Best toolbox for new starting mechanic
Discussion
Hi all, hope any of you can help me.
I have just come out of college and have started work as a mechanic at a garage.
I am looking for a new toolbox, something within my budget but nothing too big or small. I ain't have any SnapOn boxes for a few years. Hence, I'm looking for something within my budget.
I have been looking at Halfords advanced, the big 36 inch rollcab and top chest, Sealey SuperlinePro and Sealey Premier rollcabs etc. The specific ones I have been looking at are within budget and within my specified size but I'm not sure wether to buy any due to the usage they would get.
If anyone has any experience using these, are they good for everyday use as a full-time mechanic?
I have just come out of college and have started work as a mechanic at a garage.
I am looking for a new toolbox, something within my budget but nothing too big or small. I ain't have any SnapOn boxes for a few years. Hence, I'm looking for something within my budget.
I have been looking at Halfords advanced, the big 36 inch rollcab and top chest, Sealey SuperlinePro and Sealey Premier rollcabs etc. The specific ones I have been looking at are within budget and within my specified size but I'm not sure wether to buy any due to the usage they would get.
If anyone has any experience using these, are they good for everyday use as a full-time mechanic?
No exererience of Sealey toolboxes, only their other stuff. If they toolboxes are of the same calibre I would look elsewhere as all their stuff is crap.
Halfords Pro stuff is okay, not sure if it would take the abuse handed out in workshops but they seem of good quality.
Since Ebay, secondhand Snap On is now silly money though you may still get bargains if you speak to your local van guy.They often have stuff people have part exed etc.
They also do a good student discount though I have no idea how that works.
Halfords Pro stuff is okay, not sure if it would take the abuse handed out in workshops but they seem of good quality.
Since Ebay, secondhand Snap On is now silly money though you may still get bargains if you speak to your local van guy.They often have stuff people have part exed etc.
They also do a good student discount though I have no idea how that works.
Nothing too massive, which seems to be the trend now. As you are starting out you are likely going to change jobs a few times so start small for portability reasons when you want to move on.
Spend money on good quality tools, only buy premium boxes once you are more established would be my advice. In the mean time keep an eye out for any bargains that may come up.
I priced up my tools recently, i don't have a huge amount compared to some but just my hand tools came to over £9K. I have some quality Snap On old school boxes i picked up for about £750 which would sell for £3K now, so you can find a good deal if you don't rush a purchase.
Spend money on good quality tools, only buy premium boxes once you are more established would be my advice. In the mean time keep an eye out for any bargains that may come up.
I priced up my tools recently, i don't have a huge amount compared to some but just my hand tools came to over £9K. I have some quality Snap On old school boxes i picked up for about £750 which would sell for £3K now, so you can find a good deal if you don't rush a purchase.
SGS engineering offer a range of toolchests.
I bought the 36" for wifey to use for her hobbies 3 years ago, its an ideal and stable working height and despite being heavily loaded with paper and tools shows no signs of deterioration, castors seem decent enough quality.
Sure we paid less than £300 so it must have been on offer at the time because its currently showing at £420.
Worth a perusal of their site to get some ideas of whats out there.
Try and manage until later in the year and take advantage of the sale prices whatever you buy.
I bought the 36" for wifey to use for her hobbies 3 years ago, its an ideal and stable working height and despite being heavily loaded with paper and tools shows no signs of deterioration, castors seem decent enough quality.
Sure we paid less than £300 so it must have been on offer at the time because its currently showing at £420.
Worth a perusal of their site to get some ideas of whats out there.
Try and manage until later in the year and take advantage of the sale prices whatever you buy.
Edited by Smint on Saturday 24th July 21:56
Best advice i was given when I was starting out (but I was not a young starter in the trade), and could afford to pay cash and not the toolvan credit systems.
The tools earn you the money, only buy good tools. The toolbox is where you keep the tools and it doesn't earn you a penny. As long as it holds the tools and protects them, and the drawers open and close as they should, is all it needs to do.
I am not saying Snap On and other very expensive tool boxes are bad (they are not, they are good), but the biggest advantage they give is the easy pay option. But that pretty much means you will pay more for them than you should.
There is a lot of tool box snobbery and I have seen countless examples of mechanics with big shiny toolboxes (often with lots and lots of tools in them) that are not as capable as some people are with beaten up old boxes and less tools.
Buy smarter, you don't need a massive toolbox when starting out, just big enough to hold your tools how you want, and build it up as you go. Can often buy side boxes, intermediate boxes etc to increase the capacity. And it is often better to have 2 or 3 tool boxes than 1 massive one. Ease of movement, not all tools in 1 area in case of theft, ability to take some tools away for weekend if going racing or similar, and of course can keep the boxes you don't use daily, locked during working time.
