which tool chest

[stagerme]

Hi Guys
Hope you all had a good crimbo, I want to buy myself a new tool cabinet so looking for advice/recomendation on what and where to buy,its only for my own use in the garage. since owning the Stag I've seem to collected more tools than I know what to do with so I want some storage so I can keep my tools altogether rather than looking through umpteen boxes, drawers trying to find the right screwdriver,I've seen the Clarke one's at Machine Mart for around £150 depending which combo you buy or on fleabay Sealey among others, they all seem to be much the same to me,any thoughts or advice to help me in the right direction would be appreciated.

Cheers Cliff

[chopperman]

Hi Cliff,
Some years ago I bought mine from Halfords. Seem to work OK and the price was right. Additionally, should it break, it's easy to take back.
Keith

[mijfife]

Hi Cliff, I treated myself to a tool chest from Machine Mart earlier this year, I opted for one from the Clarke premium range & I've been very pleased with it so far. I bought the CLB1005 tool cabinet and the CLB900 tool chest. My only gripe is that the locking mechanism doesnt catch all the drawers as it's meant to but as it's in my own garage, I don't lock it anyway.
The Halfords Professional range also looks like good value, especially if you can wait until they are at sale prices. I'm going to get the Halfords 4 drawer intermediate chest to add to my Clarke set up as I need some more drawer space as I've laid out all my tools individually so I can see what I've got! (Sad I know but it's much easier that racking through the tool box!!) The Clarke has a higher load rating per drawer but the Halfords one comes with drawer liner mats already supplied and it looked like a good bit of kit when I checked it out last week in my local store.
What ever you chose, I'd opt for ball bearing runners rather than sliders for longevity.
Hope thast helps,
regards, Jim

[73stagman]

Doent matter which brand. Get the best you can afford with roller bearing drawers

[Staghound]

I've looked into the tool chest market,there are hundreds,roller bearings are desirable..double skin cabinets are better/stronger still and cost more...snap on ones are dearer still(thou'still made in China).I was told a single skin one with roller bearings and smaller drawer depth were adequate for the non-professional. The black coloured roller cabinet and top chest from Halfords seems a reasonable buy(if you can put up with allthe stickers)there could also be a January sale on soon.If you need an enormous one buying two smaller ones (equalling similar size)is often the cheaper option.(Machine Mart,Sealey,Clarkes,etc),hope this helps.

[Another Peter]

Got mine from Halfords a couple of years ago in their sale.

Can recommend it. Worth looking to see what they've got on offer.

Regards

Peter

[Giles]

Had a machine mart one for years. Not got roller bearing drawers but they would be nice. still doing me fine except it has gone a bit pink in the sun! !

[sparky]

Got a three cantilever toolbox from when i was an apprentice 30 years ago
Roller bearings and draws and foam pads etc etc etc

Just keep your tools tidy in a box


What would £150 buy for your car ??????

Sorry
LOL

[PBH]

I have a michine mart one with roller drawers but It has shrunk over the years and is now too small I find difficulty finding the once well laid out spanners drill bits etc and when bits get wiped over the back they fall into the wrong section what have I done wrong?

Buy one trice as big as you think you need

Peter

[73stagman]

I have a top box and a three drawer Clark HD plus from machine mart it is full and over flowing! NEED MORE SPACE!

[DJT]

I bought the Halfords Professional range. So far they seem very robust. If you are patient they often have 50% sales on these items. Which is when I bought mine.

This is one I have had for about 5 years and is on 50% now:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_206443_langId_-1_categoryId_255214

I have it on top of this:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_206443_langId_-1_categoryId_255214

Dave

[jleyton]

Dave's right and they've got one of their frequent sales on right now. For example:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_162444_langId_-1_categoryId_255214

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_20 6443_categoryId_255214_langId_-1?cm_sp=Intelligent_Offer-_-Product_List_Zone_1-_-Blank&iozone=PLPz1

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_20 6443_langId_-1_categoryId_255214

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_209113_langId_-1_categoryId_255214

They've got quite a few others so look around the site but I'd only go for the Halfords 'Professional' range. I've found the Professional stuff pretty god, although I've not got one of their tool chests.

Cheers

Julian

Ps Dave's Edit beat me to it

[Andy Rundell]

The good deal from Halfords was before Christmas, the professional 5 drawer base and the 7 drawer top box was £199 as a combination offer, the post-Christmas one makes it more expensive even with the extra 10% off as a web offer

......... Andy

[stagerme]

Thanks for all your replys, well I spent me money in Halfrauds in the end! pound for pound I seem to get better quality compared to others,also friend of a friend works there and got me a bit more discount I got the Professional 5 drawer/7 drawer combo for the pre crimbo price that Andy mentions, happy days,just got to clean my tools now before they can go in there new home.

Cheers Cliff

[mijfife]

I'm wishing I'd got my step up chest when I'd looked atr it on Christmas eve, it had gone up £30 by Boxing Day I'll be patient, another sale should be along soon!

Regards, Jim