I started as a mechanic over 15 years ago with a 250$ craftsman tool set from Sears. I think a lot of young mechanics needed to hear this.

Steven is 100% correct. I am 41yr old and have 0 payments. House and all cars are payed for. Just payed $9000 cash for camper. I've work 20+ yr to get here and it's so much better.

Well done Sir. I was a mechanic for over 30 years. Retired, sold all my tools, bought a decent US General box and filling it up with Harbor Freight tools. They have done every thing I have asked them for. Next I am going for the Vulcan welder.

In the last 10 Years harbor freight has stepped up their game for sure

The u.s. general tool boxes/carts have a very good bang for the buck.

This is why I love your channel and content, No BS honest real-world experience talkin. There are lots of young guys out there that NEED to hear this. Cheers from Tokyo Stu

I went to school for heavy operation. One of the requierments was to have a tool box. We could either buy a Snap On set from the school or put together our own. I chose to buy the Snap On set which as a student i was able to get 50% off the kit and any tool i bought while i was in school. Since i graduated i have not bought a single Snap On tool. I have continued to buy harbor frieght tools and have had no issues with them at all. Have also bought a husky bottom chest that i am very satisfied with. Big name tools are over rated in my opinion.

Better watch out man the snap-on Fanboys don't like this much truth-telling.

Amen, some serious advice here people listen! I went through this myself and actually made me give up auto mechanics industry. Back in 1990 I went to trade school for auto, class would say I would make $25 an hour after 3 years in the field etc. I started doing oil changes working my way up to full service all the while feeding the tool trucks kids. At most I was making $12 an hour (back then similar to $17 now) and after taxes my take home about 30% went to tool truck. Never got anywhere for 4 years in the industry. And I was good... Great attitude fast worker etc.. I did make some good pay check working flat rate for a while but the shop couldn't sustain steady work. I quit no notice (which isn't like me) because if I gave notice I knew I would change mind or be talked back into staying. I remember the day like it was yesterday. Prob about 1996.. I was doing an inspection sticker on a saab convertible with a car full of 4 girls going to the beach. Here I was in my dark dungeon and blue jump suit feeling like egor. I said F this I want to be in outside work. Picked up classified paper and grabbed a job landscaping for a small local guy. Worked with him for 2 1/2 years and never looked back... Now I have been self employed landscaping since 1999. I still get to wrench all the time on my own equipment and trucks and save myself the money. Best of both worlds. Again, great advice here guys. I would say a little help and building credit is good but don't ever let a payment get missed. it falls apart quick, been there done that and back on top now.

I think the same. The old saying back then “Just because you own a Craftsman it doesnt make you one”. Lol. I bought a good size Husky tool box for 800 on facebook marketplace. Ive been buying some icon stuff. Its been good to me so far. I work independent in Texas near Austin. Cheers man, love you channel and how honest you are, you just tell it how it is. 👍🏽

Awesome words my friend. After being a mechanic all my life, I was put behind a desk, and lost sight of myself. As fate would have it, I wound up back in the shop. I bought a cart just like that one, best purchase I've ever made. Don't get me wrong, my 200 buck cart has about 4 grand worth of stuff in it. I love it. All the guys in the shop want one now....yeah!

Stephen nailed it. I've collected a lot of tools over the years, and my philosphy is that I don't need the stress of having to track expensive wrenches. Tools walk away and get broken. If the tools are good enough to get the job done, you just replace broken or lost tools; they become consumable. You just have to avoid the opposite end, which is cheap tools that break all the time or kill bolts - that costs time and more money. Icon seems to be in the sweet spot of "good enough" right now, Craftsman had this market years ago. Since HF is around the corner for most folks, you can get swing by and get a replacement. I've had mixed experience with the Pittsburgh brand, which is the HF low end stuff. I would just buy the Icon.

This is some solid advice. I already knew it but it’s good that you are using your platform to open some eyes and ears. I like seeing garages that are humble because it means a better chance they are not gonna charge as much because they don’t have huge tool bills to compensate for.

I am SO proud of all the S&K tools I rounded up about 50 years ago. All were well polished and none have needed to be replaced. It might be amazing to see what those quality tools would sell for today!

