Tag Archives: black and decker

It’s Winter – Let’s Talk… Toolboxes!!

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You have to watch the prices in Screwfix like a hawk !! – sometimes they have the most amazing offers. I was in there this morning and saw this ….

Did you notice in small print, it’s 2 for the price of 1…..!!! £13.50 per tool box.

If you’re new to radio sailing, and most probably have come from another branch of the sport such as dinghy or keelboat racing, you’ll try bringing your old toolbox and tools with you. I did. It was quickly a hopeless venture 🙂

In the radio sailing part of the sport, we have special tool and toolbox requirements.

  • large variety of bits and pieces, usually smaller sizes
  • unexpected calls on the toolbox for a huge spectrum of reasons, usually in a hurry, often in the rain
  • tools/parts smaller and often more delicate.
  • no rummaging, a need for speed, a protected environment for delicate things

Out goes the big keelboat toolbox! No rummaging under the spanners plus we need to see where all the bits are at a glance.

RW and Rj got stuck into this subject last winter, but neglected to publish the results. We tried for a short period those toolboxes with cantilevered fold out trays. Such boxes around here are of appalling quality to be honest, plus we didn’t want to swing out the cantilever trays in the rain and everything gets wet all at once.

Conclusion:-

  • lots of nice small sealed trays is a good thing
  • Reconfigurable trays is an excellent idea
  • clear windows so you can see what is stored where in about 1 second flat, all in the car boot !
  • weatherproof and probably not metal construction
  • solid, sturdy, high quality but not costing the earth

We ended up testing two almost identical products, same dimensions almost. In the trade they seem to be called “Organisers” not “Toolboxes”. Both brands feature little locks on the sides to enable you to stack one on top of another securely – might be a consideration in your car boot….

In the end, RW and RJ concluded that the Dewalt model (left of photo) is slightly better. Note the long side compartments for screwdrivers, pens etc. Note also that the Stanley model (right of photo) places the handle grip in an area, where in the Dewalt you can remove the storage compartments to get your 12 inch rule, surgical tweezers and long things in.

This is the Screwfix Link to the Dewalt offer of the month.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/dewalt-tstak-organiser-dwst83497-1-4-6-x-13-/472kj

When we did our trials, the Dewalt was £40 and the Stanley was £20. RJ and RW quickly agreed that the Dewalt was best for radio sailing and, I think, despite the extra price RW has four of them!! Really sturdy, high quality, each very visible compartment is sealed when. the lid is down.

For myself, I’m using both and find I can carry tools and spares for 3 classes in two of these boxes. So I’d say £29 for the Dewalt is great – but that’s until I saw £13.50 for the Stanley.

What do you think?? A good opportunity to sort out your tools and spares?

Screwfix tends to have short lived offers. Move fast if you want a couple.

Did you see our “hack” toolbox for carrying your Futabas safely??

Futaba Users : Do You Have a Transmitter Carry-box ??…

Futaba Users : Do You Have a Transmitter Carry-box ??…

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Do you get anxious with carrying your delicate transmitter around in the boot of the car… kind of sliding and rolling around?? It has been worrying me. Delicate joysticks and all that.

My Radiomaster Pocket feels like you could throw it across the room and it would come up smiling. Blinking tough, they are. The rest of my transmitters, less so.

Do you have Futaba? Half of our club do. Very popular 🙂 I’ve been looking online for bags or cases for the transmitters simply to protect them from bashes. I found some cheap ones made of black felt which didn’t inspire. I also found some smart steel cases (very sexy in a way) with foam inserts (allegedly for Futaba) but they only take one transmitter at a time and are unreasonably expensive I felt. If you are a two transmitter person, that means lugging two suitcase things into the car each weekend and that’s just before you load the boats and rigs. I felt… not good.

Then by complete accident, I discovered this from Black and Decker. Their standard 19inch toolbox – available everywhere globally I’d guess for about £20 if you’re lucky. I bought mine in UK Homebase DIY Store – in the start of year sales.

Before I show you the inside, those two little red flap compartments on top are good for spare receivers, batteries etc. Very quick access….

But Futaba lovers – look at this!!

It’s like the toolbox was made for our transmitters. Amazing ! One transmitter, no problem! You could get one or even two in there – and the size even protects your transmitter switches just perfectly. Can you see in the photo that the switches are held securely in free space?

To stop them bouncing around, I simply popped some sticky back neoprene in there. The end corners are deliberately not lined as that’s where the switches will sit. It’s really snug and the neoprene holds them like a gloved female hand. You can see I have one piece of loose neoprene to separate two radios.

On top fits a loose tray – great for batteries, voltage testers, or whatever you want.

I tipped the tray over and did this…

I put four neoprene pads to sit over where the joysticks are situated. I reckon that if the transmitter wriggles out (unlikely) of the gloved female grip, they can only move upward 10mm before they touch this neoprene. I might put an extra layer of neoprene in the bottom of the box to lift them up and close that gap completely.

What do you think?? Good for £20 ??

I even like it that it looks anonymous and doesn’t shout “please steal me”!!!

By the way, I have tried it on my Spektrum and it’s too wide for this. So Futaba people, this idea is just for you !!