I was at my local Lowe’s the other day and noticed a striking new tool chest and cabinet combo. It was very similar to the Kobalt 41″ stainless steel combo, but it was cheaper and with a white powder coat finish.
While the white color looked sharp, I have some concern that white may not be the best color for something that will probably live in a garage — then again after owning a black truck that constantly looks dirty, maybe it is just something you live with.
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This Kobalt tool storage combo measures 18″ deep, 41″ wide, and 63.5″ tall. Each drawer has a 99 lb load capacity. Both the chest and cabinet have external power strips with USB ports, located on the right side just below the handles.
The upper chest has 9 drawers.
The lower cabinet has 11 drawers and 5″ x 2″ castors. The locking swivel casters have large locking levers that stick out a lot but look to be easy to toggle.
Interestingly, Lowe’s is pricing these cabinets higher than the equivalent Milwaukee or Husky cabinets, at $349 for the top chest and $549 for the bottom cabinet.
Combo Price: $898
Buy Now (Upper Chest)
Buy Now (Lower Cabinet)
It turns out that you can get these chests and cabinets (or what really look to be identical versions) in blue, green, orange, red, yellow, and “dark cherry,” if you are willing to pay a premium.
To get a Kobalt tool storage combo in one of these colors, you’ll have to pony up $675 for the top chest and $796 for the bottom cabinet.
Combo Price: $1471
Buy Now (Upper Chest in Green)
Buy Now (Lower Cabinet in Green)
Curiously, there’s another white cabinet, also at a combo price of $1471. Compared to the one shown and linked to above, the only difference seems to be the color of the drawer pulls – polished aluminum handles vs. black.
Is this the start of a big push for Lowes’ Kobalt brand, or a one-time new product launch or update? We’ve seen lots of momentum from Milwaukee, a newcomer to the drawered tool storage market. Dewalt isn’t as new to the scene, but has been trying to remain visible and competitive. Husky has been kicking things up to new levels, and Craftsman is trying to remain relevant and at the top, and is back to trying to push forward. Thoughts?
fred says
Years ago most of the Kobalt chests and toolboxes were sourced from Waterloo and made in the USA. Now many come from China – made by Shanghai Hom-Steel Industry Co Ltd. Not sure who the OEM is for this set – but if the UPC starts with 693694 then its probably Shanghai Hom-Steel. They also have made barbecues sold in Home Depot under names like Brinkman – and seem t have a decent reputation for decent quality.
Adam says
Honestly it looks like they came out with a color for every brand of power tools. I guess I don’t see a Bosch blue, but Milwaukee, Ryobi (over priced for that crowd), Ridgid, Dewalt.
Doresoom says
You’d think they’d have at least gone for a Kobalt blue too, right?
Jason says
The price is better but the Kobalt toolboxes are still expensive compare to Husky at HD.
Fm2176 says
These might tempt a frugal auto tech looking for a relatively inexpensive combo that stands out in the shop. Tool truck brands make a lot of money off of green or other colored tools and tool boxes. While these are nowhere near the same quality, they’re also about 1/4 of the price of the cheapest Snap-On combo.
BigDan says
For that price on the premium colors you might as well take it to an auto body shop and get a real paint job for it that you can wax and detail 🙂
Jerry Wyatt says
I probably never pay that much for kobalt.
RC WARD says
Way to over priced to say the least. Husky is an as good or better box for a much better price.
Jason says
Yep, you can get me massive 56″ Husky for basically 100 more, and the 52″ is 700 and the same size Husky is 500 I just don’t see Kobalt being worth the money.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-56-in-23-Drawer-Tool-Chest-and-Rolling-Cabinet-Set-Textured-Black-Matte-HOTC5623BB1S/206842294
Chris says
I have a Kobalt cabinet that is several years old now. It works fine for my needs.
The handles on the units pictured here appear to be the same as what is on my chests. It seems that for many years, they used a different style handle (no hinge), which can be seen (partially) on the black tool chest to the left of the new unit in the first pic.
Toolfreak says
Sears tried this years ago, with a rainbow of colors available through the catalog for a hefty premium over the red/black boxes you could buy in-store. A few big stores even had some of the colors so you could see them in person. They even had a white dry-erase coated set not that long ago.
Stuff like this is pretty cool if you’re going to keep the box, but it can be hard to sell some of the colors compared to a standard red/black if you ever want to sell and upgrade to something else.
Matt says
Menard’s was selling ones that looked identical to these on clearance for around 350 bucks for the whole set (top & bottom) a few weeks back. It was under their Performax label that they were/are discontinuing. I was told they’re only doing the Masterforce line now instead. Those looking for the Bosch/Kobalt’ish blue color may be able to find some still in stock. They were that shade of blue.
I still like the Waterloo stuff. American made units of course… And preferably without gimmicks.
Nate818 says
Everything is so expensive.
e. baker says
A couple months ago you could pick up the white bottom cabinet for 350 and the top chest for 250. I think it was special holiday pricing. I wouldn’t pick one up for the listed price, but for the holiday pricing, I’d probably heavily consider it.
Addicted2Red says
These aren’t new. They were around last year pre black friday.
Mark says
In the past 12 months or so there was also a deep blue version that came into the stores briefly. They went on sale then and most stores sold through the 2-3 that were shipped. Same with the white ones. They came in before Christmas and I expect they’ll move on to another color in a couple months.
Hisel Construction says
Its just like the Dewalt Combo set at Home Depot That I own 2 of now and bought on sale for I believe $600 or $650. Hate how these tools all do this and jack up or lower the price on the brand and name. Kobalt jacked the price up to put in sale later for a be discount, But they still get Premature Buyers at that Price
Richard G. says
You got to be out of your mind to spend twelve hundred dollars on a Cobalt toolbox ))
KL says
White + creosote = no bueno
Al says
Too small. If they had HF version of 56″ in white i’d make the move.
nigeldh says
Maybe Lowes is doing a Star Wars tie-in? grin
Adam says
At that price there’s no way I’ll buy it.
e. baker says
This combo kit is currently on sale: 399 for the cabinet and 249 for the chest.
Ed S says
I was at Sears store and they had a combo top/bottom scratch and dent for 60% off.
The top drawer was clearly hit (can order a replacement) and the back + side had small (50 cent piece) sized scratch and a ding.
The back, who cares! The side, well, nothing but decals cover my tool box so..
I want a solid chest/drawer that is able to hold the weight of tools, and locks/slides easily. The power stuff with lights is nice if priced right. Otherwise, you can add what you need now with a quadbox and USB/Power outlet, step drill some holes and add cable to plug into a GFCi outlet in the garage.
What I want is a modular parts cabinet on wheels. You know, kinda parts bin, kinda card file drawer with ability to stack one more on top, or add to sides. Like a mini-version of the trays in the home despot.