I agree 1,000%! I'm an independent mechanic with 27 years of a very wide range of mixed experience too, and I also fell into the tool truck trap as well. In a pinch, I bought a set of Icon sockets (mainly because I can't get a Snap-On truck to stop at my home garage and warranty my worn out and broken tools) and I am extremely impressed with them, and I will continue to replace my worn out and broken tool truck tools with Icon. I also have the same tool cart in black, and for the $200 (with coupon) I spent on it, it is AWESOME (I got used to the weird drawer latches). It just barely fits all of the tools that I use every day and I can easily roll it around everywhere. I have an older 2 bay Snap-On box ($4K) that holds my bigger and specialty tools, but mostly is a dust collecting catch-all. I wish Harbor Freight had this level of quality and availability 25 years ago. I could have probably saved $50K Keep up the great work on the channel!

YOUR REAL, I hope others will listen to your words Stephen Cox, I assure you what you said in this video is REAL..! if anyone wants to chat with me after 30+ years Aviation Aerospace technician background, it works the exact same way, some of the SNAP On items and even Mac and Matco are certainly are superior in some areas, but your absolutely RIGHT ON...

The cart is one of the best items in the HF store. I have the US General 44" top and bottom cabinet as well as the Icon ratcheting wrenches and love them so far.

I bought the same Cart a year ago. it's still holding up. tools don't make the mechanic wisdom and knowledge does. this was a wise investment for me. I have tools from every industry tool truck and even some 20yr old Chinese tools. they all still work. just like me. still working...

I bought craftsman tools way back when I started (1973) after getting out of the Air Force. I still use the same craftsman wrenches today.

I agree 100%. I started out with a cheap Craftsman top box and added on as I needed more tools. Almost everything was used in my first set, some stuff I "borrowed" from my dad. First thing I bought off the tool truck was a USED Ingersoll impact, still have it today. I still work out of a 3 tier Craftsman 26", now filled with mostly Snap-on because I can afford to work with nice tools.

The greatest advice that you can give to a starting mechanic.

Been there had $78,000 in tools when I retired as a mechanic. Now I buy things from harbor freight and had very few have problems with. Painted a semi with a Black widow the guy thought I used my Santa he was amazed what I used. Sad a was $ 560 Black widow was $ 190

I’ve been using the same cart in a diesel shop for over a year now, works great. There is limited space but is holding up awesome

I have had the US general roll cart with the US general side draw box hanging on it for the past 4 years it is great. I bought a full of icon 3/8 sockets flex head ratchet and icon combination wrench. I have been using them for about 3 months and so far they are great. I think Harbour Freight is on the way to being a serious professional tool supplier. It is an exciting time to shop Harbour Freight there is new premium tools every time I go in.

I do a lot of wrenching either building classic muscle cars or building Harley’s; I was also a mechanic in the aerospace industry for 5 years. I can tell you that so far my experience with Icon tools had been great. For the money, you really can’t beat it. And don’t forget they have mostly the same warranty as snap-on except you don’t have to wait for the tow truck guy you can just take it right into the store.

Thanks for posting. Good advice.

Nailed it. Plus in our area we haven’t had real snap on tool dealer for years. I’ve been in the field for over 40+ years lots of snap on tools, now no dealer to take my broken tools for warranty. Lovely. Screw snap on’s junk. Nice video, every new tech should have to watch this video.

I have one of those HF 5 drawer carts for home use. Outstanding cart IMHO. Great value. Heavy duty enough for a shop pro. Not a big fan of those drawer locks either. I saw another video where a guy suggested holding the latch open and inserting nut in there to hold it in the open position. I used a 7/16 nut and happy that I don't need to work that latch.

I bought a US General 44” box and love it. I am using it as a work space and tool storage in my home office for work. I work from home as a Technical Support Engineer and am slowly getting my tools organized. I agree with you on how the tools don’t dictate how good you are. A tool can’t troubleshoot an electrical or mechanical problem. Especially intermittent problems....

The Pittsburg ratchets and icon wrenches are great for any tech. I use them everyday with no issues so far. And if I do have a issue who cares they will swap them out. Can have two of everything so no time with out a tool and still be saving a bunch of cash over snap off.

