A serious workshop reference, but the current price makes it hard to justify

Is _The Toolbox Book_ worth buying? At £47.57, it is a strong reference title with a 4.5/5 rating from 227 reviews, but it is not good value at today’s price because that sits 124.3% above the £21.21 average and matches the all-time high. If you want a well-regarded Taunton Press guide to tool chests, cabinets and storage systems, the content looks useful; if you are price-sensitive, this is a book to watch rather than buy immediately.

What is this book actually for?

This is not a glossy coffee-table book and not a generic “shop organisation” filler title. According to the publisher description, it is a survey of toolboxes that explains how to store, protect, organise and transport tools, plus how to select materials and construct nine types of storage systems. It also covers the history and origin of toolboxes, which gives it more depth than a simple build manual.

For a woodworker, that matters. Tool storage is not just about tidiness; it affects edge protection, moisture control, portability and workflow. A badly designed chest can bruise chisels, rack hand planes, or waste time every session. A good storage system keeps mortise gauges, marking knives and saws where your hands expect them.

First impressions and content depth

Taunton Press has a strong reputation for practical woodworking books, and this title fits that mould. The listing identifies it as an ABIS BOOK in the Workbenches & Storage category, which tells you it is aimed at hands-on makers rather than casual readers. The promise of nine types of storage systems is the key attraction: that suggests breadth, not just one chest plan repeated in different clothes.

The history section is a bonus, not the main reason to buy. The real value is likely in the design thinking: how different tools need different protection, how lids, drawers and trays affect access, and how to choose materials that suit the job. For anyone building in a small UK garage, shed or corner workshop, that sort of planning is often more valuable than a single set of dimensions.

How does it perform as a workshop resource?

On paper, it performs well as a reference guide rather than a quick project book. The description suggests coverage of material selection and construction methods, so it should help you think through joinery, layout and transport, not just copy a finished design. That makes it more useful for adapting ideas to your own stock of beech, ply, softwood or hardwood offcuts.

The main limitation is that we only have listing data, not full project previews. So the safest conclusion is that this is a conceptual and practical guide, not a one-project wonder. If your workshop needs a proper chest, cabinet, or mobile storage system, the book’s scope sounds relevant; if you only want one simple weekend build, the breadth may be more than you need.

Build quality and presentation

As a book, build quality is not about hinges or clamp strength; it is about editorial quality, clarity and usefulness. Taunton Press books are usually bought for dependable instruction, and the 4.5/5 average from 227 reviews suggests readers broadly trust the content. That many reviews is enough to indicate sustained interest rather than a tiny burst of enthusiasm.

The only hard warning here is price. At £47.57, this is expensive for a woodworking book, especially when the lowest recorded price was £12.20 and the average is £21.21. The current price is also the highest ever recorded, so there is no buying advantage right now.

How does it compare to alternatives?

Compared with workshop hardware, the book is naturally cheaper than buying a full work table or storage system, but it serves a different purpose. The WORX Pegasus WX051 is £119.99 with a 4.8★ rating, and the PONY 2-in-1 Folding Workbench is £159.99 with a 4.7★ rating. Those are physical solutions for immediate bench and clamping needs.

The Pony POJ27091 9" Woodworker’s Vise at £39.03 and 4.6★ is closer in price to this book, and it gives you a direct workshop upgrade. So the real comparison is not “book versus bench” but “knowledge versus hardware.” If you need a better workflow right now, the vise or a folding bench may deliver more immediate value than a £47.57 book.

Is it good value for money?

No, not at £47.57. The data is clear: the current price is 124.3% above the £21.21 average, and the all-time low was £12.20. For a book, that is a steep premium.

If you can wait for a drop closer to the average, the value case improves sharply. At today’s price, you are paying top-of-range money for a title that is well reviewed but not rare or hardware-backed.

Bottom line for workshop buyers

This is a respected, likely useful Taunton Press reference for anyone serious about tool storage design, especially if you build your own chests and cabinets. The problem is simple: the content sounds good, but the current price is too high to recommend without hesitation. Buy for the knowledge if you specifically need this subject now; otherwise, keep an eye on the price history and wait.