Ive been in the market for a new box for sometime now. A couple of months ago I ordered a new MAC tech 1000 MB1080 and yet to see the thing. Am getting pretty ticked keep getting the same BS line "Next week" :rolleyes:

Anyway I ran across a New Matco Performer toolbox, roughly the same size as the MAC and in my favorite color yellow. I know nothing of Matco Tools as I dont have a dealer in my area. Am not sure of the model number but its 72Wx42Hx24D. The best part is I can buy this box still keep my snap on box that was going to trade in and have roughly the same amount of cash involved.
Any thoughts on Matco is very welcome. Thanks...Eric

That's out of my league, $3400 and your getting the run around?? There's always Snap-On and Craftsman... I've seen some real cool boxes on ebay too... http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2369079087&category=42363

I was at Sam's recently and saw a great big Pro type multi-box set for more money then I care to think about!!

You might look into it??

Only think is that it was either dark gray or black and chrome???

pdq67

Matco does make some sweet boxes. When a new dealer came to my area he had a sale on a real nice box similar to this one (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=35001&item=2450187931) for 2k. Everyone in the shop traded in thier old Snap-on and Mac boxes for one.They are built like tanks!

Well, it sure is a nice box. Solid, good rollers and a great key system.

I guess for $3400.00 I would find some patience. The Craftsmen box is nice, but I dont think that they are on the same playing field as MAC, Matco or Snap-On. But, the Snap-On box (KRL1003) that is equivelent in size to what was stated, is twice that and I even payed a thousand under WD. I too had to wait. 9 months to finally get mine. The plant was hit by a tornado and flattened that part of the line.

I know waiting sucks, but it is worth the wait. Maybe tell him your going to cancel the order if you dont get the right answer from him. That and if you dont like the answers from your dealer, find another one. Or call corporate......

But the best advise is that if you really like and want that box.....just take a deep breath and pull it together. You will definately appreciate the box more because of it.

This is the one am looking at
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&category=35001&item=2449521178

Ive thought about Craftsman boxes but just dont believe they can hanlde to the day to day usage. Plus they dont make anything BIG enough.

Am just a tad nervous cus I have no rep even close to me, am guessing the nearest dealer would be in Des Moines and thats a 2hr drive

Was just looking through my latest issue of Harbor Freight Tool and ran across a great big set they are selling for less then a grand but it may not be of the quality that you want/need?

You might at least look it over b/c for the kind of money you are talking about, do you really want to leave your tool boxes in your will?

Of course, I'm, er, a, -- "frugal", -- er, --, a, --, OK, so I'm a "tight-a-s"!!

pdq67

Eric i have been looking for a decent used Snap on or matco box too. I came across this one (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2370003769&indexURL=1&photoDisplayType=2#ebayphotohosting) that looks pretty nice. I would really like to see it in person.Problem with the big snap on/mac/matco boxes is you need a rollback to move them! :rolleyes: What do you guys think of that stainless box? I found the website www.hammerheadsteel.com (http://www.hammerheadsteel.com)

[ 01-02-2004, 07:38 AM: Message edited by: shoddy_F-body ]

Shoddy, Ive been looking at those hammerhead boxes too. Ive talked to a few guys that have seen and handled them in person. Ive heard good Ive heard bad smile.gif

What I got is they are great boxes for the home mechanic but for guys like you and me who make a living working out of a tool box, they leave alittle to be desired

Those Hammerhead boxes are nice looking. Stainless will be stronger than reg metal, can you get one polished? That would be very cool!!

They are located in Lamesa California. I used to live near there. There are alot of people working with stainless in the area. I would think the quality should be very good.

What have you heard thats bad?

I had a Matco box 23 years ago and it was a good tool box. I went through a couple of Craftsman boxes after that and I'm now have Mac Maximiser box. The Craftsman boxes I keep at home for working on the cars and they've held up well for that. I use the Mac at the hangar. I wanted to go with a Snap On but it was $5500 for the comparable box and Snap On wasn't willing to deal. All the Snap On boxes I looked at had really deep drawers and not very many shallow drawers, good for a guy that uses a lot of large air tools, but not practical for jet aircraft maintenance. Mac had a comparable box for $4200 with several shallow drawers (plus they discounted it to $3300 for a very, very small dent in a drawer that you have to look very hard to find and they threw in a Maple butcher block top, drawer liners and a Mac winter coat. The Snap On dealer would budge a single dollar for me and I've been doing business with him for 6 years and another 17 years with his former drivers. The Snap On uses a lot of plastic parts in the drawer slides and I also didn't like the way you have to reach under the drawer handle and slide the lock to the left everytime you want to open a drawer, they are still a very good box and top of the line in most peoples opinion. The Mac uses steel ball bearing slides with adjustable ball lock detents on the drawers. I had a pair wear out after a few years and they just sent me a new set no charge. I had a problem with the locks on the casters and they replaced those with an imroved version for free, normally $400 for the pair. So the service from Mac has been excellent.

