Hey guys I am in the market for a new tool box, I have been looking at alot of options,used,new,expensive,cheap etc. I am only going to be using it for home, but I will be using it ALOT as you all know

So what do you guys think about some people having expensive tool boxes such as Matco,Snap on etc in there home garages vs cheap boxes just to get the job done? What has been all of your experiences?

It's personally hard for me to spend 2k+ on a box when I could be buying tools instead,but I also realize the quaility is alot better per say in the more expensive boxes.

Any input is greatly appreciated

A professional mechanic needs the more expensive tool boxes. It's all about image.

For us shade tree mechanics, it's really overkill, unless you have money to burn. Owning a DSM I doubt if that's your case.

Indian said:

Hey guys I am in the market for a new tool box, I have been looking at alot of options,used,new,expensive,cheap etc. I am only going to be using it for home, but I will be using it ALOT as you all know

So what do you guys think about some people having expensive tool boxes such as Matco,Snap on etc in there home garages vs cheap boxes just to get the job done? What has been all of your experiences?

It's personally hard for me to spend 2k+ on a box when I could be buying tools instead,but I also realize the quaility is alot better per say in the more expensive boxes.

Any input is greatly appreciated

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Go with a matco box, they are decent price-wise, and are good-quality toolboxes.

recently i buy a craftsman box in sears for 200 dlls with 260 pieces

I'm going to be picking up the HF tool chest soon, it runs about $900 but every review I have read had nothing but great things to say about it. You would probably pay triple or more for a mac or matco box that is equivalent.

Links
http://www.harborfreight.com/13-drawer-red-industrial-quality-roller-cabinet-90320.html
http://www.harborfreight.com/7-drawer-red-end-cabinet-for-roller-tool-chest-90321.html
http://www.harborfreight.com/red-roller-cabinet-top-chest-92099.html

I'm going to buy one of harborfreight's tool box very soon once I get a hold of the coupon.

Its the first link he showed^.
http://www.harborfreight.com/13-drawer-red-industrial-quality-roller-cabinet-90320.html

i dont mean to tease you but i just searched in my area.. NYC on Craigslist and i found a Snap On tool box for 300 with tools included.. search Tool Box in NYC and check .. i cant post the link because im using a proxy server at work but try doing the search in your area.. Goodluck

There really is no point in spending a bunch of money on a tool box. All it does is hold the tools when you are not using them. As long as your tools fit in the chest, it is doing it's job. Don't waste your money, buy a cheap toolbox.

Misterbeechy said:

i dont mean to tease you but i just searched in my area.. NYC on Craigslist and i found a Snap On tool box for 300 with tools included.. search Tool Box in NYC and check .. i cant post the link because im using a proxy server at work but try doing the search in your area.. Goodluck

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Want to buy it and ship it my way

You can find nice cheaper tool boxes and there is nothing wrong with them at all.
I would look for one with ball bearing sliders, to me that about all you pay for in an expensive box besides the name.
I would search around on craigslist, you should be able to pick up a nice tool box cheap.

Indian said:

Want to buy it and ship it my way

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i honestly thought about it... if i had money to spend right now.. because even if you dont buy it from me, id keep it.. sorry i would love to help.. but I BE BROKE! .. mammoth CA is what city on craigslist.. ill help you look..

Yeah I will probably go for the cheap one also because sometimes I tend to kick the tool box when im pissed,and smack it around a bit haha.

I just have a friend that has a pretty big Matco box that he is still paying for, but he cant even fill the box. He keeps telling me how much better they are compared to the other boxes...

Misterbeechy said:

i honestly thought about it... if i had money to spend right now.. because even if you dont buy it from me, id keep it.. sorry i would love to help.. but I BE BROKE! .. mammoth CA is what city on craigslist.. ill help you look..

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it's cool, I will find one eventually...and Mammoth wont be on craigslist it's way too small of a place, so I have to travel to Reno NV to get anything on there.

Black Widow97 said:

There realls is no point in spending a bunch of money on a tool box. All it does is hold the tools when you are not using them. As long as your tools fit in the chest, it is doing it's job. Don't waste your money, buy a cheap toolbox.

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This. And are you talking some carry handle tool box or a tool chest? A tool box doesn't matter, but a tool chest, I'd probably spend a little more money. I've got a Husky 12-13 drawer chest right now that was given to me - works OK. I'll probably buy a nicer one in the future, but for $300-500, you should be able to get something that will last.

