Over at ToolStop, a friendly UK tool distributor, this Dewalt 10.8V drill and impact driver combo kit – equivalent to this kit on Amazon – is packaged in a very neat-looking stackable tool case. Available only in the UK, the kit box looks to be a heavy duty cross between Stanley’s 25-compartment organizer (shown on Amazon) and SortMaster Junior (PDF pg 12/20, 201).
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The 12V (or rather 10.8V) cordless kit box features two latches at the front, two latches at the sides for connecting stacked units together, a sturdy-looking handle, and clear front lid. Inside the case is a molded insert for separating and protecting the tools and charger, with two compartments for bits and accessories.
Available via ToolStop (UK-only)
Related Commentary:
I have a strong interest in tool storage, and wish sub-compact power tools were packaged in such cases here in the USA. But they’re not. Most brands now exclusively package their tools in soft cases, probably to save costs and to drop bottom-line prices as low as they can.
So why can’t we buy a cool kit box bundle like that here in the USA? Because people don’t want to be locked in to higher kit prices. This is something I’ve heard from multiple sources. Most customers don’t want such cases, presumably making it cost-prohibitive to offer them to the few that do.
Over in Europe, many power tools are packaged in Systainers or L-Boxxes, but that practice just hasn’t quite caught on here (yet). Bosch does offer L-Boxx bundles for some but not many of their tools, but many users don’t want these bundles – they don’t want higher prices and kit boxes they might not use.
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If brands offer 2 SKUs for each cordless kit, many if not most users might still gravitate to the lower-priced one. If they only offer 1 SKU with a premium kit box, users might then gravitate to competitors’ less expensive combos.
Paul
I for one would absolutely love it if a tool manufacture like DeWalt would make a standard, stackable case. Something that stacks but something uniform so I could also make a shelf in the garage for them. Keep the dimensions the same. Just change the depth to accommodate different tools and bit/drill kits.
I have also heard the same comments about why manufactures dropped the cases…but all of the comments were from the manufactures, not the customers. In fact, I heard a LOT of complaints from Craftsman customers when they quit packaging hard shell cases with their cordless tools.
I think DeWalt is on to something here and I would really like to see this brought to the U.S.
Mike
I agree with Paul – I have been holding off jumping into Dewalt’s 12v series as i have big invesments in their 18 and 36 equipment – but if this kit were available state side i would grab it in a second (and it would complement my dewalt 12v scope i picked up on Amazon deals a few weeks back)
do we have any idea what the plug configuration for the charger looks like?
Mike
and it’s too bad this is 10.8v
Stuart
10.8V in UK/EU = 12v Max in USA and Canada.
Technically you can buy the the EU kit from overseas and swap the charger for a USA charger, but the premium wouldn’t be worth it.
Stan
In the US they call it 12v Max but elsewhere in the world it’s 10.8v. Same tool, different label (and charger I would assume).
mnoswad1
If i ever go to europe on vacation…….I’m shopping for tools and sending them back. Oh and boots, they have good looking work boots over there too. None of that “western” cultural influence over there.
American’s wont buy this though…….even though its awesome……what ever happened to the L-boxx, i’ve never seen them sold, the DeWalt tough cases, never seen them sold, Systainers? nope.
Despite our plastic culture…….we don’t buy plastic tool cases unless its included……without additional cost, and that means the plastic cases are crap cheap. This 10.8/12v case looks good, but American’s wont pay premiums for quality.
mnoswad1
Did you see this on their site?
http://www.toolstop.co.uk/dewalt-dck692l3-18v-xr-li-ion-6-piece-cordless-package-3-x-3ah-batteries-2-x-toug-p51132
Awesome. Ok its official. Europe is better at everything.
Mike
I agree but it’s still the 18v stuff – did you see the US version available at amazon – this will help sell the tough system if they can control the price point
http://www.dewalt.com/tools/cordless-combo-packs-20v-max-combo-packs-dckts290l2.aspx
mnoswad1
Mike…..that stuff I linked to is actually the 20 volt max line, but in europe they call them “18 volt XR” or something. Look at the details on the battery pack…..its the slide on battery.
