Milwaukee is soon coming out with a new 85pc hand tool set that’s neatly packaged inside a Packout tool box.
Details are scarce right now, and we only have this one image to go on.
Milwaukee recently showed off a new Master Mechanic tool set, at their Pipeline 2024 media event, and the new 85pc set looks to be both connected and different from that.
Advertisement
The Master Mechanic tool set has drawer-friendly trays and modules. The tray shown in the custom foam-lined Packout case is different from the ones included in the larger tool set. In other words, it’s a completely different product.
All that is to say that this new 85pc is thematically linked to the new Master Mechanics tool set, but might not be compatible. After all the custom foam case has different dimensions than the drawers. This is why I say it appears to be connected and different.
From the image, I’m counting just 62 tools – a mix of sockets, ratchets, drive accessories, and adjustable wrenches. It seems there’s another tray of tools underneath, with 23 more tools and components.
This set seems very different from Milwaukee’s other Packout tool sets.
This Packout set seems designed for broader general purpose “grab and go” tasks, and the loadout of the hidden second tray will help us make that determination. Does it contain more sockets, or more hand tools, such as a screwdriver set, pliers, and a hammer?
Milwaukee’s existing Packout organizer-based mechanics tool sets are excellent, but it’s good to see a brand new configuration. We’ll know more soon.
Advertisement
In case you missed it, Milwaukee recently revealed all of their next major tool developments and releases at Pipeline 2024. I didn’t see this 85pc tool set at the event, which suggests it’s not closely related to the also-new Master Mechanics tool set.
See Also: Every New Tool Milwaukee Announced at Pipeline 2024
JonF
For decades tool manufacturers have been packaging quality tools in garbage blow molded cases. I still have an old 100-pc Craftsman set from the 90’s that pukes out the sockets if you ever try to open it. When good quality tool organization was popularized, it seemed natural to combine a good, thorough set of hand tools as a thing but expensive tools in an expensive case kinda negated the whole notion of a spare “truck toolkit” idea. Craftsman did it a while back with the versastack kit that you can often get on holiday sales for $100 or so. While i’m not invested in versastack, they’re decent tools in a decent removable tray, portable case to keep in the truck. Good to see ole Mil starting to offer a consolidated set though, if the prior packout socket sets are any indicator, the entry price might be a little high. Seems they are trying to address this using the briefcase organizer and lower tool counts.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/CRAFTSMAN-VERSASTACK-Mechanics-Tool-Set/5014463507
Farmerguy
Agree on price point. I see this at 300+. My wish is for someone to make a compact set. SAE and metric sockets on rails, an adjustable, screwdrivers (or a 6 in 1), hammer and pliers. Most importantly, be compact to the tune of fit underseat or in a mailbox. I have an old craftsman blow molded under seat toolbox that I fit an extraordinary set of tools into. Design it intentionally and could fit more compactly.
Goodie
LOL – May be worth it to some (and I am someone who can certainly find a way to justify the purchase). But this is a move straight from the Festool playbook – put good tools in a good package, and charge a lot for it.
Peter
Hardly invented nor limited to Festool.
BR
Dewalt actually had a very good mechanics toool set with the first Toughsystem. My only complaint is the trays inside fit very tightly and need to be lifted out with a hand on either end.
Nathan
Wish there were more options for people that put together their own set
fred
Custom cut foam inserts and shadow boards can have great advantages in terms of productivity theft prevention and even FOD programs. In the fabrication business that we acquired we had Lista cabinets – some of which we fitted with custom made foam inserts for regularly used tools. In the maintenance area we had wrenches and other tools hanging on shadow boards. In both cases it made it easy to identify and quickly pick needed tools. It also meant that tools were easy to put back into place when done or to spot missing tools at the end of a shift. All of that comes at a premium both in price and space utilization. I’d always chuckle when I thought about how organized tool storage was in that business compared to our plumbing business – where tossing tools into 5-gal pails seemed good-enough for many of our guys. Anyway – it is nice to see Milwaukee offering more tools in custom-fitted Packout options for those needing or wanting the option.
BTW – I agree with JonF that blow molded cases were poor – sometimes even devilish – pieces of junk. Tool manufacturers at one time packaged many higher-end power tools and hand tool sets in metal cases rather than just a carboard shipping box. While steel cases for power tools came in a plethora of dimensions, they at least were rectangular in dimension and could be stacked. Typically, they also had inside room to carry accessories. Then that option became costly – so the blow-molded case appeared. They added bulk and little room to carry accessories. Their odd sizes, sometimes slippery plastic and often rounded shapes were not great for stacking. IMO most of those cases contributed more to filling up landfills than to effective tool storage. The current crop of modular plastic toolboxes – while not perfect in terms of space utilization – are way better than blow molded cases or a collection of odd-sized plastic toolboxes.
