This is a great time of year to upgrade or add to your tool storage!
Home Depot had a nice spread of Husky tool bags in their deals center, but none of them appeared to be on sale. Yet? There will probably be a tool bag bundle pack or something similar once Black Friday rolls around.
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If you’ve taken advantage of some of Home Depot’s hand tool deals, you might need a new place to put them.
Or maybe, like myself, you look forward to this time of year to expand your tool storage system for as little coin as possible.
See Also: Dewalt Tough System Tool Box is on Sale at Amazon!
Milwaukee Tool Organizer: $20
Milwaukee’s 10-compartment organizer is awesome! They’re normally priced at $25, and stack together nicely. The best part is that you can still open an organizer that’s attached to others.
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This organizer is better suited for larger parts and fasteners, such as wire nuts, construction screws, and nails. Very small parts, such as #2 washers, will be lost in the large-ish removable bins.
You get 2 double-length bins, and 8 square ones.
I’ve got maybe 5 of these, 2 of them Milwaukee-provided samples, the others purchased during past years’ holiday season pricing.
Buy Now(via HD)
Dewalt Tough System Tool Storage Stack: $129
Home Depot is providing special pricing on a trio of Dewalt Tough System tool storage boxes, including a rolling tool cart, a new lesser-frilled but still awesome small tool box, and a large Tough System box that is on sale for $39 at Amazon and Home Depot.
It’s my understanding that the price of the large tough system box was slashed to drop the total cost of the 3-box rolling tool box combo. But hey, a discount is a discount.
I haven’t seen the rolling cart in stores yet, but am told that they should be arriving mid-month.
If you ask me, the large Tough System tool box is the star of the show, but I’m also eager to check out the rolling tool box once available.
Buy Now(via Amazon)
Compare(via Home Depot)
See Also(Modular Stack via HD)
Ridgid Pro Tool Storage Combo: $127, but it’ll go lower
The Ridgid 3-box combo has been a recurring holiday season deal a few years in a row, now.
Interested? Check out our Ridgid Pro Tool Box Review.
Whoa, that’s a lot of Ridgid tool boxes! Spotted at a Super Home Depot.
The Black Friday deal pricing will likely go like this: Buy the cart at $59 and large tool box for $39, and get the small tool box for free ($29 value). The total cost for the 3 box combo would then be $98.
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
Milwaukee 30″ Tool Storage Combo: $448
$448 is a great price for what you get – check out our review of the Milwaukee 30″ tool storage combo. Ben and I both have had great experiences with this combo.
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
Dewalt 36″ Tool Storage Combo: $548
I don’t have any experience with Dewalt’s 36″ tool storage combo, but it seems to have nice reviews. It looks like this is the same combo that first came out in May of 2014.
Husky 60″ Mobile Workbench: $698
It’s almost crazy how big and usable this new Husky 60″ mobile tool storage workbench is. It has a full 24″ deep worktop!
The drawers are strong and smooth, the overall construction feels top-notch, and possibly best of all, it’s actually a very usable workbench. Lock the wheels, and it’s as sturdy as can be.
I like the drawer layout a bit better than Milwaukee’s, too. That full-length top drawer is amazing, and it doesn’t bind!
Buy Now
Compare(Milwaukee Work Station)
Husky 46″ Mobile Workbench: $298
Need something a little smaller, lighter duty, and less expensive? Husky’s 46″ mobile workbench isn’t the prettiest, strongest, or most capble tool storage workbench out there, but a quick in-store examination has left me optimistic. Not bad for $300.
Husky 52″ Tool Storage Combo: $698
I have to admit – I was not very happy when I received one of these for testing. I was expecting the new 56″ combo, but this one arrived sooner and unexpected.
But I was impressed with it. The drawer slides seem to live up to their heavy duty 120 lb load rating, and overall the box just seems nice and effortless to use.
I don’t like the angle aluminum trim, not at all. Reaching over the box once, and I was scratched at a corner where 2 trim pieces meet at an angle. When I mentioned this to Husky, they said that they were aware of the issue and working to fix it at the factory.
While initially a little disappointed, thinking that I was being asked to test a lesser frilled tool storage combo that was cheapened to meet a $700 retail price target, I was nicely surprised at the quality you get and for the high bang for the buck. This is a nice ball bearing tool storage combo.
Husky 56″ Heavy Duty Tool Storage Combo: $998
This is the biggest tool storage combo I have ever tested in my workspace. It’s HUGE, but in a way that offers a positive user experience.
It’s strong, it’s sturdy, it’s got a massive top cabinet drawer that doesn’t bind, and it features the same (or nearly identical) quick-toggle casters that Milwaukee also uses on their tool storage cabinets.
What I love about this combo is that you get loads of hand tool storage potential, and there’s also some capacity for storing power tools and other bulkier items.
This Husky combo is simply superb. It’s pricey, but I think it’s more than justified for what you get.
