I stopped by my local Home Depot today to pick up some large tote boxes, and came across this new Husky compact Pro-duty storage container.
I immediately saw it as a very small tool box.
I’ve used some of the larger ones, and like them a lot. Unlatch one side, and the lid can hinge open. Unlatch them both, and the lid comes off.
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I thought maybe I could get a box to put together some tools for traveling with, or maybe a portable first aid kit. It felt like a sturdy box, and $10 wasn’t too much for the build quality.
I tested it out by opening a latch and flipping the lid open. Ouch! I pinched a finger.
I tried opening both latches and this time I pinched fingers on both hands.
I snapped some pics and put it back on the display.
Frankly, I think the issue is with my muscle memory and where I naturally place my fingers. I didn’t look too closely, but I think I’m getting snagged between the black latch and the red case, just as the latch rotates to the open position.
I’ve never had this problem with my larger Husky containers from the same line.
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This size isn’t available online yet. I might try it again the next time I’m at the store. If it still pinches, maybe I can attach crude finger guards.
$10 for an IP65 case is pretty good. I didn’t see mention of the size, but it was small.
SKU: 1012-072-591
Update: Went to the same store over the weekend, and it still pinched. There’s something about the curvature of the latch that just doesn’t work with how I grip the handles when opening.
I also went to a different Home Depot for a different reason, and they did not have the storage box at all. It seems that it’s only available at some stores.
Dave (not here)
Trying to find a use case for these, as I have some of the larger ones and they’ve been great for a variety of uses, the one I visit multiple times a day being pet food storage. A bit pricier than other options, but the durability and weather seal are great and they’re slowly replacing milk crates and cheaper plastic tubs at my shop/warehouse.
Terry
I’ve never ‘hard’ this problem…
Scott K
This looks like it could be really handy. I agree about the first aid kit – that was my initial thought as many first aid kits marketed for boats have quite expensive cases. I wonder if this would be large enough to hold enough things yet thin enough to slide under a typical front passenger seat as a car kit.
The other sizes appear to be on sale – listed as “special buy”
Stuart
January tends to be “save on storage!” month at big box retailers.
It seemed like a nice size, and a little larger than the smallest size car/truck boxes I used to see at Sears.
It might be too thick to comfortably fit under some seats.
Plain+grainy
I have a lot of the larger boxes. Sporting a clear top and really protective. I’m a big fan! These smaller ones might be good for storing tool manuals, or other documents..
Plain+grainy
I couldn’t find any dimensions on these smaller boxes. But they do list them as a one gallon size.
MM
I think this is a handy size box but it looks like when the lid latches are shut they stick up above the top of the lid. If I’m seeing that correctly and it’s not a trick of perspective that is an instant dealbreaker for me. Storage boxes need to have a flat top when closed so other things can be stacked on top.
Matt S.
It appears the bottom of the case is notices so they can sack onto themselves, but yes, anything else won’t fit
MM
Yeah, it looks like the bottom of the box is narrower than the gap between the latches so these boxes can stack with others of their kind, but in my opinion that’s not good enough, I want to be able to put any flat object on top, not just more Husky boxes.
And now that I’m writing this, I think the lid latches have another disadvantage: it looks like they could easily be knocked open if someone were trying to stack things on the box, or, say, if they tossed the box in the back of a truck with a bunch of other stuff thrown in. The more traditional sort of draw-down latch that Packout, Toughsystem, etc, use is a much better design. It doesn’t stick up above the top of the box and it can’t be easily knocked free.
Stuart
It’s not flat, the latches do extend upwards, otherwise they couldn’t be flipped open.
They’re pretty secure – I don’t think there’s a big risk of accidental opening.
Gene
I use the larger ones for storing filament for my 3D printers, and I’m really happy with them. Never had an issue knocking a latch open pulling one off of another one..
Matt S.
This looks like it may be handy for a selection of tools for the boat; only what’s needed.
fritz gorbach
I have a few similar cases from Harbor freight doing various duties. Not sure about the exposure ratings, but they are tough, gasketed, and they’ve served me well. Not sure in price but I’m feeling like maybe a paid in the fifteen to twenty dollar range for mine, so husky might have them beat here, but there are other low prices options out there.
John
Agreed. I wouldn’t purchase any storage box without a flat-enough top, so that anything else could be placed securely on top.
MtnRanch
What triggered the sudden need for all these storage boxes? What did we do before they appeared on the scene en masse?