We all learned that the “20v max” is actually still just 18 volts when this new line debuted.
but no, hadn’t yet seen this combo pack. cool.
mnoswad1
sorry for the American’s……….should be Americans.
Barrie
Funny you should say that as I’m just back in scotland from Orlando and some of the tools in Home Depot are awesome, and about half price of the gear you get in the uk. Can’t wait till my next trip to pick up some more bargains!
fred
Back in the day – you could purchase your electric power tools with or without their steel cases. We still have – and use (or have re-purposed) many of these cases from Porter Cable, Milwaukee, Black &Decker and Bosch. Unlike blow-molded cases, interiors of the metal cases provided room for accessories. For tools to be used in the shop or factory floor – I usually bought tools bare bones – without the case – but for those being transported to the jobsite – cases were more the norm – even when we bundled tools into our custom compartmentalized Knaack boxes. When the cases were just too bulky – I had a local source for fiberboard cases – which came in some stock sizes – but could be orderd in nearly any dimension. I still have several PC 505 Sanders that fit perfectly in one such box – that measures 14 x 9 x 6. We also coverted metal file boxes (from MMF Industries) – that were avalable at Staples and similar boxes:
http://www.amazon.com/Master-Lock-7148D-Locking-Security/dp/B002ONB4GA/ref=pd_rhf_se_shvl3
– lined with a bit of pink foam -to protect Bostitch (LHF and BHF) flooring staplers and Hitachi roofing nailers. While these work arounds are OK – I’d be happier if the tool OEM’s would once again offer steel or syatainer-type toolboxes as an extra cost option.
Peter
Yeah, I am dealing with this now also, I replaced my old Craftsman with Bosch tools and while some of their cases are nice they seem to come in all kind of form and shape.
But some tools did not come in a box at all, that`s why I started to look into the L-boxxes.
Unfortunately none of the Bosch tools I bought were available in an L-boxx when I bought them.
I bought one L-boxx so far but I am planning to get more to get at least some order going.
I have not used the L-boxx on job sites so far but I hope the plastic is not to brittle and it seems to have a lot of little bits just waiting to break or fall off.
The two Festool boxes I have seem to do the same job with less moving parts.
I hope to have a setup similar to this one day.
http://www.thisiscarpentry.com/2011/07/15/van-racking/
On an unrelated side note, I wish there would be a preview function for the posts.
MR P
and why cant we have the ACC alligator saw http://www.dewalt.co.uk/powertools/productoverview/hierarchy/46/
fred
You can always buy a Wellsaw:
http://www.cutlerymania.com/Jarvis-Wellsaw-Saws-c90.html
Wooters
Does any one know if this case will work with the DWST17804 case system? Also I have seen this case at Home Depot with out the dril set in it for $20.00
Stuart
It will NOT stack with Dewalt’s Tstak cases. In addition to the new deep case available at HD, there’s also a shallow case under the FatMax brand.
When I asked Dewalt product managers about whether the two products types will stack I was told a definitive no and that the Tstak family already has an organizer with removable bins, the Tstak 3.
Wooters
Ok thank… But maybe it just me, but that don’t make a lot of cent…..why not make everything fit in one system if I already didn’t have the dewalt I would have gotting L-Boxx system it look like they have the right idea….
Stuart
It’s hard to say, but it seems like Dewalt wanted to make these organizers compatible with Stanley’s 25-compartment organizers.
There are now Stanley shallow organizers and Dewalt and Stanley deep organizers.
It is possible that Dewalt weighed the options, that they could either maintain backwards compatibility with the other organizers, or make the organizers compatible with TSTAKs, and they opted for the first option. There could be other reasons why the organizers are not TSTAK-compatible, but I cannot guess what they could be.
Wooters
Will this fit on the TSTAK line??
Stuart
See my answer above.