Looking for a toolbox

[Andy in Germany]

I'm looking for a toolbox to replace the old kitchen drawers currently holding what we laughingly call our bike maintenance tools: it's getting messy and I'm aware a cutlery draw isn't the best place for my tools.

I'd like something with drawers because my experience is that tools vanish in a 'normal' toolbox and reappear with mysterious damage done to them.

We don't have that many tools and I've been looking for something like this, or this, or possibly a plastic version like this or maybe this, which can sit on top of the kitchen worktop. I think the bigger ones will allow for some expansion of the tool set, really big tools will have to wait until I have the budget.

With cabinets made from wood I can see the quality or lack thereof quickly, but with metal and plastics I'm out of my area. What should I look for in a good quality box?

 

[Milkfloat]

For metal I would strongly suggest ball bearings for the runners. My german is not perfect, but the ones you have linked to seem to satisfy that key requirement. I have a variety of these from Halfords (when they have their 50% sales) and they are pretty functional. I did disable the lock mechanism though as it was a bit of a pain in stopping drawers opening without the lid being lifted.

 

[Smokin Joe]

For metal I would strongly suggest ball bearings for the runners.

Definitely.

I have a cheap one on non ball bearing runners and the drawers can stick. Definitely worth paying a bit more for something that will last a lifetime whether it's a pain to use or a pleasure.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

Agreed about the rollers, but also make sure that when it's all closed up & locked that the drawers can't open. There's nothing worse than walking along, one of the drawers start to open, they then seem to take a life on of their own & speed up, which then causes all the tools to fly all over the place.

 

[gbb]

Avoid the Halfords red ones that are cheap. My wife brought me one for christmas a few years ago.....very thoughtful but she had no idea of its quality. Thin materials, bottom chest has an exceedingly poor lock on it, one drawer in the top chest has had the runner shear off....poor poor quality.

 

[chriswoody]

Andy, why don't you pop into Hornbach or Obi? They often have toolboxes on display, like the one's you have linked to. As the other posters have said, you need to look out for ball bearings on the metal ones and check that they shut OK. Going down to the Baumarkt will let you see them in the flesh so to speak.

Alternatively, have you thought about creating a tool board? I have made one out of an old Ikea shelf for a kitchen unit. The rest of my tools, like the Alan keys and screw drivers, I keep in an old kitchen drawer. I've created small dividers for them, so that the different screw drivers, alan keys etc all stay sorted and separate and easy to find.

 

[Gravity Aided]

Snap-On Tools make some nice ones, but they are expensive. I could ask my cousin, if I see him on his route. Usually a door to door sort of thing, guy comes around with a truck so you can see the selection. It would be much cheaper to find or buy an automotive toolbox like Snap On makes.
https://www.harborfreight.com/tool-storage/tool-chests-roller-cabinets.html?p=1

 

[Gravity Aided]

You could also make one out of wood, of course, or find one in a sale, in person, or online. I found mine on the side of the road.

 

[Alwaysbroken]

I’ll vouch for the Halfords advanced boxes, I bought the full stack for my son when he started his apprenticeship, trade card or buy during the “sale”

They also have tool liners to accept the advanced socket sets.

Their tool warranty has been supported when he’s miss used ratchet spanner’s etc as well.

 

[sheddy]

one (or two) of these ?
https://www.aldi.co.uk/workzone-green-diy-tote-bag/p/096778229072601

 

[Deleted member 26715]

@Alwaysbroken @sheddy @Gravity Aided
@Andy in Germany is in Germany I think, not sure where I got that idea from though

 

[Andy in Germany]

For metal I would strongly suggest ball bearings for the runners. My german is not perfect, but the ones you have linked to seem to satisfy that key requirement....

Definitely.

I have a cheap one on non ball bearing runners and the drawers can stick. Definitely worth paying a bit more for something that will last a lifetime whether it's a pain to use or a pleasure.

Okay, BB's will be part of the spec then. Many thanks.

 

[Andy in Germany]

Agreed about the rollers, but also make sure that when it's all closed up & locked that the drawers can't open. There's nothing worse than walking along, one of the drawers start to open, they then seem to take a life on of their own & speed up, which then causes all the tools to fly all over the place.

I heard of something similar happening to a carpenter once: He was fixing hinges on a set of floor to ceiling cupboards with upward of 20 doors on two levels total height about 3m or 9'. To keep track of which hinges were fixed, he left the repaired doors open.

On about door 19 the inevitable happened as the unsupported weight of the doors overcame the screws holding the unit to the wall...

 

[Andy in Germany]

Andy, why don't you pop into Hornbach or Obi? They often have toolboxes on display, like the one's you have linked to. As the other posters have said, you need to look out for ball bearings on the metal ones and check that they shut OK. Going down to the Baumarkt will let you see them in the flesh so to speak.

I think that may be the solution. I'll have to wait a bit for the money tree to regrow anyway, so it won't hurt me to cycle over in Spring

Alternatively, have you thought about creating a tool board? I have made one out of an old Ikea shelf for a kitchen unit. The rest of my tools, like the Alan keys and screw drivers, I keep in an old kitchen drawer. I've created small dividers for them, so that the different screw drivers, alan keys etc all stay sorted and separate and easy to find.

It's a shared garage, and the door has a massive concrete counterweight so I have no wall to make a tool board on. Maybe in the next apartment/house...

 

[Andy in Germany]

@Alwaysbroken @sheddy @Gravity Aided
@Andy in Germany is in Germany I think, not sure where I got that idea from though

Ah, you haff discovered my secret... et c.