Grokew
We used steel boxes, wooden boxes, or Royal Dansk cookie tins.
Stuart
There’s no sudden greater need for storage products, it’s just that tool users are paying more attention to designs and differentiations.
mp
I like the 5 and 12 gallon ones a lot too, and just discovered that Menards has what look like rebrands of the same thing to me: https://www.menards.com/main/storage-organization/storage-totes-bins/storage-totes/masterforce-reg-green-industrial-gasket-storage-tote/5gt-1055/p-1642874266909259-c-12667.htm
DRT42
The Menards boxes aren’t the same as Husky. I went to HD and checked out the Husky – just like Stuart, the very first latch I opened pinched my finger (gently – I was prepared). Then after only a little fiddling, the whole latch fell right off.
I own two Menards boxes, and I just bought 2 more. Those latches do not pinch, and they do not fall off, either. The side latches also seem to be twice the size of the Husky ones. I think the clear lids are quite a bit different, also. The Menards lids have two stiffening ribs on the underside and I don’t recall seeing that on the Husky ones. Could be wrong about that, but in any case, the lids “look” different.
Not sure of COO of the Husky ones, but the Menard boxes are made in USA.
Jay
I bought two just now at Depot after seeing this post. I’ve been looking for something to store Lightning and USB Cables in for my home office so this, some cable ties and a label maker will make light work of it!
jonrose
I own many of the 5 gallon and 12 gallon versions of these, and I have had nothing but bad luck with the side latches that act as hinges. They seem to constantly break on me. I end up taking one of these totes back to Home Depot for a warranty replacement at least every other month. At my Home Depot, I sometimes find the latches pre-broken on units that are still on the store shelf.
This only has the side latches that double as hinges. I would expect that to be a problem – unlike the larger sizes, which have end snaps that hold the lids down, this one won’t close with one of those side latches broken.
S
Look! It’s a home depot exclusive item!
Sorry, couldn’t resist.
Tdot77
“It immediately saw it as….”
I have one of the small size plastic Husky storage cases(clear with hinged 3 flip-clasps) that I use to keep frequently used random odd drill bits, bit drivers, 4″\6″ extensions, a few odd grinder wheels and a couple OMT blades in my tool carry bag so I have them all together, easy to access. I love that little case, it’s strong plastic too! I’ll have to check out these new ones, cause I think I’d like them too.
Another thing I use to hold other bits\blades is a capped PVC ‘tube’. A 9″ – 12″ piece of 1 ½” or 2″ PVC pipe with a test cap glued on one end and a female clean-out\threaded adapter + (screw-on) clean-out cap on the other end. I have one 1.5″ for all my various recip saws blades – the plastic cases that come with blades always end up breaking at the chinsy door hinge, spilling blades all over. The second one I have(2″) is for all my sds masonry bits & chisels\pointing tips, etc that are hard to store cause they’re a bit heavier. Used to store everything in the metal case the tools came in but that idea is gone now and you’re ‘lucky’ if you get a bag. Just remember to not screw (clean-out) cap on too tightly so you can unscrew by hand when you need a bit\blade. Wanted to share cause it works very well to store those items that usually don’t have a sturdy storage home! :-)
Lyle
Can you please post the SKU? I went to my local Home Depot and they didn’t have it but they asked for the SKU. The picture is too small and when I try to zoom in the SKU is blurry. Thanks.
Stuart
1012-072-591
Frank D
I have pinched a finger or two as well with this style. I picked up a handful, both the large and medium size of these, in a rush to carry stuff in some rooftop bags that would not be waterproof ( especially not for 1600 highway miles if it rains and going into tropical weather ) Plus I like the clear lid … as long as they stay nice and new.
The latches do seem somewhat prone to detaching.
Steven Phillips
I picked up one of these already just for future use, I don’t even know what I’m going to use it for yet, I just liked it. They were in stock a few weeks before Christmas, like a tool promo that was delayed and didn’t make it to the floor in October with the rest of them.
Andrew Munczenski
I was able to pick one today here in metro atlanta. One store didn’t have any. I had to go to another they had 10.
P
So anyone got measurements for this thing?
Stuart
Sorry, I passed on it again the second time I saw it. I checked, and didn’t see any mention or markings with the size or capacity.
Lyle
I bought 2 of these on a recent trip to Texas. When I got home I took the black clips off and took them to a stationary belt sander. I shortened the height of them so they are now flush with the top of the case. I can still open them easily and they are still secure. I just bought 2 more of them and will also sand down those clips as well.