I've been around tools and tool boxes my whole life. I grew up in aviation and I am still working in it today. I've seen and used all different types of toolboxes and tools there is no substitution for quality and Snap-On is #1. If you only want to have to buy it once buy Snap-On. it seems to me that their is more craftsmanship in their tools and they do seem to work better for me. or maybe I'm just tryingto make myself feel even better about the 4k that I spent on my NEW KRL series rollcab that I just bought today. Just my opinion

 

4XFordFreak,

You are absolutely right. Snap On makes the BEST quality tools that money can buy anywhere in the world, PERIOD. That is a fact although some might argue that they are not worth the added cost. I also think that the Snap On boxes are the best boxes.

My only argument about the boxes is that do you REALLY need to have that much money in a box that holds ANY brand tools. A long time ago, I made the decision to put my money into the tools rather than the box they go in. Both have served their purpose well.

That said, for the person that has lots of money and many years invested in a good collection of Snap On tools and they put their money into a Snap On box to put them in, then more power to them and I'm very happy for them.

What I DON'T understand is the guy who invests THOUSANDS of dollars in a BIG, FANCY, EXPENSIVE Snap On box and then when you start looking inside, it is either empty or has cheap tools in it. This is not an isolated case that I describe. I've seen LOTS of boxes like this.

If I were to win the lottery, one of the first things I'd buy would be a really nice roll cab and top box from the Snap On man, but as long as I have limited funds, I'll have my priority on the tools inside with a box adequate to keep them organized and secure.

I'm glad for you. I'm sure you've worked hard over the years and deserve to have a toolbox to be proud of, but don't forget to be most proud of the tools that are inside the box.

Have a great day,
Doc

 

I do agree the tools inside are #1. I was lucky when I started I recieved a starter Snap-on basic tool set as an award from my High School, and I already had the "old hand me down" tools from my Dad. I just had to house them and build on them. Want to talk about tools that last? My Dad gave me a 1/2" socket set from Plumb that was about 30 yrs old when he gave it to me in 1968. About 7 yrs ago I gave that set to my 13yr. son and he still has it! They are clubs....but they are tough! I just looked up what I paid for my last Snap-on tool box........Bottom, top and side add-on.....with the trade-in of my old (@ 2/3's of new price).....my out of pocket was $3500. That was in 1983. Its as sound now as it was then. And my cost per year is about $160.00. And if I figure in every box I have bought and deduct the trade-in from the cost, since 1972, that figure is right at $170.00. Now for that $27,000+ in tool inventory from 1972.................@$1250 per year or little more than a $100 a month! My income for 33 year with those tools/boxes! I wonder were it went? Is anyone else out there so **** retentive as to have 33 yrs of tool receipts? I made my last payment to Snap-on in 1993. I have changed professions and just hobby now! And yes I do buy some craftsmen tools from now and then or Wall mart tools.........what else are you going to cut, weld and grind into that special needs wrench.........not one of my Snap-ons!!!!!!!!!!

I have heard all of these thoughts on tool boxes since I started and it won't be ended here, not now or ever.............thats why there are more than one brand of box......there are more than one mind set and approach to everything!! Buy what fits your needs and have fun in what you do! Lifes a trip enjoy IT!! Steve

 

I have seen and used the Snap~on boxes, and I have a Craftsman box at home in the basement, but as I live in a high crime area (too many troubled teens) I am doing what a old timer friend of mine did years ago. Our houses have garages built for first gen model A's (houses built between 29 and 33, for narrower model A's) He built his roller cabinet/ workbench out of wood and when slides started getting popular, he added them. He died about 25 years ago, and I wish I knew who had his cabinet, but he could roll it out of the garage, lock the wheels and use it as a workbench. As he put it, "I beat the system, by using scrape wood and not spending a lot of money" and anyone who knew him knew good tools were in it. I'd take the scrape box with good tools any day over the great box with the "insert medical expense" tools.

 

"medical expense" Happen to be thats the profesion I have switched.....Medicine! You know the plastic one use staple guns they use to stitch you up with.....Try $495 ea. cost to the hospital!! Snap-on looks even better to me now! They would only get 1/4 that! Yes Snap-on is very expensive I have complained for 33 yrs about the price every week to Mr. Snap-on man. In 1976 I bought a pair of Snap-on 47CP pliers from Ron L., the best Snap-on man ever! They cost me $28. About three times what anyone else charged. Ron told me that he new it was more than they where worth.......this time, but the next pair would be free so they only cost about $14ea. He said that the thing to do was to keep them forever and just keep getting the free ones. That way they get cheaper everytime! I have no idea what they cost now. I couldn't see it then, but he was right. Tools are an investment. So, invest in what YOU see fit to, and enjoy! You drive a Ford right? What else could be more important!!

 

Sps,

I agree with everything you said, however, the free replacement for life deal on a pair of pliers exists at Sears. Would I rather have Snap On pliers or Sears pliers? Snap On, of course. Just being devils advocate.

I treasure my Snap On tools. I have never lost one. I have let a few cheap tools get away from me, but not my Snap Ons.

And I do agree that everyone must fill their own needs and spend their money as they see fit. I hope I did not come off sounding as if I thought someone is crazy if they do things different than myself. If I did I apologize. I only state my own opinions and I try to explain why I do what I do. I totally understand and respect that others have their own.

