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

[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.

[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!

[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...

[DanielJames]

Thanks for the replies... going to go with the Halfords industrial. Cheers!

[DanielJames]

Toaster Pilot said:

Bought this from B&Q



£52! Not unpacked it yet so not sure of quality but can't go wrong at that money!

Might buy a second if I fill it quickly!

Oh gosh. How is it?

[DanielJames]

EggsBenedict said:

Way outside your budget, but I have this one

Realise that posting something twice your budget looks like a p1ss take: I only mention it because (1) it's massive and will stop you getting annoyed when you run out of tool space and have to buy another (2) it's very good quality - had mine for 10 years, it's like new (apart from stickers!) (3) it's very easy to move around the garage.

Others available

There are some real nice boxes on there... Payday was kind but I've already been spending it on powdercoating wheels and buying another set of Sunflowers for the E36. I'll see how much space I have after gutting the garage at the weekend

[DanielJames]

Haven't bought anything yet, but after seeing the Clarke HD 9 drawer top boxes at the weekend I think that's what I'll go for. I can't see myself needing anything else for a bit!

Halfords had posted these up at the weekend, so I went to have a look.

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

I have to say the quality of them felt shocking compared to the Clarke HD. They had locked the Industrial ones oddly so I couldn't test them.

[DanielJames]

Just revisiting some of my old threads.

Picked up a Halfords Industrial Top Box and roll cab for the unbelievable price of £269 a few weeks back. It was advertised at £299 yet when I went to collect the price fell by another £30.

Highly recommend this, very glad I didn't cheap out.