When it comes right down to it, it's personal preference that will be the deciding factor. I am all about saving a buck but on the other hand I prefer to use Snap On tools. Nobody is twisting my arm making me by them and I have used many brands, including harbor freight, but Snap On is what I like. I have mechanics in my shop that have no Snap On tools and they do a good job with what they have.

Bought the exact US General cart as you have but blue in color. Great value and well built. Harbor Freight is an amazing value for what you get. Well said my friend!

I sold my big box and bought me two of those 5 drawer carts. It was a great deal! I only have a few snap on parts left. The rest are craftsman and icon.

Great advice, here's a tip and inexpensive up-grade for your tool cart.. Take some 1/8 inch flat steel, pre-cut a pattern for all the coaster holes, now is a good time to up-grade coaster wheels if you wish at Harbor Freight and install onto the tool cart. The cart is stronger and goes better over bumps. Much smoother and firmer !

I have that exact cart for 2 years now and I LOVE it!

Great video. I'm not a mechanic but i fool around in my garage. I bought the US General tech cart. It has a slightly smaller foot print and does not have the drawer latches. Works for me. Good advice for anyone starting out, avoid debt. Look for value, we can't always afford the best but always get the best we can afford.

This guy is correct ,I have been a mechanic for over 34 years, save your money ,today these tools are pretty durable and will last as long you use it correctly, left the dealership 4 years ago, to work on big transit bus, got bunch of large tools from amazon and they held up good so far. Like he said, save your money and make money, be smart about it.

I agree 99% with you. I have been a mechanic for several years now. I have several things from HF. Pawn shop Craftsman, etc. I have a US General toolbox that is still going. The only tools that I cannot get around buying better are locking pliers and similar. Knipex are the only ones that I have found to do what they should do.

I have this same tool cart and have had zero issues. it's a very well built box. I did remove the drawer latches though. That made opening the drawers so much nicer.

Your spot on about the tools I have a US general toolbox love it I’m a home mechanic type thing I work at a job they were tired of losing the brand-name tools so they went out and got five boxes of five sets of tools for each box and lo and behold nobody took them home and they still work pretty well harbor freight tools that is

I run a modest collection of tools including the first set my Dad got me. I use them more than any others. Good old Craftsman. Never needed any other.

I’ve bought all my snap on tools from CL or a pawnshop for pennies on the dollar.

Amen! Tool review and life lesson all in one video. Dave Ramsey would be proud, lol. I love HF stuff, I even have one of their old Chicago Electric $30 reciprocating saws that everyone says are junk. Had it for...8, 10 years? I've cut sway bar links off of our cars with it and it's still going. Bought the 5-drawer cart you have and a bigger 13-drawer cabinet ($400) and filled it with the 301-pc Pittsburgh tool set - full 1/4, 3/8 & 1/2 socket/ratchet sets, wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, etc. etc. Got the cordless Earthquake XT 1/2 impact driver, works like a charm. One of the low profile Daytona racing-style floor jacks. I probably have between $1200 and $1500 wrapped up in all my HF stuff, tools and carts, and I can do any job in my garage...my only limitation is my skill level.

Here's the story, my brother is the best mechanic I have ever known, he has never set foot on a tool truck. I went by a shop he had just started at in 2008 and he was working out of a couple of totes, the shop owner bought for him to use a tool cart. It was a Blue Point 5 drawer tool cart that cost $850 off of the Snap On truck. About a month later I saw a 5 drawer tool car at Harbor Freight and the only difference was it only came in a dull red and it didn't have the bumpers on the corners and it was $120 and it was made in China. I checked the Snap On website and the Blue Point 5 drawer cart was also made in China probably at the same plant. I bought a Harbor Freight cart in 2010 for my garage and never put the shocks on, I just hang the lid down the back and back then it came with all swivel casters. A few weeks ago I bought one of those big mamajama priy bars and I think I'm just going to enlarge one of the holes for it. I was also thinking about pulling the pin on the lid hinge and flipping it over and using the shock mounts to turn it into a shelf, we'll see. ;-)

Love the icon impact sockets. They look pretty close to snap on and matco and are under half the price with a lifetime warranty. Also if it does break, drive down to your local HF to get it replaced. You don’t have to wait a whole week or months for a tool truck to come by

Can’t love this enough. You are spot on !

