Craftsman has teased us about some of the new tool storage products they’ll be coming out with soon. They add that “this is only the beginning.”
If you missed it, here’s a look at some of the new Craftsman mechanics tool sets for 2018.
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Shown above, a 26″ Pro tool box with cantilever tray. The “Pro” description is theirs, not mine. That’s interesting, and so is the neat cantilever tray that lifts out of the way when the tool box lid is open.
Hmm. Look at the inner side of the lid. It looks to me like that’s the inside of a transparent flip-out lid that allows users to access small parts, fasteners, tools, or accessories without having to open the whole lid. Do you agree?
Ah, a 20″ wide 3-drawer metal tool box. And it’s made in the USA!
I had one like this, and another with 2 drawers with a deeper top lid compartment, but I gave both away. I gave one of them to my father, and he seems happy with it.
These tool boxes are popular, but for my purposes it was too heavy and the drawers not quite deep enough.
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There’s a new customizable parts organizer, and it’ll be packaged as a 2-pack.
Looks like a Stanley Sortmaster or Sortmaster Jr, but in Craftsman red and black color scheme.
As at least one person pointed out to me (thank you!!), there’s a new modular tool box system that looks like the SBD Tstak system.
You can find a similar Stanley FatMax Tstak combo package, and it looks like Dewalt Tstak products should be fully compatible.
Dewalt Tstak tool storage products are good, but I find that I prefer the strength, durability, and size of Dewalt ToughSystem and Milwaukee Packout tool boxes.
If you want a one-piece tool storage solution, here’s the Multi-Level Workshop.
There will be a number of 26″ wide tool storage chests and cabinets.
As well as 41″ products of the same style.
This one’s a little different, with a 27″ form factor and humongous top lid storage compartment.
This style will also be available with 52″ components.
Lastly, Stanley Black & Decker seems to be extending support for the VersaTrack wall-mounted tool storage system.
Will any of these new or returning Craftsman tool storage products make their way onto your shopping list?
The yeti
Love my SPG International Craftsman box.
Wonder how much Craftsman stuff will find its way north now that Sears folded up in Canada
Jeff
It should nake no difference. SB&D is selling this stuff in the US with Sears still selling their line. That may end in a few days with Sears expected bankruptcy. I would expect SB&D to find Canadian retailers.
skfarmer
that multi level setup is a stanly item as well. i think there is a dewalt version but it is different.
Toolfreak
Ah, a 20″ wide 3-drawer metal tool box. And it’s made in the USA*!
*With Global Materials (as denoted on the sticker)
I have the older USA-made 3-drawer version in black, and it’s my main storage for my Craftsman USA-made socket set. I also have the newer China-made 4-drawer black wrinkle version for a China-made Craftsman socket set and wrenches.
I don’t think I’ll be buying more small tool boxes or chests, but I do hope more versions than just the red 3-drawer are coming back from SBD/Waterloo under Craftsman branding and with USA manufacture.
I would like to see the 16in. and 20in. regular metal hand boxes come back as well, the China-made stuff is ok but the Mexico-made boxes were better and the much older USA-made ones better still.
If they do that, I’ll likely spring for a 20 inch box since I’d like to replace the Mexico-made one I keep my mobile tool set in with a USA-made one. I might go for a Waterloo version though since I like the all-black with the black tray, and the Craftsman versions always seem to have a red tray, even in black boxes.
Also, I’m guessing the Craftsman tool storage is some of the stuff we’ll be seeing at Lowe’s too, it’d be easy enough for them to replace the Stanley branded stuff with the Craftsman equivalent, and the Kobalt-branded Waterloo storage with the Craftsman as well.
Matt
Nice to see them hold on to the Versatrack. I hope they expand the line too. I have Gladiator trackwall and like the Versatrack (compatible with Gladiator but not vice versa) hooks a little better. Plus they have some options that Gladiator does not have. I read that Waterloo made Versatrack (same as Home De
pots Securelock which is not available anymore) so Im wondering how this works out…
Mahalo
Matt, are you saying that the Versatrack hooks and accessories fit on the Gladiator tracks? I’ve got the Gladiator tracks, which is why I’m asking. Thanks!
Scott
Yes it does.
matt
yes. many versatrack products fit Gladiator track. I like the Versatrack hooks because they have an extra locking option. Give it a try!
David Funk
Hey what color you want this TSTAK ?
Chris
I really like that 20” chest. Any idea about the price and if it will be at lowes?
Toolfreak
I’d guess it’ll have the same $49.99 retail price as the version at Sears, and might even replace the China-made one at Sears, as well as being available at Lowe’s.
It goes on sale every so often for $29.99-39.99, too.
Chris
That’s not bad
teicher
Everything looks pretty good to me, I like all of it. I could see picking up the storage bins, assuming they are robust.
My old black crinkle finish rally craftsman toolbox is still in great shape, it’s the 4 drawer model with a cantilevered tray in the top. I love it, wonder if craftsman will reissue that design again…
Toolfreak
They re-issued the design when production went to China:
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-4-drawer-portable-chest-black-wrinkle/p-00965555000P?plpSellerId=Sears&prdNo=3&blockNo=3&blockType=G3
It lacks the “Rally Box” stickers and cantilever tray, but is otherwise made to the same specs, same thing as the regular 4-drawer box, really, just the different finish.
