Craftsman has launched a new tool cart at Lowe’s, and yes – it’s PURPLE. Don’t worry, there are some other color options too.
The first thing I noticed was the color, and then the lack of a “made in USA with global materials” badge. There’s no mention of where it’s made.
This is a 4-drawer tool cart, with bulk storage compartment on the bottom, deep top compartment, a power strip and pegboard on one side, and a pull handle and tray on the other.
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Given the visible fasteners, it seems this will be a “ready to assemble” type of bolt together tool cart, similar to the less expensive US General 5-drawer tool carts you can buy from Harbor Freight.
The top compartment is deep, and can fit cordless power tools or other gear.
There’s a power strip on the left side with AC and USB ports.
Additional features include “surface protection” – it comes with drawer liners, which is typically standard these days.
It also comes with 4 swivel casters.
Don’t worry if you’re not a fan or purple – Craftsman is also launching the tool cart in white, black, red, and grey.
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Given Lowe’s success with colorful tool boxes recently, I’m surprised this isn’t also being offered in hot pink.
Price: $399.29
Discussion
A while back, I bought a Craftsman tool chest in orange from Sears, and I regret that I didn’t have the money to buy a matching rolling tool cabinet. I also regret not being able to buy one in bright yellow.
4 colors, with purple being the non-standard option, is interesting and welcome. Hopefully we see the same in Craftsman’s tool chests and cabinets, which have only been available in red and black.
At the time of this posting, Harbor Freight has a US General 5-drawer tool cart for $280, and it’s available in 9 different colors.
I’m guessing that once the tool carts are finally available, Lowe’s will slash a bit off the price. $400 seems a bit much for what you get, especially given how much lower you can buy the Harbor Freight tool cabinet for, even without any coupons.
Both models appear to similar in size and weight capacity (700 lbs).
CA
Thanks for posting. I agree the HF cart seems to be a better deal. I’m on the market for one of these and I think I will opt for the HF.
JoelLikestools
I have the hf in purple and really like it. The drawer locks are not the greatest. It overall seemed nicer than the kobalt version, though they are quite similar.
Chris - Builder of Steel Boxes
When I bought my red HF cart about 5 years ago, I compared all of my options at Lowes and Home Depot. None of the Craftsman or Husky boxes similar in capacity, were built nearly as well as the HF cart. They all were flimsy in comparison.
I own a Kennedy top and bottom chest, as well as a few US made older Craftsman portable boxes. The HF box is right up with them in terms of build quality.
If I were to nitpick the HF box, here is what I would improve…
Plastic rivets holding the drawer slides on to the body and drawer. This is easily upgraded with a cheap rivet kit from HF and drilling / replacing them one by one. I still haven’t done this, yet.
Uniform hole sizes on the top sides, for holding drivers, prybars, etc. I’ll probably 3D print a plug to step the larger holes down a little. It would be nice to keep my 16pc screwdriver set with half on each side, without having to balance them when putting them away.
I would also add, that the US General badging comes off cleanly, if you are like me and don’t want the HF brand stinking up the joint in my garage space, but a good tool box is a good toolbox.
Andy
I like the drawer configuration of this Craftsman version more than the HF 5 drawer cart, but not enough to justify the extra cost.
Charles
Me too. I wish harbor freight would offer the 5 drawer cart with full length drawers. I would upgrade.
Plain+Grainy
Yes, the four full size drawers are nice. 2 larger & 2 smaller.
William
Out of curiosity, what’s the benefit or use case of the lift up lid? Any flat surface accumulates stuff and you cant use it as a worktop if you need access to the items in the top.
Stuart
Open top carts can accumulate stuff too. Lid should be lockable, provides some protection against dust and similar.
Matt_T
The lidded open top allows instant access to frequently used tools. Sockets is probably the most common use. Then prybars, long extensions, and screwdrivers in the sides. Lots of folks also stick tools to the open lid with magnets. I’ve got 6 sets of wrenches in magnetic racks on mine. So I’ve got basically 3 drawers worth of tools instantly accessible.