I've used the Harbor Freight tools and tool carts in industrial maintenance and they work just fine.

I'm not even a mechanic, but I want tool truck tools! Somebody give me a credit app

I've only done shadetree type stuff, working on my own stuff in the driveway/parking lot. My first main kit was a Craftsman briefcase about 19 years ago. Still got most of the pieces. Any time I'd need more or a replacement, I'd just go to Autozone, Lowe's, or even Walmart.

I have that same box, same color for the last year. It could be a little bigger, but I do have some junk in there I don’t need. I went to Home Depot and bought some threaded eyelets and u-bolts and used them to hang my pry bars and hammers. I paid $230 for the box so I really had no problem drilling into it.

"THE BIGGER AND BETTER BRAND (SNAP ON) THE TOOL BOX IS, THE BETTER YOU ARE AS MECHANIC". I love this phrase and I see /hear it every day at work. LOL, HAHAHAHA. JAJAJAJAJA 😄😀😅😆😀😃😄😁

Thank you for being clear and honest. I have a lot of old Craftsman, and plenty of Harbor Freight sockets and ratchets. I did buy a lot of Milwaukee power tools but I went with a Harbor Freight Bauer big corded impact for the tough stuff. I have an old Craftsman torque wrench. I have a couple of Pittsburgh socket wrenches . I keep everything as neat and organized as I can in a Kobalt roll away tool box. That's the one tool I wish I had spent more on. I had to tweak it and repair it to get it to work right. My buddy worked on Rolls Royce with Thorsen wrenches and sockets - and basic air impact - no Snap On. Clearly you have the ability to analyze tools. Most of this is about skill - not the most expensive tools.

This man’s a true super hero. If your coming out of Trade school please listen to the senior men on these sites Tool truck trucks are like Spandex they are cool for a while until the bill comes every month and never ends, meanwhile you got gas rent clothes food baby formula. You can buy and break ICON tools all day long every corner has a HF store now. Think about what $500 in snap on tools vs ICON you will have two tools in one hand and 8 ICON tools in the other.

Been using icon tools since the came out. I love them man they get the job done, my only issue is on alignments, they like to slip off tie rods but most of the time those are rusted to hell so i heat them up and im able to break them loose. I just ordered my icon 56 tool box :)

I have that same tool cart and it has worked out well riding in the back of my semi trailer for 2 years now. It is still as solid as it was the day I put it together. I have had other tool boxes and over time the welds on started breaking. Of course it has tipped over a few times and run in to fork lift driver that cant drive one. But for the money I can get 4 of them for what paid for my last one that end up in scrap pile.

I Appreciate the real talk.. 👍🏼👍🏼

I’m just a diy mechanic who fixes his own vehicles. I started out with a 320 piece craftsman tool set that I got for about $150 when my local Sears was going out of business liquidating the last of their inventory. I’ve been doing some research on the harbor freight US general tool boxes. From everything I’ve seen, including this video, they seem to be the best tool carts on the market. You could buy 5 or 6 harbor freight boxes for the same price as ONE snap on box. After watching this video, I’m sold on the harbor freight tool cart now.

Great advice mate.

Snapon is going to put Snapon out of business. I was a diehard Snapon fan for years. The quality of a lot of their tools has gone way down hill. So many other companies putting out either as good or better tools for way cheaper prices.

You were awesome on the diesel performance podcast. I love my snap on wrenches but I have Milwaukee wrenches also, no big difference between the 2 except the price

I agree for the most part. The snap on techangle is well worth the money if you use its functions regularly. I work in an engine shop and torque turn bolts constantly so it was worth it to me. The snap on PWZ is worth the money because straight from bahco it's marginally cheaper. One or two good snap on ratchets make life easier and the FCF72 is worth its weight in gold and I have some specialty wrenches and stuff that was worth getting off the tool truck. My philosophy is to spend as little as possible on the truck and try to get the best deal you can, also definitely buy used truck brand hand tools if you have the coin to do so. I buy certain things off the tool truck because they either make me the best deal, they make the best version, or they're the only ones that make the tool.

