Did you know that Milwaukee offers a rolling steel storage cabinet? Technically it’s a side locker for attaching to their steel tool cabinet and chest combos, but you can also use it by itself.
Milwaukee advises that their rolling cabinet should not be freestanding; the cabinet comes with anchors for attaching it to a wall to prevent tip-over accidents.
I bought two of these cabinets a few months ago, and liked them so much that I ordered two more.
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They’re a bit pricey, but perfectly fit my needs.
The cabinet measures 63″ tall x 27.2″ wide x 22.1″ deep.
It can be attached to the left or right of Milwaukee ball bearing steel storage products, and comes with risers for making it compatible with storage cabinets with 6-inch wheels.
That means that technically it’s a side locker, but I’m hesitant to describe it as such. Most side lockers only come with 2 casters and can’t be used standalone. This has 4 casters and can be used by itself without having to mount it to a rolling tool cabinet.
Inside, there are 5 shelves, 4 of them adjustable, plus 3 door-mounted trays. A grommet in the back allows for power cord pass-thru.
The 4 adjustable shelves are said to have a 150 lb load rating.
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I have also been putting things on top.
There are taller cabinets out there, but I was skeptical about quality. I also liked the dimensions of the Milwaukee cabinet, which makes them – in my mind and experience – more portable and with less risk of tip-over.
It features 4 locking swivel casters for easier mobility.
There are two versions of the cabinet – an older SKU, and the current one (48-22-8586P) that also comes with a magnetic power strip.
Some of Home Depot’s product images show the cabinet holding Packout tool boxes and organizers. I don’t ever plan to use mine in this way, but it seemed interesting to point out. That seems like a useful implementation for a tool room or similar, where boxes might need to be individually grabbable behind a lockable door.
I searched for other steel cabinets before I found these, but wasn’t completely sold on any designs I found. I was sold on the Milwaukee because they’re mobile, deeper, and shorter than industrial cabinets, and in many cases less expensive.
I also trust Milwaukee build quality and Home Depot’s ability to ship products like this without damage – and their customer service just in case there is a problem with a freight order.
I like these better than open shelves, although I haven’t removed my wire shelving units yet. I have been moving them around as I organize multiple spaces, making good use of the swiveling casters.
The price seems a bit high to me, but I searched around and couldn’t find anything similar for less.
Would I have purchased these for personal use? Probably not, or maybe just one. But for business use, I have zero regrets.
Home Depot has a Husky rolling side locker that is much taller and just a little deeper, but its height would be a problem in my storage space (which has a short ceiling and obstructing soffit in places). The added height also increases the tip-over risk in an open workshop.
There are aspects about the Milwaukee that I prefer – such as how the power strip is magnetic and thus removable.
There are other options, but side lockers and standalone steel storage cabinets aren’t inexpensive regardless of the brand.
So far, I’ve been happy with these.
Price: $598 at Home Depot plus freight
Plaingrainy
Just what I was looking for! The next thing I need is a big sale price on it! Really nice!
Stuart
After I bought my first two, I would swear the price temporarily dropped by $50. I kept an eye on the price for maybe 6 months and they price hasn’t budged, even over the holiday season.
James
This one has caught my eye several times at Home Depot. Interesting to hear the good feedback. I’m currently on the hunt for a utility bench that has a sink in it. Essentially a mini lab station for my small office….
Jim Felt
Maybe online Zoro and/or a local Graingers?
Big Richard
ULINE – https://www.uline.com/BL_3246/Stainless-Steel-Worktables-with-Sink. Also look for fish cleaning stations. They are usually a small table with a sink in them. cheaper and poratable.
James
Thanks!!
James
Good call about the fish cleaning station never thought of that!
Adam
You could look for used photographic darkroom sinks, though those tend to be a large trough sink, rather than a workbench with a sink in it.
John804
Check restaurant supply houses and online vendors for utility and kitchen sinks.
Steve
I have one myself and I’m going to fet another. Wish it had one more door shelf, but that can probably be ordered…
Jason
Forget this rolling cabinet. Milwaukee’s website for new tools shows the new 18 inch brushless cordless fan coming soon. Did I miss this in any previous posts on your site or are you just waiting to talk about it in a future post? Finally getting a decent size unit from them!
Stuart
https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/milwaukee-cordless-fan-0821-launch-2024/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Joatman
I was expecting the price to be at least double what it actually is just because it’s Milwaukee. I like it.
Mitherial
I own one of these MW cabinets. It’s certainly not the cheapest option, but I have been extremely pleased with the build quality and functionality–it is much more solid than any of the other (admittedly non-rolling) steel cabinets that I own (and different in kind than the crappy Craftsman cabinet I bought from Lowes). I installed some MW Packout mounting plates on one side using rivenuts (details are in plate instruction manual), and they work great, though the install process was a little fiddly.
For shipping, just have it “shipped-to-store” to your nearest Home Depot and if it shows up damaged, you can simply refuse the order there.
Another Bob
27 inches wide is awesome! I don’t think I’ve even seen some of the snap on side lockers that wide. I’d prefer 24 inch minimum depth but it makes sense they would want to be the same depth as the toolbox so it’s matches.
The full length piano hinge and stamped ribs on the back of the front door should give it decent rigidity.
$600 isn’t cheap but it is comparable to others and again that wide width is great. Assuming it’s not flimsy this sounds like a winner in my book. Bonus points for including 4 casters so you can use it standalone. I’ll have to check one out at my Home Depot Next time I’m there and see if they have one on display.
J. Newell
Nice note here. I use stacks of Festool and Makita Systainers and Milwaukee Packouts on the dollies with four casters to move things around and this would work the same way, and would swallow up things that aren’t in Systainers or Packouts.
This really seems to be in a class of its own. Other similar storage is either mostly 2x the price or more for comparable size and features, or smaller and/or has significantly fewer features (such as must be attached to a roller cabinet, rather than being physically independent). Very tempting.
Stuart
As a reminder, Milwaukee cautions that it must be anchored to a wall if not attached to a rolling cabinet.
I can absolutely see a top-heavy cabinet being moved at higher speed, hitting a bump or curb, and toppling over.
There are no side handles.
It’s mobile, but not in the same way as a Packout stack or similar.
TomD
Can you bolt two together? Or maybe four in a cluster cube?
Stuart
No? Maybe? I don’t see that as being a good idea.
Mike Tayse
I’ll be the nay sayer here: It’s a cabinet, with shelves, on wheels. Not really all that earth shattering.