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Tool Box Advice

eclipse

eclipse

1/2 ton status
Joined
Jan 1, 2005
Posts
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Location
Sparks, NV
I'm starting to work as a mechanic in a Kenworth Truck shop. My little 7 draw 25 year old box isn't big enough. I'm going to start buying new tools and I need a new box. I've been look at Snap on and craftsman boxes. I like the looks of some of the craftsman roller cabs but they have a couple bad reviews. I have a budget of about 5k total for box and tools. I'd like to spend around 1k on a box.

Couple Craftsman boxes I was looking at.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00959631000P?
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00959622000P?
 
Snap On 100%. you can allways finance. I got my $8500.00 half from my Snap On dealer, was a warentied box, the paint was flaking just at the bottom edge, thats it. Look for deals every where you can.
 
Used pro box off craigslist or ebay is your best bet. Cheaper, and still get a decent trade when its time to upgrade. I most certainly look at a Craftsman box different than a Snap-On or Matco box when it comes time to trade.
 
I'd be looking for a deal on one of the tool truck brands. I can get away with a Craftsman because most of my tools are light, but a truck mechanic? You are going to need some beef.
 
Go get the "General" brand tool box from Harbor Freight. Take the General stickers off of it and put some Snap-On stickers on it and trade it in to a Mac guy for alot more than you paid for it. Then trade the Mac box into the Snap_on guy for more than you paid for it.








IMO......Matco has the best boxes.
.02
 
well i'm gonna take my time to buy a box cause I'm not sure about this so called "apprentice program" they have me in. Also starting out in this program pays alot less than an equipment operator (what i've been doing) and I have to pay for tools too!
 
i started out caryin tool box. then used crapman box. then lower crapman next to it. now i have snapon cause of the smokin deal on new but used box.

love the box. but less than 6 months later i am buying new snap on box. cause of big man problem. we never buy it the correct size. i need a bigger box yet again.

so my advice is buy it min 75% bigger than you think you need. and trust me you will thank me later for this advice. you will be blasted away as to how fast it will fill up on you.

i have a snap on classic 96 box now. its 6ft long by about 23-24 " deep. sounds all good. but not.

i am looking at a bigger box thats 2x the size and with the top section that closes off the work station.

p.s. look for my thread in here on my plans.

i have been in the mechanics buiss for over 8 years. bigger is better in here for boxes. as you will run out of room faster than you think.
 
well i'm gonna take my time to buy a box cause I'm not sure about this so called "apprentice program" they have me in. Also starting out in this program pays alot less than an equipment operator (what i've been doing) and I have to pay for tools too!
Click to expand...
Apprentice program, you have your foot in the door at a dealership.

Our apprentice program starts at spinning filters and greasing.
If they can manage that they get to do brakes and wheel seals for a while.
Swinging clutches & diffs is usually next.

The biggest mistake I see guys new in the field do is buy a big ass box and no tools.

Spend money on tools.
Mac & Matco have tool carts that are bad ass. The Mac one I was checking out was $1100.
I would look into getting one of those first.
I paid $600 for this one a few years ago.
MVC-012F2.JPG


Tools for this trade are spendy.
I've been doing this over 20 years and still average $200 a month or more in tool bills.

Almost have this POS paid for so that will drop a bit.
2039MVC-003F1.JPG


1K on a Cart and 4K in tools.
Shop smart and 4K will get ya a lot of gear. Shop S smart.
It may sound like a lot but it isn't.
The new guys with a shiny new box and no tools are doomed to spinning filters for a long time

Better get interested in electronics. Guys that show potential get to go to school and soon tranny's are the wrong end of the truck to be working on.

Diagnostic equipment is spendy BTW.
 
My advice: Talk to the tool truck man of your choice about a used box, put a decent downpayment on it and carry the rest on the truck account. Or start calling some of your local pawn shops. If they are like the ones around here they usually have some boxes in the back. They are big and don't sell well so they don't usually put them out front. But I have seen numerous 40" top and bottom combos go for 5-600 for tool truck brands.
 
hell ive got a nice condition used mac top and bottom in the garage for 1500... come get it
 
Another apprentice quit to work for an Hvac company and didn't want to keep his box. So they might roll his company tool account over to me. I like his box, it is a Small 2 bay cornwell box, I'm guessing 10-12 drawers and he paid 900 for it used I'll find out more tomorrow about it on Monday.
 
My old boss had a custom made Matco box and it was setup pretty nicely.
 
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