a step stool for these? Much rather have two smaller cabinets or go with a wider.

These are on sale for $499 after rebate.

http://www.menards.com/main/p-2426671-c-9188.htm

http://www.menards.com/main/store/20...10bulkmock.jpg

My older Craftsman is a beautifully made box.
The newer one? It has boot marks in the large doors. From me kicking it, in anger.
I should never have bought that pos.

I spend more time looking at my toolbox than working. And given that fact this the winner. I would buy that in heartbeat, regardless of how crappy the drawers are.

Hey Sammy, remember when I pointed out that the HF box was already assembled?:p

Yeah yeah yeah, one of these days I'll actually start listening to you and then those 4 guys on horses will come trampling through here tearing up the place. SmileWavy

I checked that one out. Looks nice but only if I needed a coffee cart for the garage. Light duty shop use only.

Drawer pulls AND slides were the worst of most others I've seen. Very cheap made, and thin gauge. For the same money would much rather spend for a beat up old Snap On.

Cool! Costco now has the box I wanted on sale for $620. I ordered one for my birthday present :)

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1418477297.jpg

Here's mine. The bottom box my wife bought me for my first Father's day. She put white paint on my son's tiny feet and stamped it.

The top box is Craftsman and I have had that for probably 25 years. It was my track box when I was drag racing.

The box on the left was given to me by a neighbor for cleaning her garage. It's not a brand name but I have my detail products in there and it has a HD 20 feet power cord built in. Yes, I know where pretty much any given tool is if you were to ask me. :Dhttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1418485280.jpg

100lb storage capacity on each drawer? Yeah I think not, tools are heavy

After all this talk about toolboxes, I bought the Husky 52' from Home Depot. Great suggestion!!!!!

Thank you all, David

Look what I just scored for 50 bucks from a Facebook man cave site here in Kansas City.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1428013880.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1428013898.jpg

Pretty happy about this one!