Tool chests/cabinets - Which?/Where?/How much?

Batf1nk

Batf1nk

Batf1nk

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Christmas is coming and my mum has asked what I want. Due to my ever expanding tool collection and my innate ability to misplace said tools I'm beginning to think I need a chest/cabinet to keep them all together.

Now my mum isn't rich, so that rules out the awesome but equally expensive snap-on monster cabs that seem quite popular. Sooo...

What have you got?
Where did you get it?
Is it any good?
And how much was it?

kthxbye :p
 
Go here

Buy whatever combination of cabinet and top box suits your needs. I was going to suggest waiting until the next time they're on offer but that seems to be now. I've got the 9 drawer top box and the 3 drawer cab, they're as good as you'll get for the money. Most of the cheap ones have crappy runners with a horrible sliding action, these are lovely and smooth.
 
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Seconded, some cracking deals on the Halfords stuff at the moment, if I had a proper garage rather than a dumping ground for stuff then I'd have a chest and top box from santa ;)
 
Machine mart

(Waterloo boxes)

* edit*
Scratch that, Machine mart appear to be stocking Clarke boxes now :(
 
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Scubascorpion said:
Machine mart

(Waterloo boxes)

* edit*
Scratch that, Machine mart appear to be stocking Clarke boxes now :(
Click to expand...

They've sold the Clarke tool chests for as long as I can remember. The professional range ones aren't too bad to be honest, but they aren't that cheap either. They also sell Facom boxes if your wallet is deep enough.
 
This will be an opinion splitter but essentially you have a couple of options. Cheap tool cabs, budget tool cabs, 'pro' range cabs and Snap-On.

Cheap tool cabinets:

Don't buy cheap ones. They'll fall apart and you'll have to replace it. The drawers bend and can't take any weight and it'll generally annoy you.

Budget tool cabinets:

These are I'd say you would get if you paid a total of £250 for the top and bottom cab. It's the middle-range (red) Clarke and Halfords 'Pro' kit. They're fine for in the garage, but if you have to move them around the wheels show their limitations, the cabinets get bashed up and dented easily and they will start to look tatty. If you think you'll need to move them around (e.g. if you were a contractor and work from place to place) then you will need professional quality cabinets...

'Pro' range cabinets:

Tend to be made out of much thicker metal, the drawers are considerably stronger and latch and lock closed properly, paint finish is a lot thicker and the cabinet itself has shaped sides for extra rigidity. Usually a lot heavier and the bases are stronger with much better wheels. They are designed to be rolled around and can take being bashed about without getting damaged. Typically these are the blue Clarke range (which I've got), Teng, and will cost £400-£500 for a top and bottom cabinet. If you can stretch to this, I'd recommend them because they will be the only tool cabinet you'll ever buy, i.e. you'll never have to replace it.

Snap-On:

Considerably more expensive. Quality is very good but you need to be able to justify the extra price or want to use their finance and guarantee for your set of tools. You get the added bonus of them (technically) replacing anything that breaks and coming to you rather than you having to go to them.

Machine Mart is a good place to go and look because they have cheap, budget and 'pro' boxes you can look at and play with. Then take a visit to a Halfords where you can see one of their black 'Pro' range cabs as a comparison. You probably don't need a bottom cabinet (a roll cab) but a decent top box will set you back about £150 in my opinion and you'll never have to replace it.
 
Thanks for all the info folks. I did have a quick look at the halfords ones the other day and as above they seem reasonable value for money when on offer.

I'll wander down to machine mart soon and have a play with what they've got.

It'll be mostly sat in the shed/garage but I do the occasional bit of work for friends and family so do tend to lug them around now and then.

Tbh, I cant believe how much they sell for. The mark up must be quite a lot. I worked in a sheet metal fabtication place for nearly 6 years producing similar things to this and they cost peanuts in comparison to make.
 
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My xmas treat to myself last year...colour is more Focus ST orange than it looks though. And i think Halfords have got the 7 drawer topbox and five drawer rollcab on bogoff or something just now?.
:)
 
Well i've got the halfords industrial roll cab and after 7 years of fairly heavy abuse, lived in a mobile mechanics van for 3 years it's still going strong, all drawers open smoothly still and they're loaded up to the hilt.

Mates garage have a range of snap on, blue point, sealey, clarke and draper and the clarke and draper ones seem to have worn the worst. Draws don't open smoothly on them and they often stick on one side of the runners.

I'd have to recommend the halfords industrial ones, you can get one where you buy the rollcab and get the tool chest free when it's on offer.
 
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