[mushroom]

Hi folks,

I have a newly-acquired allotment. I'm in a chicken-and-egg situation because it needs clearing, and I have no shed or toolshed or car, and I don't drive, so every time I pop down (about 2 miles away) tools either have to be carried or loaded on the pushbike. This is suboptimal. I need to leave the tools in relative safety onsite.

So I was wondering if any of you could recommend a supplier of a good-sized lockable metal box, sufficiently large to store for example a motorized brush cutter, and all the other regular tools. A major plus would be for it to be able to store a wheelbarrow. I would want it to be draggable, because the place where it would be put isn't the place where it's going to live permanently. I'd guess such a box would be around 100 quid, maybe more, but I don't want it to cost as much as the shed!

Any suggestions? I'm in Essex, near Southend-on-Sea.

[flowergirl]

ive got the same problem i was thinking of building one from pallets but my dad thinks it wont work so thats enough to motivation for me!!!

[mushroom]

one of my requirements is that it is relatively secure, can't see how this could be had with pallets  

[Aunt Sally]

We bought our lottie shed here.  Good prices, fast delivery to site.

http://www.shedstore.co.uk/itemclas.php/findclas/Storage_Units/showalll/1

[WG.]

Try this thread : http://www.chat.allotment-garden.org/viewtopic.php?t=4849

[flowergirl]

yeah i see ya point about security but i wanted more of a deterrant our allotment is very secure and padlocked but my mum is paraniod about the stanley stainless steel fork she gave me!!shes offered to buy me a box but ive dug my heels in (cut your nose off type thing!!)

[puravida]

here's a plan - dig out a 18" or so hole and bunga few rocks or bricks in the bottom.

pour in a bag of postcrete and a bucket of water.

very very quickly set in the top a large metal eye or loop

then you can use bike lock cables threaded through your tool handles and  through the look set in concrete along with a padlock so secure it all.

[alan42]

remember locks only keep honest people out.
alan

[richyrich7]

What about a large old chest freezer sometimes you can get them off freecycle. you could soon strip out the innards. And then create a "bench" to hide it in out of pallets.

[infowarrior]

I've got a Van Vault.  Big yellow steel chest that locks.  Workmen use them to leave their tools in on the back of pick up trucks and stuff.  They're not cheap if you but a new one but I got mine second hand off a mate for £40.  They've normally got 4 holes in the bottom so you can bolt/screw them down to something secure.

[splodger]

i inherited a coal bunker on the edge of my plot - they did ask me if i wanted it shifted - but i kept it (we can't build shed or greenhouse on site) - it makes a lovely tool store - dry and secure.

[nwalch]

This is what I've gone for.

http://www.tooled-up.com/Product.asp?PID=139034&MAN=Sealey-Steel-Storage-Chest-1200-X-450-X-360mm

I plan to but a concreate base down and drill some holes though the bottom to bolt it to the base.

[leeky]

put an extra lock on it inside a metal tube so it cant be jammied or bolt cut. Enough room for your hand and key.

[mushroom]

I'm going for this one: http://tinyurl.com/2pwobr
just for storing the rotovators, they are taking up too much real estate in my wooden shed (and probably aren't too good for it, the merry tiller is very heavy)