In my opinion Matco is comparable to the Mac and Snap On box. But keep in mind service after the sale and the dealers willingness to work with you on a sale should be considered. I don't know if the Matco has double ball bearing slides on the lower large drawers like the Mac and Snap On do. But if it does you should be able to stand in the drawer with it open and not damage anything, I found this true for the Mac and Snap On both. One nice thing about the Snap On is they sell a stainless steel top with a rolled lip on the front to keep things from rolling off, nice top. Mac currently doesn't offer this.

I have had for about 10 years now Waterloo top and bottom box. It looks just like the Hammerhead box but it not stainless. It's not a high dollar box by anymeans but it seems to be made well. I got a great deal on it. Ball Bearing drawer slides, top and bottom box, butcherblock between the two boxes all for $550.00.

A combination of a cupon in the mail, a sale and I think a miss marked tool box set got me this deal. Home depot also delivered it for free!!

Thats funny you say that Joe because i have found there to be a link between Hammerhead and Waterloo too. This Waterloo stainless box looks identical to the Hammerhead. Waterloo box (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=35001&item=2451497075)

That's my box only mine is red! They do look alot alike? Wonder who is making what what for who?

My Waterloo has been a very good box. Although I am little anal when it comes to maintance. It gets cleaned out, the slides maintained and a outer cleaning and wax job 2 or 3 times per year. When I worked out of it for a living it recieved a good cleaning and wax job (spray wax) every 2 weeks on payday lunch periods.

Everyone in the shop thought I was nuts. :rolleyes:
It paid off when customers came into the engine build room where I worked, and the tool box was organized and the box and tools looked brand new and not greasy. Matter of fact you could enter my work area most anytime and not get dirty, I kept it very clean. Repeat customers would send people in for work and tell them to checkout the build area.

Since I left the place looks like crap and is dirty. The tool box the builder has now looks a shambles and is dirty and dented covered with grease stains and stickers. graemlins/sad.gif

Sometimes the quality of a toolbox is all about how well you take of it. We need them to hold up but we need to maintain them also.

Joe

Costco and Sam`s are selling a stainless steel box that`s about 40"s wide and 4` or 5` tall that are simply awesome to say the least. They are selling them for $650 dollars. Which I think is ridiculously cheap for what your getting. They are very heavy duty in construction and extremely nice. They are rated to hold 2000#`s. I bet if they had a snapon or matco sticker on them, then they would sell for every bit of 3000 dollars. A friend of mine bought one and I was VERY impressed. I can`t believe they sell so cheap. I can guarantee that I will be owning one in the very near future and recommend them to anyone.

Matco makes one of the best boxes in the business.

My boxes are Matco...

The Mac boxes are good and Snap-On too.

I actually prefer the Mac or Matco to a Snap-On...
They seem a little heavier gauge to me but also seems like Snap -On has made theirs thicker in the last few years.

Any will work...

It takes a while to get a custom box but if you ordered a regular Mac you shouldn't have to wait more than a month or so...

Hi Guys,
I am a line worker at the Matco Tools toolbox plant in Lakewood NY. I am not in management, I am just an ordinary spot welder. Matco regularly buys Snap-On and Mac boxes and brings them to the plant to scope out the competition. I am no Matco Cheerleader, because for what they sell the boxes for, they could be paying us a hell of alot more per hour to make them. But, I do feel that Matco boxes are the best tool boxes in the world, at least as far as I have seen. Our bottom of the line 4725 Proformance rollaway is built way better than Snap On's best boxes. Us pee-ons at the plant really do take pride in what we make, and the slightest defect will cause rejection of the whole box. I know I will never be able to afford a Matco box, but I guess I don't need one anyways. Maybe you guys who buy a Matco box could put in a plug for us guys making them who work 10 hours a day, usually 6 days a week and barely clear $14 an hour.