Home Depot had a fantastic Black Friday deal on Husky Pro tool storage products where you could buy a 72″ roller cabinet at 50% off and get a free attachment module.
This was a huge deal on excellent quality steel tool storage products.
I tested this same workbench earlier this year, and it was a wonderful experience. I couldn’t believe the low price Home Depot was selling it for last week!
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The hutches and side lockers looked to sell out quickly, and some shoppers still snatched up a Husky Pro mobile workbench with a top locker or pair of smaller lockers.
Then, the product pages vanished. Home Depot usually does this for products they don’t plan to sell again in the near-future.
Does that mean this is the end of the line for the Husky Pro tool storage system?
I thought the deal was part of Home Depot’s massive Black Friday sale, but there are signs it was also a clearance sale.
What if you bought the 72″ workbench and got a free hutch and also want to buy a side locker or two? Or, what if you placed your order after the hutch sold out and still want one?
Even if there will be a new production run, which is not guaranteed, I don’t think Home Depot is restocking any of these Pro storage products soon.
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I asked Home Depot’s Husky brand manager if unavailability (temporary or otherwise) would affect parts or lifetime warranty considerations, and was told that Husky’s manufacturing partners “stock all replaceable parts to honor any warranty issues.” That’s at least a bit of good news.
Should you cancel or return your orders? I wouldn’t, and definitely not if I bought one at its recent deal price.
If I bought the tool cabinet with the plan to build up a complete setup like shown here, maybe then I’d have second thoughts.
But even then, the price was good enough where I’d try to find a way to connect other brands’ add-ons if necessary.
You might not share that sentiment, and so this was a necessary discussion to have.
Husky tries new things, and not every new tool or storage product works out.
eddie sky
Nuts. Well, I hope its just a product change and not certain EOL. I for one, am selling my home and the next one, I want that red setup for my reload/smithing work center.
Ultimate Husky Workshop indeed!
Robert
Well, that’s certainly a shame. Didn’t seem a long production run. More stout and expensive than I truly need. But they seemed to fit a needed niche for pros, if they could maintain the quality at that price.
Jared
Those tool boxes looked awesome – and filled a nice niche between homeowner and tool truck boxes. I hope it’s not the end of the line, but maybe they didn’t sell so well as Home Depot hoped.
Given their excellent value, I wonder how much of that is based on marketing. I’m not saying they did a bad job – but maybe consumers weren’t expecting a tool box in that price range from a big box store and therefore didn’t realize why it commanded a premium compared to regular-line Husky products.
Nathan
Who made them? Do you think it’s a move to have more Milwaukee branded items? Or DeWalt items could go either way.
Chris I
I feel like I read they’re a Hyxion product at one point
Charlie
Made by Geelong. So is Milwaukee
Joe E.
I find it strange that Husky has high quality “pro” tool boxes, but their mechanics tools are are basic, average quality, China made DIY’er tools found at any big box retailer.
With Harbor Freight, their ICON line of pro tool boxes has a “pro” tool line to fill it up with.
Bob
Husky mechanics’ tools are made by Apex – the same company that makes Gearwrench tools. Icon tools are made by various Asian manufacturers, for Harbor Freight. Some Icon tools are of excellent quality, while others are of no better quality than the homeowner tools found at any big box retailer.
Justin
Apex makes stuff overseas, and not always in factories that they operate. Pittsburgh and Gearwrench sockets are made in the same facility. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5kD6l0EAek
Saulac
How well do this type of storage system work for non mechanic tools? Could it failed because HD customers are more construction than mechanic?
Chris I
It’s a tool box on wheels with 25″ deep drawers. You can put whatever you want into it, heavy or not. It doesn’t really care what your profession is.
Saulac
You are mocking but you don’t seem to understand how different trade use tools differently. Mechanic guys bring jobs to their tools. Construction guys bring tools to jobs. Construction tools tend to be bigger and would not fit into most of those 24″ deep but shallow drawers.
Brad
That’s actually a good insight. It’s not like construction and repair trades can lug these roller cabinets to the job site. They have truck boxes and toolboxes for that. So roller cabinets aren’t as likely to be of interest to the tradesmen who are already at HD for tools, equipment, and materials.