Look at people around you, how they keep their tools for access and popularity. Everybody lays their box out differently, so think about how you want to store yours and buy accordingly. Maybe keep your main box for the most used tools, and use other ones as backup space, storage for special tools, lesser used tools and overflow.
Just don't be hoodwinked into thinking you have to have a specific branded box. Halfords Pro, Clarke (better quality range), etc are all good enough. Avoid cheap though.
The tools earn you the money, only buy good tools. The toolbox is where you keep the tools and it doesn't earn you a penny. As long as it holds the tools and protects them, and the drawers open and close as they should, is all it needs to do.
I am not saying Snap On and other very expensive tool boxes are bad (they are not, they are good), but the biggest advantage they give is the easy pay option. But that pretty much means you will pay more for them than you should.
There is a lot of tool box snobbery and I have seen countless examples of mechanics with big shiny toolboxes (often with lots and lots of tools in them) that are not as capable as some people are with beaten up old boxes and less tools.
Buy smarter, you don't need a massive toolbox when starting out, just big enough to hold your tools how you want, and build it up as you go. Can often buy side boxes, intermediate boxes etc to increase the capacity. And it is often better to have 2 or 3 tool boxes than 1 massive one. Ease of movement, not all tools in 1 area in case of theft, ability to take some tools away for weekend if going racing or similar, and of course can keep the boxes you don't use daily, locked during working time.
Look at people around you, how they keep their tools for access and popularity. Everybody lays their box out differently, so think about how you want to store yours and buy accordingly. Maybe keep your main box for the most used tools, and use other ones as backup space, storage for special tools, lesser used tools and overflow.
Just don't be hoodwinked into thinking you have to have a specific branded box. Halfords Pro, Clarke (better quality range), etc are all good enough. Avoid cheap though.
Edited by rustednut on Sunday 25th July 22:19
When I bought mine I scoured facebook and gumtree for weeks until I found a snap on chest for sale (on a 36 inch so not massive) from someone that was changing career. I managed to get it for £250 but also managed to get a set of snap on screwdrivers, ratchet spanners and T allen drivers for not much money too.
My point being don't be afraid of getting something second hand even if it isn't quite as new/ flashy as others in the workshop.
My point being don't be afraid of getting something second hand even if it isn't quite as new/ flashy as others in the workshop.
magic mercenary,
If you have just left college, you might still qualify for the SnapOn Student Excellence Project! https://www.snapon.com/Industrial-Education/Snapon...
And your college should have made sure that you had a Halfords Trade card already. Mine did!
John
If you have just left college, you might still qualify for the SnapOn Student Excellence Project! https://www.snapon.com/Industrial-Education/Snapon...
And your college should have made sure that you had a Halfords Trade card already. Mine did!
John
I’ve been using the sealey professional range for years. I’ve never had any issues with any of it (apart from when I use them for a job that they weren’t quiet designed for).
I also have the Sealey superline tool chests, but to be honest, they’re pretty much the same as the top of the range Clarke ones, but more expensive.
At work we are issued with Boxo tools. I’m pleasantly surprised by these. We give them an absolute beating, and they hold up well on all weathers.
I also have the Sealey superline tool chests, but to be honest, they’re pretty much the same as the top of the range Clarke ones, but more expensive.
At work we are issued with Boxo tools. I’m pleasantly surprised by these. We give them an absolute beating, and they hold up well on all weathers.
If you are just starting out then listen to some of the advice above. Its the tools that make your wage, not the box.
Dont get yourself into 3k of debt for a shiney new all singing and dancing box that is full of empty drawers. Save up a £500 and get yourself a used cab and focus on getting yourself some decent tools - buy tools based on the jobs you are doing. If you have to ask someone for a loan of something more than once then add it to your list of things to buy but dont fall victim to the monthly magazine.
I've still got rather expensive tools thats only been used a handful of times because i thought i would use them and havent. Not everything has to be a branded make either but the lifetime warranty and the van coming to you every week to fix your broken stuff can make it worthwhile if you buy while stuffs on special.
Dont get yourself into 3k of debt for a shiney new all singing and dancing box that is full of empty drawers. Save up a £500 and get yourself a used cab and focus on getting yourself some decent tools - buy tools based on the jobs you are doing. If you have to ask someone for a loan of something more than once then add it to your list of things to buy but dont fall victim to the monthly magazine.
I've still got rather expensive tools thats only been used a handful of times because i thought i would use them and havent. Not everything has to be a branded make either but the lifetime warranty and the van coming to you every week to fix your broken stuff can make it worthwhile if you buy while stuffs on special.
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