Plastic Boxes for Cordless Drills, Sanders, etc etc?

Generally sold as hard shell cases, or transport cases. However, at the prices I have for them, it might be cheaper to buy a new tool that comes with a plastic case.

Colin Bignell

Plenty of places do generic power tool cases:

Do you want blow moulded boxes that contain an imprint of the tool and have accesory storeage as well? Or would a generic box do, in which case have a look at the Really Useful Box range. There is quite a lot of sizes and shapes standardise on one and they'll stack nicely together.

I buy power tools (mostly Bosch) that come with good cases. A good case won't make me buy a bad tool, but it's one of the things that does improve with the better tools.

Others are housed in a variety of things, including "posh Tupperware" of varying forms, charity shop hardshell briefcases, old power tool cases from dead tools, and ammo boxes (which aren't usually much good, so be fussy when selecting).

I've little use for blow-moulded cases. They're handy for shipping, as they improve impact resistance, but they're usually flimsy and awkward to fasten.

Speaking of which the case for the Bosch PMF180 multi tool is the most horrible blow moulded plastic box for a power tool that I've ever come across. What do others think?

Most of my recent Bosch is blue (injection moulded, not blow moulded) and I've not seen a PMF 180 case, but some recent green Bosch has been very nasty indeed.

It's a job to know how to fit things in it. The tool itself is not too bad but getting the power cord to stay put is a nightmare. The compartment for blades is awkward and tends to try to put one half of the blade in one slot and the other in a different slot - hence the lid won't close. But, the case hasn't dropped to pieces yet!

Lawrence

I think its one of the better ones :-)

The worst is the case for my B&D planer!

I find tool 'bags' much better than 'boxes'. Bags have the advantage of pockets for chuck keys, allen keys etc and are easier to 'squish' into a cramped van.

I like to keep everything required for a particular power tool in the same bag/box.

One thing I would strongly reccomend are the Velcro ties you can get in B&Q. Ideal for power tool cables.

Definitely

I now loop the coiled flex, and push it into a loop of single core flex. Stops it jumping out of place.

I find the sanding bit compartment just a little too small as well.

That is a plus.

On the whole it's no worse than other tools in that price range.

Just ask on freecycle, if you want a generic box. You might need to cut the interior moulding out.

NT

By contrast the case for the Fein MultiMaster is excellent, with decent metal latches.

:-) In my case I almost wish it would fall to pieces.

Maybe I'm used to posher tools, though I must admit I don't keep any of them in the original boxes now except my old[ish] Stayer SDS drill which came in a simple rectangular metal box with some (not moulded) foam to keep it in place. Very practical and easy to add a few SDS drill bits and other bits and pieces as well.

I keep my two Metabo cordless drills in one of those (very cheap) suitcase type boxes from CPC along with a small box of stainless wood screws and various bits.

Yes, but the 'true' Velcro ones are extortionately priced in my view. You can get them a lot cheaper from eg. eBay. Not quite as good quality but perfectly adequate IMO.

J^n

If you were in this area, you would filter out all Wanted messages from Freecycle/Freegle/Greencycle/whatever.

Some of the requests beggar belief.

Though if you are DIYer then plastic boxes are probably easier to store on shelves or stack etc.