It strikes me that this means that the most likely buyers for roller cabinets at HD are actually DIYers who want, rather than tradesmen who need, and the average HD DIYer who wants tool storage is more value-oriented. Value-orienter customers aren’t likely to look at two roller chests of roughly similar size and choose the much more expensive “pro” line cabinet. So HD probably didn’t have an built-in target for these pro cabinets.
Chris I
Nobody in construction is bringing a rolling 72″ cabinet of any weight or brand to a job site. Contractors and construction trades pros shopping for work are not the buyer demographic whatsoever. Tool cabs are for shops….whatever sort of profession that shop may be.
Where does the comment “HD customers are more construction than mechanic” generate? What about HF’s customers, what are they? Or Lowe’s? Or Menards? Don’t discount the tens of millions of general consumers that buy a HQ product for their home. That consumer could even be a construction trade pro.
I think the Pro Duty’s challenge was never being able to see or touch it in-store (I would look for them every time I went in a HD). And they’re so heavy you can’t get the line home in a 1/2 T truck or SUV (unlike cheap Husky or USG, et al).
Brad
That was part of his point, I thought. HD doesn’t attract many mechanics, but does attract lots of construction and mobile contractors, and those people don’t really have much use for a roller cabinet.
Stuart
Is that an assumption, opinion, or backed by evidence?
They sell a LOT of steel storage products.
Stuart
This is a workshop storage product, and not portable storage.
It has casters – and very good ones at that – but is not designed to leave a workshop.
It can fit plenty of power tools, plus an abundance of hand tools, supplies, and accessories.
Albert
Now all the more reason I wish I would have jumped on the deal. But the wife wanted a TV.
Brad
I’m regretting it as well. I was dithering on whether I had the room in the garage.
Ben
Well, I ordered the box and a top locker. Went to Home Depot night before last to pick it up and they sent two top lockers and no tool box. Just got off the phone with HD and they have no alternative and would not price match another box. Looks like they are no longer going to carry the Husky professional line or Husky is no longer making them. I will no longer shop at Home Depot!
Chris I
Didn’t you get a tracking email? I called both stores ahead of time to make sure the box + hutch were both onsite because both shipments arrived a week ahead of schedule. Their tracking system SUCKED but it did show two boxes/items for each tracking #.
HD have you no communication at all in any format about no cabinet being shipped?!
Chris I
All I care about is the warranty coverage and replacement parts availability. Your contact saying “Husky’s manufacturing partners stock all replaceable parts to honor any warranty issues” tells me the overseas entity isn’t going anywhere and their overall Husky line will continue. Not having them in-store to see and touch and feel and tinker is a fail
Chris I
I picked up today my 1-of-2 Pro Duty hutches I ordered. Holy cr*p it’s a beast, easily weighs nearly 300lb. Going to get #2 here shortly.
Also, my wife was supposed to be gone for work when I got home with it. She got called off by the hospital. She wasn’t as enthused as I was.
Charles
I was going to buy one but only thing left would have been mismatched colors so I passed.
atnfromatl
I can only speak for the tool chest as I haven’t received the hutch yet.
Although I am happy with the purchase considering the price I paid. And I was in the market for larger box. This thing never could’ve done well at $3500 retail. The quality, fit and finish just isn’t there.
The best way I can put it. HD went to their supplier for their current Husky toolboxes and spec’d out thicker steel and better drawer slides. The overall design, terrible exposed welds, power strip on the side, and cheap looking aluminum corner guards are just like their standard/heavy duty toolboxes. This toolbox was not engineered from the ground up. Its closest competitor, HF’s Icon is much better box IMO.
I do like the box however. The color scheme (I got red/black), size and drawer layout fits my needs. The Kwikset locks are awesome.
Again, at the price point I paid, I’m happy with it. Just not blown away
garrett
I agree – I received mine 3 days ago, and I’m ecstatic with the price I paid and when I consider the free top locker, it was a no-brainer-I have no regrets. The fit and finish aren’t up to the level of the Icon boxes, though – I went to the local Harbor Freight last night to double-check my thoughts.
I do need to find a supplier for the hutch. I have the 2 pieces of bread, but I need that middle-layer of meat.
I kinda like the simple corner guards, though…makes me think I could replace them myself with aluminum angle.
Chris I
Couldn’t you get a USG or Icon hutch to work?
garrett
Probably so. An Extreme Toolboxes hutch may also work.