Wayne R.
The blow-mold case I had with a Makita drill/driver/charger set also had room for bits and other stuff. Not a lot of room but it was adequate. And it stacked easily, though it was pre today’s fancy tool case interlocking stacks.
When its batteries finally died out, I replaced that set with a Bosch set. It’s just fine, but it came with just a bag. It’s okay here at the house, but if I was back out in the world with it, it’d be replaced quickly. The bag option is poor.
JR Ramos
I’ve got several great metal cases that came with Milwaukee and Porter Cable tools but sadly tossed or gave away some others…because who ever thought they’d completely abandon metal cases. None of them ever stacked well due to the handles but the chief gripe was bent/tweaked hinges and oil canning. There were (still are) some excellent blow mold cases but yeah, the majority were pretty bad all around. I look at the old Dremel and MityVac cases, and more recent Morse hole saw kit cases, and they were really done well. Interesting to think about how the shift really hurt one fab industry but immensely helped another – til almost everything moved overseas there were a lot of busy and/or re-employed mold and die makers that welcomed the new shift to plastic cases (and car parts).
I can’t recall now but it may have been DeWalt that first introduced the hard plastic cases but they weren’t that great. Maybe Bosch had them first but even back then they had a smaller exposure in the market.
Today’s pack-out type cases are far and away better quality but gosh there sure is still a bunch of junk plastic out there – baffles me why “they” can’t just finally decide to improve plastic molded products to help ensure some durability and lifespan. Way too many of them still crack or fail and it’s completely avoidable for not much more cost (other than the molds, which is not insignificant even in China factories).
I’ve always seen these neatly organized cases as a colossal waste of space with additional added cost, but I know some types of mechanics really value it (although they’re usually going to be using metal chests). You brought up some great points in favor of these, however…especially inventory control in a business.
For me, I think I’d need to increase my storage by two- or three-fold if I were to try to use foam like this, but I do like it in small kit boxes and such.
Terry
Looks nice but is it practical? It’s kinda like the ‘garage queen’ car. It definitely makes the garage and workshop look cool but it’s a hobby. It’s not very useful or practical for a real world mechanic or construction worker. Maybe a service truck? I have a cool ‘Pinterest’ like workshop but it pleases me being… OCD. What is Milwaukee’s market for these packout tool sets… homeowners? Isn’t Milwaukee a pro brand?
Jared
I don’t understand this sentiment. What about the tool kit makes it not work for “pros”?
fred, in the comment above you, outlines many of the benefits. There’s also speed advantage to working out of foam trays too – no need to look for tools, you can easily tell when something’s missing, they stay organized when you move the boxes around, etc.
One big disadvantage to foam is density. When you’re doing-it-yourself it also takes considerable time and those foam trays are expensive, but that doesn’t apply so much to factory-produced foam trays that can all be cut at once to fit a specific toolset.
JR Ramos
I’ve got largely the same sentiment…at least with this type of small size and short height stack, it’s kind of the “pleasantly organized” home gamer setup for those who want/need to have that organization and visual attractiveness. And that’s ok – it’s actually maybe a more significant chunk of the overall market these days. The base on this looks like it could sure use some beefing up but that assumes maybe more weight (and/or rougher rolling surfaces) than what the spacing and foam inserts might allow for it. Off-hand, I’ve heard here and there that these really don’t hold up well to daily/frequent use and with heavier tools in them, but you’d kind of expect that in a plastic case even with decent molds and metal slides. Might be great for specialty “sets” for particular jobs – aircraft mechanics come to mind.
James
The Packout boxes are durable. Also bulky and a bit heavy, and definitely durable.
JR Ramos
They’re good products (true for most of the brands available now). I would say that the drawers and wheeled items are “as durable as expected”…I’ve seen a number of them that are pretty thrashed from daily use (ignoring handle and wheel failures, which are unfortunately pretty common). Any decent mid-level or better chest is more durable all around for heavy/professional use. Very durable for slamming around in a truck bed or dropping, true.
I do know one copier tech who has a couple sets of packout drawers/cart and they’ve done well for him with daily use but you can tell the drawers are suffering and I don’t think he uses them nearly as much as a mechanic in a shop would. He’s mostly moved on to a single rolling box and a backpack now, plus a very nice esd small parts organizer.
JR Ramos
I meant to say “metal” chest up there.
Also, for whatever it’s worth, the plumbers we used to use gave up on packout and went back to their old ways – durability was not worth the cost for them. Our HVAC guys never bought into it at all. Honestly for my limited optics it seems way more popular with home gamers and some in construction trades and I think I’ve seen a lot more DeWalt than I have Milwaukee or anything else.