I've found harbor freight tools to be for the most part very capable. However, I have also found sometimes snap on or matco have a certain tool specifically designed for the odd task you are working on. Ive also found that sometimes the HF ratchets aren't as strong, It seems the teeth and parts used inside the ratchets itself are often smaller. I use and have overloaded both HF and snap on ratchets and have only bent 1 icon ratchet. Harbor freight tools are very capable but for daily use they sometimes seem to wear quicker, I have several Pittsburg sockets that round off everything because they are too worn after 2-3 years of daily use. Although, that seems to be the case with any tool after enough time.

Facts. I have the same box but in red and 3 of them. Love them.

Those used snappy boxes on the internet for 75% off are owed money on to snappy. For the most part. Snappy can repossess them

I’ve had the US General tool cart since 2012 and the 44” top and bottom box since 2013. They are an excellent value for the money and have held up great. I don’t have any of the Icon stuff yet but I’m strongly considering it.

I'm glad at the time i was building my tools i was in my early 20s broke and so harbor freight , sears, walmart, lowes, etc were what was in my price range. They did the job and most of it is still kickin in the end it kept me out of debt because there was no way i could have afforded the tool truck stuff. Now if something gives out there's a lot of very serviceable higher quality options available at a really great price point that i can replace stuff with.

I just got into the heavy truck mechanic trade. This is what I'm getting. My impacts will still be matco but the wrenches and boxes are gonna be icon and US General

I bought craftsman in the 90 when I started and still use them today. I turned wrenches for 12 years and had a career change. When I was getting out I bought a big bad tool box still have it and use it to work on kids cars. I didn't buy alot off of tool trucks because I couldn't afford it and sears had what I need.

Best video I think you ever made. Thank you

I had the old version of the HarborFreight 42” rolling box. It treated me well. Never had any issues.

I bought the US General Cart, the model below that one. I was actually looking to get a bigger box when I purchased it. Reality set in that I am tired of walking across the shop for tool and waisting time. BEST $150 I spent. I did buy the glove holder and the side folding laptop shelf also. Anyone who is a real mechanic knows tools in reach are better than walking 10 miles a day across the floor. I own a limousine company and do all my own maintenance, except for technical things on my diesel buses, I have a guy for that. He works in a large repair shop and went and bought the same cart after using mine. I do still use all my Craftsman Tools I started buying in 1993. Mostly the sockets, ratchets, wrenches, and screwdrivers, but there are some other brands that have now been mixed in along the way when it comes to specialty tools.

I bought the Quinn Ratchet/Wrenches mechanic set from Harbor Freight with the 25% discount coupon a few years ago and replaced only the 1/4 Ratchet with the warranty after 2 years of beating the hell out of it. Lifetime warranty, redeemed at ANY of their stores with absolutely no hassle. LOVE THEM. My box is an old Craftsman I bought at a yardsale. I've been made fun of for them but in the end I KNOW it's because those dudes wish they weren't in debt too.

Loved this video. I purchased the same tool chest....Orange😉😉😉.....love it. Harbor freight has some pretty good items!!! Loved your honesty. Some mechanics have been paying on their "Snap On" account for years!!!

