Earlier this month, Craftsman announced their new Contour powered tool boxes at the Consumer Electronics Show. The new ball bearing chest and mobile cabinet combo is designed for the multi-tasking Do-It-Yourselfer who wants to amp up the workspace. In addition to storing tools, the powered Contour system is designed to connect with your music and phone.
Craftsman has built a number of interesting features into the new tool storage system, calling it a central project station:
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- power tool charging station recharges up to 3 power tool batteries at a time
- built-in stereo system with 220W speakers
- compatibility with MP3 players and Bluetooth-enabled devices
- retractable locking work table provides 670.4 square inches of extra space
The press release also goes on to mention that the audio system allows you to manage phone calls without wires. Maybe this means you can route phone calls through the speakers, but then don’t you still have to use the phone’s built-in mic? In any case we would probably stick to our phones’ speakerphone options.
Now, the actual tool storage part – there are a total of 16 ball bearing drawers for your storage and organizational needs, one of them full-width, with each drawer rated at 100 lbs. The entire combo is ~49″ wide and ~18″ deep, and rests on four casters rated at 500 lbs each.
With the entire unit being about 49″ wide, each drawer but the full-width must be about 22-24″ wide. The drawer configuration and weight capacity ratings actually seem pretty decent for a tool box strictly designed for DIYers to use at home and in the garage.
The intermediate section is the power center, housing the charging and audio connectivity components. There will be additional options and upgrades available, such as a CD receiver with USB and AUX inputs, and CD receiver with USB, AUX and built-in Bluetooth.
Expect to see these powered Contour tool boxes later this year in Q2 2012. MSRP is not yet available.
Our thoughts? This looks interesting, but we’ll hold our judgement until we see more pics or a display model in-person at the local Sears. We cannot help but think back to the flashy Craftsman AXS tool boxes that never seemed to attract widespread appeal. The powered Contour tool boxes do look more cautiously designed, but we’ll need hands-on time or at least a peek at the inside of the intermediate and top compartments to know for sure.
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(Note: We’re sure the combo does not weigh a full ton. “Total weight” probably refers to the total weight capacity of the casters.)
Al
Looks cool, but casters rated at 2000lbs Max. I wonder what the drawer ratings are. I’ve got a shop radio. I need stout toolbox that can hold all my tools. Without exactly knowing the specs, it looks like Craftsman is focused on solving problems that I don’t have.
Stuart
The drawers, or at least the ball bearing slide pairs, are rated at 100 lbs.
I don’t think I can visualize what 2000 lbs of tools looks like.
Nathan
Screwdrivers dating back to the 1950s to date, same with wrenches Metric & SAE from the 60s to date,..Allan wrenches in Tupperware boxes (oh say 4 or 5) plus every specialty wrench You could ever want, Gappers, Plumbing crap from Your GramPaw & Your Dad,…some old carpentry junk, hammers of all sorts, hand squares, plumb Bobs, chalk strings, various sledge hammers, body tools, flashlights, batteries and spring loaded extending grabbers,…..that’s just Your first 600 Lbs. of stuff…Now start thinking about electrical tools, old versions of “Chiltons”, Then double it.
Fred @ One Project Closer
I’m not a big fan of the radio-in-the-toolbox trend. Nor the fridge-in-the-toolbox that showed up in some of the kobalt models more recently. Much prefer to simply have the space for tools and a separate radio.
Patrick
Agree 300% with Al.
Craftsman needs to leverage better manufacturing. They have the capabilities to buy more toolboxes from the SAME manufacturer (to the same quality!) as the HF boxes, thus getting them for a lower price, and they can sell them for far more than HF can.
Combine that with a bit more color selection than Harbor Freight offers, more organizers/in-store options for tweaking them out, and Craftsman would have a serious winner.
I’m sick of them selling over-priced boxes that are not nearly as strong or feel as nice as the sub-$400 HF boxes. To me, this box looks like nothing more than a gimmick and a slap in the face to the few casual homeowners that are left buying Craftsman.
Stuart
They used to have greater color selection, but I don’t think they sold well since they’ve since been discontinued. Most colors were only available online.
What kind of organizers/accessories would you want? There are currently a number of socket organizers, drawer liners, wrench holders, and screwdriver caddies.
Patrick
True. I know there was black but never saw it in the store. They really need powder coat or two-stage paint in a couple colors, but black at the very least.
Sears has a great selection of organizers, it’s HF that is lacking in that department. I meant if they had competitive boxes, even with a bit higher price, for the Craftsman name and in-store selection they’d have a definite edge for many buyers.
Jason
The biggest problem I see with this particular toolbox is the rounded ends. Looks like wasted space between the drawer rails and the outside edge of the box. Plus having a rounded side like that only takes up more space. My garage is already crowded enough and I’m guessing those rounded sides take up about 2 additional inches on each side?
I have to agree with Patrick on this one, HF builds a much nicer box at a way better price point! And from what I can tell HF is responding to feedback and trying to improve their products. They may not be made in the USA, but they are at least improving in quality. Craftsman seems to be stuck in “rehash and cheapen” land.
Larry Allen
Actually looks like Craftsman has gotten pretty inavative with this box and has solved a few things you guys don’t realize here. First off the rounded sides only take up the space that the pull handle would’ve taken up anyway the rounded sides probably allow room for the wiring in such an advanced box. The draw back to the rounded sides is you won’t be able to add side boxes or lockers. The big improvement I see is in the center box making room for all the technology has solved the problem of having something on the pull out counter and being able to get into the drawers above it. The top of the top box seems pretty deep to which I like and the radio in the box will clear a spot on my shelf as for the quality who knows hopefully good but if my math is right it is going to be very thin metal and light for a box of that size. Casters at 500lbs. apiece ×4=2000lbs.
16 drawers 100lbs.rating = 1600lbs.
400lbs.
Not including the weight of the electronics.