What toolbox? £300 budget for a home mechanic

[DanielJames]

Hi all,

£300 budget, what would you go for?

I've looked on eBay at perhaps getting a second hand Snap On but I think I'd prefer to get new.

So far I've looked at Clarke (Machine Mart), Halfords Pro, and Sealey (direct from Sealey)

Any recommendations?

Many thanks
Dan

[thatdude]

Halford Professional tools are very good. I have a large set which I use on my motorbike and car, and it serves me very well. I've bought some pliers (of all shapes including waterpump pliers) and a torque wrench for axle bolts, caliper bolts etc. Sometimes halfords to a sale on their tools, that's when I got my tool kit and it was significantly cheaper

[Robb F]

The Halfords industrial tool box with roller bearings is surprisingly good quality, the same goes for their tools. It would be hard to find better for the money I think.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

[DanielJames]

thatdude said:

Halford Professional tools are very good. I have a large set which I use on my motorbike and car, and it serves me very well. I've bought some pliers (of all shapes including waterpump pliers) and a torque wrench for axle bolts, caliper bolts etc. Sometimes halfords to a sale on their tools, that's when I got my tool kit and it was significantly cheaper

Yeah a lot of my tools are Halfords Pro... the tools are very good but the plastic boxes are poop.

[robinessex]

Halfords pro made by Facom. Owned by Britool. Good stuff. Buy an average size 1/2" drive socket set, then add what you NEED. Otherwise you end up like me, and have lots of stuff you'll use once in you life if your lucky. Confess, I have withdrawl symptons if I go out, and don't return with at laest one tool item. Just off to look at e-bay for a milling machine !!! The lathe is lonely !!!!

[Toaster Pilot]

I like the look of the Halfords Industrial stuff - £300 should get you a decent sized set up.

[andy-xr]

I have a Clarke one from Machine Mart, dont think I paid more than £100 for it, certainly wouldnt think of spending £300! I'd use the rest to get half decent tools

[0llie]

DanielJames said:

Yeah a lot of my tools are Halfords Pro... the tools are very good but the plastic boxes are poop.

Spot on. My toolbox broke within a couple of weeks, but the tools are still working as well as the day I bought them 5 years ago, they get a heck of a lot of use.

[Robb F]

DanielJames said:

Yeah a lot of my tools are Halfords Pro... the tools are very good but the plastic boxes are poop.

The box I linked to isn't plastic. I've had one since 2008 and it's still working perfectly

[DanielJames]

Robb F said:

The Halfords industrial tool box with roller bearings is surprisingly good quality, the same goes for their tools. It would be hard to find better for the money I think.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

Looks great. Long lating, I want this thing to last a lifetime afterall.

I wonder if they'll give me discount on the old trade card...

Anyone out there had a Sealey box? My mate has one and they come with tools too.

[DanielJames]

Further to that there are a few on eBay bidding at the moment at nearly half the cost..I think I'll consider buying used now!

[Rovinghawk]

There's a place in Tamworth that does good condition s/h Halfords toolchests- they have a shop on eBay.

I have some Halfords Pro stuff and it's superb. Snap-on might be a bit better but it's three times the price.

[DanielJames]

What the hell have I just stumbled upon on eBay.

So, I spotted this and thought it was cheap..

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Halfords-Advanced-Profes...

Oh, no tools. That's odd. Well what else have you got for sale?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/mk1fords/m.html?item=111...

All the tools! Individually!

What the hell

[DanielJames]

Seems like this is quite a popular trade! Crazy...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/tradeinessex/m.html?item...

[Toaster Pilot]

DanielJames said:

Seems like this is quite a popular trade! Crazy...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/tradeinessex/m.html?item...

Probably cheaper than buying individual bits from Halfords though

[With these feet]

I use the Halfords Industrial roll cab and top box, as good quality wise as Snap On IMO.
Their Pro range of spanners is good value along with their ratcheting ones made by Goodwrench I believe. Had a set for several years and none have failed. Only things I do buy S.On is their ratchets and u.j's as they are the best.

Tool chests get decent discount when not on offer with the trade card, when on offer its generally somewhere near the trade price or slightly better.
They tend to push the roll cab with free top box every now and then, this is worth doing and flogging the bit you dont want once the deal ends!

[supertouring]

What part of the country you in? I am North West.

I have a brand new (still sealed in box) Halford Pro top box and lightly used bottom cabinet that I will be putting up for sale soon.

I also have lots of sockets and other brand new tools I am looking to sell off from when I had my ebay shop.

Just trying to get around to organising it, but a quick easy sale without ebay fees would allow me to offer it at a good price.

Just thought it may be helpful for you.

[grahamr88]

DanielJames said:

I wonder if they'll give me discount on the old trade card...

When I got mine a couple of years ago, I think it would have been about £380 (for both parts - cabinet and chest) with the trade card, but they were on offer at the time for £320 ish, so it was a fair bit cheaper without the trade card.

You can also get 10% off if you're a British Cycling member, which I think costs about a tenner, so worth joining just for this.

The boxes are excellent, deep drawers and smooth action even when heavily loaded. Worth checking the condition of them before you leave Halfords though, my first one was quite badly dented, as were most of the other ones they had in the store!

[LeeThr]

supertouring said:

What part of the country you in? I am North West.

I have a brand new (still sealed in box) Halford Pro top box and lightly used bottom cabinet that I will be putting up for sale soon.

I also have lots of sockets and other brand new tools I am looking to sell off from when I had my ebay shop.

Just trying to get around to organising it, but a quick easy sale without ebay fees would allow me to offer it at a good price.

Just thought it may be helpful for you.

id be interested in this if the op isn't, if you can, could you pm some details.

[chris watton]

I have had my eye on this set for a while - it does seem very good value at £150 (at the time of this post..)

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

Halfords Advanced Professional 200 Piece Socket and Ratchet Spanner Set