First, my appreciation for your advice to new techs to not get blinded by the "glitz and glamor" of a new tool box and tools. I'd like to share my story because it's very relevant and I hope it helps the "up and comers." When I finished school and first got placed as a rookie, general mechanic I started with a brand new Craftsman, "briefcase" tool kit, that I just set on the floor somewhere on the "box wall" because I didn't have a tool box. I took a lot of flack. No biggie. One tech who liked me, used to call me "Secret Squirrel" because I had my "Secret agent, attaché tool kit." lol 😆 But, I was able to do most everything required of me at the time & there was a "shop gun" for changing tires. I didn't let the guys bother me with their remarks, I had a plan and they would soon eat their words. I had grown up with the "build what you can, make something from nothing" mentality of my depression-hardened, WWII veteran father who could do/make/fix anything he needed. He also tought me about borrowing tools... "If you have to borrow something more than twice, buy one, buy the best (you can) and buy it once." I did. It served me well and I used that against the "habitual borrowers" in the shops who never seemed to have any tools of their own because everyone else just went along. They learned not to bother me. I got by on very little, just long enough for me to figure out what I needed. Soon after, the Snap On guy took pity on me, respected my avoiding "the trap" of not buying a high $$ box and sold me a small, portable box ($50, it was decent and I could lock it to something) that I could carry around but would hold my tools, the new gun and couple other tools I did need to buy. Soon after that, the Matco guy had a used, greasy, raggedy (but surprisingly dent free) basic, Snap On roll cart, which spent it's life in a transmission shop, It looked like it was dredged up from "The black lagoon." I took it home and degreased, feather sanded and repainted the trays & drawers with a couple of Snap On red, rattle-cans, replaced all the drawer slides, cleaned the chrome frame, added new chrome drawer trims and stuck a shiny, new "Snap On" badge on it. I brought it in the next week & when the dealer looked at it, his eyes bugged out and he said "how much did you pay for that!!??" Shook his head and said "I should have done that." He bugged me for a long time about how I "stole that cart from him." lol 😆 I spent about $50 restoring a cart that I paid $75 for and had a flawless cart that sold new for about $350 (it was a long time ago). Everyone was amazed that I brought the thing back from the dead. I rolled up with that cart, with my "carry-around" box on top and I claimed a place on the "box wall" for my very own. 😀 It took me weeks. About 8 weeks after that, my patience paid again and I found an older, Snap On, top & bottom set that looked like it came from the same lagoon as my roll cart. Dirty, greasy, slides worn out, a couple of small dents, shoddy casters etc.. I paid about $250 (again, taking pity on me) as he sold it just for what he gave another tech in trade. He just wanted his money from it. That's usually the case with older/poor condition boxes and an advantage for you. I gave it the same treatment... I removed the dents, new paint, new slides, drawer-pull trims and "Snap On" badges. Suddenly, I had an "in new condition" Snap On box combo and roll cart (I traded in the "carry box" on the combo) that looked *brand spanking new.* The guys didn't give me crap anymore... Total investment? About $475. Total value? About $2,300. And no payments... 😀 I used that set for almost a year. Then, the Mac dealer had just gotten in the first "Macsimizer" box on his truck (I told you it was a long time ago), one of just a few in the state. I looked at it for a while and we had a good report so, I finally asked him what it would take to get into that box. He said that he would really like to get one into a large shop where people could see it, etc.. Fortunately for me, I was working in a large, "Pep Boys" (when they were worth going to) with a lot of bays and exposure. He thought about it for a while and made me an offer. Since it was the first box and, if I "talked it/him up" whenever I could for "word of mouth" (and he knew I wasn't "flush") he'd sell me the box for cost and $175.00 as he had to cover his expenses "and write off the rest as advertisement" (he was being a good guy but didn't want to wreck his "gruff" rep lol). He took $2k trade-in for my restored, Snap On boxes plus $500 in cash so, for my total cash investment of just under $1,000, he rolled a brand new, $3,500 retail, "Macsimizer" tool box off the truck. I was in business! It did *not* come with a fancy, wooden top (that was a couple hundred dollars extra) or a stainless steel top (not