We were talking about modular tool boxes in a different post, and this Craftsman 2000 series rolling tool cabinet came to mind as a good buy for DIYers, homeowners, and similar users.
Craftsman sent over a review sample last year, and I’ve been using and testing it in different ways since then.
It’s a little different from my older Craftsman roller cabinets, but just as sturdy – if not stronger.
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The drawers open and close smoothly and have 100 lb load capacity ball bearing slides.
Rolling it around has been on-par as with other tool cabinets of the same size.
Craftsman also sent over some of their garage storage system cabinets, and to be honest I like this roller cabinet a lot more.
They have other roller cabinets too – this one has an upgraded handle, taller height, and a deeper bottom drawer.
If I were a DIYer or homeowner looking for drawered tool storage, this would be one of my top picks. There are pricier options if you need something bigger, but I think that the 26″ width, 18″ depth, and 36.5″ height work well for home environments.
This unit has 5 drawers. I’ve mostly been using my test sample for unorganized bulk storage of overflow tools and supplies.
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Sometimes I access it everyday, other times a month passes before I give it a visit.
The build quality is decent. It’s not spectacular, but it’s square, doesn’t creak, and doesn’t injure me when I open a drawer or brush by.
For the price – presently $269 at Lowe’s (it’s regularly $329 there) with free “outside delivery,” you get a lot of value. There’s a $39 fee for a scheduled outside delivery option.
I can’t tell you it’s amazing. But it’s satisfactory and thus far I’ve had nothing to complain about. The one I’ve been testing was provided at no cost, but I would buy more in a heartbeat if I had the space.
I searched around, and it seems like this is the best value for under $300 right now.
COO: Made in USA with global materials
There are a couple of matching top chest options – Lowe’s has the 5-drawer top chest for $224, and more-featured 4-drawer for $229.
It’s a “cleanup and organize” time of year for me, and I’m due to reorganize this roller cabinet. I’m parting with some tool storage products, some owned and some provided for review consideration, but not this one. It’s far from the best narrow rolling tool cabinet I have or have tested, but it’s been comfortable, reliable, and convenient to use.
A Craftsman tool box won’t win you a lot of points on social media – if you’re into that kind of thing – but it’s a solid product for much less than it would cost to buy a much smaller setup comprised of modular multi-drawered tool boxes.
Compared to modular tool boxes, the Craftsman roller cabinet is much more space-efficient.
Modular tool boxes have their place, but this Craftsman 5-drawer ball bearing roller cabinet wins in regard to greater storage capacity, lower cost, and better space efficiency.
Craftsman has other roller cabinets with the same width and depth (e.g. CMST98264RB), but this one (CMST98268RB for red, CMST98268BK for black) is a little taller.
I think it’s a great buy.
Thank you to Craftsman for providing a test sample.
Goodie
I think for most home gamers, these are terrific and space efficient.
Nathan
For the size and made in America the price is great. I think I paid 239 or such for my kobalt 31 inch wide some 15 years ago
Nathan
I might look at getting one and using it for woodworking items. Since when I make project I have to clear out the garage and I have to then put everything back. Might be nice to have a dedicated cart like I do for auto mechanic items.
TomD
These things are cheaper than similar sized kitchen cabinets! How‽
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Diamond-NOW-Arcadia-24-in-W-x-35-in-H-x-23-75-in-D-Truecolor-White-Drawer-Base-Stock-Cabinet/1003273398
Eric
Yeah, that’s why you see more and more people using white tool boxes for things like kitchen islands and baby changing stations.
Saulac
Outdoor kitchen cabinets
Stuart
You want stainless for that.
Charles
Think I’d rather have the us general 27″.
Eric
If you need one now then I could see choosing the craftsman as the US General is $400 regular price. But if you have time to wait then you can pick one up for around $300, and at that point it’s an easy choice to make.
Stuart
I have those too.
The US General are larger and with more drawers. They’re also pricier.
Lowe’s offers free delivery or inexpensive faster delivery. Or you can pick it up in store.
Harbor Freight charges $137 delivery, bringing the total to $537 if there’s no active promotion or coupon (such as now).
You can get 2 of the Craftsman’s for $538 at their current pricing.
I feel the Craftsman has better build quality, but the HF US General has more drawers and greater storage capacity.
They’re different enough that anyone looking to make a purchase should check out both in person.
If you don’t have the means or interest to haul a tool box home from your local store, the Craftsman is $269 shipped vs $537 shipped for the US General.
HF offers more color options.
Charles
15% off coupon right now so $339. I will pick up either way so not a big deal. I think the us general is a better box.
A W
I got the two bay 52″ toolbox in 2018 when it first came out and it has been solid.
I convinced Lowes to price match the outgoing Sears 52″ box and paid less than $350 for it.
Joseph Elsbernd
I like Craftsman boxes, but they don’t seem to offer black in-stores anymore. Pricing also seems to be all over the place on the large size tool chests. $779 for navy blue? 😕
Pablo
Looks like a Waterloo manufactured box, like many of the good old Craftsman boxes.
Stuart
Yep. Stanley Black & Decker acquired Waterloo a few years ago.
bill
I’m a 100% craftsman guy from back in the 80’s and 90’s when they were still great.
Recently, after a research period of about a year I purchased a US general 72 inch cabinet. This was due to quality for price, Craftsman’s old formula for success. I researched online and in person for the best bang for the buck and US general won.