Chris I
Do you own the PD Husky and the 73″ Icon side-by-side?
Chris I
To be fair, thicker steel and better overall load-bearing weight capacity slides is the entire product. That’s what it is — sheet metal and ball bearing slides.
Would you rather the power strip be on the stainless top?
atnfromatl
I was in the market for a new box. And the Icon was a top choice for me. I don’t own one but I have played with the box almost every time I go to HF.
My comment about the power strip comes from this Husky Pro box’s overall design is very similar as their standard/Heavy Duty boxes.
D.D.
Discontinued for a reason , no one knew HD had the PRO version. I never seen them at any store , all I ever seen was the entry level type basic tool chests by husky or milwaukee.
Brad
For those who did get the deal, if you don’t like the “free” gift (hutch, side locker, or whatever), but want to keep the main cabinet, you can return the gift and keep the cabinet. HD calculates the percentage of what you paid that the gift represents and refunds you the prorated amount. For example, I was looking at getting the cabinet and returning the top, thereby making my cost for the cabinet itself well south of $1000.
Dave
I scooped a Husky Pro garage cabinet setup (with line-x coating) that retailed at $5k for $1300. Yeah I’d say thats the demise of the category, they’re just trying to sell off stock. There’s no way they made money on that with shipping cost.
Chris I
You bought that setup from HD? Tell me more about this “line-x coating”….what is that and where is it?
Dave
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-4-Piece-Pro-Duty-Welded-Steel-Garage-Storage-System-in-Black-LINE-X-Coating-92-in-W-x-81-in-H-x-24-in-D-HTC411020-LX/314362953
Got two of those for 1300 shipped to my home. Line-X is what is used in truck beds, google it.
Eric
FYI, for those needing additional parts for their system, everything still seems available on the Canadian HD site.
Shipping might be tough though.
Eric
CJ
While they say that they will continue to stock replacement parts, I didn’t find that to me the reality, at least in my situation. I ordered a 96″ work top. When it arrived, it was missing one of the mounting brackets. I contacted HD about it. They contacted the manufacturer and the manufacturer said that they only offered the work top as a complete unit and couldn’t send me the mounting bracket. They gave me the option to return the work top for a refund or to keep it and receive a Home Depot credit and try to fabricate a substitute
Chris I
That’s a story without an ending!!
A hundred inch worktop isn’t heavy enough to be unmounted?
Jeremiah McKenna
This is a decent price for quality and size, but it was launched poorly. Icon from HF makes a slightly better quality and lower priced set up and they launched with all sorts of fanfare, YT channels etc.
HD and Husky don’t seem to be doing a ton of outreach and advertising, and it is sad.
Chris D
I picked up my bench and locker up today- quite pleased with it all! I rented a hydraulic drop lift trailer and was hoping to just disassemble the packaging for the bench and roll it right on, but someone at some stage of the freight process decided to put the whole thing on top of another small pallet, likely so they could wheel it around easier in its narrower dimension with a pallet jack. It took a little finagling to get the weight of the bench resting on the wheels, but I made it happen without any damage to anything. Silly me assuming I’d be able to just unpackage and roll it right on the trailer!
Initial impressions are that this was a great buy. I’m a carpenter by trade but have been waiting for the right deal to come along for a home garage workbench, and this was it. It’s more than enough bench for my needs, so I can’t speak to if it would truly fit a professional mechanics needs.
I’m definitely a little bummed the whole line is just going away, as it would have been nice to get a second locker or a hutch for it. But I suppose I also wouldn’t own it if it were remaining at its normal stock status and price. Overall I’m happy with it and I can’t wait to get all my garage tools a little more organized
Chris I
Nice! I looked into those hydraulic lowering trailers too but they were way too heavy for my F150. Ended up renting a cabover with a lift gate from Enterprise and even with mileage cost, ended up being cheaper than the trailer anyway!
Any idea how the stainless top is mounted?
bradh
I agree with atnfromatl above. While it’s a decent box, no way would I ever pay $3600 for it. I received mine today. Unfortunately I wasn’t home and my wife let the shipper drop it in my garage. It arrived fairly damaged, but I’m trying to overlook the damage and evaluate just build quality.
