I was browsing Lowes last week, looking at some of the new Craftsman tool chests and Porter Cable clearances, when I spotted this strange new tool storage chest and cabinet combo. It looked similar to other offerings I’d seen, with the exception of these two vertical “drawers” on the side. I pulled them out and found pegboard racks.
I took photos of the tags with the model and item numbers so I could look them up when I got home. Surprisingly, when I entered them into the Lowes website, it brought me to the old 3000 series cabinets with no pegboard drawers in the back. I searched and searched, but could find no evidence of these new storage combos on the Lowes website or anywhere else for the matter.
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I figured they must have mislabeled them at the store, so when I took my kids out for lunch, we swung by Lowes again and this time I found the manuals.
The photo of the manual above clearly shows the new cabinet with the sliding pegboard drawer, the item number is 0893824, and the model number is SHS41RCSSKS. If you go to the Lowes website and type in the model number you get the page shown below.
At the top you can see the item number is 893824, and the model is SHS41RCSSKS2. The model number has an additional “2”, but otherwise is identical and both items have the same item number. If you type in the item for the chest, you get similar results: a model number differing by a trailing 2. This time the older version of the chest has a flat front rather than the chamfered front of the in-store model.
Interestingly, if you look at the webpage the cabinet and chest depths are listed as 18″, but the cabinet and chest in store are labels as 24.5-in D.
Since there is really no way of knowing which version you’ll get if you order online, I’m not going to link to the cabinet and chest online. If you are really interested in this “updated” tool storage combo, you should really go to the store and make sure that you get the correct items.
The pricing doesn’t seem to have changed. The cabinet is still priced $750 while the chest still runs about $600.
First Thoughts
I have several questions. Why did Lowes and Kobalt keep the same item and model numbers for these “new” cabinet and chest? Doesn’t that make it horribly confusing for the consumer trying to order and for the company keeping track of stock? I thought at first it was a mistake by my local Lowes, but the product manuals clearly show the model and item numbers.
When I first spotted this updated Series 3000 cabinet and chest, I thought, “that’s a cool use of space,” but after more thought I’m not really so sure.
How useful will the slide-out pegboard actually be for most people? In order to get access to the contents hanging on the pegboard, you need about 30″ of open space on the right side of the cabinet. Since I see most people put these tool storage combos up against the wall, that means that you’ll lose 30″ or so of valuable wall space.
Also, for the amount of depth the sliding pegboard adds, is pegboard the best use of the additional space? If I’m going to have a 24.5″ deep cabinet, I think I want deeper drawers.
It’s also interesting that they tacked on 6.5″ onto the back of 18″ tool cabinet and chest. The pegboard slide-out sections are clearly bolted onto the back of the chest and cabinet. Is this addition meant to get around the import tariffs on tool storage under 24″ deep?
So, are the pegboard drawers a good use of the extra depth, or is this just an attempt to get around the import tariffs on their current tool box storage combos?
At least the pricing is the same, so that you’re not paying extra for a feature you might not want, and you might be able to remove it for improvised use elsewhere.
Pete says
Thats kind of cool. The price isn’t bad either. I could see putting my super long ratchets, breaker bars, pry bars on there. That way they dont sit all wonky in the drawer.
Robert Masek says
I am pretty sure this was a last minute addition to get by tarrifs. This makes the box larger and might have been a cost savings measure.
Robert Masek says
You also Should check out the keys they use on this box are kw1. so you can key the box to your house. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bkhn6HZHDXI/?taken-by=robertmasek
Adam says
Doesn’t seem very practical to me.
I can see a tool falling off the pegboard and getting jammed inside there somewhere, and I’d rather use all that extra width for another toolbox.
Zach says
I wonder how much of a pain this will be once a tool falls off a hook and then inhibits the ability to pull the slide out.
Seems awful gimmicky to me.
Doresoom says
I’d have concerns about tools getting jammed in there, as others have said. Although it would be a nice way to keep sawdust off of everything I normally store on the pegboard on my wall. So there are a few pros/cons, but ultimately I wouldn’t go for this design myself.
Jim Felt says
Wow. Lowe’s. Close all their Orchard Supply stores but totally by accident via prior management bring this SS box back. Are they competing with J. C. Penny’s for weirdness?
I have several of these (prior: no pegboard) SS Lowe’s boxes and two obvious to me points:
One the Kobalt drawers are never full suspension. They barely pull out to 85%.
Two these are identical to mine save for the absurd tariff skirting add-on 6” kluge on the back. And moving the built in powerstrip to an even more awkward if not useless position.
I actually like my SS Kobalt amateur level boxes for my model railroad hobby use but would never install them anywhere near my other actual commercial settings. Too flimsy.
