Milwaukee has new ToolGuard tool storage cabinets available in Europe.
A reader asked about how to get these Milwaukee tool cabinets into the USA, and I admittedly don’t have a clue. You’d either need to find a seller that ships freight to the USA, or convince Home Depot to place a large order, which I wouldn’t bet on happening.
The new Milwaukee tool cabinet has a distinctively European design. For me, the biggest giveaways are the ABS plastic work top and side storage options.
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The new steel storage unit features a 30″ width and 7 drawers.
There is also a 27″ version with less frills and lower load rating. Most of the images in this post depict the 30″ models.
There are 2 color options – black with silver drawer handle trim, and red with black accents and silver drawer handle trim.
There is also a 4-drawer top chest, which also has side storage and a lid compartment.
There’s a lot going on at the sides – the side with the handle has a shelf for can storage, a power strip, and space for a Milwaukee cordless power tool battery charger, and the other side has pegboard.
The drawers feature an anti-tip mechanism, and are sized for foam tool tray modules.
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In addition to a large lipped work surface, there are holes for screwdrivers and similar tools, and also pockets for fastener storage.
You can store quick-grab wrenches or other tools on the side via accessories for the built-in pegboard.
The reader asked about how you can get this in the USA. You can’t. At this time, it looks to only be available in Europe.
The foam tool trays aren’t available here either.
In Europe, you have the option of ordering it empty or bundled with tools.
The price I’m seeing for just the lower 30″ tool cart, SRC30, is 814 Euros excluding tax, which is around $950 given conversion rates as of the time of this posting.
Many savvier shoppers will automatically be thinking “but I can get a lot more tool storage for less from Home Depot or Harbor Freight!” and you’re right. In my opinion, that’s exactly why we don’t see a lot of European-style tool carts or mechanics tool storage products in the USA.
Here’s a Stanley Black & Decker Facom tool storage combo. We haven’t seen anything similar from Dewalt or Craftsman, which are sibling brands, in the USA since I posted this image in a different post over 4 years ago.
Here’s a Stanley Black & Decker USAG rolling tool cabinet.
From what I’ve seen, there is a steep barrier when it comes to tool storage availability and entry in the USA market.
I don’t expect to see the new Milwaukee ToolGuard cabinets in the USA, but would love to be surprised.
James
These look great, but pricey for what you get. One question for those with more knowledge, is it okay to store potentially flammable products right below a battery charger (any electrical device)? See the first and fifth images in this post. Presumably that’s Milwaukee professionally done images, I thought that was a no-no but now I’m not sure.
Bonnie
I certainly wouldn’t. While the risk of spark is quite low, battery chargers are still somewhat of a fire risk by their nature, and I’ve seen what happens to aerosol cans in a fire.
EBT
I was thinking similar on the proximity of flammables near the outlet strip or below the charger. But I use OEM batteries and never seen one fail/spark/thermal event.
I do like the Black versions of Milwaukee. Too bad its only across the pond. Do like a cart version that isn’t all metal- not to bump into car or walls and damage them/scratch them.
Gotta be ridiculous but I will ask a friend in Germany what the shipping is. But the tariff on this side is prohibitive. Better off getting a cool colour version of Makita driver (pink, purple, yellow…) then Milwaukee Black tools/storage. Hmm, wonder if I could dye my packout?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqMTo56xI6A
Jared
Those are beautiful. It does make me wonder if some of that is just “greener grass” because it’s not available here. I.e. would I actually buy that over the more cost-effective all-steel options if I had the choice? I’m not sure. It looks great though.
ElectroAtletico
You get more, made in the USA, for Craftsman. Unless you’re one of those Milwaukee collection goobers, this is not worth gorilla dust.
Pablo
That Facom radio looks identical to Dewalt’s tough system jobsite radio. didn’t realize there was an overlap with Facom.
Bonnie
SBD has owned Facom for twenty years.
David
Just going thru my head briefly remembering the big toolboxes you can get for $900ish at Menards and Harbor Freight vs this little guy
Frank D
Milwaukee is really losing touch with reality with those prices …
Stuart
It’s considerably less expensive than similar products from Hazet and Gedore, and seems to be at the same level as Facom and others.
I assume the price reaction is why we don’t see more Euro-style tool cabinets and rolling workbenches in the USA.
Mike
The other thing is with European prices they typically get listed with the VAT included. If that’s what’s going on here then that bottom roller is a touch over $700 plus tax which is about $100 more than a US General big cart.
Stuart
As mentioned in the post, the pricing excludes taxes. (The listing I found had prices with and without VAT.)
Adam
I’m a little surprised to see no PackOut interoperability, even if it were just on the backside to mount organizers. In any ase, I like the looks of it.
