Tool chests/cabinets-Bought these

[Royale80]

When working on a car I'm always losing or looking for tools. My tools are spread around the garage and I can ever find the one I want.

 

I've been looking to buy a tool cabinet-cannot find any second hand ones nearby.

 

Found these on the bay.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161692273073?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&var=460663685812&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

Any comments or other ideas?

 

Thanks

 

Steve

[Tamworthbay]

There are a few cheapy ones out there that are OK for occasional use. The main issue is always the quality of the drawers and rollers. Cheaper ones are lightweight so flex or jam if you put too much weight in them, but a snap on one would be a grand! For DIY use it will probably be ok. King Dick (still British made and based in Coleshill) do ones that are good quality and go for much less second hand, I got my two I use at work for peanuts as they don't have the pose value of snap on stuff.

[Kiltox]

Spend a bit more on the Halfords professional range - often on offer as a bundle deal for the roll cab, mid section and top box for £250 - far superior quality

[Richard]

I have one of these, except mine has two doors in the base part http://www.sgs-engineering.com/garage-equipment/tool-chests-cabinets/stc1000-mechanics-8-drawer-tool-box-chest-cabinet-oos

 

As with most SGS kit it seems to be good value for what it is. A full time mechanic would kill it in a week but it's fine for hobby use.

[Richard]

In fact it's this one I have. http://www.sgs-engineering.com/garage-equipment/tool-chests-cabinets/stc2000-mechanics-8-drawer-tool-box-chest-cabinet

[overrun]

Halfords Industrial (black). Better than the red Professional and all 3 units are on offer for £280 atm.

I have these and so do a few mates. Absolutley unbeatable value.

[Royale80]

Thanks all,

 

Will have a look at the Halford ones and SGS.

Cheers

Steve

[neil1971]

I saw this one on another (blue!) forum earlier, for sale at £2k and apparently cost £4750 new!

 

Lovely piece of kit no doubt but I think most of us on here would be thinking how many cars that amount of £ would fund.

 

[twosmoke300]

My snap on roll cab was £2800 over ten years ago ! Made to last a lifetime though .

On a budget I'd go for a used snap on or halfords black .

[PiperCub]

Aside from ebay etc, I know Mongtree is unpopular on here but I've seen a few bargain tool chests of good quality on there recently. Put  it this way, if I'd needed another, I'd have bought them. It's always worth a look anyway. 

 

BTW my main 'box' is several Machine Mart Clarke HD items, well made and roller bearing drawers, not silly expensive and can be cheaper if you take advantage of their VAT-free days. 

[andy18s]

I've got these kicking about in my storage container near Market Drayton N Shrops

Never used but do have storage marks

[sierraman]

I had a box from Woolworths about 16 years ago still going strong. Which I found odd as most stuff from there was utter shit. Might I add at this point it was a thoughtful Xmas present, not something I'd requested

[dieselassist]

Ive been through a good few different tool boxes over the years; I used to run with two cantilever boxes; one for sockets, large hammers chisels etc, one for bodywork bits like vicegrips, chisels clamps drill bits etc... being constantly moved about, n 'lobbing the spanners n sockets randomly' back into the boxes after a particularly taxing round of fixes/it getting cold/dark etc.

 

..stepped up to the Halfords range; which IMO don't survive being transported about, in n out of a car boot, or carry much 'total weight' so the drawers got jammed, boxes battered etc etc.

Im loath to spend a grand or whatever on a tool box, so its Well worth attempting a bit of 'lateral thought' when it comes to tool cabinets solutions; I was always on the look out for that elusive heavy duty strong tool box cabinet, at an affordable price....

 

about two years ago, this ex-aviation tool box/trolley came up for sale locally, on a well known second hand selling site here; the seller was actually a neighbour of mother, growing up, and later in life, worked with her for a time...

 

anyhow, it weighs an absolute tonne empty, has a separate trolley tray for wheeling it about, a huge capacity; there is a clever 'lock out' mechanism, where you can only open the 3 bottom drawers, one at a time, so it'll never tipp over....

 

ive left some of the 'controversial stickers' on it; all part of its 'history'.... came out of Shannon airport, the seller mentioned- for €100 collected, I was well happy...!!

 

Lives down my lockup, n I have a smaller toolbox in the Disco...

[dave21478]

For the discerning shiter on a budget, look out for old filing cabinets on ebay etc, and even freecycle.

Granted, not exactly portable, but if you just want something to stay in the garage they are strong and take a lot of weight. The deep drawers tend to mean things get piled in on top of each other so some careful thought with dividers and lift-out trays made of thin plywood with the rarely used stuff at the bottom will solve that.

[sierraman]

Lockers do similar. Try ex government stuff, usually a complete unknown make but top quality

[Jifflemon]

Us pro stuff? Avoid! I bought one, turned up battered to death. At first I thought it was poor packing, but when the second turned up in a similar state, I realised how poorly made they were. There also deceptively shallow

Avoid like the plague.

[Mally]

It pains me to say so, but Snap On are superb. Also very heavy.

Bought a roll cab and top box for my son on flea bay after he destroyed a few cheaper versions in a short while. (Medium, heavy engineering).

Spent a long time bidding but set my maximum and eventually paid more than I wanted, but the boxes were as new.

Wouldn't buy them for myself, I use an Halford's one, it's crap.

[Timewaster]

I've got an RAC branded box which looks suspiciously like the ebay one.

It came from argos about 8 years ago and for occasional use it is fine but it is seriously flimsy in places.

 

Halfords pro stuff looks as good as you could realistically want.

Spending the national debt of a small country on a Snap on chest is madness.

[Kiltox]

Red Halfords pro stuff is good, black industrial stuff better but only makes sense when it's on offer

 

They do a cheaper red cabinet which is not as good so have a look at it in store before buying!

[Danblez]

You won't wear halfords pro red out being a tinkerer but if the black is only an extra 30 then why not?

[fordperv]

i have an old clarke jobby my mum bought me about 11 years back, it does well for hobby use

[Faker]

Sealey pro range is superb. I've got two!

[New POD]

I have one of these, except mine has two doors in the base part http://www.sgs-engineering.com/garage-equipment/tool-chests-cabinets/stc1000-mechanics-8-drawer-tool-box-chest-cabinet-oos

 

As with most SGS kit it seems to be good value for what it is. A full time mechanic would kill it in a week but it's fine for hobby use.

 

I cycle past them everyday.

[Royale80]

I'm going to see what offers Halfords have on this week-black Friday.

Their Industrial stuff seems to get good reviews.

 

Steve

[Noel Tidybeard]

the one from aldi seems failry sturdy and is a nice grey colour *(red was also available)

[trigger]

If you know someone with a Halfords trade card then there's pretty good discount on their industrial range.

 

 

 

[Royale80]

Good saving that.

 

Just need to find someone with a trade card!

 

Thanks

 

Steve

[Mally]

Where do you live Steve?

[Royale80]

Blackwood , South Wales

 

Steve

[Faker]

Bad pic but that's one of my sealey pro boxes behind the bike.