The policy is present in most of Europe for many decades or maybe even a century in some places. In my country you're required to take a two week leave in one piece once per year, otherwise you have 21 paid leave days you need to use up through the year when you're young, and closer to 40 paid leave days when you get older and have children.
What do Europeans use for tool storage?
- Thread starter ive
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esben57
Well-known member
Then there is Machine Mart, who sell everything. Clarke, Sealey, some Teng and Facom tools.
Quite a range of storage and tool chests of varying quality. I had a 9 drawer box for a good price, VAT free offer, very flimsy in all aspects.
Picked up a scruffy old Beech - Canada, and sold the Clarke at a profit.
Maybe their heavy duty HD range is a better option
machinemart.co.uk
Quite a range of storage and tool chests of varying quality. I had a 9 drawer box for a good price, VAT free offer, very flimsy in all aspects.
Picked up a scruffy old Beech - Canada, and sold the Clarke at a profit.
Maybe their heavy duty HD range is a better option
Machine Mart Power Tools and Machinery: Clarke, Dewalt, Makita, Ryobi, Bosch - Machine Mart
Britain’s No.1 Specialist Tools and Equipment Superstores. We are constantly updating our range of tools and equipment to give you the very best in choice and value for money!
machinemart.co.uk
Odd-job
Well-known member
Snapped a pic of Euro tool carts/boxes while in Switzerland. This was the largest they had.
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
Snapped a pic of Euro tool carts/boxes while in Switzerland. This was the largest they had.
"It's just a baby"
They do make larger ones too. From same brand:Snapped a pic of Euro tool carts/boxes while in Switzerland. This was the largest they had.
Just not common.
Of course in more well equipped workshops you'll find the Swiss Lista boxes. I think those are probably sold in the US as well? Stuff like this:
But the big mobile storage carts are not as common as in the USA....
esben57
Well-known member
Was given a box like this many years ago. It was seized, minor issue, Keen Tools branded red in colour. Supposed to press the handle and it should open up like a drinks cabinet. Instead it would fall down/over, bite fingers and ankles. Wouldn't hold a great deal and you couldn't find what was in anyway. On your hands and knees searching through the lower compartments, also non too dirigible.
Looked good though. I have seen a larger 3 box version which looked good. Companies such as Ital, Enots BDS made this stuff over here.
Looked good though. I have seen a larger 3 box version which looked good. Companies such as Ital, Enots BDS made this stuff over here.
European labor laws are much more in favour of the employee. I don't think there's any concept of "at-will" employment like there is in some US States.
Looks mechanics are treated like employees. Whereas in the US, it almost feels like they're treated as sub-contractors.
I work for a European based company (not even remotely related to mechanical work) and the amount of PTO some of my European colleagues get is ridiculous. But I only say that because I'm jealous.
Also, here in North America, it's uncommon to be able to take off more than 2 consecutive weeks. Almost unheard of. With some of the at-will employment laws, it's like, "if we can do without you for more than 2 weeks, we can do without you permanently". Whereas Europeans will easily take 3-4 weeks off consecutively. And there's no pressure or obligation to be available for urgent/emergency work while on vacation. When you're off, you're off.Probably depends on the country more than Europe overall, but in my country you are actually required to take those 21 paid leave days and two consecutive weeks per year or the employer is legally responsible. My coworker who's 5 years from retirement just told us on Monday he'll be gone from today (Friday the 21st) and through all of August. We'll see him in September. He takes a month off every year (but he has ~40 paid leave days due to his age and two children).European labor laws are much more in favour of the employee. I don't think there's any concept of "at-will" employment like there is in some US States.
Looks mechanics are treated like employees. Whereas in the US, it almost feels like they're treated as sub-contractors.
I work for a European based company (not even remotely related to mechanical work) and the amount of PTO some of my European colleagues get is ridiculous. But I only say that because I'm jealous.
Just finished cleaning up yesterday, it's generally more of a mess.
Kind of hard to keep organized in a one room studio.No real story, just where I went to school. Had accumulated a pile of stickers over the years and a lot of them went on my Hazet cart. Most are auto/tool related but a few aren't. University of Washington, The Satanic Temple (human rights group, not Christian theology), Pokémon, etc.
Was given a box like this many years ago. It was seized, minor issue, Keen Tools branded red in colour. Supposed to press the handle and it should open up like a drinks cabinet. Instead it would fall down/over, bite fingers and ankles. Wouldn't hold a great deal and you couldn't find what was in anyway. On your hands and knees searching through the lower compartments, also non too dirigible.