Greg
I’m with you on that. If i close the lid then it gets instantly becomes a work surface that gets covered in stuff meaning i cant access whatever is in the top section. Then you end up having it open all the time, but because it’s recessed it’s not really convenient as a work surface.
I have both the HF tool cart with flip top lid and the rolling chest and i much prefer the rolling chest with a working surface on top. I’d rather have the top space of the cart accessible via drawers rather than have it a flip top.
Using the open lid as a base for magnets is a good idea though.
Wayne R.
The little bitty tool chests, most (not all) big “proper” tool chests, these carts – I don’t want a top-opening lid, either.
Especially on a cart – the top of a semi-waist high movable flat space is clearly where stuff gets chucked to set it aside for handiness or to be worked on. A hinge on that ruins it.
Andrew
I hope this isn’t the new normal with things being priced like this. Seems out of line considering the competition.
Stuart
Lowe’s tends to launch Craftsman storage products at a high “who would pay that?” price and then almost immediately discounts them with a “new low price” at the next holiday shopping season.
Given that there’s no mention of USA production for these, tariffs might have bumped the price higher, but I’d assume not as much as consumer marketing pricing patterns.
With the new patriotic tool box, https://toolguyd.com/craftsman-patriotic-tool-box-lowes/, I expect Craftsman and Lowe’s to knock 40% off the price by November. With these tool boxes, maybe they’ll drop it to $299 or even less; $400 is not a competitive price for what it offers.
Liam
If it was in Hot Pink I’d be down there buying one
Gigi Marie
My exact thoughts.
Nathan
Tempting i would like a yellow one. Are the drawer guides on the craftsman better than hf and is the lid sturdy to work on?
Joe E.
I wish SBD/Craftsman would focus more time and energy revamping their boring, chucky handle pliers and lackluster screwdrivers.
frobo
I like purple, actually.
What I have trouble understanding is the overall design of these carts. I kind of get the top area, being able to close and lock the lid, but the recessed area on top is more suited for tool or parts storage than as a work surface, I guess.
The open area below I don’t get at all. I can’t think any purpose for that area that wouldn’t be better served with a drawer or two.
Matt_T
These are mechanics carts so the vehicle is the work surface. Lots of people put side shelves on their carts for parts and loose tools.
The bottom open area is probably there to keep the cost down. Would definitely be better with drawers. List price of this cart is too close to the larger US General cart with full drawers which is currently $520 with coupon.
frobo
That makes sense. Maybe the manufacturers of these carts are missing an opportunity by not offering an add-on drawer kit for the lower area that can be bought later, kind of like the side trays you mentioned.
Andy
I’ve seen more than a few people combine a pair of the HF 5 drawer carts so it has drawers the whole way with no open space.
That said, with these carts designed to be used by mechanics in a repair shop, the open base is a great place for larger items like jackstands, drain pans and blow-molded cases / containers that are too tall to fit into a drawer. Harbor Freight’s product photos do a much better job of demonstrating the intended use.
I’d also use the bottom for parts storage while I’m working on my car.
S
Being a mechanic service cart, the lower section is usually reserved for larger bulky items or blow-molded case kit items-vacuum test kit, flush kits with brand-specific fill adapters, etc.
That said, most of these 5-or-less drawer carts tend to be a first stepping stone for many mechanics to a larger portable full-drawer unit.
Jason
Just in time for Halloween?
Could see some Vikings fans wanting it in their garage I guess
Nathan
Like said mechanics carts see them in hangars and shops. The bottom area is often for chemicals or parts. And other grabable changing items. And I like to use the top lid for work surface. Writing prep work etc. like prep a water pump for install or etc.
See our guys keep their tablet on a mag mount on the top others keep theirs in the top area. So the charging built in would be nice
blocky
The fact that this is to be bolt-assembled by the end user implies modularity. Wouldn’t this be a compelling system if it was sold as a free-standing drawer bank, which could be configured into a cart, an 8 drawer cart, 12 drawer bank, or even expand to double-wide with the right frame and caster kit.
It would provide a more segmented upgrade path than most cabinet systems and better space-utilization than all the click-pack-stack systems, and of course encourage re-buy within the series.
