I posted about Milwaukee’s Shockwave screwdriver bit and Packout case bundle deal yesterday, and was reminded of a minor complaint that came up last year.
Oh, it’s absolutely a fantastic buy – I bought a set last year at the same price, and ordered another one while writing up yesterday’s post. But, there’s something atypical about how it’s configured.
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While the screwdriver bit set is bundled with a Packout organizer, you don’t get traditional 1/4″ hex bit screwdriver storage. It’s simply a standard Packout low-profile organizer with a huge bit assortment. It’s a great bundle, but it’s like bundling a ankle-height socks with snow boots. Sure, they kind of go together, but it’s not an ideal pairing.
I think this is great! When there’s something like a Packout plus hole saw or cordless power tool bundle deal, there are always some buyers that are unhappy the customized storage cases don’t come with the typical storage cups or accessories ordinarily bundled with the same Packout cases when purchased separately. You can buy the bins separately, but it can be a hassle not to mention added and sometimes unexpected expensed.
We have been talking about Dewalt’s recent organizer deal, and their medium-sized ToughCase organizer came to mind.
Shown above is what I did last year – I bought the Milwaukee Shockwave & Packout deal, and I dumped most of the 100pc assortment into a ToughCase organizer.
I also added an insert bit holder that I harvested from one of my Dewalt bit set deal purchases. It sounds bad, but I’ve been buying Dewat’s Max-Fit screwdriver bit sets – the ones that go on sale for Black Friday – mainly for the ToughCases and their included accessories. I like Dewalt’s bits, although I tend to prefer Milwaukee’s assortments. So, I use the bits and repurpose the cases, filling them with other brands’ bits where and when convenient.
Anyway, that’s what I did. I almost immediately repurposed the Milwaukee Packout organizer and used a ToughCase for the bulk of my bit storage. The case looks a little different now, but it’s every bit as convenient as I anticipated. This isn’t my only bit box, but I thought you’d find it interesting.
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The Dewalt medium-sized ToughCase comes with one long partition and 6 half-width dividers, and it can fit other ToughCase organizer accessories.
Price: $7
Buy Now: ToughCase via Amazon
Buy Now: Milwaukee Set via Home Depot
Read More:
Milwaukee Screwdriver Bit Set & Packout Organizer Deal is Back! (Early Black Friday 2021)
Maps Bam
Ohh that’s scandalous!
JoeR
And after you just posted that they are not owned by the same company…
Stuart, how could you? LOL
Plain grainy
That ranks right up there with cutting off the “Do not remove’ tags on furniture.
MM
I love those toughcases. Mine is likewise packed with bits but rather than being mostly Milwaukee mine are fairly random. I’ve got yellow & red, Bosch, Irwin, Wera, etc. I also try and keep mine set up for “any job” rather than having lots of dupes. I have a set of hex shank drill bits, a couple extensions, magnetic adapter, step drill, and the widest possible assortment of bits, generally just one of each size except for the really common stuff like a #2 PH or T25.
Corey Moore
Got two smalls with custom bit indexes-one wiha, one mixed, 4 mediums-one with blades, one full of Spyder blues, one of sae nut drivers, and another with metric, and the Tstak case holder with small cases containing duplicate nut drivers, 3/8 impact socket set, bit extensions, a non metal drill index, and loose generic drill bits up to 7/16. Still haven’t found an efficient use for the large case other than mating the others to a Tstak case, but it gets filled with per-task hardware now and then.
Plain grainy
The clear see through tops make these cases.
James C
I bought that milwaukee deal last year. I wish they would come out with bit organizers that fit in their packout organizer bins.
If you check amazon for “magnetic bit organizer” you’ll see a bunch of similar rectangular ones with three rows of holes. If you cut one of these in half then it fits nicely in a packout bin. This works for 1″ bits standing up in the shallow organizer.
I think a picture would tell 1000 words here, sorry.
Ball_bearing
Would the PB Swiss bit blocks work in it?
https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/pb-swiss-tools-bitblock-screwdriver-bit-holder/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Stuart
I don’t see why not.
ONR
Talk about using a tool for what it wasn’t designed for! LOL!
OldDominionDIYer
Oh Stuart you are such a rebel!
CJD
Dewalt’s discontinued small folding organizer is way better than the new one. Held everything I needed and folded nice and small in the bag.
Stuart
The one with the clear inner lids? That one was decent, but I like the new one so much more. I still have my magnetic ToughCases, and those have zero customization but remain useful for bulk storage.
CJD
DEWALT Accessories Tough Case Storage, Medium (DW2190). With those little black dividers that can be removed. Zero wasted space (for me) in those cases. I searched my Amazon, and I bought 10 from them before 7/19
Ball_bearing
Off topic:
I love the tiny cases that are included with some DeWalt bit kits. They are perfect for pocketing a few 2 inches bits and won’t poke you. Or you can store a full 1″ security bit set in one and keep it in your pocket along with an EDC bitholder or a multi tool.
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0067/8582/6887/products/Dewalt-TSTAK-Mini-Case-N558524-to-fit-DewaltTough-Case_opened_jpg_1024x1024.jpg?v=1586425463
Matt the Hoople
And, those little cases dovetail into the other tough case sizes. I just wish I didn’t have to spend $10 for more one inch bits, of which I already have a lifetime supply, just to get the case. They should sell just the cases in a multi pack. Surely they could offer two of them for $6 or $7.
Vards Uzvards
CCSBOXX Clear Storage Box by Bosch, which work with their Custom Case System boxes, are sold for $3 apiece quite often.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073HTGG7W/
George
My Lowes also has those Dewalt cases for $7 (in store too).
Munklepunk
I did the opposite, cut up a bunch of tough case organizer to fit my packout
Chris P
It’s taken me 6 years and a lot of counseling to get over the Ring Brothers dropping a Chevy into the Espionage Mustang and now you do this!
Aaron S
Stuart did you see Benjamen’s packout plus toughcase solution?
https://3dprints.electronsmith.com/toughcase-medium-box-packout-rail-mount/
Stuart
Yes, and he has a LOT more!
https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/3d-printed-tool-storage-accessories/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
My 3D printer isn’t plugged in right now (I ran into calibration issues and then my workload didn’t allow for much troubleshooting time), and it’s unrealistic for me to expect I’ll be able to clear benchtop space for it again until after the holidays.
Pretty much ALL of my personal and fun projects are on hold right now, but that’s the case every year around this time.
Aaron s
Another good one from last year, the DeWalt right angle adapter and bit kit https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-MAXFIT-Steel-Screwdriving-Bit-Set-with-Right-Angle-Adapter-36-Piece-DWAMF36RASET/316524565
Plain grainy
That does look like a handy set. And it won’t break the bank.
John Fal
Dewalt flexvolt filled my wish list with a new 60v pro grade 18″ and 20″ chainsaw.
They will be coming out in spring. They have new mower, edger and hedge trimmer too plus a new electric pressure washer. Would like to see more 60v stuff come out.
James C
I got a couple of these, the $10 14 pc drill bit set, and the four pack of bits in Tough Cases. DeWalt swayed me from Milwaukee this year (I got the Packout bit set last year). Props to DeWalt for sticking with the dovetail system in the organizers. I have a set from literally 17 years ago with inserts that are compatible with these new Tough Cases (although the bit retention system with little plastic tabs is absolute garbage on that old set).
Matt
Yellow and red go together well. Two of the DeWalt drill bit index cases fit perfectly in the open upper side tray of the small size packout toolbox.