Rolling Tool Cabinets

[IWT-Tom]

Hi Guys

Looking for some advice and opinions (on an internet forum? never!)

I am interested in supplying a very high quality rolling tool cabinet.  Something like the Snap-On/Mechanics chests.  There seem to be a great deal of cheap knock off brands.  Is there a good quality brand other than SnapOn? 

Also is this something you would use/buy?  I did think about having something made to spec.  It would be good to have a rolling sys-port on the bottom and then smaller drawers above for hand tool storage.  Something that can be brought up to where you are working, but returned away when not in use.

Obviously Festool have their workstation, which I love, but it's not really a storage solution.

Any views welcome.

 

[Kev]

Obviously I'm not a viable local customer - but something "mid range" would be appealing to my thinking.

I have so many tool boxes with socket sets, screw drivers, etc and I.m always pulling them of the shelf, lugging the to the bench (or floor), opening them up .... searching  [sad]

The price of Snap On down under is second mortgage stuff - but most of the seems like junk. Thats probably why I haven't made the jump yet.

Personally I'd prefer something below bench height, so it would sit below a utility bench. Not bright red either, something subtle.  [smile]

 

[Roseland]

Please don't laugh, but I like (and have) the Halford's Industrial (Black) Tool Cabinets:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SearchCmd?catalogId=10151&storeId=10001&categoryId=255214&langId=-1&action=listrefine&constraints=sor%7C%7CPrice%7C%7C1%7C%7Cpag%7C%7C2&mode=list

They are better made than anything else I've found other than Snap-On, and I imagine much more sensibly priced.

Now how you find out who makes them for Halfords is anyone's guess...

Andrew

 

[Dan C]

I use old Stanley Vidmar cabinets.  I found a few that were workbench height and a couple of the taller ones.  They are no more expensive than what you are looking at with SnapOn, yet are a bit more durable.  They are rated to something like 400lbs per drawer.  They are the ultimate cabinet and if you spend sometime looking for them on auction or for-sale sites, you can often find great deals.  My last 3 11 drawer units came from CL for 350.  They are hard to beat, my dad has a unit that was in an Air Force engine shop for 15 years before it was replaced and it made it to his shop.  That was 20 years ago and despite 3 moves and all the use, it still works perfectly.  The short ones would have no issues on casters, thought the taller ones would become a bit tippy.

 

[RussellS]

I have three Sears Craftsman rolling chests.  The older/cheaper ones without the ball bearing drawers.  The bigger drawers are kind of sticky, harder to pull out without the ball bearings.  Imagine the ball bearings make the big drawers easy to pull out.  I think their quality is just fine and dandy.  Sears has sales on the cabinets all the time.  They come in many different sizes.  Cabinets do not fix anything or build anything.  You store stuff in them, but they are not used to actually do the work.  I have a hard time rationalizing spending an exorbitant amount of money on cabinets.  They should work well and function well.  But you can get that without excessive amounts of money.

 

[Alan m]

i have alwatys liked those kind of cabinets. i almost bought a set last year on sale but the atm was out of order so i had to pass as it was 4 hour drive away.

 

[awdriven]

Lista (Swiss), Vidmar, Equipto, Bott, Lyon are the main brands of industrial cabinets. They are not quite as specialized to the automotive mechanic, but used for a wide variety of purposes. Typical Lista drawers are rated for a 440lb load!

 

[IWT-Tom]

Thanks for your input guys.  This give me a basis to start some research.  I'm not just talking to Brits, it could be that what I'm looking for is not yet in the UK.  Though we do have smaller workshops here in Blighty and I wonder if this sort of thing is as useful/necessary?

I am also wondering if a modular system might work.  i.e using something like 80x20  This way it can be adapted to exactly the way the user needs it.

 

[Mattywhit]

No one has mentioned one of the best in roll cabs [unsure] beta tools

 

[Kev]

Thanks for your input guys.  This give me a basis to start some research.  I'm not just talking to Brits, it could be that what I'm looking for is not yet in the UK.  Though we do have smaller workshops here in Blighty and I wonder if this sort of thing is as useful/necessary?

I am also wondering if a modular system might work.  i.e using something like 80x20  This way it can be adapted to exactly the way the user needs it.

Now you're talking ... something modular would be perfect. Though maybe each drawer is a module and you could have 4 sizes (full width and half width by two different heights).

Have a peek at these ... they've almost got the idea ... just not quite there for me.

http://www.steelspan.com.au/tool-storage-cabinets.html

 

[Mattywhit]

http://www.sortimo.co.uk/Easy-Klick.57.0.html very good German made I have their racking system in my van

http://www.beta-tools.co.uk/

http://www.duragarages.com/

 

[Rob Z]

Hi Tom.  Is Kennedy sold in the UK?  Kennedy is a solid brand, long-lasting, and definitely less $$$$ than Snap On. 

 

[upscale]

I am interested in supplying a very high quality rolling tool cabinet.  Something like the Snap-On/Mechanics chests.  There seem to be a great deal of cheap knock off brands.  Is there a good quality brand other than SnapOn? 

I'd be interested in something of better quality that is modular ~ something where I could pick and chose appropriate cabinets to fit say, under a work bench. The key (to me anyway) is that various heights and widths were available that I could jury rig to fit a particular instance.

Right now, the closest I can get to that ideal is to make something out of plywood and considering the thickness of plywood compared to sheet metal, obviously the plywood takes up much more space and is usually heavier and not nearly as neat.

Anyway, that's my wishlist for tool chests.

 

[IWT-Tom]

Thanks guys, great info.

Looks like there are some good options for Snap-On style cabinets.  What would be great is if we could get the lower drawers to be systainer sysport style.

I'll look into it.  I'm also going to look at the kit form 80x20 idea

 

[Alan m]

Thanks guys, great info.

Looks like there are some good options for Snap-On style cabinets.  What would be great is if we could get the lower drawers to be systainer sysport style.

I'll look into it.  I'm also going to look at the kit form 80x20 idea

i like the 80/20 idea. it should allow you to add on bits or jigs etc and allow you to change it to suite your needs as they change
go with a profile that will alow you to use the festool clamps.

 

[upscale]

I'll look into it.  I'm also going to look at the kit form 80x20 idea

In keeping with the modular idea, the best design I can envision would be cabinets in which you could pick and choose the tops sides and bottoms of the cabinet ~ heights, depths, widths. Sort of an erector-set of toolboxes. I don't know if that idea is practical in any way, but then who knows if someone doesn't at least try?

 

[semenza]

Are you guys talking about the 8020 aluminum extrusions? Or is this another brand of cabinets?

Seth