Weirdos could jelly-bean to their hearts content.
Andy
I mentioned this in another comment, but lots of people modify their Harbor Freight carts like what you’re describing.
They’re not officially meant to do that but since the box with drawers are a modular unit, the legs can be unbolted, which lets you stack / combine the drawer boxes.
Stuart
It’s not for modularity, RTA is for smaller box sizes, easier shipping, and less production labor, which means lower costs.
blocky
Yes, that is certainly the origin, but I see it as a missed opportunity to turn the compromise into a feature.
CA
Northern Tool has this beast for $200.
https://www.northerntool.com/products/ironton-30in-5-drawer-mechanic-s-tool-cart-33-7-8in-l-x-17-5-8in-w-x-39-1-8in-h-700-lb-capacity-104476
MattT
Looks like Northern and HF are sourcing from the same OEM.
Adam
I paid $280 for this Husky model less than a year ago, which I’d imagine is much more robust than this new Craftsman. Not to mention it’s got double the number of full length drawers and 2 half length drawers on top. Granted, the price seems to fluctuate wildly, but the price I paid seemed to hold for quite a while.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Tool-Storage-27-in-W-x-18-in-D-Standard-Duty-Red-Rolling-Tool-Chest-Combo-H27CH5TR5RED/326825858
S
I have that same tool box in my garage. I knew what I was getting into as I have 2 other husky boxes at work, but it is every bit as cheap as the price tag is.
It should be noted first that each box fits a very different niche. As a mobile cart, the craftsman is intended to store commonly used tools, and remain extremely mobile.
The husky is intended to be a mostly stationary tool box that contains all of ones tools. A big differentiator here is going to be the wheel and wheel lock quality. Service carts are made to put miles on.
My husky service cart at work even has grease zerks on all the wheels. Something neither of my husky tool boxes do.
In the product listing for the craftsman, it’s noted to be using 18 gauge steel, where this particular husky is part of husky’s ‘standard-grade’ box, as noted in their box quality image in the slide show on that page.
https://images.thdstatic.com/productImages/3ccd8181-b25d-46c4-a7f7-91c0b340d408/svn/red-husky-tool-chest-combos-h27ch5tr5red-31_600.jpg
Standard grade husky boxes all come with 20-22ga steel, and 100 pound drawer slides. If it wasn’t for the spectacular ding-n-dent sale I got mine from, I would’ve held out for a discounted deal for another one of their mid-grade 52″ boxes(always around $1k, but sometimes discounted close to $800).
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Tool-Storage-52-in-W-x-20-in-D-Heavy-Duty-Rolling-Tool-Chest-Combo-in-Matte-Black-H52CH6TR9HDV4/319594785
So overall on paper, the craftsman has thicker steel, equal drawer slides, slightly better appearing wheel performance, and a far superior push-lock wheel lock system.
And lastly, note that the husky box is only 18″ deep, where the craftsman is 22″ deep. It doesn’t seem like much, but it does drive up the price significantly given the additional metal requirement
The drawer slide quality is something I’d need to get my hands on to try– it really could go either way.
Don’t get me wrong, $400 is still extremely steep for the level of performance the craftsman offers compared to other 4-5 drawer mobile boxes, but it’s not as price-built as the linked husky box either.
ElectroAtletico
US General 50drawer regularly goes on sale for $189.99. If you do the HF finance you can get an addition 20% discount.
Put your money on that deal.
Kevin
I’m not a fan of purple, but I am a fan of heavily discounted things, so I’m hoping the purple ones sell terribly and they sell them cheap in a couple years to get rid of them.
Stuart
Couple of years? I’m guessing these were made to order for Lowe’s Q4 holiday sales and that they’ll be sold through or clearanced by December.
Mackie
The HF box is better, better drawer layout and cheaper. HF for the win. Craftsman trys, but its over for them honestly unless major changes happen and have great R&D again and can be independent of shared tool brands box stores. Been over since sears and kmart closed for good. I honestly havent seen a maintenance tech, sevice dept, or factory worker with anything new from craftsman. If they have anything its their old US made product.