I came across new teeny tiny Kobalt metal tool chests at Lowe’s, and they’re just the cutest things ever.
They feature two drawers with friction slides, a top compartment under the lid, aluminum drawer pull trim, a magnetic drawer-shutting mechanisms, and powder coated finish.
The mini tool boxes measure 10.83″ long x 5.91″ tall x 5.91″ deep.
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The tool boxes can support up to 5 lbs per drawer.
Lowe’s shows these in a range of different colors, but it looks like only black and and blue are presently available. These are the same colors I spotted in-store.
I think they’re really cute, although I’m not sure what I would use it for.
Price: $19.98
Amusingly, Lowe’s says that their mini Kobalt tool box is “compatible with the full line of Kobalt modular storage boxes and accessories.” I’m not sure what this means, I’m imagining the tiny 10.83″ tool box sitting on top of a huge rolling tool cabinet or mobile workbench.
What might you use something like this for?
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Albert
All colors show out of stock for me. I don’t have any particular use for one, but it seems like a nice novelty item. I recall they were popular years ago, and currently sell for very high prices on eBay.
fred
Made by Hangzhou GreatStar in China
Lowes shows one blue one in stock at a nearby store – but I’ve learned to never trust either Lowes or HD to have stock when they say there is only 1 left.
Will
Having worked at HD, these stores also count the display model as stock. One in stock usually means the display.
Anonymous
Current employee at Lowes.
This has been the fastest I’ve seen an item fly off our shelves. Within a few days of getting the product our store and the 5 nearest stores areout of every color but blue and black. Display says they made an “extremely limited” amount.
Found out about it selling on eBay because a customer said our store and eBay were the only place left that might have pink. She wanted the 4 remaining. Unfortunately it was gone.
Theres a very large quantity of small items, multiple locations for each item, damage, top stock, and high theft.
once quantity is below 5 there’s a high chance actual quantity recently reached 0 from being stolen or lost and inventory count hasn’t been processed yet. Items above $100 are more accurate because they usually have theft prevention.
eddie sky
By me, 10 in stock in Blue, 26 in stock in Black. All other colors…nope.
I want one for my desktop. Maybe black will suffice. Really would like Red for the Mini-me of my Craftsman garage set but… there’s always sandpaper, primer and rattle-can Red… 🙂
Franco Calcagni
The more I see comments and think about these mini tool boxes, the more I would like to get some, maybe 2 or 3.
Eric
I think it would be good for storage on a desk or bench that didn’t have drawers. Keeping little items that always collect out of the way. Not needed but kind of fun.
Joe H
I want one to put my car keys, pocket knife, tool wallet, flashlight and other edc items in it on my desk. Currently I throw it all in a metal can resembling a small coffee can.
Joe H
Also I might get one to put next to my bed to store chapstick, pills, extra flashlight, bandaids, condoms, lube, etc.
Mr.X
TMI, Joe. TMI…
Joatman
LOL!
tim Rowledge
Don’t forget spare handcuff keys, and extra batteries.
Joe H
Gotta be practical
ChrisP
Needs to be enough space for the GoPro
Ray
Looks suited for EDC. Could also serve as a substitute for a “junk drawer.” If I were to buy one, I would use it for tools that have sentimental value greater than frequency of use.
Brando
Perfect for the Construction Superintendent’s desk
BigTimeTommy
Cute spot to keep my weed and weed accessories.
Doresoom
What is this, a toolbox for ants? Needs to be at least three times this size!
Wayne R.
Ken & Barbie?
brooke fabricant
LOL
Stuart
Different male model – Zoolander.
Big Richard
Happy I’m not the only one that got the reference.
Rock Hound
I might pick one up to put on the enclosure for my 3D printer. Hold extra nozzles, SD cards, and the handful of tolls that are specific to it.
Jason
This is maybe the best I’ve seen this comment section.
Honestly could see a few uses for these little guys hope I can find one in stock
William Adams
If I could find one in stock local to me, I’d use it for storing endmills, collets, and workholding for small CNC machines.
Currently I’m using a series of plastic organizers, and they’re fiddly, and annoying to open/close/re-arrange.
Gabe
Looks good. Went buy. Can’t order and oos everywhere. Was this a limited run?
carl
I’d be tempted if I saw one on the shelf.
Rx9
My wife thinks they’re cute and wants two. Lowe’s will move a lot of these.
Jared
I think it would be a fun item for an office. Put your pens and paperclips in there. Maybe also useful adjacent to a drill press for bit storage? Probably about the right size to store a bunch of pocket knives…
I imagine it’s “compatible” with Kobalt’s other storage products because it’s so small you can just put it inside them.
I’ll keep an eye out to see if these come to Canada and pick up a couple if they do.
Badger12345
“I think it would be a fun item for an office. ”
Exactly what I was thinking… An interesting conversation piece. Sometimes those are helpful when a difficult conversation is planned to start off talking about something fun or trivial.
MM
I think they’d be great for storing accessories for a machine–in fact if these were a thing back when I managed a university lab I’d have bought at least a dozen. We had many test instruments which had a small number of accessory parts or required tools. Assigning one box to each machine and having it right there on the tabletop would make it very easy to keep track of what accessories went with what machines. That said it would have been better if the drawers had at least 8.5″x11″ interior dimensions so they would be large enough to hold manuals and documentation too.
Around the workshop they’d be handy for the drill press, router table, etc.
Greg
pen and hobby knife holder
Joseph
Looks like I’m headed to Lowes. I have a bunch of work gifts covered, sized appropriate for the amount of work they do.
