Kawi2strokes.com Forum

Tired of my crappy craftsman that can't handle the weight of my air tools. Got any suggestions on something somewhat affordable to replace it with?

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They always run best right before they stop for good...and it was just running great...

If you have the time - make something. You get the base material, cut it, weld it etc. Get some heavy duty rails. I've been thinking about doing this myself mostly because I can't fit my big tools into the drawers the way I want!

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This is true. Where I grew up the hills were so steep and long, when your ball rolled down the hill you just said "screw it"...

Awhile back I saw napa here in ca was selling homak double wide top and bottom with a free tool cart too for 900 bucks.

I would look for a older used Snap-on or Matco tool box.

I bought the big stainless units from Sam's Wholesale about five years ago, don't recommend, they look pretty but are not good quality.

Buddy of mine is a Matco distributor, very pricey but great quality.

What's "somewhat affordable". A price range your looking at can help with suggestions. I currently have a craftsman top/bottom (non-roller bearing) and a wide bottom Mac tech 1000 bottom. The Craftsmans are ok depending what grade you have. The Mac box is very nice but expensive. I am weighing out the options right now on replacing both boxes I have with the Vidmar style cabinets. They are pricey as well but built to last and 2 will take up less wall space than the boxes I have now and should hold as much.

the ones at lowes are actually decent for the money.
not as good as matco but pretty good. get one with roller slides.

Many moons ago I worked as a flat rate mechanic at a stealership and I remember a handfull of guys who would indebt to the tune of 15-20k for a tool box and tools. That was 30 years ago. They made big payments to the guy on the truck. It was a racket, sell the guy a tool box and a few tools and there is always a shiny new fancy tool you can put in your box...... just add on to the total. I had a chance to visit a Ford dealership last week and every single one of the tech's had humongous tool boxes. I have no idea what they would cost today. I've seen the flat rate those guys make and they don't make a much more than I did in the 80's. I wonder what they spent for those set ups? I don't think anybody ever cares if they finish paying for anything nowadays. I know there is virtuallly no end to the cool tools you can buy once you get on the "credit" line.
I'm probably no help because I just didn't care much about my tool box as long as it could reasonably hold tools.
And being "thirfty" I always found I could stuff a lot more tools in the box than I originally thought. I went for what I could afford because the tools that lay in expensive or cheap tool boxes perform just the same. Probably no help here. Just try to find the mostest for the leastest.

^^^^^^^Same story 10 years ago when I was a flat rate tech at a dealership as well. Saw boxes get re-po'd by the tool guy. I don't know how easy it is to get a line of credit now but back then it was very easy. The tool guys would let you keep a no interest "truck account" up to a certain limit. It was up to them to get there money if you didn't pay. When you got into the tool boxes you had to apply for a line of credit through snap-on. The tool guy could care less if you payed. It really was a racket, with easily obtained credit and keeping up with the jones syndrome guys would really get themselves in pretty deep. It was really no different than a drug dealer showing up every week.

very true.

Guy i do some work with on the weekends got quoted a new box.. for 8k. dont get me wrong, they are nice.

but 8k? I normally wont pay that for a bike. or even a car...