Tool storage boxes

[Paul Cockhill]

Hi

Can anyone help please. I am a self employed plumber and have a Ford Focus estate which is large enough to carry my tools however I am looking for some good storage boxes for my tools. At the moment, apart from my main tool box, I carry most of the rest of the equipment in see through plastic containers I picked up from Homebase. However these boxes are not really strong enough and are forever splitting.

Does anyone know where i can get stronger boxes, preferably plastic but not metal?
I have looked st Screwfix and Toolstation without much luck

Many thanks

Paul

 

[GQuigley67]

I have 2 big tool boxes, and a small bag I use the big boxes for storing my tools and the bag for carrying the tools that I need onto the job so I'm not carrying a 25+ kilo box around. I was in B&Q today seen a DeWalt open top bag for 19 pound reduced from 38 was very tempted to buy it myself lol

 

[villa_tom]

I use stanley boxes for all my screws and fittings and I have a stanley trolley for all my extra tools. Also got a couple of stanley tool boxes for install jobs etcs. As you can tell I like stanley. Plus it tends to be on offer in B&Q alot so I always but something new then. You can get boxes from B&Q that they say are "unbreakable" I have a couple and they have not broken yet and I keep all my parts etc in them. They where about £20 each but well worth it.

 

[Essex Fitters]

I also have 3 stanley storage boxes for screws / clips / fittings. I also have two open top stanly carriers for tools and a bosch bag (free with some drill) that i use for my soldering gear and loose copper.

Its a great set up and will never change it! Old before my time!

 

[Essex Fitters]

Those walk along stanley tool boxes feel and look a little too complicated to be using from job to job. Can see some benefits though!

 

[villa_tom]

Those walk along stanley tool boxes feel and look a little too complicated to be using from job to job. Can see some benefits though!

They are a mare using job to job I just leave mine in the van and all my spare gear is in it and its full of stuff that I don't use everyday. My mate use's one and takes it into people house's evryday and it a nightmare to be honest. To be fair I just use mine as a fancy storage box - only bought it because it was 20 quid

 

[villa_tom]

I also have 3 stanley storage boxes for screws / clips / fittings. I also have two open top stanly carriers for tools and a bosch bag (free with some drill) that i use for my soldering gear and loose copper.

Its a great set up and will never change it! Old before my time!

Those stanley storage case are great I've got about ten, some are still in the wrappers in the garage. They where 2 for a tenner a while back and I bought a few extras. I've got one for each type of fitting like compression, end feed etc. My best buy by a mile

 

[Essex Fitters]

Those stanley storage case are great I've got about ten, some are still in the wrappers in the garage. They where 2 for a tenner a while back and I bought a few extras. I've got one for each type of fitting like compression, end feed etc. My best buy by a mile

2 for a tenna? where? mine cost £10 each and one cost £15!!

I hate paying out!

 

[villa_tom]

B&Q they are a tenner each or something like that but every so often they come as a pair and are a tenner for both. was buying a single the first time i bought one then seen the offer at the till and I always look out for them now. they are good for all sorts screws fitting etc.

 

[Essex Fitters]

The fist plastic storage boxes i brought was the forge steel ones from screw fix, they where pants! the big one cracked as it was not deep enough and the small ones, well there too small for any thing in quanties over say 2 lol

 

[REDSAW]

wickes sell those stanley ones for about £6.
well, they say wickes on them not stanley but they are one of the same.

 

[Paul Cockhill]

Hi GQuigley67, Villa_Tom and Exxex Fitters

I have seen those walk about Stanley boxes but I think they are too bulky to have in peoples homes, what are the other Stanley boxes you are talking about. I have one which is 62 cm X25 cm X 28cm deep. They have open storage at the bottom and a tray at the top Are these the ones you are talking about or something different?

thanks

Paul

Paul

 

[GQuigley67]

may be the one that I have its really bulky, I just use it for storage, then I have another big tool box i got from screwfix with metal finish, again really heavy with all the tools and just mainly use it for storage, I use my tool bag for carrying what I need to the job got a strap for over the shoulder etc you can get a deWalt one in b+q the now for about £20 I believe.

 

[villa_tom]

These are the casesI'm on about. I keep all my fitting etc in them. They are amazing - It the best thing I have bought. They stack up well in the back of the van too. Mine are all in a row at the back of my van.

 

[Paul Cockhill]

Hi Villa_Tom

Thanks very much, yes I have one of those boxes and you are right they are very useful and I will pick some more up next time I see them on offer.

What else would you or someone else recommend for storing larger items

thanks

Paul

 

[simon m]

think i might have to get some of them as well look good and i have 15% off in there at the mo ( coupon from smiths ) so if i can get two for a tenner the 15%off bonus

 

[GQuigley67]

View attachment 2115

These are the casesI'm on about. I keep all my fitting etc in them. They are amazing - It the best thing I have bought. They stack up well in the back of the van too. Mine are all in a row at the back of my van.

I am defo going to get some of these also, good for consumables like screws washers olives and stuff

 

[apple-plumbing]

I have 4 Stanley Tote Bags that occupy some of the floor space in the van. These are the open type and brilliant for access to different tools. I have 4 as it's easier to locate what you need with less tools in each rather than a couple full of everything and searching for ever for the thing you can't find. 1 of them has a selection of what I need for most Jobs which I carry from van to job and is topped up from the other 3 with other tools when required. I also have 4 Stanley Organisers which stack neatly and hold plugs, screws electrical & plumbing fittings which I can safely carry into a job without anything getting squashed or deformed on the way. The best storage I have though is something called a Practibox, sometimes called 'Tilt Bins'. All the BT Vans have these screwed to the walls on the interior of their vans on frames and these often come up for sale on ebay as they're ripped out of the old BT vans when they go to auction. They are grey plastic boxes with transparent fronts which fall or tilt forward when access is required and when closed are locked using an integral up & over bar to stop the contents from emptying out into the van during a journey. I can see at a glance when I open the back door of the van what fittings I have, what I'm running low of etc. these are a must have

 

[WHPES]

I use heavy duty tote boxes for all my gear, with smaller boxes inside.

 

[BLOD]

I've got a couple of stanley fatmax tool bags (with shoulder strap) they seem to be lasting well & the shoulder strap is a godsend when walking any distance.

 

[AWheating]

I have a number of small industrial euro containers stacked in the back of my van. They are expensive but you will struggle to break them. they are stackable and can be brought with lids and diffrent sizes. They sell some at screwfix, the small one is a great size for fittings and sundries