Steel Machinists Tool Chest

Morning all,

I'd like to buy a steel machinists tool chest but can't find a supplier. I remember 15+ years ago when I was on my apprenticeship wooden and steel versions were available from a lot of the big engineering suppliers, but now only the wooden version seems to be available. I thought the steel ones were made by Starrett but there doesn't seem to be any reference to them on their website.

Can anyone help in finding a supply of these?

Thanks, Richard

The modern equivalent is probably one of these:-

From **Halfords** other makes abound some much cheaper.

John

Edited By Journeyman on 25/03/2017 11:46:50

The flashy ones here are often made of aluminium tread plate, of welded construction.

Ian S C

If the add on side cabinet I bought is typical the US Pro heavy duty range is a cut above Halfords / Machine Mart and not significantly more expensive. This is their version of the 9 drawer toolchest :- **LINK** . Dunno how it compares to Sealey which are similar price. My side chest is clearly not the equal of the 40" Snap On box it hangs on but its by no means out of place.

Richards link gives mostly Kennedy products which are close to real (not the lower end import versions) Snap On quality and getting on for similar price. Inappropriately costly new for Home Shop Guy but worth keeping an eye on E-Bay / Gumtree for good condition used.

Clive.

Hi if you are after a wooden chest you could try these no connection just a customer

**LINK**

Hi Richard,

just check out flee bay, dial in stainless steel tool box's or roll away tool cabinet......not much more money than the painted sort...low delivery charge or free........

Plenty of choice in design......

I'm saving up now.....

Clogs

I was going to post that but then I read the question in the first post

You can get steel tool chests like the red one above from all sorts of places. I was in Homebase during the week and was surprised to see that even they had a range of half a dozen or so. Also from Halfords, Machinemart, Screwfix and Bigdug.

Murray

The pucker steel machinists tool boxes are normally brown for some reason, like this one.

**LINK**

Try doing a search for "brown machinists tool chest" and see what pops up.

You could always sell your brand new Range Rover and buy a Snap On one...

Neil

Big issue when choosing between so many look alike and very similar products is how to assess quality. The inexpensive ones can be fearfully cheap and flimsy. Can't go by price alone as their is a huge variation. Some of the inexpensive ones can be more than acceptable. Others so bad you'd almost have to pay someone to take them away. If you buy mail order you can't inspect them so about the only guide to sturdiness is the weight. I figure you need to be around 2/3 rds or upwards of the weight of the equivalent Snap On to be confident of something decently sturdy.

Doesn't strictly apply in this case as Richard F clearly wants it for small tools but the rated capacity of the drawers, and whole cabinet, from some suppliers can be fearfully small. In the absence of other information if a supplier also offers roll cabinets checking the quoted drawer loading may give an indication of the quality of the rest of the range. All sticker brands tho' which doesn't help. Before buying my used Snap On I looked at some of the stainless roll cabs, presumably similar to those Clogs is considering, and found one whose total rated capacity was rather less than one Snap On drawer. A 56" cabinet I think, memory says rated at about 20 lb per drawer, which would have got me nowhere.

Muzzers Homebase link shows two versions of the style in question. One at £63 and one at £146. The cheap one is about half the weight of the more expensive one. OK its a bit smaller but I'd expect the more expensive one to be significantly sturdier. To me a flimsy tool chest, along with drawers that don't open fully, is one of those fingernails on the blackboard things that would drive me nuts in short order. From what I've seen the £150 to maybe £220 price range is most likely to turn up something Mr Average Home Shop Guy would be happy with.

Ever since the import tool thing went mainstream its been nearly impossible to get a handle on the sensible quality / best price / best value thing. For example maybe a decade back I bought a toolchest of similar style to that under discussion containing a mostly decent set of mechanics tools from Halfords on special offer at essentially the same price as a significantly flimsier empty tool chest of similar size. Basically I swopped a set of tools for three small drawers. The basic Halfords empty tool-chest was definitely not up to standard but this one did me fine until I outgrew it and sold it on. The tool quality was a bit variable and the socket size selection more than a little odd but I still have most of the tools. OK some live in the loaner drawer. Saved me a ton of back'n forth from workshop to garage over the years. Something like this **LINK** but mine had an extra row of small drawers. Also, judging by the reviews, mine was much higher quality in both box and content. As I remember it sticker price was similar making real price maybe double so the stuff should have been better. Really its the sort of bargain you only find by chance and inspection. I just went in for a bottle of screen wash whilst HerLadyship was scoffing a burger at McDonalds next door.

Clive.

Edited By Clive Foster on 25/03/2017 19:46:24

Another place to have a look is SGS Engineering

http://www.sgs-engineering.com/help-advice/which-tool-chest-do-i-need/

I've had a tool chest off them, and an engine crane.

Tool chest may not be Snap on standard, but then again, neither is the price!

Thanks all for your replies.

I didn't really want to go for one of the big tool chest of drawer things, because the sort of stuff I want to keep in it would be lost in there.

Incidentally, a bit of internet digging revealed that the Starrett ones were actually made by Kennedy in the states and badged up. Kennedy still make a good range of what im after, but they are pricey and postage likewise.

Think i'll keep my eyes on eBay for a bargain.

Thanks again, Richard

Was just going to say that in wilko's now you can buy the padded/grid like rubber lining which you can fit to the bottom of your drawers in your tool chest, it comes on a roll at £4, not sure how many drawers it will stretch to.

Michael W