Most Waterloo tool chests are built in the US, although I believe they do have some overseas stuff.
Most Waterloo tool chests are built in the US, although I believe they do have some overseas stuff.
Some Craftsman boxes are made in Sedalia, MO
Wonkothesane wrote: Let's keep it to $1000 or less for the purpose of this discussion. What are your thoughts?
Well, that removed Snapon from the discussion.
Look at the drawers slides. That is the thing that makes all the difference. Get big, sturdy and ball bearing. I can stand in the drawers of my new box- and they still move afterwards.
Streetwiseguy wrote:Wonkothesane wrote: Let's keep it to $1000 or less for the purpose of this discussion. What are your thoughts?Well, that removed Snapon from the discussion. Look at the drawers slides. That is the thing that makes all the difference. Get big, sturdy and ball bearing. I can stand in the drawers of my new box- and they still move afterwards.
Get a used Snap-On, Mac, or Matco. Like Streetwise said, the drawer slides MAKE the box. My Craftsman was fine for the first 6 months of pro wrenching. After that they would hardly open and close anymore and started to sag and bend. My Snappy boxes? Yeah, I can stand in the large drawers and there's no problem.
I saw a Kobalt tool chest for about that much that i really like. But I don't know where it was made. Probably not the US.
they arent traditional 'tool boxes' but Lista cabinets are completely modular, have lots of options like wheels if you found a cabinet without, very sturdy, etc. theyre quite a bit over $1000 for bigger ones, mine was a tick over 3g's (54" roll cab) but if you find a good used one i'd check it out for sure.
Used older Snap-On, MAC, or Matco. Even the friction slide boxes are silky smooth.
I picked up a circa 1992 Matco Excellerator top and bottom with ball bearing slides off Craigs a year or 2 ago for $400. Great shape, ball bearing, 36" or so wide and plenty deep. The top, same size as my Craftsman Ball Bearing, weighs literally 3x as much. There is a lot more steel in those older boxes.
I have nothing to add except that I live toolboxes. I get catalogs just so I can look at them.
Kennedy are made here in our local town, they have a scratch and dent outlet at the factory. 
aussiesmg wrote: Kennedy are made here in our local town, they have a scratch and dent outlet at the factory.
I envy you. I had a Kennedy carry box that was stolen, but I'm too cheap to buy another one.
Most of the Snap On tool boxes on Chicago craigslist are all $3000-$6000. But keep looking as there are some cheaper ones.
http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwi/tls/2674297045.html
Find your local Snap On, Mac or Matco dealer. They often have trade in boxes.
aussiesmg wrote: Kennedy are made here in our local town, they have a scratch and dent outlet at the factory.
Really, I did not know that. I goggled Kennedy up; I did not know they are in "The Wert"
http://www.kennedymfg.com/Kennedy/
pete240z wrote: Most of the Snap On tool boxes on Chicago craigslist are all $3000-$6000. But keep looking as there are some cheaper ones. http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwi/tls/2674297045.html
NICE deal.
I used to work for Matco Tools in their engineering lab. I tested tool chests extensively. I left the company in 1993, so this info may no longer hold true. Back then, Matco had a tool box plant in New York where all their boxes were made. They made pretty good boxes, but Snap On boxes usually performed better in our cycle testing. Just about every other brand was far behind both of these, and the Matco boxes were probably the best overall value. But I don't think you're going to get any kind of pro quality box new for $1000, other than some really small ones. So I agree with some of the other posts suggesting you look at used boxes. One company that doesn't really put emphasis on the pro tech market, but produces some of the highest quality cabinets I've seen is Lista. If you can find a box made by them it will be very high quality. I have at least a dozen cabinets from them in my lab. They are all 13 years old and other than dents and scratches, then are still like new.
I love, love, love my Snap-on boxes. Large bottom with a side box. I bought it new 25 years ago and used it professionally for 10 years. Bearings on the big box, sliders on the side. Still looks and works like new.
The cheapo-Sears stuff will fold under the weight of a drawer of socket wrenches. I am always looking for a well-made bargain. Someday...
just keep looking for a snap-on or mac box off craiglist
heres tools, both boxes, and side box for $900 WINNING!
actually i just emailed the guy...so back off!
Wonkothesane wrote: Anyone have any input on this craftsman toolbox? Sears Link It doesn't look like the bottom of the line, and it's going to be on a pretty good sale come friday. I'm probably going to stop by a store and check it out before hand..
I have had a similar or the same box set(don't have item numbers) for 5 years. They work just fine for my home garage. I have had no probems even with some of the drawers pretty heavily loaded.
Hal wrote:Wonkothesane wrote: Anyone have any input on this craftsman toolbox? Sears Link It doesn't look like the bottom of the line, and it's going to be on a pretty good sale come friday. I'm probably going to stop by a store and check it out before hand..I have had a similar or the same box set(don't have item numbers) for 5 years. They work just fine for my home garage. I have had no probems even with some of the drawers pretty heavily loaded.
Same here. A good box.
Joey
Wonkothesane wrote: Anyone have any input on this craftsman toolbox? Sears Link It doesn't look like the bottom of the line, and it's going to be on a pretty good sale come friday. I'm probably going to stop by a store and check it out before hand..
thank god it isnt the one with standard slide drawers. I have one of those and am quickly growing to hate it already, and it's only been in the shop for two weeks
yeah i use a craftsman 26" with 'quite glide' drawer slides. i've had it for over 10 years, and i guess im used to it now. but i REALLY wish i had ball bearing slides. im out growing my box combo now, and looking for 40" USA made.
i've heard good things about the stainless steel unit at sams club. but china made im sure
A big factor in the durability of a tool chest is whether or not it gets moved around a lot. If left in one place all the time, a cheaper box can last a long time. But if you roll it around from job to job, the situation is different. Of course, the condition of the floor has a lot to do with it, but even on a smooth surface, rolling around a heavily loaded box takes its toll.
I used the basic Craftsman 26" bottom + top boxes for years. When I got a used set of bigger ball bearing Craftsman boxes, the old ones moved into the machine shop. When I finally got the 40" ball bearing roll cab, intermediate chest, top and side boxes, and declared the tool storage battle won, I moved the old BB stuff into the machine shop and the oldest friction slide stuff into the hobby room.
I've got a lot of tools, and the only tool storage I can see going to would be a good used Lista or Vidmar cabinet for the machine shop for tooling. There's already 2 Kennedy journeyman boxes of machinist tools, and 2 Kennedy tray boxes of bicycle frame prep tools.
If it's your first boxes, 26" red Craftsman is a right of passage. Get 'em, grow your tool collection, and get bigger boxes when the little ones are so full it pisses you off.
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