It’s just not as good as the Icon box. The drawer slides seem flimsy compared to the Icon. No real support beams on drawer bottoms. No power drawer. The Kwikset keys are a nice touch, and it’s very heavy duty, but the finishing touches still make it feel like a Chinese knockoff product (which it is). Which would be fine for my needs. That’s all I was really expecting anyway. For what I paid I’d be happy if it wasn’t damaged. Really hoping HD can get me one without a damaged stainless top…
Chris I
It’s very interesting to read the varying thoughts on them. I’ve now got both boxes + hutches in my garage they I ordered BF. Absolutely zero damage to anything, but I had everything shipped to stores. I’m over the moon with the quality. I’ve even already taken off the silver drawer trim to vinyl wrap them. The drawer slides work flawlessly, and I stood entirely in the bottom drawer, no flex or give. What was the damage on yours? I’ll concede that there are some areas beneath the paint that aren’t perfectly smooth, but I couldn’t care less about something like that.
I’m still trying to figure out how the top is mounted, want to get that up briefly so I can see if I’d be able to mount an Icon end cabinet to it somehow. Manuals don’t show anything.
bradh
The stainless top can be removed fairly easily. If you remove the top couple drawers and look inside, you’ll see the stainless top is held on just by some Philips head machine screws. Looks like you just remove maybe 12 screws or so and it should come right off. 4 of these screws had already backed themselves out on my box and were lying in the upper drawers. I’d add some thread locker when you reinstall, haha. I was thinking of removing mine to try and fix the dent since most of the screws were loose anyway.
Anyway, I’m not saying it’s a piece of junk or anything, just can’t be compared to a Snapon. It’s very stout, Heavy as heck and solid. I wish I could upload a picture of the dent on mine. Looks like someone dropped a forklift on it or something. If this were the heavy duty version, it would have been completely destroyed by that. But this box is built heavy enough to withstand an obviously very heavy blow. But the little things are cheap. The drawer sliders, while capable, are much cheaper than the ones even on the harbor Freight boxes. And the corner covers are just lazy, in my opinion.
Chris I
Put back wood screws with threadlocker, eh? /s =)
Thanks for that info though, I’ll get in there and check that out!
I do think it’s disingenuous to compare Snap-On or Matco or Cornwell to anything other than those brands. Those are $10k/$15k/$20k boxes, a league really all their own. I do really like the corner guards on the USG 6-drawer service bank, but none of the USG roller cabinets or lockers or hutches have corner guards at all. I’d probably put the Husky PD up against the StrictlyToolboxes variety, but those are mostly 30″ deep so it’s still not apples-apples comparison. It seems like Icon is really the only straight-up competition due to depth and gauge.
What slides would you have gone with?
bradh
Not wood screws. Machine screws. I haven’t had it off, so I’m not exactly sure of the construction, but those machine screws fasten into something metal.
I’m not familiar with Strictly Toolboxes, so can’t compare. From what I’ve seen, the most obvious competitor to this Husky was the Icon. And the Icon seems a bit nicer now that I’ve seen both in person.
I’m moderately happy for what I paid. I called HD to see if they could send a replacement, and of course they can’t, since they no longer carry this line. Best they could do was a small compensation. Pretty bummed, honestly. And I still haven’t received the hutch! Shipping company said they lost it So if I’m stuck with just a damaged base unit, no hutch, and now way to purchase the side lockers, this no longer feels like such a great deal to me…
Hunter
Chris, you have to use the included template and drill holes into the stainless top. There are nuts welded underneath the stainless top and that is the reason that holes have to be drilled. I found a video on YouTube in my research that showed how this was done. I’ll try to find it for you.
Chris I
Thanks Hunter. Sorry, what I meant was the removal of the stainless top. I did read through the instructions for the hutch mounting. It sounds like you’re saying that stainless top is not removable/replaceable at all?????
Hunter
I can’t speak to the stainless top being removable/replaceable or not. I haven’t seen the workbench in person. I thought you were having trouble figuring out how to bolt the hutch to the workbench. I was surprised to see the method of attachment in the video I watched cause I had envisioned there being big C-Channels or something that would go on the back to hold the hutch to the workbench. Kind of like the way a mirror is mounted to a dresser. Not too big on the idea of drilling holes in a new workbench but I guess if the hutch was going to live on the workbench for the rest of their lives, it doesn’t really matter.
