It looks like Harbor Freight is launching new US General mini tool boxes, with rumors circulating that they’ll be priced at $10 on Black Friday.
As you might know, mini Kobalt tool boxes were a huge hit at Lowe’s last year, with the big box retailer launching new camo color patterns for the 2024 holiday shopping season, as well as a new bottom box.
It was expected that other retailers would seek to capitalize on the mini tool box trend.
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The Harbor Freight US General mini tool boxes feature 2 drawers and an opening lid.
At this time, we’ve seen images of the mini tool box in 3 colors – blue, black, and red, all with black handle pulls.
Will the opportunity to snag one of these for $10 bring you to Harbor Freight stores on Black Friday? There’s no word as to what the regular pricing might be.
Given the hype, rush, foot traffic, and sales surrounding Kobalt’s tool boxes last year, I wouldn’t be surprised to see more copycat mini tool boxes this year.
Credits: Reddit users Popwarhomie for the peek at the new tool boxes, and Mehsterrry for posting about the $10 Black Friday price that was shared with them by a Harbor Freight store manager.
Here’s a recap about what Lowe’s recently launched under Kobalt branding:
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Lowe’s has a New Mini Tool Box
Lowe’s Gives Kobalt Mini Tool Box a Camo Color
Brad
Very cool I’ll have to pick up a blue one.
I bought a couple of the Kobalt pink sets (2 and 3 drawers) from Lowes for Christmas gifts this year I should have ordered 3 instead of 2 the 3 drawer box is already out of stock. I took a look at one of them there very well made.
Scott K
I definitely plan to pick one up if they’re around $10 at HF. I may also get some as gifts. I wasn’t initially sold on the usefulness of the Kobalt version, but I’ve since realized this would work really well for precision drivers, ifixit tools and hooks/picks – smaller things I like to keep near my workspace. I was disappointed that the Menards version cost as much in shipping and fees since there aren’t any near me.
Brad
I have a black set of the Kobalt mini’s on top of my Husky 46″ wood topped 9 drawer box I bought a long time ago (black Friday HD sale).
I have my 1/4″ MM hex & torx sockets in the bottom box it works great. I’m contemplating putting ToolGrid into it. I just added it to my socket/wrench top drawer on the big box. Can’t get enough of that system.
MM
I’m not interested in this specific one but I’m glad to see more companies jumping into this market. I would like a mini toolbox which has a flat top and is either closer to 10-12″ front to back, or is at least 8″ but has no significant lip around the perimeter like the 3-drawer Kobalt. This is actually a tricky thing to find. The closest I’ve found that’s currently on the market is this style from Matco:
https://www.matcotools.com/catalog/product/mlboxblr/mini-toolbox-black-with-red-trim
There’s a few others I’ve come across but they’re either very shallow front-to-back, or they are expensive collector’s pieces.
Jared
That Matco box looks pretty cool. A bit expensive in a post about a $10 version, but nice.
How about just cutting a nice piece of wood to sit in the top of a lipped-box?
MM
Yeah, the price of the Matco is certainly up there, which is why I haven’t bought one!
I could put a piece of wood on top of a box with a lip, but many of the boxes I’m seeing, like the Kobalt 3-drawer, have two problems: the lip and they are too shallow. I could fix that by making a top that covers up the lip and extends out the back to provide enough depth to stack things on top of but that’s not a very elegant solution. I don’t mind fixing one problem but I’d rather search for a closer match than have to address two. This isn’t something I really need so I’m willing to wait around and see what I might find.
S
I had started looking for one years ago, the idea at the time was to find one for paperwork, so it needed to have minimum drawer dimensions of 8.5″x11.
The Matco was one of very few that fit the bill, but is far to expensive for the purpose.
Derek
Interesting that it’s the exact same dimensions as the Kobalt one. I almost bought a Kobalt one but $20 seemed like a lot since I don’t have a need for it. At $10 I’ll pick one up and then probably 2 more when my kids want one.
TomD
It’s likely made at the same factories in China, or very similar ones. I expect these are all over Alibaba by now.
No idea how big this is: https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Metal-2-Drawer-Tool-Chest-steel_1601167343302.html
S
There’s also the Menards version, that’s already priced at $8, but only in black.
https://www.menards.com/main/tools/tool-storage/tool-boxes/performax-reg-2-drawer-black-steel-mini-tool-box/42373/p-1642874301606354-c-1526043700147.htm?exp=false
Mz. smartypantz
Just saw some in Sam’s for $80
Jmed915
Can’t wait for the electric predator version of jackery box with the solar panel
Goodie
I bought two of the Kobalt top/bottom sets. They are fantastic for desktop tool organization. At $10 each, I’d certainly buy a couple of these for my shop and desk.
TomD
This post just made me realize that the version without a flip-top might be a wonderful monitor stand, if they can hold the weight.
BS
I’ve bought several of the Apollo Tools boxes on Amazon as pistol range boxes. They fit most pistols in a zipper case in the top, with two drawers underneath for ammo, tools, and accessories. It’s really handy to just grab that little toolbox, some eyes and ears, and head to the range. Some of these mini toolboxes don’t have enough depth in the top for this. It will be interesting to see whether the HF version is the right size. It’s certainly a lot cheaper than the Apollo box!
Eddie the Hook
I’d hit that 😉
Phil
No pink or purple harbor freight one for my daughter ?
Stuart
Doesn’t look like it. They probably looked at their full-size boxes and chose the 3 top-selling colors.
David Vande Berg
My first thought was, “That would be great if it had a handle on it………like the toolbox of old”. Otherwise, I don’t get the appeal.
DG
Hmmm…. I don’t suppose ball-bearing slides are an option?..
Brian
I was looking for a mini/micro box with ball bearing slides and even the Snap On’s don’t have them.
Beta? KTC? We’re waiting!
Chris
I have the ktc ones and they are really nice. Was expensive to ship from Amazon japan to Canada though. It’s not made in Japan either. I use them for my scale hobby tools and wish I could buy another to hold my never ending stash of hobby tools, but they are too expensive to buy multiples of! Hence me finding this post through Google!
Mz. smartypantz
I would hope they offer a similar deal on line since my closest HF is 125 miles away.
Brian
I’d love it if Beta, KTC, Hazet, Koken, or any premium brand would make us a micro/mini box with ball bearing slides! Even the Snap On micro box doesn’t have them!
Stuart
Do any brands make ball bearing slides that small? Ball bearing slides come in handy for heavier loads. For very light loads and small drawer extensions, a lot can be done with quality friction slides.
For mini tool boxes, you’re going to get cheap “that’s fine for the money” slides.
Chrs
My mini ktc ones (they make a bottom and top set) are ball bearing. But cost me around $150 usd with the shipping from Amazon japan and I think it has only gotten more expensive. Very nice but can’t justify buying multiple! They are also quite small
Brian
It looks like the KTC SKX0514 and SKX0012 do.
https://ktc.jp/catalog/index-category/category-list/skx0514
That’s almost enough of an excuse to fly to Japan 😂
Fixit guy
Got the Lowes version. Harbor Freight sold out very fast. Not very good. Not a bearing on the drawer. No liners in the drawers etc. More colors though.