Snap On Tool boxes / Roller cabinets etc

[MattF]

For me personally, I find the drawer toolboxes a bit of a pain in the ass. Don't get me wrong, their nice them but you needs huge ones to fit all your tools in so I mostly make holders for my tools so I can leave them out (without looking like I'm too lazy to put them away properly) and only have sockets and lesser used tools in their.

I'm not a fan of drawer units either. The simple space they occupy compared to what they can store is out of sync. I just have wooden boxes and put all of my stuff in there, as a rule. Not the most organised of approaches, granted, but I know what's in each box and can quickly lay my hands upon the required item when needed. Plus, wood doesn't sweat like steel or plastic, which is the main reason why I dislike metal or plastic containers. They're one of those necessary evils on occasion, but I'd gladly replace all of my storage units with wood if I could. Simple reason I haven't so far is that it'd either cost a small fortune to buy some else I'd have to make the replacements myself, hence time and aggro. I'd honestly practically kill to get my hands on some of the old apothecary style drawer units, for a decent price.

I have a 40 year old selection of spanners & sockets
A good proportion is Snap On
All the Snap On hand tools are very nice to use spanners fit your hand ect
The warranty is very good (as long as you owe the dealer money) lol
There boxes are very over rated (you are paying for the name as well as fancy graphics)
I have a "Beach" roll cab American I think , With a Britool top box.
Some of my favourite spanners are "Tipco" brand
I did buy a set of Snap on flex head spanners last year , I always wanted a set & they were on special offer

Nearly all of my kit is donkeys old too. Williams, Snail, King Dick, Gordons, Tipco etc. Some bits I've bought myself, as and when needed, and then the rest is stuff I've appropriated, (older Imperial stuff), from people who've had it sat there unused for years. On the down side, there's still a lot of it needs cleaning up before I use it. I tend to clean stuff up as and when I eventually need it these days, instead of doing it all at once.

 

[Maker]

I'm not a fan of drawer units either. The simple space they occupy compared to what they can store is out of sync

And if you thought they where inefficient, space-wise, take a look at these Stahlwille boxes with inserts. That said though, if you offered me one for a good price, I'd bite your hand off .
Also, what do you mean about the steel boxes 'sweating'.

 

[MattF]

And if you thought they where inefficient, space-wise, take a look at these Stahlwille boxes with inserts. That said though, if you offered me one for a good price, I'd bite your hand off .

They look like they're probably designed primarily as mobile toolboxes, so that you can check you've packed everything away before moving on? As you say, definitely not space efficient though.

Also, what do you mean about the steel boxes 'sweating'.

Condensation. If you move one from a cold to a warm room, for example. It's a problem you don't suffer with wood.

 

[Shox Dr]

They look like they're probably designed primarily as mobile toolboxes, so that you can check you've packed everything away before moving on? As you say, definitely not space efficient though.




Condensation. If you move one from a cold to a warm room, for example. It's a problem you don't suffer with wood.

Funny my Wood's always dipping

 

[Hitch]

I've got a small Snapon Toolbox, it was a hand-me-down from my Dad. He bought it when he first started working....hes retired now. Paintwork is pretty shabby, and the chrome on the handle isn't very good anymore... but then, at 40+ years old, and still as strong as the day it was made.
I tend to use it as a small site toolbox, so gets dropped, kicked, left in the rain, thrown in the van.

I even used it as an axle stand when I was stuck once.
The handle and handle screws are still available as spare parts.

 

[MattF]

Funny my Wood's always dipping

That's one thought I'll not be able to shift now. Laughed so much I almost cried.

 

[Ian X]

If you want to really feel like banging your head against a wall, have a session on one of the Merkin forums. The obsession over there with many with regards to Snap-On and USA made gear is borderline zealot-like, on many occasions. It's the country of origin thing which amazes me most though. I know we tend to gove advice on occasion to try and pick up the old English kit where the modern stuff just doesn't compare at all, but some over there will buy complete and utter crap just for the sake of buying something which is supposedly, (I say supposedly because there's a good chance that most of the parts for assembly are likely produced abroad anyhows), made there.

