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Hit 500 hours on one toolbox without a single breakdown - I used to switch tools every 6 months | Aircraft Mechanics - Guest Forum

spencerm52•5mo ago

Hit 500 hours on one toolbox without a single breakdown - I used to switch tools every 6 months

I always thought you had to swap out your toolbox every couple years to stay current. Bought a used Snap-On KRA series box from a retiring guy back in 2019 for $400, figured I'd get maybe two years out of it before it fell apart or I got tired of the layout. Fast forward to last month when I actually counted the hours I've had it open and working - crossed 500 hours easy, plus it survived moving to a new hangar and a drop off a forklift pallet. Not one drawer has jammed, the slides are still smooth, and the paint only has a few scratches. That made me realize I was just chasing new stuff for no reason. Now I spend that money on better tools instead. Has anyone else stuck with a box way longer than they planned and found it held up better than the new models?

2 comments

2 Comments

grayh605mo ago

Most guys treat toolboxes like fashion statements instead of tool storage. That old KRA will still be rolling smooth when half these new boxes are in the dumpster.

jesse_west5mo ago

Tool storage" makes it sound like we're organizing dental equipment, not hauling greasy wrenches. You're not wrong about those old KRA boxes lasting forever, but I don't know if it's worth getting worked up over. Mostly it's just guys who like a clean bench and some color coded drawers. I've seen plenty of beat up boxes with rusty slides that still work fine. Meanwhile some guy with a brand new shiny box is still wrenching next to it. At the end of the day it's a box with drawers. If someone wants to spend extra on stainless steel handles and a wood top, that's their money. But I get it, @grayh60. You like things simple and sturdy. That's fair.