Got my first tool chest :)

[Welshie]

I have a basic 'suitcase style' Halfords tool set that is very good, but I've been thinking about getting a proper tool chest for where I work on my classic car and go kart, plus if I get a garage later this year i'll need my own tools.

I was talking to dad about his and that I was considering getting one, he replied with "There's one in there you can have as long as you pay for the tools to fill it". I snapped it up! So here it is, my first toolchest. Its a Clarke roller bearing version:





I have to take some of the oddball stuff out of it and give it a wipeover but other than that its very tidy. 2 of the small drawers aren't engaging in the locking system when you close the lid so I'll take a look at that, but locking isn't too important right now anyway.

So far I have a list of things to put in it:

Screwdriver set (I desperately need them)
Torque Wrench
T handle hex set
Hex sockets (3/8 drive)
Oil filter wrench
Star drive sockets
Hacksaw
Imperial spanners and sockets
Metric spanners and sockets
Non slip matting.

I will get other stuff, but my current toolset has things so I can get by for now. I need imperial spanners to work on my classic, and metric to work on the kart. I'm looking to get a base for the chest too, maybe as a christmas present.

Any suggestions on what else?

 

[Lippyp]

The machine Mart Clarke stufff isn't bad, one of mine is Clarke but the HD pro range, the other part is Halfords Pro. Halfords sell rolls of the non slip matting or you can get it on ebay.

 

[W0rLDWaR4]

Nice color I like the drawer layout too!

 

[Canadian Charlie]

Looks really nice

 

[Harrison2]

Get the mat from either your local kinda hardware/home shop like b&m or qd if you have one or the the range. Much cheaper than halfrauds.

As for tools go with the best you csn afford either used snap on or mac. Screwdrivers id go for a decent ratcheting driver and then just get quality tips for it then just the common sizes you use in handle form.

Imperial tools are pretty cheap on ebay. Look undet britool. Elora. Gedore. Hazet. Sykes pickavant.

 

[4x4gearhead]

Is clarke a popular brand over there in the UK? I dont think Ive heard of them until now.

 

[n8n]

Clarke here in the US is a mfgr. of floor maintenance equipment

http://www.clarkeus.com/

my memory says that at one point they were owned by Studebaker (probably when they got out of vehicles and started acquiring other companies and diversifying in the 60's) , which is why the name rang a bell to me.

I've never seen a Clarke toolbox, but I'm assuming that it's a completely different company (or something private labeled for a different Clarke?)

 

[Welshie]

Clarke is pretty popular/common here yep.

Thanks guys, I shall definitely look eslewhere for the matting.

 

[Steinmetz]

"...my memory says that at one point they were owned by Studebaker (probably when they got out of vehicles and started acquiring other companies and diversifying in the 60's) , which is why the name rang a bell to me…"

You have a good memory. Studebaker also owned Gravely Tractor, Onan and Scientifically Treated Products ("STP"), among others, during the Egbert diversification era.

 

[ZRX61]

Yoga mats make cheap (& colourful) drawer liners

 

[n8n]

"...my memory says that at one point they were owned by Studebaker (probably when they got out of vehicles and started acquiring other companies and diversifying in the 60's) , which is why the name rang a bell to me…"

You have a good memory. Studebaker also owned Gravely Tractor, Onan and Scientifically Treated Products ("STP"), among others, during the Egbert diversification era.

yeah I'm a big fan of the high-performance Studebaker cars produced in '63 and '64, so I picked up bits of the history of the company about that time.

It appears that we're talking about a completely different Clarke however.

http://www.clarkeinternational.com/pages/clarke-home

 

[zcbauer89]

Nice chest! I have a Clarke chop saw that's getting pretty old.

 

[Lippyp]

Clarke is the own brand range of tools sold by probably the UK's biggest chain of tool stores, Machine Mart. I have various bits of Clarke stuff and its decent enough quality for home use.

 

[Todd.Brock]

From reading about the shenanigans with your brothers in the MG thread, you may want to try the lock and key !! Nice score!

 

[ij72]

Is clarke a popular brand over there in the UK? I dont think Ive heard of them until now.

I know Menards here (not that you have those on the East Coast) used to sell their toolboxes about 10 years ago or so.

My parents bought a 26" combo - to store smaller garden/outdoor tools - that has an almost identical style to the picture in the OP.

 

[Welshie]

Well after much consideration and speaking to people, I decided to start decking the chest out with Halfords Professional tools. I have heard good reviews from them, and the professional range has a lifetime guarantee so I have already bought a set of screwdrivers which I'm very pleased with. I also bought some non slip matting as it was on offer and a soldering iron as I'm doing a lot of electrical work at present.

Next on the list will be metric and imperial spanners.

 

[seagullplayer]

Its hard to beat hand me down for price!

Have fun filling it up.

 

[Welshie]

I haven't done much with this yet as there isn't any space in my house for it right now, so it's sitting with the MG in my dads garage but one bit of news is that through work I have found out I can get toold such as Draper, Snap on etc for cost price +10%, already looking through the catalogues

 

[SASORacing]

Good portable box, eventually you will want a roll cab/ bigger box with wheels and work surface.

 

[Cato]

Good box. The drawers will keep you organized and when you grow out of it, you can make it a top box.