Earlier today, Home Depot had this Dewalt ToughSystem 3-drawer tool box on sale for $75 AND eligible for concurrent “buy more, save more” savings.
I say “earlier today” and “had” because it seems Home Depot has at least temporarily disabled online ordering. It’s unclear whether in-store pricing is the same.
$75 is a great price for this tool box. I have a couple – purchased last holiday season and maybe 1 or 2 from Dewalt as review samples – and like most things about them.
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The only niggle is that the drawers rock front to back a little if stacked, which is remedied by cardboard or 3D-printed tabs for the foot supports.
The drawers don’t have any internal organization at all, which I feel makes them better suited for DIY dividers or bins. With other drawered tool boxes, I’ve found that ridges and divider slots can make it awkward to fit 3rd party bins or accessories.
I like to keep these tool boxes on benchtop and shelves. They’re also of course compatible with other Dewalt ToughSystem tool boxes and accessories.
Other retailers have the same tool box priced at $115 to $144, which made $75 seem almost too good to be true.
It’s unclear if the online pricing was a mistake or if online deal forum sales volume was causing problems.
If you’re headed to a Home Depot store, you might want to check these out. As online ordering isn’t available right now, this is a “your miles might vary” type of deal.
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Online ordering might be restored – I’ll check back periodically and update this post if anything changes.
Adam
Item became unavailable as I was checking out earlier. Looks like the item page is now viewable again, but still can’t add to purchase. The 1/2 size ammo one was also 50% off list. Someone really likes toying with this Dewalt promo pricing.
After getting a couple of the 2-drawers off the last mistake, I really can’t say I think they are made well. Drawers are a bit thinner than PO.
Jronman
Yeah the TS 2.0 drawers I felt were a downgrade from the TS 1.5. They don’t fit as well in the wall racking system. I don’t have experience with Packout drawers.
Stuart
All drawers have compromises.
I like Packout better than ToughSystem, but part of that is due to the excellent 4-wheel roller base with foot brake and front-sliding connection. I’m looking forward to the side-mounted accessories.
For me, Packout tool boxes don’t work as well standalone as Dewalt. I like the Dewalt compact tool boxes for different tool groupings and kits.
Rog
Unavailable for me 🙁
MKY
Stuart –
“… and like most ***things thing*** about them.”
“ The only niggle is that the drawers rock front to back a ***little of stacked***, which is remedied…”
“ ***They’ve also of course compatible *** with other Dewalt ToughSystem tool boxes and accessories.”
Stuart
Thanks! *fixed* Even though it’s Tuesday, can I blame this on a case of the Mondays?
MKY
lol. Sure
CMF
Maybe you should consider sending all of your articles to MKY before posting, and he can post it for you afterwards. Don’t journalists have proof readers?
Meant tongue & cheek 🙂
Stuart
I read a couple of newspaper articles yesterday, and there were 2 with the same error, something like “can for” where a change of thought must have triggered an errant word.
No writing will ever be error-free, it’s just a matter of catching it.
Double checking words is easy (I checked to ensure I used “errant” correctly), but finding typos or other errors is a lot harder.
I can proofread the same post 3 times and repeatedly miss the same mistake. Or I might change things around and create new mistakes that I fail to catch.
There’s a point of diminishing returns where no matter how much I check things, there is likely to be an error I miss.
The software I use removed the spellcheck, and I sometimes use an external one (e.g. Word) for longer posts.
I refuse to use online services or browser integrations, due to terms of service agreements that require permission to transmit and sometimes store written works on their servers.
Maybe one day I’ll have an editor or proofreader to check things over for me, but that’ll require a significant business scale-up.
Josh
This is where AI could make sense
CMF
Like I mentioned, tongue & cheek. I know what you mean about re-reading something 2-4 times and missing the same mistake each time.
What is fascinating is how MKY always finds them, yes, the odd time someone else does, but he really is a hawk at finding misspelled words or incorrect wording.
Paul
The deep tool boxes are also marked down from $70 to $35. The rolling toolbox is marked down from $119 to $109. All are still eligible for the buy more save more promo.
Adam
Prices have been updated in stores. One store said their handheld referenced a message for the drawers saying limited availability until 9/1, which doesn’t make sense to me why the would drop the price.
While I mentioned earlier I thought the drawers felt thinner than PackOut, I did notice that Dewalt does a much better job trying to seal the drawer when closed. Each drawer has a rubber gasket to it. Not 100% sealed, but better than PO.
Adam
updated to the lower $75 & $35 for the ammo can that is.
John Blair
I have both the Tough System and Packout Drawers. I had the original Tough System boxes and I hate them. The drawer unit sagged so I emailed support and they sent me a replacement 2 drawer unit. I liked it but not enough to get back into them.
