I need a new tool box

[julianf]

Aroll cab / top box type thing (probably). Maybe 36" ish? A good number of draws that dont jam up all the time?

Id be happy with second hand snap on / mac etc but i dont really know them well enough to clearly tell a snap on from a facebook "US pro" (etc) that someone has jazzed up with snap on stickers, and im not sure as i can be bothered to learn all the model numbers.

So then im onto halfords and the like. Probably ruled out Clarke after my recent experience with machine mart.


Im wanting something that will actually move across a concrete floor, and maybe hit a stone or something, without the castors bending the base of the box...

(my existing box is propped up on blocks of wood from exactly this damage!)


Any suggestions?

Thank you.

 

[MickeyW]

I have a Halfords Industrial 3-piece stack which has been excellent. Mine are the predecessors to the current generation which I don't think are quite as good. They have big wheels, but I've never tried to roll it around. I must have significantly more than my own body weight in it though.
I also bought this Kennedy box from Zoro a while back. It much much better quality than I was expecting for the price, really hefty wheels too and good supporting structure under the cabinet body.

 

[gaz1]

I know some are not going to like my comment

between the metal of all of the boxes snapon, mac, halfords, clarke or us pro there all the same except with one you really do pay through the nose for its tool boxes

if anything its down to the drawer runners pay for better quality ones and they run much better for there drawers sliders

now if i was making one up id have it galvanised before it gets spray painted none of them do this not even snap on id expect it with snap on and it dosnt get galvanised

ive still got the halfords pro tool box and i still havent used it yet or cleaned it up as of yet thats because im not keen on it

as goes for the big units with wheels i wish they would fit stabiliser legs on them those big units are dangerous open too many drawers by accident and its easily done and that whole unit will fall at you
the same can be said when your wheeling them around as they really do what a larger wheel base area just for stability

 

[Agrismith]

I really like the look of some of the stuff that comes up in Costco

Kirkland Signature 42" (106cm) RedLine 16-Drawer Garage T...

The Kirkland Signature™ 43 (106cm) 16-Drawer Redline Combination Garage Tool Storage System is a professionally engineered product, made for and designed by expert garage mechanics. This combination has a 6-drawer top chest that includes a retro-contoured top lid that creates an infinite...

www.costco.co.uk

 

[mtt.tr]

I know some are not going to like my comment

between the metal of all of the boxes snapon, mac, halfords, clarke or us pro there all the same except with one you really do pay through the nose for its tool boxes

And sizing of the drawers, so many are stupidly shallow back to front.


I like my Halfords box does the job, was in a van being hammered working mobile

 

[GRW]

I really like the look of some of the stuff that comes up in Costco

Kirkland Signature 42" (106cm) RedLine 16-Drawer Garage T...

The Kirkland Signature™ 43 (106cm) 16-Drawer Redline Combination Garage Tool Storage System is a professionally engineered product, made for and designed by expert garage mechanics. This combination has a 6-drawer top chest that includes a retro-contoured top lid that creates an infinite...

www.costco.co.uk

Pretty sure that's the kit a Fitter at my last workplace has been using for the last 3 years or more.
He really rates it - and not only is it cramned with heavy tools for working on trucks, but also its installed (without castors on) up against the bulkhead of his work van.
These aren't rated for use in vehicles, (and while he's made sure it's well-secured to the floor & bulkhead) - he's well happy with how it's not suffered any ill-effecrs from being bounced all over Wales. He reckons you can't get better for the money, & he doesn't think a Snap-on for several grand would work better.
If I was in the market for a biggish box, then after seeing and using his a couple of times - one like his would get my money (the welder-fabricator bought one off the back of the Fitters box performance too).

 

[JEZGUZ]

I'd have a look out for second hand Bott or similar, built way better than halfords etc stuff. I've got mine fitted under workbenches but you can fit castors to them.

 

[keithski122]

Might be worth finding a local snap on guy and seeing if he has any trade ins. I've bought both a roll cab and a top box for £100 each, was a few years ago and both tatty but both still work as they should.

 

[keithski122]

as goes for the big units with wheels i wish they would fit stabiliser legs on them those big units are dangerous open too many drawers by accident and its easily done and that whole unit will fall at you
the same can be said when your wheeling them around as they really do what a larger wheel base area just for stability

The snap on ones have lock n roll so the drawers won't open when you wheel them about.

 

[julianf]

The snap on ones have lock n roll so the drawers won't open when you wheel them about.

My chepo one that ive had for 20 years plus also has a draw lock, so, when you close the lid, the draws won't open. Doesn't seem like rocket science that that would be a good idea! : )

 

[julianf]

This is on FB market place. It's too far away and possibly too knackered, but I'd be keen on something along those lines.