Looked good though. I have seen a larger 3 box version which looked good. Companies such as Ital, Enots BDS made this stuff over here.
Looks like this design needs a centralised lubrication system to stay functional.
esben57
Well-known member
Think Lockheed Martin Skunk Works might want to fire this from a canon.
esben57
Well-known member
Just had this delivered.
36inch 6 drawers. Only Halfords Advanced, but it will swallow up most of my stuff and I may finally tidy the garage.
Middling quality but £360 plus £40 delivery.
The Beach is much better although quite old I think. Car boot sale find. (all boot sales cancelled this weekend, more rain.)
Was about to sell but will keep it.
Have already an offer on the Gedore and maybe interest in the Gordon Tools box sat on it.
36inch 6 drawers. Only Halfords Advanced, but it will swallow up most of my stuff and I may finally tidy the garage.
Middling quality but £360 plus £40 delivery.
The Beach is much better although quite old I think. Car boot sale find. (all boot sales cancelled this weekend, more rain.)
Was about to sell but will keep it.
Have already an offer on the Gedore and maybe interest in the Gordon Tools box sat on it.
richfinn
Well-known member
It's been like that all my working life (30 odd years) in the UK, most places offer 28 days paid holidays basic, plus bank holidays and long service days (they add an extra day every 5 years up to a maximum of 3 where I'm at, last time I checked).
We get paid a salary, then overtime, productivity bonus, sales bonus, and we can accept end of shift jobs at a set rate.
Tools wise, in most UK dealerships and independents Techs provide their own tools and the shop provides any specialised equipment/laptops/diagnostic tools etc. I have worked at shops that supply everything though!!
Flatrate works a bit different, you will be paid a basic salary then depending on your efficiency (book times) your personal/team bonus will vary, this is probably down to how income tax/national insurance is paid in the UK, we don't submit personal tax returns unless you are self employed, your employer has to do it via PAYE and there are minimum wage rules and union agreed collective pay agreements in a lot of companies.
The Unions did a lot to protect the British workforce post WW2 and they are still pretty strong in numbers because of the NHS (3rd largest employer in the World) and the extensive rail network/post office (which were both public owned until relatively recently).
We never have to ask for a pay raise, it's negotiated annually by the union for everybody on the same pay grade.
From what I seen truck brands like Mac & SnapOn are quite a let down on offerings/price in Europe .
Box store offerings incredibly poor effort too.
What I did see in UK in farm equipment shop was mobile cabinets from Shure, they seemed think they good valueoption and came in close to 28"depth and is kind of a cross between a Lista and a regular tooltruck box at more sensible money .
Box store offerings incredibly poor effort too.
What I did see in UK in farm equipment shop was mobile cabinets from Shure, they seemed think they good valueoption and came in close to 28"depth and is kind of a cross between a Lista and a regular tooltruck box at more sensible money .
I think Mac has a presence in the UK, and Snap On too, but they are far more rare in the rest of Europe. You might find a couple Snap On stuff cause it's used by the aeroplane industry, but you won't find it in a mechanic/service workshop and certainly not in private ownership (unless the person is some kind of a tool collector). Mac is even more rare cause continental Europe has Facom and USAG which essentially offer the same tools under different brand names. And to compete, Facom and USAG have prices comparable to other top European brands for their products, while Mac in the US competes with Snap On which has a far higher price than top European tool brands. If they sold Mac tools in Europe in prices that were competitive, I guess that would look bad for them if they sold them for 3 times as much in the USA, so instead they sell through USAG and Facom.
esben57
Well-known member
Well the Gedore Adjutant went this morning. Seemed like a decent bloke, he'd been after the 'Dalek' version as well.
Like a couple of vampire hunters. Ah well.
Gordon box to move on now, Gray stays or the Memsahib will castrate me (again).
All the best GJ members from a wet November day in Sheffield England,...
...even though it's July.
Ratchet.
Well-known member
As has been noted, in UK Snap on boxes are probably the most popular single brand, after that Mac, and then stuff like halfords, sealy and european brands such as bahco or beta which are of varying quality and price..
Snap on and Mac are far more expensive here however, so mostly you will see 40" stacks, or roll cabs with worktops on them one seemingly unique thing is that they are often sold with various graphics fitted to them as special or limited editions them which doesnt seem to be a thing in the usa?
Mac would likely be more popular but their dealer network has been terrible in recent years, seems they dont back up their dealers nearly as well as snap on and they often dont last very long before quitting so many areas have no coverage.