I have a lot of Packout boxes. They are the boxes I use when I travel and the old Tough System was just for storing things I rarely used. As nice as the TS 2 drawer was, not worth going back.
Fast forward to a crazy sale where I got two three drawer units, 3 10 compartment deep organizers, and a Tool box for less than the cost of two drawers. I now use the drawer units in my office. I still don’t like them for travel because I think the joining mechanism is funky, but I like them because the bottom is flat instead of being divided up with ridges like Milwaukee. At those prices, they are worth it, but if you travel with them, I like the Milwaukee better.
The Packout has metal bars on the side to protect the corners. That eats up a lot of the width (think thin bezels on a monitor). So in a fixed setting, I like the Dewalt drawers. I can fit a Sawzall in a 2 drawer box from Dewalt, its not even close on the Milwaukee.
ken
The link does not work now (8:08am 8/21)
Nate
As someone looking for their first portable tool box, what are thoughts on dewalt vs pack out? I priced both systems for this sale, and pack out is not quite twice the cost.
Use case is homeowner automotive DIY. I have bags I shuffle tools around in depending on what I need, but would like to keep everything in one place in the garage.
I’d also like to build out my camping supplies into a portable tool box, things like kitchen gear and campsite necessities. How is waterproofing of the two systems?
Derek
I picked up a bunch of the ToughSystem 2.0 stuff at the last sale/possible price screw up a month or so ago.
I wish Dewalt had the shallower cases like the Packout.
The drawers are super nice to have, but since they’re all the same size if there’s a tool you want in the drawers you may have to get the 2 drawer instead of the 3. I wish there was a 3 drawer where the bottom drawer is the size of the 2 drawer one and the top 2 were super shallow.
The drawer units are heavy. If you’re not carrying them far you’re fine.
rob l
I bought the Cub Pack Rigid, the Boy’s troop Dewalt drawers fro spice boxes, and our Girl’s troop has some packet and I user Packout drawers in my camp kitchen. Packout is the king, the drawers are more useful and the system has stayed waterproof consistently
Joe
HD shut this down quickly?
“ The product you are trying to view is not currently available. If you have any questions, you can reach our web support team by email at [email protected] or by phone at 1-800-430-3376”
You can get it with a T-Stak connector plate but not by itself.
sdsdv10
Yep, same thing here. Clicked the link ~10 minutes after getting the email notice and the link was dead. Not even the product page with “Out of Stock” notice, just a bad link. I get the same thing when searching with Google. 🙁
eddiesky
Same.
Did find they have the 13″ planer at $599 again. Just wish that was the price for the combo kit with wings and stand.
Maynard
Got organized a year ago with the dewalt. As a cabinet installer they’re getting knocked about and down. Zero problems so far. Loaded with Milwaukee tools the dewalt look professional and don’t scream steal me.
Josh
Currently at my local store they have the 3 drawer at 75 from 150. It’s on the buy more save more display as well. I’m into packout but need some more drawers so this is super tempting.
Liza
Hi Stuart – do you have any insight on when the Dewalt DXL dolly will become available in the US? (dwst08530).
Bought two 2-drawer and two 3-drawer toughsystem 2.0 boxes recently and would like to put them back to back, two high, on the DXL dolly with some other DXL options, as well. Need a solution like this soon, but may have to add to and adjust my Packout setup until it’s available.
Stuart
I haven’t been given that information yet, but I am currently expecting a Fall 2024 ETA.
Ed
Picked up 2 of the three drawers today for $75 each at my local store. Got the large wheeled box too for $109 and thus the $50 off $250 deal. They also had the deep tool boxes for $35, but tried as I may I couldn’t think of a use for them!
Shawn
Does anybody know what the wobble spots/dog bones are for?
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1575987261/
I don’t plant on spending an extra 32 dollars per unit but I’m curious as to why only the drawer units have these?
The drawers do get pretty wobbly when stacked.
Aaron
Dang. They do wobble a bit, even when clamped down, which could result in drawers sliding open unexpectedly. Add this issue to the weird insert they put in to hide the fact they removed the top handle and I’m convinced they’re clearing old stock so they can fix manufacturing errors.
Stuart
The drawers have active locks and shouldn’t open unexpectedly.
These have been out for a while. I don’t think there’s an imminent update coming.
The wobble is annoying, but doesn’t seem to affect functionality at all.
Shawn
Definitely affects functionality for me. I stack four and the top one will fall over as soon as it’s opened or if they are moved.
I think rather than buy inserts I’ll fill the voids with PL premium.
Framer life