I've been looking for a while for a budget tool chest combi set & have to say that so far I'm very impressed with this one!
Just to add some perspective to this review... I'm a professional / industrial metallurgist, machinist and fabricator. I know a thing or two about tools, metal and construction.
Now this is not a professional grade unit. The build quality & finish are nowhere near the standard you would expect from any of the market leading brand names. Having said that, if you're reading this then you clearly don't want to spend a small fortune outfitting yourself with professional-quality equipment... and this unit never pretended to be that.
I should point out that some assembly is required here. The top chest is packed inside the base unit for ease of transport, so once it's all out of the packaging you'll need to up-end the unit and remove the base plate. With the top chest removed it's just a matter of replacing the base plate and attaching the castor brackets by way of the 18 coach bolts (supplied). For all of this you'll need only a Phillips screwdriver and a 12mm spanner or socket & wrench. Sadly, no "throw-away" tools are provided but since you're buying a tool box it's more or less assumed that you already have some tools to put in it! Note: Take care when tightening the coach bolts / nuts... the fixings aren't of a high quality. Too tight and they'll strip their threads. Locking washers are provided, so a light torsion should be sufficient to ensure a safe & secure fixing.
Full graphical instructions are provided. They're easy to follow but offer little to no written explanation. You can't go far wrong though... just familiarise yourself with the parts before setting out.
The unit comes with one rubber mat, intended for use between the top and bottom chests. No drawer mats are provided, so you might want to add some of those yourself. It's cheap, looks more professional and will help protect your tools (and the chest itself) from wear, scratching & corrosion.
So what do you get for your money?
An industrial spec tool chest that'll last a lifetime? Not by a long shot! What you DO get though is a good looking, versatile & highly useful storage solution that's more than suitable for any home, garage or tool shed. With regards to longevity it's like any tool and will do its job as long as it's treated well.
For the price this is as good as any budget tool chest on the market and, dare I say, better than some dearer ones! Clark have always done themselves proud when it comes to providing usable tools at affordable prices and this chest is no exception.
If you want pro quality gear for an industrial workshop then you need to spend much bigger money but if you're a DIY'er or hobbyist then this is ideal and an excellent buy!
Would definitely recommend!