HDX Organizer Sets: $10
I almost missed these organizers in the Home Depot tool deals gift center. The 5-in-1 looks particularly interesting.
Buy Now(5-in-1 Bundle)
Husky 11″ Lockable Storage Bin: $20
What could you use something like this for? You don’t see lots of lockable storage boxes with clear lids.
Darth
Hey Stuart,
Costco will be selling their 42″ tool storage unit for $499 from the 25th to the 28th.
My question is how does that one stand up to the 36″ Dewalt or 30″ Milwaukee?
Does anyone own the Costco one and can chime in?
Tom
I have the Costco Kirkland box. It was on sale for $499. I like it better than the 30″ Milwaukee. It’s just so much bigger. It is warrantied through Torin. I scratched the aluminum trim on the full width drawer and they were supposed to send me a new trim piece, but sent me the entire drawer. I haven’t seen the Dewalt box so I can’t comment. Hope this helps.
Darth
Thank you. I think I’ll go this route. But boy that yellow box calls to me. Maybe both, but I have to convince my wife…
Thomas Bushman
I like the yellow also. They had the 52″ Dewalt on the floor last black Friday and it had powder coating issues in the corners of the drawers. The Costco box has the door so you either love it or hate it and no outlet strips, but I think it’s the best box for $499.
fred
Curtis over on the ToolGuyd Community Forum site posted that he’s looking for the Dewalt 52 inch box
https://discuss.toolguyd.com/t/dewalt-52-toolbox/619
Apparently it is no longer available at Home Depot – not on the Dewalt website – and my search did not turn one up on the Internet. Maybe it was just a HD special for last year at this time?
Scott K
The lockable case caught my eye last time I was in HD. I have no real use for it, but I would think someone who wants to protect some valuables or small tools on a boat might like this.
Blythe M
I think my question on the last storage post got lost in the shuffle, can you give a quick pro/con list of the ridgid vs dewalt tough system?
Stuart
Tough System is my first choice.
Previously, Ridgid had an edge only in pricing and the rolling cart.
They’re both great products, and I’ve spent money on both.
I like my Dewalt boxes better, in almost every way.
pete
IMO the only reason the dewalt tough system would be “better” for you would be if you wanted the tough box stereo system or the now dewalt 4 battery inverter/charger.
Personally if you don’t want to spend the serious coin for those attachments…. i’d rather go with the ridgid. I like the latches better, i like the handles better, i like the side latches MUCH better- They are also handles if you want to set it somewhere flat without dragging the box over everything. Also the ridgid has the top milk crate where you can throw some consumables or ext cords OR….. you can buy one….. cut the sides off so it’s flat then i mounted my cordless ryobi miter saw to the flat plate so i can attach it to my ryobi stack so it won’t slide off or i can use my ridgid stack as a work tabble.
Ryan
That’s a great idea, cutting off the sides and mounting other things to it, a small worksurface for example, you could also leave the sides of the crate intact and with a few modifications you could make a decent light-duty router table for a trim router. One important factor that may sway one’s decision is that the Ridgid allows you to access the bottom box without first decoupling the upper boxes. This is because the lid of the rolling cart on the ridgid isn’t hinged, and comes off with the rest of the boxes. With the dewalt cart, when the upper boxes are attached, you’re only able to TO tilt the stack back slightly, opening the bottom box enough to grab small hand tools. Also, the dewalt’s plastic coupling latches seem like they won’t have the longevity of the ridgid’s metal ones.
Brent
My take on Ridgid vs. DeWalt: I bought the DeWalt last night. I think it is a better product at the same price. However, it was a tough call as there are features that the Ridgid has that are very attractive and hard to deny the value of. I spent a lot of time reading the reviews here and elsewhere before finally pulling the trigger.
First, I should point out that I don’t own anything by either manufacturer, so I’m not a “fanboy” with a prejudice for one over the other.
What I liked about the Ridgid: boxes are bigger. I liked the removable divider in the wheeled bottom box that can hold hand tools and other stuff so they’re easy to get to. Quality looked fine with the exception of the handle in the rolling box, which is in three segments (counting the box) so I worried about flex.
The one thing that kept me from buying the Ridgid boxes was the design of the handle, even more than the quality of the manufacturing. The design seemed to me that it would slam my hands against the boxes especially if I stacked an extra box on top of the three in the standard basic set. That would hurt.
I shared the concerns of other posters here about the DeWalt latches that hold the boxes together in a stack — the Ridgid ones are far superior. I also noticed that the boxes that stack on the rolling base are smaller than the rolling base, which seems odd and an unnecessary restriction. While the larger boxes come with a flat tool tray that goes on the top, it doesn’t seem to me to be all that well designed — thrown in as a low-cost afterthought.
