High Dollar tool boxes

GotWood said:
@snappy what does Snap-On do with trade in boxes, destroy them to keep new sales up? Seems like it wouldn't be in their best interest to sell used boxes.
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We sell them, huge business in used tools. The defective ones they crush.
 
Lee, there's some shit smeared on your tool box. Upper right hand corner :D


Also...since we're talking about tool boxes...why do machinists always have Kennedy boxes? Hell, I AM a machinist and I have no idea why. I also don't like them, but the government paid for mine and I guess I can't complain too much about it.
 
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Croatan_Kid said:
Also...since we're talking about tool boxes...why do machinists always have Kennedy boxes? Hell, I AM a machinist and I have no idea why. I also don't like them, but the government paid for mine and I guess I can't complain too much about it.
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The only answer I've ever got was that they make boxes with small and shallow drawers, which are good for lots of small parts and flat tools. And many have a flask drawer for the Machinery's Handbook.

I'd rather have a Lista or Vidmar instead of a Kennedy, but I'm not a machinist.
 
GotWood said:
And this is the failure in your college educated logic. I will do a repair that will take me less than an hour next week. I'll charge $200. Anyone else (as the previous repair shows) other than a pro will fuck it up or will take all day and 2 trips to Lowes (for junk material). You are paying for my knowledge.
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Why do you government people need that expensive microscope? You can't convince me the job couldn't be done with a cheaper one.
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You're missing my point. I have NO PROBLEM with paying for quality work and service, and understand that a person's knowledge base has value. I also have no problem paying for tools that reflect their value, particularly when that value will be realized. In the case of a tool drawer I don't see it, but I conceded that the difference must be between the pro and hobbyist.

My beef with the flat rate job as pointed out is that the stated rate is a scam. Stated as a 6 hrs job, but only takes 50 minutes if he does it quickly, so then he can move on and do another job during the next 5 hrs while he is being paid for the first.
That's just dishonest. If the job takes an hour, but requires 6x the experience and knowhow, then fine, just charge 6x the rate. But don't claim it is a 6 hr job.

BTW, re: government expenses - in most cases, at least around here, anything that is at all expensive - it takes severe justification to get "the expensive one". Capitol equipment purchases require multiple bids, and we HAVE to get the cheapest one, unless we can get evidence that it won't work "to fit mission needs". the result is that we don't have the expensive microscope. My lab is full of 2nd-rate stuff as a result. And I couldn't tell you how many hours I have lost fiddling with & yelling at my Rigol oscilloscope b/c "it's the same as the the same the Agilent one" but fits under the purchase window. No question that the total loss of my labor time exceeds the savings.
 
RatLabGuy said:
You're missing my point. I have NO PROBLEM with paying for quality work and service, and understand that a person's knowledge base has value. I also have no problem paying for tools that reflect their value, particularly when that value will be realized. In the case of a tool drawer I don't see it, but I conceded that the difference must be between the pro and hobbyist.

My beef with the flat rate job as pointed out is that the stated rate is a scam. Stated as a 6 hrs job, but only takes 50 minutes if he does it quickly, so then he can move on and do another job during the next 5 hrs while he is being paid for the first.
That's just dishonest. If the job takes an hour, but requires 6x the experience and knowhow, then fine, just charge 6x the rate. But don't claim it is a 6 hr job.

BTW, re: government expenses - in most cases, at least around here, anything that is at all expensive - it takes severe justification to get "the expensive one". Capitol equipment purchases require multiple bids, and we HAVE to get the cheapest one, unless we can get evidence that it won't work "to fit mission needs". the result is that we don't have the expensive microscope. My lab is full of 2nd-rate stuff as a result. And I couldn't tell you how many hours I have lost fiddling with & yelling at my Rigol oscilloscope b/c "it's the same as the the same the Agilent one" but fits under the purchase window. No question that the total loss of my labor time exceeds the savings.
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You are missing the bit where instead of 50 minutes, a bolt breaks off in the block and the tech spends 4 hours getting the broke bolt off, then spends an extra hour cleaning up the threads or retapping the hole then changes the water pump and still only gets paid for 6 hours.
 
Ron said:
You are missing the bit where instead of 50 minutes, a bolt breaks off in the block and the tech spends 4 hours getting the broke bolt off, then spends an extra hour cleaning up the threads or retapping the hole then changes the water pump and still only gets paid for 6 hours.
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Not to mention the first one I did in 5.5 hours, the next one in 5 hours, etc. I've done some jobs so many times now that I can pull all the right sockets and wrenches out of the box and lay them out on the roll cart before I even pull the car in the bay! That saves half an hour over the job not walking over to the box, of course the shop I'm at now pays a straight salary instead of flat rate so I'm not as worried about time anymore, but my work boots thank me[emoji2]
 
Oh yea, to keep it on track, I've been working out of the same craftsman box since 2000. I have a mix of craftsman snapon and Mac tools, though the craftsman are slowly getting replaced because its getting hard to warranty them. The local sears stock is getting shittier, and they won't warranty anything if it looks like you're wearing a uniform so I have to go home and change into street clothes then drive back into town. I have a second set of mostly craftsman tools at home with a craftsman box too for my hobby/ side work. The work box is getting worn out pretty good now so I've been saving up and watching Craigslist.
 