Jon
I saw these in store over the winter. I took a quick look and moved on. My first reaction was it’s a toy, right? I had just bought a much nicer box for the same $20. I checked online and found them selling on ebay for significantly more; they still are.
If I hadt one I would turn it into a soldering station.
ChuckR
Definitely need one for my 4 year old… she’ll love that.
Mike
Yep, I’m buying one each for my 5 and 6 year old boys and putting in their first tools!
Bob Adams
It could be like the “ignition box” mechanics had back in point ignition days. I may get one to hold test leads and wiring accessories.
DC
For me, great for storing coax connectors, electrical and silicone fusion tape, some other stuff for ham radio antenna but I’ll pass on this. Don’t need stuff to clutter up the shop.
Bryan
Cool….I guess?
Franco Calcagni
A “man’s jewelry box” kind of deal.
Tie clips and cufflinks are a thing of the past, but on a dresser for watch, wallet and any EDC items you switch out on different days.
For the tool fanatic, anywhere…desk for pens, pencils…etc. Really, anywhere you have small storage of items and you want something different and show you are a tool guy (gal).
These would be great for just about anything…except tools. (unless to display a special tool…like a gold Nepros)
At $20, decent price to put these in multiple places.
Franco Calcagni
I know, a gold Nepros probably has its own display box
TomD
Is it well made or is it relatively fragile bent metal?
Stuart
I don’t expect a lot for $20.
Matthew
It’s okay. No drawer glides or anything like that. I would say edc items and that’s about it. Maybe a dedicated specific box for soldering or rotary tool, etc.
Steve
Workbench top or counter top storage. I have one on the top of my workbench I use it for pencils, pens, the TV remotes, and the top for papers (tags, instructions, and other small documents) I want to save. I could see someone having three, four, or five, in a line across the back of a workbench or counter where they can store small parts and tools or other materials specific to their task.
Rcward
“Cutest thing ever”? Is that your wife talking?
Bob
Its not your fault.
Stuart
No?
Maybe it’s not the cutest thing ever, but definitely one of the cutest tool boxes I’ve ever seen.
I’m sorry that you’re offended by the terminology?
Dustin
I grabbed one of these a couple months back to hold all my desk crap like pens and paperclips and stuff. Put a kittle lube on the slides, pretty good for $20
Eddie the Hook
I would put it on my nightstand, to put my teeth when i go to sleep 😀
Rob H
These things were stupidly popular and in demand several months back. Some TikTok person showed how they store makeup and stuff in them.
How do I know? Because I’m on the olight Facebook group page and they all went nuts about them to put their flashlights in them.
We finally found some when we were out of town and a different Lowes. I bought 4. One for my two kids to put school supplies in (pencils, pens, etc), one for me to put at my desk to store office supplies in, and one for “just because.”
They’re fairly well made. Drawer grip liner makes a huge difference in both the drawers and on the bottom of the tool box to help keep it from sliding.
PS—because of size…a ruler will not fit in one. So there’s that.
Albert
I hope Harbor Freight is reading this thread, watching TikTok and browsing eBay. Maybe they’ll make a US General and Icon version.
mark
ha! This is awesome. Would be fun for pens/ desk items forsure. Working in manufacturing, this would be such a hit as you’ve got desk – based work but lots of hands-on tool familiarity with co-workers!
Shawn Y
For anyone picking up in store, take it out of the box and fiddle w it first. There’s apparently a good percentage w QC issues such as warping, skewed drawers, etc.
I picked one up in store on a whim a couple months ago w a difficult drawer. I realized the problem was my entire box was warped that caused the drawer to scrape. I realized then the closed lid had a slight gap on one side due to the warping. When I returned it, the lady noted a lot of the boxes being returned.
If you do find a defect-free box, you’ll probably want to add rubber bumpers or a strut for the lid. You’ll probably chip paint real quick in that frequent impact area.
Chris Shelton
I saw this at Sams Club this weekend. It Comes in Pink and Black.
https://www.samsclub.com/p/members-mark-11in-toolbox-with-5piece-tool-set/PL984164901
Michael Centi
We have Good News and Bad News.
Bad News: We had a serious error Converting from Centimeters to Inches.
Good News: They are ADORABLE!
Frank D
I will keep an eye out. Might be handy for a few essentials in the vehicle. Probably best in black with lettering obscured.
Franco Calcagni
Has anyone seen a similar mini toolbox by any other brand? If it looks decent and does not cost a fortune, I would be interested.
The Kobalt are fine, but the closest with stock is an hour and a half drive. Shipping would work but they want what comes out to about $20 per toolbox to ship…so if I want 3 it is $60 for the boxes and ballpark $60 to deliver; $120 for 3 is a bit much.
So if anyone know of something similar, I would be interested.
Stuart_T
Might be useful to put my Milwaulkee cordless “Dremel” in, and if I could make some sort of dividers, sections for different bits, grinding wheels, sanding drums. Doubt it would take my plastic box of Cratex points, though.
But not even listed in the Lowes (“soon to become RONA”, sigh…) up here in BC, and also zero at the one in Bellingham WA, although the “nearest” store – 64 miles away (!) apparently has 15 in stock. All colours but blue and black “are unavailable.”
But at the current exchange rate of about $1.38, I think I’ll pass.
Adam
I need one of these to put my weed and paraphernalia in.
Kenneth Bonham
I just need to know were I can get a pink one? Don’t care about shipping probably gunna need overnighter anyway.
Stuart
Pink and white ones are shipping now – links to all available colors are in this post – https://toolguyd.com/kobalt-mini-tool-box-pink-white-lowes/ .