Over at Home Depot, they still have some of these Dewalt 40″ tool storage combos in stock. It came out for Black Friday 2016, and is rather aggressively priced, at $598 for the combo plus a bonus Bluetooth radio and a bonus organizer.
I’m not comfortable saying that these are “free” bonuses, because this combo just came out, and it’s only ever been at this price point. So if the tool storage combo with bonus items were always priced at $598, are they still bonus items? I guess, if the combo continues to be sold at this price and by itself.
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Dewalt’s language is also very specific. They don’t use the words “free” anywhere, just “bonus.” But I digress.
I’ve played around with the combo a few times in-store, and am convinced that it’s simply a less premium version of Dewalt’s black 40″ tool storage combo. This one:
You lose a drawer in the top chest and another in the bottom rolling cabinet. It’s hard to say without taking a thickness gauge or micrometers to both, but I’d assume that the black and yellow special is built with slightly thinner sheet metal in both the frame and drawer construction.
You get soft-close drawers 100 lb load capacity, and a 200 lb load rating for the large bottom drawer. I don’t recall if both bottom drawers on the yellow and black combo have the double slides.
The casters are typical “heavy duty” with 2 fixed and 2 swivel with brakes.
There’s also a power strip and USB charging ports.
For the price, it seemed decent. Some stores still have a few combos in stock, and you can also order it online. If your local Home Depot has too many in stock, they might drop the price this month or after the new year to help move them out.
If you’ve seen these in-store, what are your thoughts?
I think it’s a potential alternative to the also-cost-focused behemoths you’ll find at similar price points, or smaller 26″ combos that cost proportionally less. The black Dewalt 40″ combo costs a lot more, even double the price at some dealers, but you get known and sturdy construction, and not just the 2 extra drawers.
It’s tough to compare tool storage units like this, because everyone’s needs and preferences are different. Personally, I prefer greater storage density over sheer volume. I’d take a well-laid out 40″ combo with more drawers over a slightly larger combo at a similar price point.
You can fit a lot of hand tools into a 26″ combo that has more but shorter drawers. With rolling cabinets, you typically have to spend much more to get one with greater storage density, regardless of size.
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This combo offers good bang for the buck, but not exceptional. Which can be a good thing. From what I can tell from my in-store inspections, it doesn’t over-promise, but doesn’t seem to under-deliver either.
If you’re willing to spend a little more, consider the Milwaukee 46″ combo. A little less? Milwaukee’s 30″ combo is very good. Want a lot more storage volume for $100 more? Look at the Husky 52″.
julian says
I’m betting that deals within local stores will be pretty good come January as they try and clear these huge boxes off their floors to clean up from the holiday season.
JT
Jim P says
I had considered this combo but thought it lacked due to the “missing” drawers. I ended up with the Milwaukee 46″ after looking at all the in store options. Once I get it out of the box and set up, I will be able to determine if I made the best choice
RC WARD says
Husky is by far the better deal. But if you are looking for your favorite name on the box than go for the DeWalt or Milwaukee.
matt says
I have assembled many of these and the huskies in store for displays and I would say that these boxes are a recolored husky box. the fit and finish is identical, the assembly hardware is identical, and the overall feel imo is the same. if you are going to pony up Milwaukee money you should buy the Milwaukee’s as they are much nicer boxes. if you wanna save some cash get the huskies. if you like the colors, buy the huskies and some spraypaint.
firefly says
The newer husky (the textured one) are definitely on par with the Milwaukee. They are definitely much better than this particular Dewalt.
I am looking for two decent tool chest combo.For the big one I have settled on the 52″ husky but the newer husky doesn’t have anything under 30″. For the most part I like the 30″ Milwaukee, I just don’t like the color 🙁 I wish it come in black.
I really like the color for the premium dewalt tool chest. The branding is still there but it’s subtle.
SteveW says
Attention Cold Weather Dwellers: Here in northern Illinois by the time it got down to 32° F the self closing drawers on my new textured Husky became so extraordinarily sluggish as to be essentially non functional on the bigger heavier drawers. A better choice would have been latching drawers with regular slides.
We now return to your regularly scheduled ToolGuyd.
Vikingarcher says
I was looking at this Dewalt cabinet and the Milwaukee. I decided to go with the Milwaukee workbench style for $698 – has a solid wood top and metal peg board. For my needs the worktop was going to be more useful and it still has good storage room. The challenge is getting it in the garage since it’s a single package that weighs over 400 lbs. Luckily my builder still had his forklift here so he let me use it.
FWIW, I didn’t think the Husky boxes were put together as well as the Dewalt or Milwaukee.
Stuart says
The newer premium Husky stuff looks to come out of the same factory as all the Milwaukee.
That Milwaukee workbench is a beauty. The Husky is similar, but trades the pegboard for more depth.