Chris I
Due to the weight of the hutch, as well as the possible top lockers, no way Engineering or Legal would attach the hutch to the cabinet with just a bar/channel just a long the backside. Those 8 screws ensure that stuff ain’t going ANYwhere once mounted. Despite what others comment here, I think it’s very very well designed and built. Should last me a lifetime.
Hunter
It is around the 6 minute mark.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FWuKnErE0FQ
Chris I
Hah! Yeah that’s actually the video I watched back in April (I instantly went product researching after Stuart wrote his Husky PD box review article) that ultimately got me sold on these for my garage. That clip of them screwing through the stainless top is pretty hairy, they have to be dead-on to lineup those nuts welded underneath. Now that I have the box+hutch in hand, I now chuckle when those 4 shop mechanic dudes had to lift the hutch. So accurate.
I’m really hoping the Husky PD isn’t discontinued, I’d really like to buy two side lockers now.
JayW
the drawers slides have a good bit of up and down wobble/slop because they aren’t retained as well as the Icons. Just lift up on any of them and you can see all the up and down play even when they’re closed. In practice it’s not THAT big of a deal, but it’s still a significant knock against the overall fit and finish when you’ve got 20 drawers like that.
The slides don’t seem to roll as well either and the soft-close (imo) is really annoying. I also wouldn’t consider the slides to be full extension either, there’s probably ~1/2″ or so at the back that is always inset. While that’s certainly not bad as far as extension goes, the Icons are true full extension and I like the tension latches more than the single setting Husky has. Though I’d be the first to say I’d ditch them in a heartbeat for lift latches like you see on Homaks or Montezumas.
I’ve got the Icon in a non-CC controlled shop and the slides still roll great even with the grease getting down into the 15-20F range. Only issue is one of my smaller double slide drawers does not roll well, but it’s probably my fault when I swapped drawers and something was left a bit askew. And that’s another thing great about the Icon, I can reorganize the drawer layout and swap some of these skinny drawers I don’t like and replace them with deeper ones. And Harbor Freight’s replacement part costs are pretty reasonable too, it’s like $50 for one of the wider and taller middle bank drawers. Where as on the Husky parts diagram it doesn’t look like they even offer any replacement drawers and I imagine reoganizing is either very limited or just not possible in the first place, haven’t tried yet.
At $850 I paid the Husky Pro was still great ofc. But I still like the Icon a lot more. The Icon was $2250 with free delivery, for comparison. If it were MSRP vs MSRP there’s no real contest in my mind. $200 less (SS top + 73 Icon vs Husky Pro), free delivery, better fit and finish, a couple extra color options, customizable drawers and heavier built across most the board.
The one place Husky Pro does shine is the hutch internals though. The Icon hutch’s biggest misses are that it uses a slat board with limited options for accessories. It also doesn’t have integrated power and you buy the motion light separately. I don’t care for pegboard either, but the Husky hutch would be much easier to kit out with pegboard accessories. The Husky hutch isn’t exactly cheap though either, (was like $1600-1700 MSRP I thought? vs the Icon $1000) But for sure more well thought out.
Gigarange
Product pages are back up!!!!
Srsly45
The links are back up but showing out of stock. Hopefully this means that they are not discontinuing the line.
This is very relevant information for people who were not able to purchase all of the pieces to this set. (top lockers and no hutch or side locker)
Andy Falsetta
I purchased the 56”18 draw heavy duty tool box just picked it up 2 days ago seems to be of good quality . Got it for over half off the list price on Black Friday sale so far I’m happy with the purchase have to see how it holds up to moderate use . Great price for a good product
Michael
I purchased the chest, hutch, side locker all together on Black Friday. Hutch and side cabinet came but somehow the tool chest got lost in transit. How does this happen, now I have 2 useless pieces. Customer service doesn’t have answers. Done with HD!
Stuart
It might have gotten damaged/destroyed in transit, and there are no replacements available.
In my opinion, your options are to return the two pieces or find a way to improvise. If the latter, talk to HD and maybe see if they can provide you with an added discount or partial refund.
Michael
Thanks, I set up the return. HD did offer a box of lower quality 72” heavy duty for the same price but my OCD wants a matching set. Real bummer, with a budget of $3500 it will be tough to find something similiar. Customer service did tell me they are discontinuing them, at least the red/black models.
Hunter
Does anyone know if they will ever go on sale again?
Stuart
I have not seen any deals on this line in a long time.