offered) so... I went to Home Depot and bought a sheet of MDF and cut it to fit. It protected the box from dents and would have been fine (and easy to replace) but I wanted protection from the crap I was working on so, I bought a drop-sheet of aluminum and cut/bent/fit/glued it around the MDF and, Presto! I had a bulletproof top for my box... Cost? About $60. The guys kept looking at it and asking "What's your payment?" I quite smugly looked at them and said "Nothing, it was paid for when it hit the floor." They just looked at me sideways and said "must be nice." I said "remember those shitty tool boxes I bought and worked so hard to restore? It paid off." And that was that. No more comments from the peanut gallery, I officially "belonged." 😆 Now, it's years later and I'm working for a the largest movie production transportation equip. company in the country, dealing with every aspect of building/renting/leasing all the "Star & cast trailers" and support equipment you could imagine. I "needed" a larger box because I had more/bigger tools and I had no top box. I looked for a Macsimizer top to match my box but the style had changed and it was a "goose chase" so, I talked to my Matco dealer (who had some "personal issues" going on and needed cash) and asked him about a deal on a new, large set he had. He'd just repossessed a "new" box that some guy had bought, made 3 payments on and gave back (I think he got fired). It was immaculate. I asked him about my trade value (my "Macsimiser" was also still like new) and he needed to move that box since he owed the company for it so, as box prices had gone up and he knew he could move my box immediately, he offered me *$3,500* in trade (more than I paid and the original retail price!) against his balance on the new set (several grand off retail because of the down payment/payments the other guy had made) so I got into a "brand new" Matco "6s" bottom with a matching, closable top "hutch" with a retail price of about $13k, for $7,500. That was a deal. I finally, after years in the business, had a "truck payment" but, it was a deal I couldn't pass up. My original, cash investment in my Mac box? $975.00, plus $4,000 for the new box meant a $5,000 total cash investment for a box worth $13,000!! I could live with that. I decided I needed a box for my house shop. Same drill, found a "Black lagoon" victim Snap On, 2 bank, 16 drawer box for $500. Did my magic act. New paint, liners, casters, etc.... New, it was worth $2,300.00. Now, about $1,500. Just because of limited amount I have invested, the condition and the time involved... I can still get some $ out of my boxes. With today's prices and what I paid so long ago, the like new condition and what I see other, "more beat" boxes sell for new, name brand boxes, I could sell this set fo most of what I paid for it. I've considered that, then buying a new set from Harbor Freight and pocketing the difference. We'll see. I'm living proof that you *don't* have to go down the "toolbox payment rabbit hole" to get a nice, name brand box. You just need to be motivated. Once you buy that first, fancy new box, at retail price and start making that payment every month, it'll never end. You need newer, bigger boxes, have to be "bigger than the next guy," etc., just like he says. There was a guy in my shop, made a lot of money, had the biggest setup that Snap On sells and it cost him *tens of thousands.* It was his "badge of honor." His signal to the world that he'd "made it." And there's nothing "wrong" with that, if that's what's important to you. But, with a little creative thinking and a fair amount of "sweat equity," you *can* have nice, big, name brand boxes and *not pay a fortune for them.* You just need to be patient and willing to put in some effort to get what you want. It took me almost a year after starting work but, then I was ahead of the game for the rest of my career and saved thousands of dollars. There are always boxes being traded in that fill the "restoration" bill, you just have to look and be willing to spend the time/effort. I went about 15yrs before I made a payment for a toolbox. Other tools, that's another story but they didn't have the quality of tools available, like the Icons or Craftsman pro line, when I was buying. It so happens that my wife is a mngr @ Harbor Freight. 😉 She watched me buy *a lot* of expensive tools because I would just break the stuff they had. They had a warranty but, that's no good when you're in the middle of a job. Now, I have a lot of H.F. tools, like Icon, etc. and they're just fine. Definitely worth any minor reduction in quality from Snap On, considering it's 1/3rd the price or more. It's the specialty tools that still warrants buying from the big boys, when they're the only game in town. Everything else is fair game.

