Toolbox Discussion

[OldCarGuy]

A wooden tool box protects machinist tools better than a steel box. Not only from temperature and humidity changes. But fires. A laptop computer started a huge fire in my machine shop in 2020. Below are before and after pictures. Showing my three Kennedy base boxes, Kennedy top box, a Gerstner wood top box and an 80 year old Dunlap top box. Most of the tools were easily salvable in the wood boxes. But most tools in the steel boxes were toast. All boxes were totaled.





Pictured below is my 100 anniversary Gerstner stack tool box set, before the fire. only a corner can be seen in the after picture. This set was away from the main fire. All the tools cleaned up. And I was able to repair the tool box set.





I replace all six tool boxes on the bench with three Gerstners.




The restored Getshner set

[Highland512]

Who can explain the different Snap On box model series? KR, KRL, KRA and so on.... Are the older KR better than the newer KRA's? 

[1965 Comet Caliente]

Who can explain the different Snap On box model series? KR, KRL, KRA and so on.... Are the older KR better than the newer KRA's? 

KRs were made in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.  KRLs started to be built in the 1990s and have ball bearing drawer slides.  KRAs made in the 1990s(?) and later.  KRLs are the best quality.  I have a KRL 722, 54" wide, 24" deep drawers, beautiful box I got used with a stainless top.  The 1022 is similar but with 29" deep drawers.

If you've ever seen older Snap On boxes, KRs are built very well, with friction slides. KRAs are a lower quality line than the KRL. Good boxes and quality, but not to the standards of KRLs. If you buy a used KRA, you shouldn't be spending as much as if it's a used KRL.

The Epiqs are the newest boxes from Snap On and have a lot of fans.  I like them, but I'd take a KRL myself.

[j.a.f.e.]

1965 Comet Caliente is correct I have three KRA boxes but they are from the 70's and they are all slides no ball bearings.

To add some data points I am of the belief the A in KRA originally indicated it was made in the Algona (IA) plant differentiating them from earlier boxes at least some of which were made by outside vendors (MBC is thought to have been one among some collectors). 

I think but but have no proof the R originally meant Red as some of the earliest boxes were black, gray and a sort of greenish gray

[bmwrd0]

I have an '89 KR657 out in the back garage, and it has roller slides.

And it is the reason I dislike roller slides so much. I bought it used, so it isn't warranty eligible for that reason, but most of the slides are shot, some have the ball bearings coming out and are unusable. But at $50 a drawer to replace, it is a lost cause for me.


Here is a pick of it, sitting behind a Schwinn. You can see the missing two drawers that the slides completely failed on.

[Uncle Buck]

WOW, so sad! It makes a strong case for friction slides!

[Highland512]

Im looking at a KR1001, it has a 93 stamped in it.  Im guessing thats a manufacture date? Its not perfect cosmetically but there is no structural rust. Just some surface rust from where it had a work surface on it. Current owner bought it from the original owner when he retired. Its been in a home shop for 10 years and has had all the slides replaced in that time. 54" wide x 28" deep x 47" tall. Think its worth 1k (hopefully a little less)? I really like the depth of this box, the 22" and 24" seem small once you have looked at a drawer that pulls out this far.   

[1965 Comet Caliente]

Im looking at a KR1001, it has a 93 stamped in it.  Im guessing thats a manufacture date? Its not perfect cosmetically but there is no structural rust. Just some surface rust from where it had a work surface on it. Current owner bought it from the original owner when he retired. Its been in a home shop for 10 years and has had all the slides replaced in that time. 54" wide x 28" deep x 47" tall. Think its worth 1k (hopefully a little less)? I really like the depth of this box, the 22" and 24" seem small once you have looked at a drawer that pulls out this far.   

If it's in good shape with minimal wear, that's a pretty good deal. 

Have any pics to share?