Sears was kind enough to contact yours truly and requested that I review their Craftsman Stainless Steel 41” Toolbox Combo.  A few weeks later, the tool box combo arrived on my door step packed nicely on a pallet which I tore into and assembled in less than an hour. 

Here is a shot of the Craftsman box assembled and sitting next to my 20 year old Craftsman Box which has served me well over the years.  I just recently added a middle section (in black) that increased my capacity, but I was still running out of room.

Initial Impressions: This box is BIG, way more room than my old setup, it barely fits into my garage.  I love the look of the stainless steel, and the hardware seems to be top quality.

Construction:  The box is made from Stainless Steel and it is heavy.  The base unit is 260 lbs. and the top is somewhere around 125 lbs. making assembly a 2 man job unless you are Hulk Hogan.  The drawers are supported by ball bearing slides and support 70 lbs. of tools per drawer. 

The stainless steel has an attractive brush finish and has a protective coating which appears to be a clear powder coat.  It has a slight “orange peel” texture which is common to powder-coated finishes, but it does not distract from the beauty of the tool box. (see image to left)

The worst thing when working on your brakes, is not having the right tool. When changing brake lines or hoses, the proper wrench will save you a ton of time and frustration. Special line wrenches are designed to put the most amount of force to the fitting without slipping off. Anyone who has tried to remove a rusty brake line with a regular wrench knows that the wrench slips off way too easy and rounds off the fitting.

Here is a picture of a line wrench…

I usually advise people to buy cheaper tools if they are just a shade tree mechanic, but in this case, buy the best. Cheap line wrenches do not work, and will bend or round off the fitting before cracking it loose. Buy a snap-on, MAC or Craftsman set and good luck.

Kevin

P.S. Remember to use plenty of penetrating lubricant on the fittings before you try to remove the fitting. I use PB Blaster, or Kroil.

Don’t want to spend tons of money on tools, just to change your oil or do some minor repairs. Snap-On and MAC tools are great for professional mechanics, but expensive for a shade tree mechanic. I usually recommend people buy Craftsman tools if they plan on doing a lot of work on their own vehicle. Craftsman tools are the best quality tools for the money, and include a lifetime guarantee. Shop online at www.sears.com

If you are doing minor repairs or are on a budget, consider tools from Harbor Freight www.harborfreight.com which also generally have a lifetime warranty but are made overseas and not of the quality of Craftsman tools.

No matter what tools you buy, keep them clean and organized and they will reward you with a long useful life.