It pained me to come to this decision, due to my 40 plus years of Craftsman ownership. Harbor freight is hard to beat in many categories today. Craftsman disappointed me once again with the V series tools being killed before they even got into the stores as far as made in USA.
Now I am trying to come to terms with the fact that any new tool purchases will not be Craftsman. I’m undecided on what brand to fill my new box with as Craftsman is lacking in quality for the dollar.
As someone old enough to remember Craftsman at it’s peak, it almost brings me to tears with what it is today.
US general, as far as tool storage is the best bang for the buck today.
doneanddusted
Craftsman 2000. $284
5 drawers. 34×26.5×18. 96 lbs. 8082 cubic inches. 650lb max wt.
HF US General Roll Cab. $399
7 drawers. 41x27x22. 194 lbs. 10,900 cubic inches. 1200lb max wt.
Stuart
$269 shipped (Craftsman via Lowe’s) vs $538 shipped (HF)
They’re very different boxes at different price points.
doneanddusted
I’m seeing $284 at Lowe’s right now (7:15PM 9/22/24).
Personally, I think the shipped angle is something I wouldn’t do. They’re both within driving distance for me, and the only time I ever had a tool chest delivered (a Craftsman, oddly enough) it showed up with a giant dent. I think they’re under packed for handling by the shipping orcs.
Honestly, for $115 difference, it’s an absolute no-brainer. To me, a good first-order approximation here is the weight of the chest, and it’s 2:1.
doneanddusted
Speaking of weight, I have a feeling there’s beaucoup cost reduction that’s been gone on through the years. Perhaps paired with clever engineering in how the sheet metal is folded.
I bought a newish two-drawer Bluepoint handbox a couple of years ago. Got it in. Wondered what was going on. I dragged out a Craftsman box I bought in the early 1970s, absolutely identical in dimensions, and the Bluepoint weighed half as much. The difference in general build quality was also obvious.
I wonder if shipping weight shows up in old catalogs.
doneanddusted
So much for that theory regarding Craftsman.
I found basically the same cabinet from a 1981 catalog, and it weighed 103 lbs. Only 7 lbs less.
doneanddusted
Hang on yet again. They’ve got *two* cabinets with slightly different dimensions. One for $269, one for $284.
That’s really odd.
Anyone, enough neenering on about this. The HF still looks like a better deal, but it’s no huge thing.
Stuart
As mentioned in the post, there are two Ctaftsman sizes, and I’m talking about the taller one.
And again, it all depends on what you want.
The Craftsman offers a smaller footprint, more manageable weight if moving up or down stairs, much lower cost, US manufacturing, and the Harbor Freight US General is larger, holds more, and has shallower drawers that are hand-tool-friendly.
The Craftsman has better fit and finish, but is still a value-oriented model.
eddiesky
No drawer liners? $20 for one drawer liner? Why aren’t drawer insides just sprayed with liner like truck bed? Not all put in tool cut-outs.
I want to know how the wheels are? are they metal with plastic or all metal? 4 bolt with welded threads to bottom or screws (if I want to upgrade to better wheels).
Stuart
It comes with drawer liners, and I’m glad this has become the norm.
The caster mounting is… satisfactory. They’re mostly metal, except for the wheels themselves – which is typical.
The mounting seemed a little cheap to me, but felt secure and it works.
I wouldn’t buy better casters for this box. They’re good casters, and better ones would cost what – at least $25+ each?
eddiesky
Good to know! So a good starter bottom for home/DIY/garage mech that needs rolling drawers/bottom to a top tool chest.
Stuart
I can’t think of a better option, at least not at this price point.
It doesn’t necessarily need a top box. I like this height because it’s closer to being a proper work surface.
Tonya Lillie
How do you feel about the craftsman one vs the similar Husky?
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Tool-Storage-27-in-W-Standard-Duty-Red-Tool-Chest-Combo-H27CH5TR5RED/326825858
I prefer the taller top lid though, as it seems like a good place to have your chargers setup with enough space for a battery to be plugged in. Unfortunately Husky doesn’t make that style – at least I didn’t think they did until I came across this one, which is almost identical except it has an extra couple of drawers, is in an ugly gray, and cost almost $700!
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Tool-Storage-27-in-W-Standard-Duty-Gray-Tool-Chest-Combo-H27CH5TR7GRY-G3/326826687
eddiesky
Plenty decal surface there!!
Curious on the top lids like that. Mine is regular Craftsman 5 drawer top and I can’t close because T-Allen sets in a stand. Also wish I had magnetic towel-roll on side (or if the handle unlocked to double as roll holder.
Stuart
I believe I’ve seen the Husky in store, but they might have changed suppliers since then.
I like the idea of Craftsman’s I-frame construction.
I trust Home Depot more than Lowe’s with home delivery and customer service, but I’d be more inclined to buy the Craftsman.
If both stores are near you, take the time to check them out in-person.
I’m also not much a fan of top tool chests anymore. I’d sooner get the Harbor Freight than the Husky bottom and top pieces, or a larger Husky 42″ mobile workbench from Home Depot.
Larry H
The $60 off has now been extended to January 1 (The $269 price was originally through September 25.)
I’m going to pick one up today. This should fit my needs perfectly for storing a lot of my woodworking tools. I appreciate the review, simple and informative as this would not have been on my radar screen. This reinforces why I like ToolGuyd so much. Thanks.
Charles
Harborfreight had the 27″ to for $279.
Stuart
How long ago? Everything in the steel tool storage world used to be less expensive.