IMHO, the bottom line is always quality, in my book. For certain things like hex tips for screwdrivers and such, I'll buy whatever I see cheap just because I know they end up getting knacked within time anyhow, so they are technically a consumable. Other things though, I couldn't care what name is on them or where they were produced as long as they have that look and feel of quality backed up by actually being quality. I won't touch cheesy looking or feeling kit for anything bar loaner kit.

Well observed comments. There is a strain of American mechanic who revere "Tools from the old world", garagejournal has a mighty thread concerning "Eurp" tools. Practical Mechanics is the cathedral of "it it ain't Union made its horse sh*t". I have used all of the premium branded 1/4" drive socketry over 3 decades and the single grain of truth I found in the Eurp vs Merkan forums tool war is that Proto 1/4" drive AF socketry is extremely strong considering the thin wall size. So is Stahlwille and the Aero spec Facom though (the aero Facom gear now supplied by sister company Proto that is)
The parochial US vs the dirty snaggle toothed Eurps is pervasive especially in the field of engineering and mechanics. Comments regarding Snap On tooling by Europeans posting on chiefly American forums is subject to great scrutiny.
Your thoughts on small driving tips touches a raw nerve much like my dentists burrs. I use a large inventory of Facom screwdrivers and up until two years ago when the tips became work hardened and failed would return to my local supplier to exchange. Things have changed and supplier does not swap on the spot now. He sends off and waits for the Facom warranty god in Sheffield to decide if I abused or misused the item. I wear gloves, my tools are kept in flight cases. From no questions to much quibbling in the time it takes for Stanley to clamp down on cash haemorrhage.
I paid between 7 and 15 for most of those drivers chiefly for the "if it failed and the handle did not have hammer rash we replace it". I will be adjusting my perspective the first time a replacement is refused. Wiha sell drivers for half the price of Facom.
I will take a cheap guess that republicans think that democrats use commie Eurp tools. I tell them that the Chinese state will buy Snap On, close the North American production and ship the whole to China.

 

[pondy]

Picked this up about a Month ago, I also have a locker for the side coming next month so will be slightly bigger. Yes it's expensive at £2000, I have a 26" halfords top box in my home workshop and for quality for snap on box Is at another level. I wouldn't buy a snap on for home but since I work out of this 6 days a week I want some thing good that will out last me. As for tools. I brought a halfords pro set for home, work one is mainly full of snap on. Snap on feels nicer to use and fits your hands nicer . Again I wouldn't buy it for home use. Warranty wise I have cracked a few sockets and broken ratchet heads but always replaced without Me needing to travel to my local store as the van comes to me. The payment options for snap on also sell it better for me.

People will read this and think it's crazy spending thousands on tools but it's down to personal preference. People spend tons on cars, I drive a 2003 fiat pinto, parts cost peunuts the but I still cringe even at spending £10 on it, just down to who you are

 

[cianh91]

iv a draper top and bottom box along with wooden boxes cantilever ones and cheap drawer boxes but im definitely going for a snap-on next there quality of box is ahead of all the rest in my opinion.. tools wise i do find snap on to be some of the best iv used but not good enough to condone the price but as said lots of times with snap-on its the buy now pay later that gets a lot of people into them i rather just buy stuff now (couldn bare the thoughts of keeping paying for it if i lost it )
as regards the like or dislike for drawer boxes its always going to be each to there own i love them i do a lot of site work and fitter work and the ability to open the drawer and grab the tool i want rather than search through a box is a big plus as it saves time and gets the job done quicker especially with the smaller stuff

 

[daleyd]

Picked this up about a Month ago, I also have a locker for the side coming next month so will be slightly bigger. Yes it's expensive at £2000, I have a 26" halfords top box in my home workshop and for quality for snap on box Is at another level. I wouldn't buy a snap on for home but since I work out of this 6 days a week I want some thing good that will out last me. As for tools. I brought a halfords pro set for home, work one is mainly full of snap on. Snap on feels nicer to use and fits your hands nicer . Again I wouldn't buy it for home use. Warranty wise I have cracked a few sockets and broken ratchet heads but always replaced without Me needing to travel to my local store as the van comes to me. The payment options for snap on also sell it better for me.