Would be nice if they made the same thing again in USA production for sure, along with black painted versions of the 3 and 4 drawer boxes.
Eric
The wide boxes are a no go for me. A box that big should have a full width drawer for sockets and ratchets.
Low
All 10 of these Craftsman products are specifically made for Lowe’s i just got the big tool box in yesterday
Matt
I’m interested in a new chest/cabinet but I’ll wait for some more designs. These particular cabinets don’t have any full length top drawers. That doesn’t make any sense to me. They should have at least one shallow one but preferably 2. One shallow and one a bit deeper. Surely they’re coming though.
Stuart
Personally, I don’t like very wide full width drawers. Even if things are perfectly aligned, multiple drawer slides are harder to open. It becomes a hassle when you need to go back and forth a lot.
But I do like having the choice. I think I like full width drawers up to 42″ or so. After that, there’s too much pull resistance, at least on all the ones I’ve tried.
I expect that they’ll offer more variety over time.
But, the typical downside of variety is higher costs. Retail prices can be lower with higher quantities. Custom colors or lower demand configuration have higher production costs.
Matt
Oh, I understand and agree on the larger sizes. That 52″ would be overkill.. Anywhere from 36-42″ with a full length top drawer would be perfect for me personally.
charles
I’ve been wanting an intermediate 3 drawer black ball bearing/ Griplatch 20″ wide for a few years, let’s hope they bring production for such an animal back to the US. I have a full stack (top, intermediate, bottom) in red and need the black one to finish out the black stack. I buy tools to do projects on the cars and around the house and need more storage space…
Joe
You only listed one product, made in the USA, does that mean everything else is made in China ? I for one would appreciate to know where Everything you review is made. …it’s a big deal to a lot of us.( as in the people who voted for the current president) not trying to be political at all , hate it. Just sometimes you say a minority of people care about that , but I disagree, …
Stuart
A lot of the metal storage have USA stickers. The hand tool box is the only one I have received photographic evidence of.
Things are the way they are today because people voted with their wallets.
What people say they care about means a lot less than what they do about it. Actions matter, and Americans’ spending habits show that they want to spend less money, or to get more for it.
When I say that a minority of Americans are willing to spend more on USA-made products, it’s not a personal opinion, it’s observational.
charles
Well, MY spending habits are to NOT buy products that say “Made in China” when there is an alternate that says “Made in USA” “Made in Israel” “Made in Taiwan” or basically anywhere else.
I think it’s morally wrong even if it’s allowed by law to plaster a big “Made in USA” sticker on something with a tiny line “of globally sourced materials” when the only “USA” effort is to assemble the finished components. When I see that I start looking for mold marks and try to figure out where it was actually made.
Stuart
What if the alternative to Made in USA* was Made in China?
Global components can be circuit boards, switches, raw materials, or other stuff.
A few years ago, I spoke to Channellock about their imported screwdrivers. They said there simply was no way to have them made here, so it was the choice between imported screwdrivers or nothing. Now, they have a USA OEM partner.
I don’t apologize for anyone. But with nearly 10 years doing what I’ve been doing, I am more understanding than I once was.
DC
Nice to see Made in USA Craftsman boxes . Hopefully they’re more durable than the Lenox at Lowes last year which felt flimsy. I still have that red 20 inch 3 drawer box from the 1980s.
Mike
The red, wide toolboxes are not new. They have had this style with the soft close drawer for a while at Sears.
Stuart
Yes.
But there’s also no telling what’s the same. Stanley Black & Decker now owns the Craftsman brand and the Waterloo manufacturer, and will be launching this and the other products at Lowes and other non-Sears retailers. Changes could have been made.
Matt
If anything I hope they are sturdy feeling. I can tell you in our area, the new Menards Masterforce boxes are really standing out in the crowd. I’m not sure where they’re made but they’re very well thought out and have thicker gage steel than most anything else I’ve looked at in the major box stores. They even advertise the gage on large signs above the boxes so they’re pretty proud of it. I don’t recall what it was though.. They also have some Waterloo boxes there and the particular units they stock don’t even come close in that feeling of quality and durability that the masterforce boxes have. I’m a Waterloo/Craftsman toolbox guy so I’m really hoping for some high quality boxes.
Mike_S
I saw Sears staff hauling a Craftsman tool box out to a customer’s car around the holidays, and noticed the box said it was made in the USA with global components.
Are these new SBD tool boxes made in USA, or made in USA with global components?
Sco
It’s blurry when I zoom in the the I believe the badge says “with global materials”.
Stuart
Probably w/ global components.
Toolfreak
They’re going to have “global components” since even when the whole steel body and drawers are made from USA-made sheet metal, the drawer slides are imported from the few companies that make them.
Until there is a USA manufacturer that can make quality slides in such quantities that it doesn’t affect the cost a whole lot, tool boxes are going to have “global materials” as long as imported slides are used.
Also, I think it’s the same for the wheels/casters on the rollaway-style boxes, imported components are used to keep costs down.
Nathan
if the price is right and the feel is right I might buy one. Been looking for a smaller box to put on top of the small roll around.
Lynyrd
SBD Craftsman needs to take a clue from HF U.S. General (Now 22″ deep) and start making these boxes deeper. 16″ to 18″ depth (front to back) just doesn’t cut it.
I’d hope to see Waterloo start making the Craftsman Professional boxes they used to make around 2007.