SrKegler's post is spot-on. The $5K boxes are for the professional mechanics that use them on a daily basis to make a living. They're extremely nice, but WAY overpriced in my opinion.

The 13-drawer Harbor Freight toolbox is excellent for us hobbyists (first link in post #5). It's very high quality and far nicer than most other tool boxes in the $350-400 range. My mechanic buddy with a Snap-on box is even impressed with my HF box.

that HF huge tool box combo is pretty rad. slides good too. not sure about with tools in it as i only played with it at the store.. im probably going to end up buying the whole kit. i have outgrown my craftsman setup

I had a snap on classic 96 in orange with a s.s. top. had all snap on,mac,mac co,cornwell tools in it. was a great box before it was stolen with all the tools in it. the box it self was 5k + all the tools the box was over full.
this is the only pic I have of the box any more


I now have a torin tool box from cost co top and bottom was the show model got it for 600.00. It is at home and I have a craftsman box at work now. most of the tools I have now are craftsman, still have some snap on and mac tools.
the new one at home

I for one will never buy a tool box for 5k a 2nd time it is not worth it to me any more

Wow! I'd track down and torture someone that stole that nice of a tool chest and tools from me...
My stepdad has a crazy set of tools. Everything is Snapon. The toolboxes and every tool in them. He wipes every single tool clean before it gets put back. Each drawer is laid out with tool shape slot in foam. I know he spent more than 20k. When I was a kid I never understood how he always knew when I was f**king with his tools but now as I look back I realize I'd leave my fingerprints all over them.
I have craftsmen took boxes. They work just fine. My tools are a combo of craftsman and Snapon.

Jon91TSi said:

I'm going to be picking up the HF tool chest soon, it runs about $900 but every review I have read had nothing but great things to say about it. You would probably pay triple or more for a mac or matco box that is equivalent.

Links
Rolling Tool Cabinet w/ 13 Tool Drawers
7 Drawer Red End Cabinet for Roller Tool Chest
Red Roller Cabinet Top Chest

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Deuce_three said:

I'm going to buy one of harborfreight's tool box very soon once I get a hold of the coupon.

Its the first link he showed^.
Rolling Tool Cabinet w/ 13 Tool Drawers

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Yep, I have the one in the first link. It's AWESOME.

I agree, the US General tool cabinet that Harbor Freight sells is quality. We have one in our garage currently, we bought it last November and it's got to be one of the best investments we've made as far as tools/equipment in our garage:
Rolling Tool Cabinet w/ 13 Tool Drawers

Here are some links with people discussing the tool cabinet on some other sites:
Harbor Freight American General Tool Cabinet--Positive Review - The Garage Journal Board
US General tool box question

I get a lot of my tools from Craigslist. I bought a $1200 Waterloo box for $300. Don't be afraid of used boxes. They may be scratched up, but you are just gonna scratch it up too. Kinda like buying a used car instead of new. Let someone else take the hit on it.

Having gone to school for auto, and working at a shop for a living it's nice to have really good tools and a nice box. If you are just working on cars, housework, e.c.t as more of a hobby then theres really no reason to buy crazy expensive boxes or tools unless you got cash to blow, or you just have to have snap on this, or matco that for whatever reason. Just get something thats cheap yet durable, that will hold whatever you need.

I bought a $199 Craftsman toolbox set. Large lower and smaller upper set. No issues after 5 years.

For tools, I have all Craftsman wrenches (don't seem to flex too much) and all HF sockets and ratchets (black composite ones, 32-64th click).

97gst_spyder said:

I bought a $199 Craftsman toolbox set. Large lower and smaller upper set. No issues after 5 years.

For tools, I have all Craftsman wrenches (don't seem to flex too much) and all HF sockets and ratchets (black composite ones, 32-64th click).

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I don't think I'll ever get a craftsman toolbox again. My ex wife got me one, top,middle,bottom box. Bottom was ok, middle was ok. The top one a drawer wouldn't open, I returned it for another and that one was dented. Got to the point where I opened up every box they had in the store (of top boxes) and they were all broken or dented in some way. I ended up getting a different middle box and used my current middle as the top box. I went through at least 10 of the top boxes and didn't find a good one. All were brand new.
Craftsman quality has dropped so much in the past few years.

I've had my craftsman box for over 3 years now and its held up pretty good, only con i have with it is the adhesive on the lettering is crap and wears off real quick... other than that its a great box for how cheap the price tag was.