I've decided to finally get a "real" tool box. I'm thinking of something like a 5-7 drawer on wheels with a 3 - 5 drawer on top.
Snap-On seems nice but way more money than I want to spend.
I'm looking for suggestions on Makes / Models that I should consider - also any that I should avoid.
Thanks
I bought Craftsman top and bottom with wheels. That was about 10 years ago and they are still great. Don't remember the price but a lot less than Snapon.
Gary
You don't need to go Snap On for home use. Heck, 10 years at a Ford dealer on flat rate and I never owned anything but a Craftsman box, and I made good money.
It's better to spend the extra cash on Snap On, MAC or Matco tools to put IN THE BOX.
Look for something with ball bearing slides and lift latch draws. Where you have to lift the drawer lip to unlock and open the drawer. Some of the lower cost Sears with ball bearings use a plastic pinch type thing to hold the drawers shut, and those wear out on the drawers you use alot. The Professional series at Sears is good, but gets up there in price.
Waterloo makes a decent box for what you want to do. Toolwarehouse.net has great deals too.
With ball bearing slides, get the good no slip draw liners, otherwise all your tools will end up at the back of the drawers when you close a drawer a little to hard. They look like miniture stretch wire and are rubber. But don't buy them from the tool place, by them from a home improvement store in the kitchen section. Much cheaper and you can get colors if you'd like.
You can get a used master series double bank Snap-on box for around $2000-2500 or get a used triple bank version for around $3k. Even if you get one that is 1-3 years old, it should still be in excellent condition. Check on ebay. The triple bank is $8-9k new.
I have a triple bank KRL1003 Snap-on box and have been very happy with it. Even the roller bearing Crafstman boxes just don't have that "feel" when you pull the drawers out like the Snap-on does. <img src=images/icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=images/icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
Edited by - caspian65 on 12/10/2006 19:21:37
I purchased a Stainless steel box from Cosco's about a year ago and I love it. It has ball bearing drawers(A must)and is perfect for home use. Each drawer will hold about 250LBs of tools. My Craftsman boxes won't hold up and in fact failed from the weight of the tools. If you look at the Craftsman tool boxes you will see that they are made pretty cheaply. Go to Cosco's and check out there box. I'm planning on getting another one after the holidays.
Ken
I didn't read all the posts on here but it might help you:
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