RatLabGuy said:
My beef with the flat rate job as pointed out is that the stated rate is a scam. Stated as a 6 hrs job, but only takes 50 minutes if he does it quickly, so then he can move on and do another job during the next 5 hrs while he is being paid for the first.
That's just dishonest. If the job takes an hour, but requires 6x the experience and knowhow, then fine, just charge 6x the rate. But don't claim it is a 6 hr job.
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Ron said:
You are missing the bit where instead of 50 minutes, a bolt breaks off in the block and the tech spends 4 hours getting the broke bolt off, then spends an extra hour cleaning up the threads or retapping the hole then changes the water pump and still only gets paid for 6 hours.
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This. I work part-time for John Deere. We also do flat-rate labor, and it's that exact reason of the "unknown" that keeps us as such. Along with that, flat-rate labor keeps the lights on in the winter months and us employed when it slows down. It also affords us the ability to cut someone a break on an overall job if they really need it, or keep us ahead for those jobs that kick our ass. A simple PTO clutch replacement on a commercial mower I can do in ten minutes. When I get that one commercial mower that has lived in the elements, the owner doesn't wash, the PTO clutch is seized on the crankshaft and I end up destroying good parts to replace the bad one, that's where the flat-rate covers.

Aside from this, I own a Snap-On box. I love the feel, the build quality, and that my area looks organized and professional. We're the shop that sweeps and mops weekly, and paints the floors and walls every year so that the customer can see that if we care this much about the work environment, you're going to get the same attention to detail on your equipment.

I had the garbage tools and hand-me-down sets. I've kept the ones that I wanted and tossed the rest. To this day I still prefer a Craftsman screwdriver to a Snap-On, even though I own both, and my rep ridicules me about it every time. What does that tell you? It's my preference and choice as to what brand tool and box that I use. I wanted it, so I bought it. No further justification needed.
 
This thread reminds me I have a broken snap on ratchet I need warrantied @snappy (cough cough).
 
[QUOTE="maulcruiser, post: 1417907, member: 1059"To this day I still prefer a Craftsman screwdriver to a Snap-On, even though I own both, [/QUOTE]


QFT.
I hate the snap on handles, except the klein knock off ones, and then ill just buy klein
 
maulcruiser said:
To this day I still prefer a Craftsman screwdriver to a Snap-On, even though I own both, and my rep ridicules me about it every time.
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Try Wiha for screwdrivers. You'll never look at a Snap-On or Craftsman screwdriver ever again. If you do anything with tiny screws or use jeweler's screwdrivers, Wiha makes just about the best tech drivers in the world too.
 
I have 3 Crapsman boxes. (stand up, but won't dare try and role them on a regular basis.) The difference I have seen, nicer, and deeper drawers, Pull one of my draws out, push it back in. In some cases REALLY push it in. Now, go over to a friend of mines shop. Go to his box, pull out a drawer, using the opening latch(mine does not have) and with little effort, it glides open. To close, again, little effort, and it's closed. NO MATTER WHAT is on there! How much weight it holds, it glides back in with ease. Just the construction, of the cabinet is for superior over mine. So if I were a mechanic, yes I would want and need one. But for how often I use my tools, not for me.

What kinda tools do I own? a little of all.

I do know, that in my experience, Craftsman, Kobalt, or Pittsburgh have not been near as generous to what we do(wheel) as Snap on has been. I don't know their reps, but I do know Chris. There is a reason for his success.

Hey @snappy when will my new box be delivered? did I say it all right?
 
I do have to say that I'm impressed with the quality of the Snap On drawers and how they glide in and out even with tons of tools in them. And, I have a well used (possibly abused...) Snap On chest and the drawers still work flawlessly.

Every time I need a tool out of the Craftsman or Husky boxes, I cuss every time because the drawer binds up every time!

I've now moved all of my popular tools to the Snap On and even over filled it because I hate binding drawers on the other cheap boxes. Ugh


@snappy I need another box, used trade-in preferred. I'm flexible. :)
 
Blaze said:
Maybe you guy need to be more gentle. When I throw my tools, I aim for the wall and not my toolbox. :p
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I am at the truck, since thats what's usually the source of the anger.
 
The screw drivers kind of suprises me... They last round of handles had lots of product testing in the hands of customers before they where released. But on the other hand i understand why, i have learned that people are a creature of habit and new things dont feel right....... I was talking with a customer the other day about how something was a new process, he said that its xyz different and he didnt like the new way even though it was faster. So i challenged him to this test to prove my point..... "Which hand do you wipe with????" He said the right. "For the next week use your left, your tp holder is on that side of the stall in your shop, short distance , time saver"

I came back the next week and laughed, he had tried it but bc he hand used his right all his life but the left wasnt wrong either just a different way than what he was used to.

I am proud of the company that i partnered with almost 12 years ago. I am realistic in the fact that I know we arent the best in every single tool out there, but we do have alot that are top of the class. The big difference is the dealer, i see it daily. I just do and treat people the same way i expect in return.
 
snappy said:
"Which hand do you wipe with????" He said the right. "For the next week use your left, your tp holder is on that side of the stall in your shop, short distance , time saver"
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I'm impressed that you know which side of the stall the TP holder is on.
You sir must spend a lot of time in your customer's crapper.
 
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