Really good advice.👍🏻

I have the general 4 drawer cart. I like it. I have some of harbor frights tools. The ratchets are better than my old school craftsman.

Been working on hydraulics for little over 2yrs now and Carlyle and SK have been my to go to tools.

I startet out with lots of hig quallity tools and still buy hig quallity stuff but not because i am such a good mechanic or anything i just had a lot of luck in life and had a good job great Video good advise

You hit the nail on the head best video yet...

Got my dad a new harbor freight cart to replace his 40 year old craftsman cart where all the slides and casters were broken. He loves it.

I have already priced out a Snap On 3/4 Ratchet cause I broke enough of the cheap ones lol And you wouldnt believe the amount of high quality tools one can get through farm auctions and garage sales

I think of you as a mechanic evangelist...you preachin' truth! Name brand ain't everything, I've got some harbor freight power tools that are still going after 20 years. Take care of your tools and they will last. Thanks for another great video!

I have a mix of tools from a lot of different manufacturers. Staying out of debt for tools is a great thing. And there are a lot of mid to low range tools that will do just as good for a fraction of the cost. Tool truck rebranded tools is something to keep in mind and you try to always buy these from the original manufacturer. Ask around and companies like Lisle, Lang, and others do this.

Great video 👍👌👍 I got the exact same box and I love it all my tools are paid for

I bought that cart and added new holes between existing holes to hold 3/8 and 1/4 inch drive stuff,punches,screw drivers,seal picks etc. Also drilled out some factory holes for larger diameter items.. I did not like the plastic drawer latches and cut them off with hack saw--level shop floor -ok. Mounted socket rails/magnet strips in top-works real good-- Old Cat Mechanic

Well said. I bought a US General 44 inch bottom chest and love it. Better quality box than my 26 inch Craftsman.

DIYer here. I got the US General 4 drawer cart. I love that thing. Only mod was a strap-on badge

Gotta use a step drill bit to bore the wholes for your more bigger pry bars to fit within the side compartments

I have used the cheap tools to modify (bend, weld and grind on so they fit a one-off situation) several times do I have Snap-on tools yes (not Many) Stephen Is right, get what you can afford They will work. If you need to take a torch to bend up that wrench it won't hurt. Worked in machinery/maintenance fixing presses, saws, cranes, and assorted other machinery.

I realize you were just showing the wrenches but I was taught by an old mechanic that you never use an open end wrench first if possible. Always start with box end to loosen something really tight. I have a bunch of Harbor Freight stuff in my garage and can't ever remember having a problem especially for the price~! Good Video and I paid attention. 😁

Use mine daily in industrial maintenance and love it

Thanks for some good advice. Never go into debt :-) I like the Gearwrench brand, and Sunex, Carlyle, Tekton...

Brother, I needed that reminder about the cart and the real estate agents. It's probably a real watch bought on credit.

I did that same job twice last week, and Im working my way up from the Pittsburgh to the Icon set. If I remember, there arent even that many tools you need to get the job done either. I think it was 8mm, 10mm, 13mm, 15mm, 18mm, 19mm, 21mm sockets/wrenches, a few various extentions, prybar, breaker bar, and some chalk. You could probably do the job with only tools that fit in the top bin of the box.

thank you stephen for the money advice.

I agree with you 100%

My favorites are SK, Proto, and Klein for my personal tools. For work tools, I usually have Harbor Freight, or tools I got at Walmart. With the environment I work in, they will either get lost, trashed, or stolen, so I don't buy expensive tools for that.

I've had the same cart for 2 yrs. Same color too, I've had 0 issues and I only paid 100 bucks for it new. It had a very small ding in the corner if the lid. Paint wasn't even chipped on it to give you an idea. Fixed the ding and used it ever since. Like you, it holds everything I need. I buy Williams USA sockets which are identical to snap on for 1/3 the price. Go to toolsdelivered.com and you'll see. I bought wrightgrip wrenches and I couldn't be happier. You do not need to spend 400+ on a set of high quality wrenches period. The only difference between my Williams sockets and snap on is the name stamping. The broaching height etc. Is exactly the same. Sk makes the best small 1/4 ratchet period. Its tiny and fits in all those tight spots. I buy everything used, I like to let the other guy take the hit if I'm buying snap on etc. If I find a deal on used USA stuff I buy it. Let someone laugh because all my stuffs paid for. I'll be laughing when they ask to borrow money for lunch. I personally am not a fan of snap on wrenches. The beams are too narrow, and in some instances too long. I'll take a satin finish standard length combo wrench any day. Which is exactly what my wrights are. You'll be surprised if you go look how much Williams is

I use plastic tool caddys and the odd cantilever tool boxes then load with the main tools i use. For socket sets i use the Fuller pro sets which are cheap then add a high end Ko-Ken ratchet.

Have had my mechanic cart for roughly 6 years still holding up well and just bought the 72" top and bottom chest because i needed more room ive had Snapon boxes and the us General brand of boxes rivals them at 1/5--1/10th the price