Stuart says
As weird as it sounds, if to be exempt from the tariffs, these pegboard drawers would knock several hundred dollars off what the current retail pricing would otherwise be.
Other brands are going to have to do this – build bigger tool cabinets, or go around the tariffs.
That’s probably what’s going on with https://toolguyd.com/new-kobalt-tool-cabinet-carts-3000-series/ as well.
Harbor Freight too – https://toolguyd.com/harbor-freight-us-general-series-2-tool-boxes/
Steve says
Almost as bad as that black and blue thing they brought out last year. Could they just bring back that power tool storage solution they had last year please? I’m even willing to pay the import tariff on it.
Tom says
I guess even they want to pay import tariffs, they still can’t import since the Anti-dumping.
Koko The Talking Ape says
Yeah, the need for side clearance was my first reaction. Who has that kind of empty wall space?
But if they slid out the front, that might be useful. They would be like drawers, but turned on their side. I don’t see how that improves on regular shelves, but at least it would work, I suppose.
Adam says
That looks like a ton of metal wasted for what little what little additional area you get out of them. I’d rather have drawer space.
Not all that innovative in my opinion, just an option most don’t need.
Whiskey and Wood says
Is it possible these are an add-on? That would fit multiple tool chests?
Benjamen says
I believe they are bolted on. In person you can see what looks like nutserts with bolts on the back of the original cabinet at all four corners. I didn’t see any obvious way to disassemble them, but I wasn’t looking really hard.
You’ll also notice there’s only about 30″ of pegboard with 41″ of space on the back. The pegboard cabinets are only about 32″ wide, so there are filler boxes with empty space on the left side of the cabinet.
The yeti says
Some innovation from Kobalt. Surprised they are gonna keep making Kobalt boxes with Craftsman on the rise. However this is second innovative Kobalt box on this site in recent memory.
Nice box.
Framer joe says
Definitely appreciate the label of origin.from us guys who prefer buying American made products….
satch says
My thoughts ran along the line Ben mentioned. Take the ruddy thing off the chest, mount it to the wall and keep items in it you don’t want dust and a lot of humidity on. Or just tools you don’t want the kids or random neighbours asking/using/damaging. Out of sight out of mind. I wouldn’t want it sticking out that far from the wall in stock form.
Rcward says
Talk about a gimmick , that takes the cake. You know stuff would not stay put on that peg board when you open and close it. Something that wouldn’t get used much
Yadda says
Interesting that the additional vertical pull outs didn’t change the price. Adds fuel to the fire for the tariff. They will never admit it, but this definitely appears to have been added to skirt the tariff. Located at the back I would rarely be able to access them in my garage.
Sco Deac says
I saw one of these on clearance at my Lowes about a month ago. It caught my eye from across the store because I thought they were bringing a taco cart to market, but when I realized what it was, I was disappointed. Seems odd as everyone has observed. It’s deeper than most homeowner boxes without actually providing deeper drawers. It doesn’t save a lot of space laterally because you have to be able to access the peg board. Wouldn’t a wider box be more useful if you have that kind of space? Finally, I don’t think peg boards and wheels really mix. If you want to roll the box, plan on needing to restock the pegs. Only plus I see is does the extra weight on the back help mitigate against the entire box tipping with loaded drawers up high being fully opened? Is that a problem for anyone realistically?
I had not thought of the tariff implications, but that seems to be the most logical explanation of this box to me.
Shatch says
Taco Cart! Hopefully with width being a tariff factor someone will bring to market a multi sided taco cart a la 80’s snap on. Every one that appears on Craigslist gets a second look no matter how rusty or scary the background picture is…
Shatch says
I found a discounted black tool box combo in black with pegboard about two weeks ago at Lowe’s. Product # 0893827. Plus more on the origin sticker. I snapped pictures. I dug around the website later and found the pegboard mentioned in a line of description, really buried. Totally Tariff Busting.
Nathan says
Simple tarriff avoidance idea – and it’s not horrible since making the cabinet bigger in the drawers would lead to other taxes I think. not sure on that.
but either way. Biggest question could you put tools on that – secure them – close up – and roll away. I think you could but you’d be doing some bungee cord or other strap ties on handles and the like. I could see it being a bit useful.
like above I’d probably put breaker bars on there – or pry bars – etc. Other durable goods but you’re right it would limit where you park the thing too . Would be a nice add if it opened on both sides say
PatrickD says
Dumb. Definitely skirting the tariffs.
NewtonsApple says
I thought I was so clever when I saw the photo and immediately said tariffs. Well, I’m clearly not very clever as everyone has pointed out this is so obvious.