Loads of draws of all sorts of different depths.

 

[gaz1]

The snap on ones have lock n roll so the drawers won't open when you wheel them about.

to be honest thats handy to a degree but not something that id be interested within

it would be better if snapon or any tool box unit supplied outreach legs for there big units as you pay enough for there units anyway as they would stabilise the big units for moving

those big units are dangerous and easily tipped over

 

[roofman]

to be honest thats handy to a degree but not something that id be interested within

it would be better if snapon or any tool box unit supplied outreach legs for there big units as you pay enough for there units anyway as they would stabilise the big units for moving

those big units are dangerous and easily tipped over

that's why the clever amongst us put the heavy equipment in the lower draws

 

[Trevorleach]

Holy moly some of the comments!
Snap on the same as costco clarke etc

A lot of the cheap boxes do seem shallow to me, and I bet would soon annoy you
Most cheapies seem to be 16 inch

For home it has to be Halfords
They do deals every now and then

Snap on KRA 40 inch top and roll cabs tend to go for £1500 ish
But these are popular upgrades for apprentices as they move up from the 26 inch models

As for locking drawers, snap on have had all versions over the years
Early boxs were plain friction slides, which did not slide easy
The later ones with ball bearing dlides did not have anything to stop drawers opening when being moved, then about 25/30 years ago they bought out the lock and slide widgets, which I think can be fitted to earlier boxes
Top boxs generally lock the drawers when the lid is closed
Roll cabs usually have a lock which drops bars down the back of the drawers
Later posh boxes Epiq models have self closing and latching drawers, they also cost the earth
Really posh ones have central locking that senses you phone and opens as you approach!

Snap on KRA 19 inches deep
Snap on KRL 24 inches deep
Snap on Epiq 30 inches deep

 

[Trevorleach]

to be honest thats handy to a degree but not something that id be interested within

it would be better if snapon or any tool box unit supplied outreach legs for there big units as you pay enough for there units anyway as they would stabilise the big units for moving

those big units are dangerous and easily tipped over

Never seen one tipped over
Only way to tip one would be to have multiple drawers open at the same time

 

[Ross365]

If we talking "pick up and carry around with you" tool boxes, I bought a really good plastic one in a Sears store in the US about 25 years ago. This is just for hobby / diy use, but has survived well and is much lighter to carry than a metal one.

In the garage, I have 4 of those 15 drawer units that used to be common in offices, the drawers being about 2" deep, all bought quite cheaply off ebay.

 

[Ton-up]

I have couple of Snap-on top boxes, a Halfords Pro top box and a Kennedy HD. I would say the I rate the Kennedy as good if not better than the Snap-ons and the Halfords close behind.
Theres really not much in it.

 

[frank horton]

this my effort.........yes it's not that smart but cost nothing but a bit of time, also suits my needs very well......
the nice tool boxes were not avail in France at the time but wold be 3x's the price or more than the UK.....
so I have a cheap n nasty just for socketry and delicate stuff dial gauges, magnifying glass etc,
the Mk1 home made effort.......
biggest prob with proper tool boxes, there's never enough room for all the spanners......
I mean each of my hanging spanners has up to 6 on each peg, small ones,some doubles and the rest with diff off set/thickness n length.....
do that with all the plastic holders from SnapOn etc and the box will be full of just spanners....oh, and ur pockets empty.......
the drawers house the long stuff plus the brake and filter cataloges......all on roller bearings.....
I wanted one of those big , extra wide st/steel efforts but the cost was to high for me.........retired now......
Mk2 will be just the same except wider and better built....certainly the metal work wll be galvanised...the wood, stained and varnished......
I jump form modern to antique cars n tracters to mowers n chain saws, all requireing diff tools....when not repairing m/cycles...as in avatar......
well that my excuse.....
PS that tool carrier is now 25 years old.....
also the next one has to house more metric, plus the permanent stock of AF and Whitworth stuff...

 

[premmington]

Tool boxes - I got one Mac rollcab and top box - one SnapOn rollcab- one Britool rollcab - several Gedore bench type roll cabs with drawers. And an old Beech set that was my Dads. Plus one heavy duty - SnapOn KRA62C Road Chest in a travel frame.

All bought secondhand - never had a new tool box in my life.

 

[GRW]

FWIW the kit that the fitter had (which looks like the Costco/Kirkland kit that @Agrismith posted...... has nice individual latching drawers.

Other lad in same workshop was a total Snap-On Tart. His rollcab was very nice for sure, but at £9K before you put a single tool inside it..... sorry but I failed to see where the value was.