People will read this and think it's crazy spending thousands on tools but it's down to personal preference. People spend tons on cars, I drive a 2003 fiat pinto, parts cost peunuts the but I still cringe even at spending £10 on it, just down to who you are

That's a similar philosophy to mine, if tools are used in work I tend to go for good quality brands even if they are a premium price. For home/occasional use I tend to use halfords pro or similar, though I have used their ratchet spanners in work for a few years and they have stood up to some pretty heavy use very well.

 

[Topleymike]

Just remember it's the tools that do the job not the box.

 

[daleyd]

Just remember it's the tools that do the job not the box.

True, but having everything well laid out and to hand can save a lot of time and hence money for a lot of people.

Personally I wouldn't spend snap on type money on a tool cabinet as I only use one for home use, but I can see why a workshop based tradesman might though .

 

[Farside]

Are these as good as they claim.

Someone near me selling a 3 month old 40" Snap On Roller Cabinet in Black for £1100.

I do have an American Pro roller cabinet which isnt too bad but just wondered if all the hype over Snap On cabinets is justified ?

Kind of late to the party, but my tuppence worth;
S-O are generally excellent and if I were starting out again, I'd buy more of them, but they have one major drawback - every thieving sod for miles around has his eyes on them.
I've been buying replacements for the S-O stuff that got lost or stolen over the years, and it's been largely Taskmaster instead, as there are a lot of NOS deals around when you look for them. Taskmaster were one of the early S-O copiers, when the S-O patents ran out, and they became a favourite of mine.
In terms of value for money - S-O are ok if you can hang on to them - a high cost, but keep hold of them and they'll last you for life.

 

[tomsutton529]

Had a halfords box and top box that has traveled to more than 200 rally's, in the rain, snow and wind, its been all over the country on jobs and even craned onto the 4th floor of a mill fully loaded with tools using straps around it. Still as good as the day I bought it. It get used nearly every day.

But its really the tools in it that I rely on, all Teng, Kingdick, Halfords Pro, Geodore, I think I have s snap on socket or two but never get round to using them.

 

[Ian X]

Many of the places I work in have FOD control, visibility cases and two colour trays in cabinets are mostly what I see in use. I gave up with loose or informal tool layout when compliance measures became rigorous. I see the sense in it for all professional use. Occasionally I will help friends out with machinery or motor work and get irritated when looking for tools loose in trays or draws.

 

[Richard.]

Just remember it's the tools that do the job not the box.

You can't put Snap-on tools in a taskmaster tool box. That's just wrong.

 

[samc88]

In work people have snapped a number of snap on allen keys. Meanwhile my £3 silverline cheapies are still going strong

Got a waterloo 12 drawer box for quite cheap and also liberated a 5 drawer ball bearing tool chest from the scrap pile in work.

 

[Bill Edwards]

In work people have snapped a number of snap on allen keys. Meanwhile my £3 silverline cheapies are still going strong

Got a waterloo 12 drawer box for quite cheap and also liberated a 5 drawer ball bearing tool chest from the scrap pile in work.

Perhaps they're just being rough? If something is stubborn enough and you know that you'll hand it over to the SO man and get handed a replacement, more force will be applied until something gives!

 

[Wallace]

Many of the places I work in have FOD control, visibility cases and two colour trays in cabinets are mostly what I see in use. I gave up with loose or informal tool layout when compliance measures became rigorous. I see the sense in it for all professional use. Occasionally I will help friends out with machinery or motor work and get irritated when looking for tools loose in trays or draws.

I like toolboards, even a piece of ply with nails in, stops you misplacing a tool or leaving it in a vehicle after finishing a job. Had one of these Corgi VW Breakdown Trucks as a kid and the toolboxes neatly laid out always stuck in my mind!

 

[Shox Dr]

^That's some windy gun