At least with this, if you need a cheap 18” deep box, it looks like an okay option if you just remove it. Otherwise just stick with the harbor freight ones at 24”.
Well at least this tarrif is bringing back a lot of jobs…
Harry says
slightly off topic— Kennedy is dropping its Cantilever hand tool boxes from its line. They have / had 18 & 22 inch boxes, They open up like a tackle box / from the center.
Harry says
I almost forgot, made in USA.
There are some still being sold on Amazon until the stock runs out & of course used on Ebay.
Just a medic says
I prefer 18in cabinets because my narrow workspace is short on front clearance. But 18in cabinets have gotten scarce because of the tariffs. Hurray to Kobalt for perpetuating their 18in cabinets despite the trend. I will gladly detach the pegboard on the back, whether with a wrench or a sawzall. Pleasantly surprised that the-pegboard-I-didn’t-need doesn’t cost extra.
Hang Fire says
So it’s kinda innovative and may only exist to get by the tariff. And yes it certainly is a fail as a pegboard, in the traditional sense of using hooks and hanging tools on a sliding drawer, rolling box would result in a train wreck of fallen tools.
But (if I needed more tool storage) I’d buy one in a New York Minute. Why? Because I don’t have to use peg hooks in them!
With small bins, the pegboards would make perfect fastener and small part storage. (If the right size bins are not available, I would just make them.)
I can also make custom make tool holders, tool clamps, and/or kaizen foam for them.
They also got the big top drawer right.
I can understand if it doesn’t float everyone’s boat, and most people buy tool storage for a complete solution, not just a starting point. If it’s too flimsy or the drawers don’t stay open and closed, that would be a no-buy as well. But those vertical drawers do not turn me off at all.
Shatch says
The peg board system seemed fairly rugged, and like you say for fasteners, if they fit your application could work well. I wonder if the manufacturer is re-using the pegboard (tooling or supplies) from the previous front to back pullouts in Lowe’s boxes?
Hang Fire says
I don’t know about re-use, but metal pegboard makes a good thing to fasten other things to, just as it makes a poor pegboard- too loose and rattly with metal pegs hanging in them.
In other words, it just makes sense to use it, whether it’s re-use or not.
Andrew says
This is strange. My local Lowes told me they were not going to carry Kobalt tool boxes anymore and only carry Craftsman
Gordon says
Almost every Kobalt box is on clearance now. But I would assume, if you were to buy one of these in the box, they hand you another box with the pegboards and tell you to bolt it on. It probably costs them nothing to make, and they were probably so far into production before the Craftsman deal was finalized.
JacobH says
I really wish I had grabbed up one of those big expensive Kobalt tool chests Lowe’s has up until about a year ago. The ones that came in the eye catching colors like Lime Green and White. The quality of those was way beyond any of this “Made in the USA OF Global Components” Junk that Craftsman puts their name on.
There was nothing flimsy or thin with those big Kobalt boxes. I’m not bashing Craftsman just stating facts. I could easily (with minimal pain) punch a big dent in any of those craftsman boxes. Those Kobalt ones would have certainly left me with a broken hand and more than likely no dent in the tool chest.
I honestly don’t care what name is on my tool box. If it is made like those big Kobalt ones were I will buy it-even red Craftsman.
Brian M says
Not a bad buy if you have a spot you can use that back piece…as it is, attached to the box is just dumb. But attached to the side of a bench turned 90-degrees so it pulls towards you would be a good use of space.
Neighbor Joe says
Frivolous gimmicks from the Peoples Revolutionary Army of China. Not thanks. I’ll stick with US made Craftsman tool chest. Thanks for the pick showing nation of origin. It helps weed out the stuff made by slave labor.
Ryan Jacob says
I thought Lowes was no longer going to carry Kobalt tool boxes. My Lowes recently clearanced all their Kobalt tool chests out and I’ve seen other Lowes selling them off for firesale prices. I really can’t figure out what Lowes is doing.
Altan says
It looks like it is made of stainless steel, I like none painted stainless steel products, they always look new, when the paint is scratched from anything I just want to throw it out! Nowadays they make coloured stainless steel as well if some are interested in colours, the metal itself is coloured not covered with paint.
Joe says
One thing I can see the slide out pegboard being useful for is that my shed/garage has windows and I can place the box next to a window and have the pegboard slide in front of the window so I don’t have to take extra space. Just thought I’d add that because the pegboard is not completely useless for that,
robert says
I hit the jackpot and just bought this same exact tool box for $495. on clearance!! I am tickled.
Nick Hrostowski says
I bought this same tool box for $150 (for the top part) & bottom 1/2 for $200 what a steal!