Side note: noticed two of my local Lowe’s stores seem to have completely removed the new ToughBuilt boxes, from view anyway. Very few TB items anywhere in the tool section, too. They all had quite a few in seasonal racks at first and then incorporated into the tool box section but now they’re nowhere to be seen.
James
Water purification here, and my truck, trailer, and shop are full of Packout. Counted the other day and we’re up to about 80 boxes of various shapes and sizes. They get used pretty good and I’ve had very little damage, other than a couple of clear parts organizers that I’ve dropped or dropped heavy things on.
I’m generally decent at taking care of my things, but I also don’t shy away from working them hard.
JR Ramos
That’s funny…I think the only guys coming to our office building doing packout now are the osmosis guys (owned by Ozarka now). I say if they work and are a good long term value, use ’em.
Stuart
I don’t know the target audience, but it’s definitely not going to be homeowners.
It all depends on what’s under that top tray.
Jared
I really like precut foam trays for tools. I don’t have many – I already have the tools I wish came that way. It’s not like I’m going to buy them over again just to get them in a foam tray.
Nevertheless, when I see a foam tray option for a tool I’m looking to buy, I consider it a real value-add. It’s expensive and time consuming to do after the fact.
fred
There seem to be companies that will do the work for you if you can afford them. I have no experience working with these guys – but a quick Google search found this option:
https://tracemyspace.com/products/custom-foam-insert
Jared
That’s pretty slick! Pricey though…
I experimented with doing it myself a few times. It’s ok, but I haven’t the patience to do a whole tool chest like that.
I ended up making custom custom wooden drawer inserts sized for my specific pliers – which was neither faster nor cheaper. No good explanation for that behavior…
But otherwise I’m relatively satisfied with my current mix of Ernst trays, toolbox widgets and plastic trays.
Buying those tools again today though? I would absolutely give bonus points to any company that put toolsets in foam for me.
Saulac
Show tools. Stacking foam boards is pushing practically too far. Stacking defeats the intent of foam board – visual.
Singe drawer cases with well appointed tool sets, as shown in the cart in the picture, are more practical.
Steve
Oooh! I don’t need or want to spend the money on the whole set, but purchasing “modules” makes a lot of sense. I think Sonic and others popularized this. I personally have the 1/4 & 3/8 SAE amd Metric packout socket set and I love it…but it’s a big item. They already have removable inserts but I like the form factor of the medium packout versus the large “thin” case because it takes up less real estate.
Either way, having precut organizers is a game changer, and worth the extra cost. Knowing immediately if a tool is missing (sitting on top of an engine) has saved my butt more than once.
fred
When you are a contractor making sub-assemblies for – or cabinets to house mission-critical components – an FOD process is de rigueur. Imagine having a loose socket, bit, screw or even a metal flake rattling around inside an aircraft instrument panel.
Goodie
Nugget from my days working in a five sided office building…. One Boeing’s ongoing issues have been tools left inside Boeing KC46 (767) assemblies. The USAF has very rigorous aircraft inspection program. Article below is from 2023, but I heard issues from fellow building occupants in 2017-2018.
https://www.flightglobal.com/airframers/boeing-confirms-767-and-kc-46-quality-problem/152369.article
Derek
I love the concept of this and then Tekton ones that were recently released.
Since I already have a bunch of mechanics tools and I’m on the Dewalt ToughSystem, I would need to get foam and cut everything myself instead of repurchasing things.
I don’t have a garage and all my tools are stored in the basement. Lately I’ve just been watching a YouTube video to see what size(s) I need to work on something and bringing up the individual sockets. No need to carry a massive stack or a bunch of blow-molded boxes up if you only need 21mm and 14mm sockets.
Nathan
So thinking more on it that might make a good traveling kit. With locks on the pack out case.
Frank D
I like the concept, just like the mechanic set. Milwaukee could possibly sell me a four drawer unit with four trays down the road ( not the twelve drawer thing with three trays ) … if it is priced competitively and entices moving up from the blow molded drawer case … then add another three or four drawer for other hand tools. Would be sweet and negate the blow mold case issues.
Plain+grainy
Nice for people who want more portability. Adding a 600 + pound steel cart w/tools isn’t completely portable. But I think picking & choosing your own tools is personal. Large one tool brand sets don’t really appeal to me.But they seem to work for one brand minded people.
John
I had found this on Milwaukees website a while back and now it seems to have disappeared and been replaced with a 64 Piece version – Part # 48-22-9493. Anyone still see this 85pc one on their website?