Have a great day,
Doc

 

MBdiagman,
All myother toolboxes and rollaways have been hand me downs. I have been buying tools since I was 15. This should the only box i have to buy.. ... I would say Eighty percent of my tools are Snap-on. I was lucky to get my box for the price I got it for.
$6,050 dollar rollcab for $4,000. I have better organization for my tools and a great work bench that i can move around thae hanger from airplane to airplane. I'm actually kinda anxious to go back to work on Monday to use it some more.

 

4xFordFreak, So you're an A&P tech? Where/who do you work for? I worked line at a busy FBO in bozeman MT and was out in the shop a lot with the mechanics there. Great guys - all had primarily snap on too. I think aviation is a field where that becomes more important too, since you're not only dealing with making customers happy but also impact their safety to a greater degree. I can see where having good quality boxes / casters is more important too since you're constantly moving around the hangar - rather that just leaving your box in one single bay 99% of the time. Currently I'm a flight instructor building my time to move on to something bigger. I'd like to someday get my A&P license so I have something to do after I hit the Airlines mandatory age 60 retirement. Hopefully a career as a pilot will make me able to afford some great tools/boxes in the future... aside from all the tinkering with my ford!

-Aaron Griffith

 

MBdiag,

I think we are in total agreement! And yes Sears has the same free replacement program. The problem is you could wear out a car going back and forth to Sears. I have had Sear refuse to replace a tool that is broken from normal use. Not often but it has happened. I have had the Snap-on man break my slightly worn tools so he could give me new ones. But hey, thats tools and we are talking about boxes! I have never cared what anyone else used for a box or tools. The thing that counts to me is the skill of the person. I know a guy that has garage sale and second hand store tools in (2) 5gal plastic buckets! When he starts on a project he just dumps his tools on the floor and wallows in the mess...........works for him....not me........and he is one of the best autotrany men I have ever known!!!! : He has fun and loves his work!!!! And to be fair........I have seen many "mechs" with huge Snap-on boxes That they give more attention to than is proper.........(I leave that one alone!!) and the tools inside could be from all Snap-on to ???????????. And they couldn't fix their way out of a wet paper bag!!!!
I have to tell you a funny one one the trany guy!! I worked at a shop @20 yrs ago that had a sudden need for an autotrans guy......I told the owner I new a guy that was just flat great!!!!!!!!! I called him and he came to interview. My boss told him it was a requirement to have a "roll-a-round" tool box. As the shop was large and he would need to move his tools from one job to the next. He was to start Mon......Mon morning he showed up with his (2) 5gal. plastic buckets and a little red wagon he had got from his kids!!!!!!!!

 

As a twenty year plus professional mechanic, I have a big, fancy, expensive Snap-On box to put them in. I dont have people go and pull a drawer open tho, just to swoon over the contents, that to me sounds like someone is posin...

When someone has over 50K worth of tools, Are you gonna put them in a cheap, flimsy wally world box? NO!! You need a stout, sturdy box. Its a quality thing-you can move the box without the bottom collapsing, and SECURITY is a big issue!! If someone breaks into your shop ( we got hit twice last year) the bad guys are gonna bust open the cheap box, because they can ( and did) get them open pretty easy. Try that with a tool truck box, and the thief will get frustrated, and go away, causing minimal cosmetic damage.

I do agree with Snap On reps having attitudes, my stuff is probably over 50% their stuff, and the guy wont give me the time of day, since I dont really need to buy much stuff anymore ( Hey jerk.. I have 30K in snap on alone....
Yeah, but you didnt buy them from me ) So I deal exclusively with our Mac guy, leaving Snap-On with just Warranty stuff!!!!!!!!!

BTW, I am NOT knocking Craftsmen stuff, I always reccomend new techs start out with them, and stay off the trucks until they are ready to slowly upgrade as THEY deem necessary. All my stuff at home is Craftsmen, stored in my old Mac box......

 

Crafstman tool boxes is all I own, at home and at work. Craftsman is my first choice for most of my tools period.

 

I think maybe some of you think that I am saying that if you have a big, nice, Snap On box that you have junk in them. That is NOT what I'm saying. I know lots of guys like some of you here that have a great collection of Snap Ons in a Snap On box.

All I'm saying is that there are LOTS of big Snap On boxes with Craftsman tools in them or they're near empty. Have you not seen any like that?

I admire a big, fancy Snap On box and wish I could afford one. I admire the guys that have them and have them filled with top quality stuff. It's the guy that has the great big box with junk or nothing in it that I can't understand.

And I totally agree that there are guys with junk tools that do GREAT work. By the same token, I've seen some guys with a great collection of Snap Ons that I wouldn't turn loose on my vehicle for anything. What really counts is skill and attitude.

Have a great day,
Doc

 

Sorry to hear your Snap-on man is such a jerk. Mine comes by the house once a month for coffee and to see if I need anything replaced! I don't twist wrenches for a living now and just hobby build hotrods and customs. I bought very little from this guy and he could care less. He knows when I do buy more tools it will be from him!! I have had bad Snap-on men and don't buy from them!! I would call the Snap-on guys I liked and buy from them! This makes the bad Snap-on men even madder than if you buy MAC!!!

 

This thread is making me consider building that pit cart box I once thought about doing.

 

i have had alot of box's over the year's,from small starter's up to the big snap-on i have now and they all have been good.i have found the best place to buy a snap-on box is used from matco,they sell them great price's because they don't like them.buy what you can aforde and need.i have seen the guy's with the big box's and no tool's in them,and they can't pay for the box,so how do they work,they borrow tool's from everybody else.buy what you like,they are all good box's,they just fit different need's.