Until yesterday, my two local Home Depot stores didn’t have the rolling DeWalt TS 450 bottom box. While the handle on the DeWalt TS 450 pretty clearly stood away from the edge of the box, meaning I won’t bang my hand up as I would with the Ridgid, I still wanted to see how well made the DeWalt boxes are, and definitely wanted to test out the yellow clips that tie the boxes together.
I came away thinking the box-connecting latches were adequate, though definitely a long ways from great. But I felt that the handle design was enough to tip the scales for me to buy the DeWalt system. I also like the clear parts organizer (bought two) and the cheaper small TS 130 smaller case that came in the bundle — although I bought two of the TS 150 as well.
Finally, one “system” feature that the Ridgid lacks is the “workshop racking system” which allows you to access each toolbox when you’re back in the shop separately without having to lift off a bunch of boxes to reach one at the bottom of a pile. While I’m not there yet, that could be compelling over time as I can just leave tools in the ToughSystem boxes and access them as easily as if they’re in a big tool chest.
John
I’m surprised I haven’t seen it yet, but someone could make some serious money by making adapter plates between all these tools storage box systems from Tough System, to Rigid, to Task, to Bosch Lboxx, to Systainer etc.
BigDan
I have the dewalt set from 2014. Didn’t come with the power strip in the top. Also it had QC issues with denting and the yellow paint chipping off. I had to check out 3 or 4 stores to find an undamaged unit, and had to take them out of the box in the store before I’d buy it.
But now that I have it in my garage I love it. Mainly because of the yellow, because otherwise it’s nothing special over anything else. The top cabinet is roomy and I have all may various chargers and batteries stored up there (run the cables out the back port and to an external power strip of my own). The custom stamped dewalt pads in each drawer are a nice touch in my version.
The yellow contrasts nicely in the garage, with my gladiator set on the other side. I’d probably get the milwaukee next since it stands out as well. My garage isn’t meant to match (my cousin is all black and red, die hard craftsman guy). Each of the tool chests has different purposes and positions in the garage so its also nice to say (it’s in the yellow tool chest, or the grey one.
BigDan
I like the Husky 52″ combo it looks like it means business. I just wish I had the wall space for it! I could probably do for a bottom half only and put some benchtop tools mounted on the top, as i’m short on space for those (bandsaw, belt sander, grinder, etc).
fred
FYI
Home Depot seems to do a bit of shopping around for the OEM’s for Husky Cabinets.
I recall taking down the different UPC’s on a couple of their cabinets one of the kids was buying – and one looked like the OEM was Waterloo (UPC starting with 721615) plus a garage cabinet and shelves that were probably from Edsal-Sandusky (UPC starting with 017567 and 035441) . A clue about the OEM for Husky and HDX plastic boxes is a UPC prefix of 731161 for Keter Plastic or 829676 for Union Rich Plastics.
Kent
The Ridgid bottom rolling cart alone is 130$ up here in Canada. To be able to Black Friday that and get all three for 100$ would be awesome.
The yeti
Ya I always groan when I see the price difference. We get hosed north of the border . It’s all bs taxes .
jason swan
Actually, it’s what researchers who have looked at the issue have called the “canadian premium”. Essentially, it boils down to Canadians are too nice – they don’t make enough fuss about higher prices and so businesses routinely charge higher prices in Canada because Canadians will pay them.
Adam g
Eh?
jason swan
hoser.
JC
I think we are thinking about toolboxes in the wrong way…
https://youtu.be/0mNptklwylc
anode
Found on another forum – Home Depot upcoming deals
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_cmBJnx0ojpcG9VSXlDOUNJRUE/view
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_cmBJnx0ojpVzQwbXZqeDFDblU/view
Ryan
That would be really useful if we could read it.
anode
Actually you can read it if you zoom in
Stuart
It took me a lot longer than I anticipated, but the SKUs were readable enough for me to pull up product pages. There are 2 that are not yet listed by Home Depot – the Klein and Empire deals.
Links and images are now up here:
https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/home-depot-black-friday-2016-tool-sale-heads-up/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
The Ami
The Milwaukee parts box is always $19.99.
Purchased three over the last four months, never on sale, and always $19.99
Stuart
I’ve seen it bump up to $25 during off seasons.
jason swan
They are $45 in Canada. Not even remotely worth considering at that price.
Ryan
Those have been $25 all year in my area and only in the last month have they come down to $20.
Jon
I bought the HDX interlocking storage containers set last year around Black Friday and love it. Well worth the $10 for two interlocking containers. Versatile and sturdy. Then, to my surprise, close to Christmas one of my local HD stores had a few left over and were trying to clear out the remaining sets. I ended up getting another set of interlocking as well as the 5-in-1 for $5 each!
Great storage for screws and other hardware. I still have one interlocking container that has yet to get any use. I am thinking of giving it to my son for his Hot Wheels. He loves anything tool related and always brings his screwdriver and power drill with him to the garage to help dad with his projects.