I received from my dad 57 years ago two Snap On tool boxes because he got a new roll away set up. I have used them ever since. I started buying Bon E Con tools when I was 11 because that is what all the mechanics that I knew did. I never compared prices because I did not know to. I got tool sets from my relatives as gifts and let every one know not to buy sweaters or socks only tools and what brand. I was well into my twenties when I saw my first Snap On Truck. Soon I bought what ever he had until he totally ripped me off. Soon I figured out the dealer was dishonest not the tools. Snap On is high quality period. Recently I bought a Harbor Freight wrench set and have enjoyed them very much. The wrench set lasted just long enough for me to take out my torch for me to twist an turn them into exactly what I wanted. When I was done they performed perfectly. I did not have the heart or the money to do the same thing to a brand new set of Snap On wrenches. To this day I own very cheap tools and very nice tools. If there is a chance on them getting stolen I buy cheap to put in my trucks to carry with.
Depending on your needs, different strokes. My take Thanks

 

I make my money with tools not boxes.

 

Ugly tool boxes can be good protective camouflage for what's in them. I just scored an ugly but perfectly functional Jobox for 25 bucks.

It will stay ugly. The last owner seems to have used it as a stand for painting parts and I think I'll continue that tradition when not working out of it.

 

I have 2 macs , a matco and a craftsman. Mac , Snap-on and Matco are for pros
For DIYers it really doesn't matter.They don't see that much use.

 

I can get into ANY box made.

 

That post was entirely incorrect and sooooooo off the point its almost unbelievable----almost.

There's virtually no tool box made that can't be broken into. The truly motivated thief doesn't let a brand name scare them away---if fact I'm sure that would be a bigger incentive to at least try.

Tool boxes need to be gauged by their long term durability and usefulness to the needs of those using them. JoBox's are great for construction sites or those sorts of tools but they're not really meant for line mechanics. They're awesome in their function and build but not something I'd pile my wrenches, pliers and screw drives into at the end of a task.

 

The orange box has a new style tool box, with a wooden top. They were on sale for less than a Harbor Freight one, I had the money, so I got it. Nice thing is the bottom drawers are big enough that I can put my welding hood on one side and my a/c gear on the other, the wooden top is a liability IMO but I will make up a steel cap for that so I can also hang the Harbor Freight side locker box.

 

Why would I put $30,000 worth of tools in a $300 tool box?

 

I have since upgraded to a good sized Cornwell box I got used for less than the Husky box.

 

Do you smoke or drink? How about drugs? Do you walk to work or ride a bike? If you've got a car or a truck is it the cheapest thing you can get by with? Do you only eat bologna sandwiches? How about those tools? Did you finance them? How much money did you give away to a bank or the tool companies financing your stuff?

 

Oh yeah? Well my dad can beat up your dad!

 

I'm sure he could. My dad passed away in 1998.

 

Mighty quiet in here...

;-

 

Sure---once the pissed off lot who can't afford Snap On quality have said they're over priced, low quality, that any other brand is just as good, that Snap On is too easily broken into what's left to gripe about?

I'll readily admit owning a Snap On box carries a bit of admiration or positive comments from others who also use tools to make a living or are serious home garage DIY's. That alone wouldn't have me buying those I have but when I started looking for boxes for my daily driven work van I couldn't find any other brand locally that even came close to that level of better construction.

Snap On also has decent support for replacement parts---drawers of all things---for boxes well over 20 years old. Sure it takes them a month or so to make a part that long out of regular production---how many other "cheaper" brands can or will do the same thing?

Buy what you want or can afford---avoid whatever you don't want or think is too much anything. That might be the best approach maybe?

 

I spent 20 years in the Navy as Gas Turbine mechanic, was an ASE certified master mechanic after that and did truck servicing and emergency road service, I also have worked as Millwright on a extremely wide variety of equipment specializing in oil and gas along with power generation. I have a very wide assortment of tools from just about every manufacturer out there and some you're lucky if they last one use. I had a no name Chinese made 1/2" breaker bar I used for almost 10 years when I broke it unbolting a coupling the bolts were torqued to 1500 Ft/lbs.

I buy what I need when I need it and am happy. The industry is trying to survive in a globally competitive market so sorry if the price and quality are no longer what you expect and price is no longer an indication of quality. I've shattered Snap On, Mac, Matco, and Cornwall and the numerous cheap sockets and snapped the ends off every brand of box or open end wrench I've owned. I also have some old wrenches we modified 30 years ago for use and had 5' pipes on them and they still work.

My suggestion, buy what makes you not someone else happy. Use it till it breaks or you're to old to turn it any more. Replace and add what you need and keep turning. I have tools that my kids don't even know what they are called. The boys (my step sons) will inherit them and hopefully pass them to their sons. They already have their dad's tools as he was a mechanic also.