Wanting to get a tool trolley. One on wheels which I can push around. I'm not really handy around the house but over time have accumulated enough tools ( mainly hand tools) to warrant somewhere central to put them.
I see there is a big variations in price. Looks like I can just buy one for about 150-200 from Bunnings or Amazon from a brand like craftright or giantz. And they go up to like 600 bucks for a kinchrome
What am I missing getting the cheapest one over the more expensive versions?
I'm handy around the house and my hand tools fit in a bucket sized bag
… but you should totally go for Snap-on
The more expensive ones are nicer to use and generally built more sturdy. If you're going to use it a lot spend the extra. I have a cheap one at home and its fine. At work I have an expensive one as it gets a lot more use.
At home which one did you get?
More money generally equals better quality draw slides and casters and overall built more sturdily.
IMO, you really should go and play with them in store to see if youre happy with the build quality. Sometimes you can just feel something is a bit ordinary.
Youll want some pretty good/large castors if you want to drag your tool chest around the house. I find i just grab what i need from the shed rather than taking everything.
Unless you're a tradie or run a tool shop where you can depreciate the tools / trolley, just buy something sturdy enough to last your use case.
Also something that looks like it belongs in a house and not in a shed.
The cheap ones are fine. The slide action on the drawers won't be as nice and the steel will be thinner, but if you're not using it a lot it won't matter.
If you want to spoil yourself you can drop around a grand on a really nice one and probably keep it for life.
The middle path is to try to get a nice used one on Facebook marketplace. Gotta research what you find well and transport may be hard though.
I got a cheap "giantz" one, then replaced the wheels which were the shoddiest feeling part.
Keep an eye out at Bunnings etc. Kincrome etc will change models and as a result, there will be run outs. Youll note very little differences.
There's no rhyme or reason around this that I know if so if theres no rush, just wait and watch 😏
Couple of VB cartons duct taped together, stubby holder for sockets, another for hex keys. Done.
We need more details. Will this stay in the garage/shed, or will it come in the house? You don't need a tool chest for each job you do, so what kinds of tools do you use most frequently? You need to be able to carry those tools around. You may not need to buy a trolley, just somewhere organised to keep your tools (.g. pinboard or a box).
All my tools I’ve accumulated from OzB sales sit on a self in a cupboard and that works perfectly fine
Was the shelf as ozbargain deal?
I have a second hand office bookshelf that cost me $10. Put some carpet offcuts on the shelf (that I found under the house).
tool chest or tool trolley?
My tool chest hasn't moved since I put it in the workshop 4 years ago. The most important part is the drawer runners.
A 20l bucket with a tool belt attached to it makes a great portable tool box
Like everyone says, drawer runners are the one that make the difference, the cheap one won't snap close and once you have heavy enough stuff inside it will sag and tend to stay open and can be a hazard.
A neodymium magnet will fix it the drawers from self opening.
What am I missing getting the cheapest one over the more expensive versions?
Cheap ones are cheaply made …
One nasty issue is with drawers. They are so flimsy that they buckle in the center and scratch the underneath. Nasty cheap.
Will you be moving it regularly? The wheels can be total rubbish on the cheap ones also the tipping point can also be a problem.
The expensive ones are for people who open their drawers 20 times a day, ie full time mechanics. I find budget ones totally fine for home use. I filled mine with heavy machining tools such as vice, parallel bars, measuring tools, chucks and cutting tool bits. Sure it's slightly flimsy when overloaded but it's not that bad it still serve it's purpose.
The thinner gauge steel means it's less sturdy but it's also lighter in weight which makes it more mobile. However usually these cheaper trolley usually need caster wheel upgrade less shopping trolley feel.
If you have the money yeah get the best you only live once. I choose to invest in better tools which I use more.
I'm not really handy around the house but over time have accumulated enough tools ( mainly hand tools) to warrant somewhere central to put them.
You mention storage, not frequent usage as a requirement.
If this is the case, depending on how many tools you have, can be as simple as a tool bag (e.g. https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/705858) or cargo case (https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/468153).
You don't need a tool trolley - for you, it's just a solution looking for a problem.
I assume you mean a rolling tool chest? Trolleys are small little things that you place the few tools your're currently working with. At least that's how I see.
As for differences, better quality materials, higher weight capacity on the runners/drawers, full extension runners, better castors etc. Of course you do also pay for the brand name to an extent.