Decent plastic toolbox?

I bought a ‘Peli’ style case for my boat tools. Very sturdy, keeps out muck and moisture. Got it from; thecasefarm.co.uk
 
Most plastic cases have stupid plastic catches ... that end up not working. So first thing I look for is overcentre metal clasps to close. Even the metal click to close fail after a while as the plastic lip they click to wears.
Then its size and whether lift out tray etc.

One trick that I have .... buy a cheap chinese tool set .. you know those ones where spanners / screwdrivers etc. all click into slots. They tools are crap and soon the jaws of the spanners are bent ... pliers freeze up ... ratchet handle fails to change direction etc.
No problem. I then replace each item with better and still retain the tool case with its click slots.
 
DeWalt cases seem to make the mileage. On their own they can be a bit expensive when very new, but sometimes you find owners who want to get rid of them on Facebook at reasonable £.. Very strange.
 
Not sure who made it, but my favourite boat tool box has been with me through six boats since I bought my first in 1993, and it still going strong. Simple plastic with metal catches and a removable tray for smaller tools.
 
I have a Milwaukke plastic one with metal catches, got it a few years ago and it has been on the boat ever since.
Have no idea on model number etc, just tried to find it but cannot see any listed/pics!
 
I have a smallish handy STANLEY tool box with lift out tray .. has metal overcentre catch and is years old ...

I emptied it to another 2x the size metal catch box of Chinese strange name ....

The Stanley will now receive new sets and become my dedicated boat box .. as the hinges have now just gone on my slotted case !!
 
broke a couple of stanleys and a few more (mainly hinges)
got a Keter 22in wide which has better looking ss hinges and a sort of hidden aly mechanism to hook/close the lid.
Only had it for 6m now, look like it will overlast all the others together.
 
I have a peli in the garage that was never used because it was too expensive and a old Stanley case that has weathered piques of outrage and 2lbs hammers thrown at it. That old Stanley case must be 20 years old now has repaid me many times while the peli hasn't. Not one iota
 
Milgrip said:
If you can still find this Bahco range , they did them in different sizes, they are tough and practically indestructible.....
Click to expand...

"If you can find..." - good point there. Some excellent older boxes no longer made. Replaced by something not as good!

Something I hate with plastic boxes is a removable tray that's too shallow, isn't full width, or has a big hole under the carrying handle that allows things to fall through.
 
Lots of tool boxes for sale at the usual UK DIY stores and none of them don't seemed particularly good when I looked last year Some are quite large ... I wonder what the weight would be if they were filled with tools .

For boat use and on a DIY basis , smaller and lighter seems to me to be better .

So I didn't want anything too big . In the end bought the following , Which is a smaller and larger (but not too big) tool boxes sold together .....and quite pleased with them . The larger one fits very snugly in my under seat storage , more by luck than judgement. I don't mind the plastic catches......nothing to corrode. My small rechargeable drill fits nicely inside the larger box with space for other items
Kingmann Mega Tool Box + Free 13" Toolbox Set
 
penberth3 said:
"If you can find..." - good point there. Some excellent older boxes no longer made. Replaced by something not as good!

Something I hate with plastic boxes is a removable tray that's too shallow, isn't full width, or has a big hole under the carrying handle that allows things to fall through.
Click to expand...


The dreaded hole !!! The number of items that have fallen through and been lost ......

I do think at times to use some Gaffer Tape or similar to close the hole ...
 
MartynG said:
Lots of tool boxes for sale at the usual UK DIY stores and none of them don't seemed particularly good when I looked last year Some are quite large ... I wonder what the weight would be if they were filled with tools .

For boat use and on a DIY basis , smaller and lighter seems to me to be better …..
Click to expand...

Agreed, a lot of badly designed boxes. One problem with larger boxes is you only have one big compartment so tools can't be kept tidy or separate. As you say, weight is another problem - usually there's only a single top handle. Some larger boxes have moulded finger grips at the ends for a two handed lift, or the moulding has a big enough lip to do the same. Worth looking out for if you're buying.

I like the two box idea. A selection of the most used tools in the small one.

I'd also consider the big fabric rolls e.g CK or Plano, a lot of pockets, lay them out flat and you can see everything.
 
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