Good news: I accepted a job offer for mechanic work.

Bad news: I have to stop loafing around on the dole and actually work. I also need a new tool box very soon, as in Monday morning. Most of my previous paid wrenching has been out of the government's tool boxes as a military mechanic. I'll also be buying some additional tools, but first I need to inventory my considerable collection and figure out what I've already got.

I'm looking for something along the lines of this one: but I'm concerned about the quality from this particular supplier. I don't want to spend a lot, but I'd like something that will remain serviceable in normal shop use for at least a few years. Ideas?

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 401,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 26,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.
99 Mazda Miata 183,xxx miles.

I've heard that "If it don't roll off a truck, it's not a tool box, it's just a kit."

I thought my buddy was crazy when he told me he spent over $10.000 on his "tool box" alone until he told me the value of his tools combined that it stored...

Sorry, that's all I know about a professional tool box.

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1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue).

Most of the Tool boxes (Snap On, MAC, etc) are made in Waterloo Iowa under contract. Waterloo makes and sell their own line as well in several grades.

You can get Mac/SnapOn/Craftsman quality for 35% less by going that route.

Also try Craigslit for a local mechanic or retiree who is moving/selling out. mI see a lot of older used MAC/SnapOn/Craftsman boxes for sale for 50% off on a 2-3 year old box. 10 year old stuff usually goes for 25% of cost. Don't fall for the MAC/SnapOn "COLLECTOR'S EDITION" jive. It's just a frikkin toolbox!

last i knew snap-ons were made in algona iowa.find the local snap-on,mac,cornwell,etc tool dealer that stops where you will be working.they usually get nice trade-ins for the guys that just have to have the limited edition box'es.

Some will say I'm crazy and you may get frowned upon at the new job
BUT
You are under the gun, go to HD, Lowes, the local Tool store ...
Buy a good oversized roller box.

TAKE YOUR TIME looking for the right permanent solution.
All the above are good, craiglist, eBay, talk to the Snap On guys about trade in's...

Then the one you bought now can become a second at work, a nice unit for home or ....

I'd be afraid if I rushed out for something like this I'd end up with a nice setup, but lots of regrets that I wish I'd gotten or I jumped at what looked like a deal or

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KLK, MCSE

1990 500SL

I was always taught to respect my elders.
I don't have to respect too many people anymore.

First things first. SIZE the box you need. Make it match what you are doing.

Are you working in a single bay which only you use? Get a medium bottom section so you will have a flat work space. Get a small roll-around cart with a couple of drawers to hold the tools you are using at that particular time. Much easier to move the cart than the 1 ton box and yes, tool boxes get up to that weight depending on what you are doing. Get the largest casters you can fit. Makes it much easier to clean under and allows you reach the 14 mm socket you dropped and it rolled to exact center under the box.

Working in different bays and a central tool storage area? Get a medium top-bottom combo. Large casters as well as a side tray or cabinet. Having the work surface is not as critical because you usually have a bench handy.

Single bay but you can't leave the box there? Get a large bottom and a roll around cart. You do NOT want to haul the big mutha around!

I work a one man shop and I have a designated work space with no secure storage. I have the big Matco lower unit in my office/parts room which never moves. I ain't man enough to move it for one thing! I use two roll around carts, one for tool transportation and one which has been made into a mobile work bench. I have a medium size Snap-On top box sitting on the top of the lower unit. (just to be a "tool snob" let me point out this is a "Limited Edition Bicentennial" box which I purchased new in 1976), I use a Snap-On medium lower cabinet (casters removed and bolted flat to the floor bed) in my service truck.

Don't get the big upper/lower/middle section boxes unless you are 6'6" or so. The top storage tray and upper drawers are not very convenient for the average height person.

Snap-On boxes are the best but they are darned pricey. Matco boxes are almost as good but for about 3/4's the cost. Mac boxes aren't bad but at about the same cost as Matco. Craftsman? Home shop use only. The Kobalt line LOOKS pretty but I honestly have my doubts to their durability. Kennedy used to make a good box and if you find an old one they'll work fine.

Say what you want about buying "name brands" but that Snap-On top box has seen daily use since 1976 and the only thing I've ever done was replace the drawer slides and a lock or two. You get what you pay for. I don't even want to tally up what I spent on various lower units. They take a beating when you have to move them every day.

Went without saying, Mike...

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

I'm inclined to agree with this, given that you're starting from scratch, dropping 5-10k on a tool box may not be feasible. The local hardware stores or Costco will sell you a tool box from between $400 - $1000. If I was in your position, i would start with one of these and move onto a $10,000 unit once I've established myself. You're going to have to spend a lot of money on the tools themselves. I would think that the storage would be secondary.

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With best regards

Al

Uhm, hmm. Support your local thieves? Pawnshop?

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You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows - Robert A. Zimmerman

Hmmm, Mike thinks while sitting at the keyboard, sweeping his still luxurious, flowing, thick hair back from his forehead, I think Swampie is having a bit of jab at me. A lessor man than I would probably give him a poke back, something along the lines of, "Hey, it's June, aren't you due to have that pate buffed and waxed" but then I would feel bad about it.

No need to feel bad about it, Mike! I'm well aware of my bowling balledness and the jealousy it causes.





BTW, May and September are the shine times.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

If you can handle used, pick up a Trading Post and look there, as well as pawn shops. New, then try Costco to start...hold off on the big purchase until your job requires it.

I use Kennedy in the brown wrinkle paint since I'm a toolmaker. Mechanics should have red boxes, and construction workers use the blue and electricians use yellow. I don't know who came up with the color code, but that's just how it seems to go...

Kennedy are also more secure than the Waterloom IMHO.

I currently have 8 rolling chests, 6 wooden benches, 8 box risers, 10 top boxes, and two wall cabinets full of tools...all in Ohio. Here, I have 3 rolling chests, 3 tops and 3 risers full for work...one for die maintenance, one for machining, and one for precision grinding tools.

If you were closer to me, I'd be willing to let you have a box until you were able to buy one. No sense going into debt just to have what you need to be employed...

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

Box purchased and dropped off at the new shop. I ended up going with Harbor Freight. Home Depot actually sells a Waterloo that is similar but cheaper and presumably of higher quality, but it's internet only with a five day delivery time. I'll use the cheapie (400 bucks) until it starts falling apart and then start looking for something better.

Thanks to all for your advice.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 401,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 26,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.
99 Mazda Miata 183,xxx miles.

In my trade (electrician) you are not considered a "professional" unless you use Klein tools. In the past few years though, I have had numerous issues with Klein tools quality, and warranty. I used to not mind paying 3 times the price of other brand tools because the quality was superior, and if there was ever a problem then you could exchange it no questions asked. When you use a tool every day to make your living cost is a secondary concern, however lately I have been unimpressed with Kleins quality, and have been buying a lot more Greenlee tools. Use what works for you and pays the bills- the rest will sort itself out.

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1984 300TD 1981 240D