ADVICE please (tool bag / box reccomendations)

[SPARK2B]

hi all, hope you are all well and enjoying this 3 day weekend, be you working or off or both.

firstly, my first year of level 2 is about to finish within the next 6 weeks or so,....i have learned so much since i signed up for college in sept and started this new route, and have gained invaluable advice from the discussions here and from members in private messages,...all more appreciated than i can express on here.....

many thanks to all !!

NOW,.....TO BUSINESS, the kit / tools is growing, and i am soon to be applying for trainee / mate work (as soon as the savings start to run low ........my question is,..what to keep it in, i am buying decent kit, so would like something nice to keep it in,...do you recommend......

...tool box,.....?

....tool bag,....?

...open top type bag,.....?

just to fit hand tools , drill, hammer, bolster, tape, fittings etc in..

..and any recommendations for a belt pouch for drivers and snips etc etc,....as one i had before although not cheap, was shallow and often spilled bits and bobs

so guys, advice on this and any links most appreciated

*****I CANNOT, AS MUCH AS I WOULD LIKE SPEND THE MONEY ON A VETO PRO-PAC***** YET.......


as always, your input is most appreciated

SPARK2B

 

[Engineer54]

*****I CANNOT, AS MUCH AS I WOULD LIKE SPEND THE MONEY ON A VETO PRO-PAC***** YET.......

Oh dear me, not another daft bugger in the making?? lol!!

Why the hell would you ''WANT'' to spend 200+ quid on a bloody tool bag?? Spend the money on a useful tool or tools!!

 

[shanky887614]

facom bag, draper expert bag etc are good.

anything with a shoulder strap and bigger than ck technitian bag is good

 

[uksparks]

The Stanley fat max open tote bag is good, and as shaky says, the facom bag, that looks nice too, I keep the Stanley bag in the van just with the heavy bits in like files and hammers etc.

I tried them, but still went and bought two Veto Pro Pac OT-XL bags at £185 a shot, nothing comes even remotely close to them in quality or functionality.

engineer54 has the right idea, best of spending it on tools, but I think he is just jealous because he hasn't got one lol :yesnod:, he still uses a tesco carrier bag, me personally like to have top quality bags to carry my tools in, but...tools are more important that the bag.

 

[bigdavs83]

I always use the ck technicians toolcase. It keeps everything in it's place and you know where everything is. However it wouldn't suit somebody working on sites in construction it's mostly for sparks working in finished builds (housing/offices/hospitals). If it's sites you'll be working on then an open tote would probably be better.

 

[Kate]

I always had the CK technicians bag. And I worked consruction.
I've moved to the CK backpack style and I love it. Not as roomy as an open tote..but it leaves both hands free. Its only heavy until I get it on my back then I cant tell. I've carried my drill in it before a few times

 

[Andy78]

I use a Stanley fatmax waterproof toolbox. They come in 23" or 28" and are super tough.
It doesn't get full of dust, keeps weather out, can be used as a step up (even under my 14 stone) has nice solid lockable clasps, and can be used as a cutting bench. None of these things are possible with these designer handbags.
Should set you back 30 to 40 quid, and last you a while. Mine is good as new after 4 years.

 

[CTID]

I wouldn't touch the Facom in all honesty, looks the business but is anything but. Interior straps rather than pockets mean things don't stay organised too easily, pockets would have been a bonus.
The steel down one side bends as you carry it over the shoulder, due Tobit resting on your body as it should. Repeated straightening of this bar eventually snaps it though. I get laughed at on site for my tools being so clean and bag being immaculate so that shows I look after my stuff however within a week the zip to conceal the rain cover had broken under no pressure. Also within 6 months a hole had appeared in one of the exterior pockets. All in all it was binned after 6 months of ownership! Not good for sites at all and to add it wasn't heavily laden as I have several bags for different sets of tools.

The bag I use now and have done for a few years is A Stanley Fatmax round top bag, discontinued now but Dewalt now do the exact same one with a few modifications. Absolutely great bag with loads of pockets to keep everything in its place.