Ed
After owning MAC tool boxes for over 30 years, I needed more storage for tools. The Harbor Freight 27 inch, Series 3 units are great buys. They can be connected to each other if needed and the side cabinets work great. A top and bottom is over 19,000 cubic inches of storge without the side cabinet for under $700 for both when on sale. The drawer slides are good, the powder coating and finish are also up to snuff. The only downside I have seen to finding matching locks. The ICON series can be equipped with matching locks but not the Series 3. As an FYI, the store will unbox the unit if desired and toss out the cardboard. They even loaded it into my truck.
Harbor Freight has really taken the place of Craftsman for good quality reasonably priced tools.
Jim Szabo
Look on the harbor freight tool box pages on Facebook, they show alot of the upgrades n modify stuff. Including getting on Amazon to get keyed like assys
Mark M
Interesting, the “foam tool trays” photo features NWS-made Milwaukee pliers. While I knew that was occurring back around 2020, I wasn’t aware that it has continued.
Harry
Nice looking carts with a small footprint. Too bad they won’t sell here.
Bruce
This is the perfect tool cart for those of us that move around a larger building or campus. Narrow, plenty of tools for a maintenance guy. Can go anywhere.
Mark S
I know it is not the same, but one could also get a Packout dolly and a few drawer units and make this. For the US crowd at least. And get some of the new-ish packout add-on side mount gadgets, and get similar outcome, and most likely cheaper. Yes it’s not the same thing, but an idea.
S
I’ve looked at doing this.
Entirely ignoring the cost of it all, the biggest issue is the lost space between drawers in additional units. You lose around 2-3″ between drawer units for the pack out interlocking feet and unit walls, which is basically another drawer itself.
So in a stack of 3 drawer units, there’s basically 2 full drawer widths of wasted space.
There’s also some losses in drawer width and depth for the pack out structure surrounding the drawer unit as well, which further reduces storage capability.
And another issue is that the pack out drawers themselves are all plastic. So heavily loaded with tools, they will drag on adjacent surfaces.
In the end, I decided that formed metal tool boxes and drawers have a slightly higher weight rating, capacity capability, and durability, despite the potential adjustment capability that pack out offers
S
Around $800-1,000 for a 30″ cart isn’t that obscene.
Husky’s 30″ 6 drawer service cart retails at $600, as does harbor freights 34″ version.
I don’t particularly like the plastic top, but I also don’t know the rest of the build quality.
Of the Milwaukee tool boxes or service carts I have put hands on, I would say they use slightly higher grade materials than husky versions.
I rate this as something I don’t need, but decent for the price.
Frank
As an Australian, (your blog has very useful info, thanks for your work!) I don’t understand what you mean by euro-style.
I imagine we in Aus might have a mix of styles but I have never heard of this term and would love to know the differences if possible.
Stuart
Most smaller-sized tool cabinets in the USA are boxy. No added features, just steel boxes with drawers. There are service carts with features such as screwdriver and pry bar slots.
Plastic work surfaces? I’ve only seen that on European brand tool carts and rolling cabinets.
The side bumpers too, whenever I see that, it’s always on European brand tool cabinets, except for single bay service cart-type tool boxes that only a couple of brands offer in the USA.
Daniel
Would love some drawers like that on my four wheel packout dolly.
Catamount
The Milwaukee toolbox reminds me of the Craftsman Project Center toolbox, which also had a plastic top with built-in trays, pegboard metal sides, but only had five drawers. Definitely a big difference in quality, of course, but there was also a big difference in price. I don’t think those have been available for a long time. I found a used one a long, long time ago when all the tools I owned fit in that one toolbox. And I had room left over.
Jim Szabo
You can still find them on Facebook Market Place, look under Craftsman, and Waterloo brands. But it would be great to see someone come out with a optional bolt on top. Years ago Craftsman had optional elements you could buy for their toolboxes to bolt on pegboard panels, side shelfs, and even prybar racks. I saw them when they came out, and bought some in the store, and Ebay. With about 1 hour of time, and some 1/4 screws I installed 2 of the pegboard panels on my Craftsman 40″ toolbox. I have my box loaded down at work and like a modular work center
Joe E.
Hopefully Harbor Freight takes note. I would absolutely buy 1 or more of these if the price was decent.
BG100
I’m gonna have to look into the Facom stuff more now, those side racks look just like the Tough System van racking. Hard to find pieces for the DeWalt labelled stuff, might have better luck with Facom? The stereo looks like DeWalt’s too. I wonder if it’s still in production…
Chris
Thanks for looking into my interest in this tool chest. A representative did reach out to from ToolForce and states that they only sell in Ireland and can not ship to the US.
Another issue is that there are no SAE sockets or wrenches since they use the metric system. I guess it’s Milwaukee’s version of the Royale with Cheese!