Looking to move to a newer tool box

[Concorazon]

As it suggest I'm ditching my old, ugly tools and I'm In the market for a new tool col. Is there any you would suggest, specifically geared at autos and the frs?

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[aznatama]

Good starter set is usually Craftsman. Then there's always typical shop brands like snap-on, Matco, etc.

[mav1178]

I have a Snap-On 7 draw roll cab. Best money I've ever spent.

-alex

[Impureclient]

I am about ready to get a new box too and was probably getting one of these ones below. Either box is big enough to hold a large amount of stuff. The tools I am pretty good on myself and all I buy is Husky
stuff but that $400 set is pretty robust if you are getting a whole new starter set.

$498 Tool box:http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-41-...-205080371-_-N
$598 toolbox: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-52-...1QES/204825971

$399 Tool set: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Mec...2MTS/204602480

I just can't see buying a box for twice the price at Matco/Snap-on prices when I'm not using it professionally. The tools are lifetime warranty also. I've never broke anything Husky except one 3/8 ratchet drive wrench
that was used heavily for about ten years and the ratchet mechanism was acting up so I just brought it in and they give me a new one, done.
If you go with any of the big box stores like Home Depot for the stuff, wait for the sales that are coming up...Black Friday, etc. Guy in the tool area told me that bigger box there might drop $100, so I'm waiting a little bit.

Harbor Freight even does lifetime warranty on their tools, which I have broke a few of and swapped out as well, and they have some decent sized boxes as well if you want to save hundreds of $ on this stuff.

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by Impureclient

I just can't see buying a box for twice the price at Matco/Snap-on prices when I'm not using it professionally.

This was my mentality before as well, until I started having more and more heavy tools.

The ability of an expensive toolbox to consistently provide smooth drawer performance and be durable to be pushed around often is worth the money.

I used to have cheaper Craftsman toolboxes. They never outlasted my cars...

-alex

[Mr.ac]

Just the tool box or the tools themselves?
For tool box, I love Kenndy tool boxes. I have mine at work its way better than snap on or craftsman. Spend a few more dollars and get the ball bearing slides. They are not cheap sheet metal rattle like cheap boxes.

As for tools themselves, eh anything is fine. What's works and what's cheap as long as it does the job get them.

[Impureclient]

Originally Posted by mav1178

They never outlasted my cars...

-alex

Hmm, I've had mine cheapo $200 one that I got from harbor freight that still is in great condition that is packed tight but I don't move it around at all and it's about 12 years old.
The drawers are all working good but not as smooth as those ball bearing ones. That one I have is maybe 100 lbs and those two Husky ones are 300 lbs and are tanks compared
to the one I now use, so I think I would be good since that HF lasted me so long. If money was no object or I was really working on the cars a lot, I would do the same and go all
out with the best as I know it will outlast my cars and probably me too. Then it can do double duty and they can bury me in it. Only issue would be getting me separated into all those drawers.

[Mysta316]

This is what I use at work. Mostly full of snap-on tools. Over kill for a home box but I use this box daily to make a living so I want something thats going to last as long as I do. I have a craftsman box at home for around the house tools and what not. Right now snap on is running a deal with a roll cart full of tools for like 1500 bucks. Its a damn good starter set to build from if you are wanting good tools.

[pushrod]

Originally Posted by mav1178

This was my mentality before as well, until I started having more and more heavy tools.

I've heard this from others before. What is going into the tool cabinet that is so heavy as to cause a problem? All of my heavy stuff is in shelved cabinets so it doesn't matter.

Originally Posted by mav1178

The ability of an expensive toolbox to consistently provide smooth drawer performance and be durable to be pushed around often is worth the money.

I used to have cheaper Craftsman toolboxes. They never outlasted my cars...

You can get cheaper tool cabinets that still have good ball bearing drawers that work. All of my Mastercraft cabinets are in as-new condition (6-10 years old) and I use them very frequently.

I think getting a Snap-On or a Mac tool cabinet is probably a good idea; just don't buy a new one.

[Justin.b]

Exactly what he ^^ said. The SnapOn / Matco boxes are great and will last forever. The price rarely makes sense for a home user.

Check craigslist, people are always selling these things. Since they hold up so well you don't really have to worry about bringing home one that has been used.

-Justin

[GeorgeJFrick]

Why not start with what you have and spend the money on better storage and specialty tools you don't have?

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by pushrod

I've heard this from others before. What is going into the tool cabinet that is so heavy as to cause a problem? All of my heavy stuff is in shelved cabinets so it doesn't matter.

Once you've collected enough impact guns, large sockets and wrenches, and misc. tools, you'll learn the limits of what some cabinets can and cannot do, even ball bearing ones.

-alex

[Tcoat]

As strange and "ghetto" as it may sound a great place to find deals on tools is pawn shops. Many years ago I bought a top line cabinet full of both hand and pneumatic tools of very good quality and in new condition for $500. I bet there was $3,000 worth of stuff there (in 1981 dollars). I felt really bad for taking advantage of somebody else's misfortune for about 10 minutes. It is of course a matter of some serious shopping around but the deals are there.

[pche]

Buy one big enough and you only need to buy once. Do you need a new Snap On for home use? Absolutely not, their value drops faster than a BMW. Buy some crafts man tools that you could get replacement for brokens at your local Sears, instead of trying to flag down a Snap On truck on the road.

But if you want to get in the field then you'll need a quality box that would last you for a long long time.