I started off with a small halfords box, then moved up through various Mac and snap on ones, currently have a 55" snap-on setup like this (not my box but its the same one except i have a side cabinet fitted)
i work on construction equipment so have a large range oflarger tools.. and because indistrial equipment being what it is it uses metric and standard fittings and fasteners often on the same part.. plus all manner of weird sizes and bolt types, plus im a bit of a tool hound so got way more tools than i really need.
also got a smaller Snap on box in my work van, and a hazet assistant at home, because i love those things, even if they are kinda limited for storage
Snap on and Mac are far more expensive here however, so mostly you will see 40" stacks, or roll cabs with worktops on them one seemingly unique thing is that they are often sold with various graphics fitted to them as special or limited editions them which doesnt seem to be a thing in the usa?
Mac would likely be more popular but their dealer network has been terrible in recent years, seems they dont back up their dealers nearly as well as snap on and they often dont last very long before quitting so many areas have no coverage.
I started off with a small halfords box, then moved up through various Mac and snap on ones, currently have a 55" snap-on setup like this (not my box but its the same one except i have a side cabinet fitted)
i work on construction equipment so have a large range oflarger tools.. and because indistrial equipment being what it is it uses metric and standard fittings and fasteners often on the same part.. plus all manner of weird sizes and bolt types, plus im a bit of a tool hound so got way more tools than i really need.
also got a smaller Snap on box in my work van, and a hazet assistant at home, because i love those things, even if they are kinda limited for storage
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esben57
Well-known member
Ex Steelworks maintenance, we had a large twin boom or legged vertical boring machine, this is it below. Russian built Kolumna or something. The individual bolts were so poorly made, you would need 2 spanner sizes to fit the flats. Such as 24mm across 2 flats
then 7/8" across another 2...on the same bolt/set screw. A case of junking them and re-fitting more regular items
Sheffield Forgemasters. Put them in google.
esben57
Well-known member
Picked these up Saturday. Not sure if they are genuine Snappy.
esben57
Well-known member
Morning. Off on a jaunt yesterday, antiques (junk) shop on a former RAF base in Lincolnshire had one of these. This photo is of one sold
online.
Old Talco with wheels, put a lead or long handle and drag it around. It had been overpainted badly with the original hammer finish blue showing through. Spot welds on piano hinges had failed, passed on it.
Now then, there was also an Ameristar chest. About 30inches with either six or nine drawers, didn't fully pull it from the pile it was in.
Not heard of this make, made in Chicago USA badge. Quality didn't look SO level and quite light for a large box. Many rivets in the construction and lid stays were missing.
What does anyone know of this make?
Thanks.
online.
Old Talco with wheels, put a lead or long handle and drag it around. It had been overpainted badly with the original hammer finish blue showing through. Spot welds on piano hinges had failed, passed on it.
Now then, there was also an Ameristar chest. About 30inches with either six or nine drawers, didn't fully pull it from the pile it was in.
Not heard of this make, made in Chicago USA badge. Quality didn't look SO level and quite light for a large box. Many rivets in the construction and lid stays were missing.
What does anyone know of this make?
Thanks.
Dave455
Well-known member
Was it Ameristar, or Amerastar?Morning. Off on a jaunt yesterday, antiques (junk) shop on a former RAF base in Lincolnshire had one of these. This photo is of one sold
online.
Old Talco with wheels, put a lead or long handle and drag it around. It had been overpainted badly with the original hammer finish blue showing through. Spot welds on piano hinges had failed, passed on it.
Now then, there was also an Ameristar chest. About 30inches with either six or nine drawers, didn't fully pull it from the pile it was in.
Not heard of this make, made in Chicago USA badge. Quality didn't look SO level and quite light for a large box. Many rivets in the construction and lid stays were missing.
What does anyone know of this make?
Thanks.
There was a firm in the U.S. (Chicago) making relatively inexpensive boxes, predominantly to be rebranded. They were sold in the U.K. by Sealey as their “American Pro” line, but I have also seen identical boxes sold as “Amerastar”.
I bought one of the Sealey boxes in the 80’s. It did O.K. but as you say, quality isn’t Snap On. I’ve still got it, but the lid rusted badly. There was obviously corrosion on the steel prior to paint.
My Dad bought a larger box in the 90’s, which was always kept in the house, and that has lasted just fine.
I own the exact same Brüder Mannesmann red trolley and topcase that Monte showed in his post above. For the workshop in our new house I have seen some Gedore Bundeswehr workbenches and cabinets for machining tools and will buy one of the new Elora rolling workbenches for metric tools and will keep my Brüder Mannesmann for tools AF/Withworth which I need for my British iron pieces (Ariel and Panther so far).