Expect to pay around £50 to £60 for a decent bag.
I would add I prefer bags over open totes now as you can keep dust out as well as prying eyes. A tote can be too inviting with all gear on show but at least with a bag it's hidden under a cover. Also I prefer bags over tool boxes due to I think they are easier to carry around and can be more organised. Tool boxes do have their place and I do own one for big heavy tools, mainly first fix and as said can be used as a step and a number do come with grooves to hold work while cutting, great for plastic trunking etc.

As said though for everyday hand tools and the like, a bag like the Stanley Fatmax round top for me every time.

 

[Megavolt]

Oh dear me, not another daft bugger in the making?? lol!!

Why the hell would you ''WANT'' to spend 200+ quid on a bloody tool bag?? Spend the money on a useful tool or tools!!

Because they have a 5 year waranty. As I would go through more then 200+ quids of over tool bags in that time. And yes I have two of them

 

[Simonslimline]

I use this one and am happy with it.Facom Soft Tote Bag BS.T20PB Tool Box Tools Bag Brand New | eBay

 

[wozz]

i suppose this makes me a daft bugger but i have one of these and i love it:

GT Line Atomik Wheels 215 PEL Technicians Tool Case from Tool Venture

 

[gutterball]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stanley-195611-Fatmax-Tool-Backpack/dp/B002ST7FHC/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1399200544&sr=8-15&keywords=tool+bag
i use one of these and the similar one with wheels.

 

[Knobhead]

I’ve been using ammunition cases for over twenty years. Just about indestructible. They don’t look pretty but that’s not what I wanted.
Some of the tool bags seem to put looks before function.

 

[uksparks]

The Standley Fatmax bag in Homebase, is £29.99 and they have 15% off this bank holiday weekend.

 

[shanky887614]

I’ve been using ammunition cases for over twenty years. Just about indestructible. They don’t look pretty but that’s not what I wanted.
Some of the tool bags seem to put looks before function.

ill be getting ammo boxes when I start driving around in a van. im not on company insurance so I take as few bags as possible

 

[Mark1985]

I use the stanley fatmax bag,Stanley UK - FatMax® Tool Bag its not too bad apart from the tool you need is always buried at the bottom of it.. i don't see the point in spending loads on a bag as its not going to earn you any money,better off spending money on tools you need..

 

[shanky887614]

I use the stanley fatmax bag,Stanley UK - FatMax® Tool Bag its not too bad apart from the tool you need is always buried at the bottom of it.. i don't see the point in spending loads on a bag as its not going to earn you any money,better off spending money on tools you need..

a decent bag will save you time therefore money

besides a decent bag is less likely to scatter tools all over the place

 

[CTID]

I really don't get people saying don't waste money on a good bag:
1) a good well organised bag looks professional and like you have pride in your tools. If you have pride in your tools you will appear to a customer to have pride in your work.
2) ease of finding the tool you need. Too many lads I see on site are emptying bags all over the place just to find a tool, taking un-necessary time.
3) people bang on about buy the best tool you can afford. A good bag maybe expensive but is protection for your expensive tools.

In my opinion a good well organised tool bag saves you time, looks professional and protects your hard earned tools from the elements of sites and from prying eyes. I can tell in very little time if anything is missing from my bag. Call it OCD but it's saved me time and money over the years.

 

[fuel]

Had a Stanley FatMAX bag and didnt like it as it was not organised at all, better off with a bag for life. Now using the CK Technicians Tool Case for 6-7 months and love it, would buy another after this one.

 

[shanky887614]

Had a Stanley FatMAX bag and didnt like it as it was not organised at all, better off with a bag for life. Now using the CK Technicians Tool Case for 6-7 months and love it, would buy another after this one.

buy the magma over the standard ck, there still ck but better quality

this is why ive got veto xxl-f

my gear wouldn't fit in a ck technicians bag

ck is 46 x 42 x 21 h l w
veto is 40.8 x 64.8 x 24.1 h l w