I’ve been in the market for a rolling tool cabinet or a combo set like this for a while. I’ve always liked the Craftsman toolbox look so when it came time to buy, the 2000 Series was something that I looked at a lot. It doesn’t help that I shop at Lowe’s a lot so I saw them all the time.
In terms of basic specs, these boxes are constructed from 18-20 gauge steel and feature drawers that support 100 lbs of product. The drawers themselves feature soft close hinges and are lockable. The cabinet also features four wheels, two of which turn and are lockable. Both the cabinet and tool chest feature side handles. The cabinet has one handle and is not switchable from side to side. The tool chest has a handle on both sides that telescopes in and out. Both pieces should come with liners for all the drawers and top surfaces, along with two keys per lock. I say should because I was missing a liner and a key. Both of which I was able to get by reaching out to Craftsman’s customer service.
So I’ve had this combo set for a few weeks now and use it essentially every day. I don’t have all my tools moved in yet but can provide some opinions. First off let’s talk about the price. The cabinet retails for $629 but I’ve always seen it at $539. The tool chest retails at $499 but I’ve always seen it for $409. Together, you’re looking at $1128 MSRP but it’s realistically $948. In my opinion, I think that may be overpriced. This is going to be a more subjective take but I think for the money, there are better options in the market. Prior to buying, I was pretty set on this Craftsman set because I’ve always wanted a Craftsman toolbox. However, after walking into a Home Depot one day and seeing the options there, I really questioned the Craftsman. The two most common toolbox brands that you’ll see at Home Depot will probably be Milwaukee and Husky. The Milwaukee options, in my opinion, are going to be the best among the three but they cost the most. For my needs, I didn’t think the cost of the Milwaukee would’ve been justifiable. Husky, on the other hand, being Home Depot’s house brand, the prices are a bit lower and closer in cost to the Craftsman. So for me, it was between Craftsman and Husky. After a few days of going back and forth between stores and looking at the various options, I actually decided to buy a Husky combo set. The fit and finish just felt better. The liners were the higher quality kind, not the cheap perforated stuff as with the Craftsman. The Husky has plastic end caps on all the ends of the drawers. The Craftsman does not and the exposed metal edges aren’t rounded off or smooth. They can definitely cut you if you scrape them with a bit of force. But again, those are just my personal feelings.
So, why did I buy this Craftsman set? Long story short, I was able to get this particular set for 40% off. So at the price that I paid, it was a no-brainer to go with the Craftsman. My situation is pretty unique. Most people are not going to have the same opportunity so for the most part, I would definitely recommend visiting a local Lowe’s if possible to check the Craftsman box out for yourself. Then find another retailer, like Home Depot, that has some competitor options and get a feel for those. Specs written online are great but you definitely can feel the difference in quality between boxes just by playing with them for a few minutes.
Personally, if I was paying retail or even the normal sale price, I wouldn’t buy the Craftsman and get a Husky. The Husky options actually go on sale quite often and when they do, they are actually a better deal in terms of cost. Then if I wanted a little more quality and can spend some more money, I’d go Milwaukee.
Overall, I think these Craftsman 2000 Series boxes are fine. They do the job and serve their purpose but I do think that there are better options for the price. Again, I would highly recommend you check various options out in person.
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