Anyone own a Kobalt 40-41" tool cabinet?

[V-10 Killer]

I see they're priced pretty close to a Craftsman 40" split drawer cabinet combo. I was just wondering what the quality was. I don't know that Kobalt is a real old company, but how are they holding up so far?

[strizzy]

Eh, I don't own one, but I really don't like them from looking at them at Lowe's. Metal seems super thin and sloppy...

But maybe someone has had good luck with theirs though...

[-lecroix-]

I have the Kobalt stainless chest and upper ... nice box for the money.

[JMURiz]

I'd pick up a CSPS stainless steel unit from Costco...well at least that's what I did...~$700

[V-10 Killer]

I don't have a Costco around me. I might head down to Detroit tuesday and look for one while I'm there, to check them out.

[V-10 Killer]

Does Costco require a membership to shop there? How much is the membership?

[JMURiz]

Yep, they do require a membership, but you can always borrow one from a member, that's what I did...since I don't have a need for a 5lb jar of mayo :D
The membership is $50 I believe.

[andor]

The majority of my hand tools hang on pegboard which leaves my box with split duty between specialty tools in the smaller drawers and power tools in deeper ones (less frequent opening cycles, but more abuse as i am not as concerned with messing up the order of small tools, etc). With this arrangement I have been very happy with my Kobalt roller chest. The quality of their ball bearing slides I feel is on par with Craftsman for even the busiest personal level user (I routinely have 4 motorcycles in my garage being wrenched on). Snap On and especially Matco are no doubt superior in a lot of respects, but i have yet to feel the "NEED" for anything that nice (neither has my wallet)-the want is always there though...

[V-10 Killer]

I'm trying to get away from using as much pegboard as I do. I currently have a 40"x14' wall of pegboard, and too much of it is wrenches, funnels, levels, carpenters squares, hammers, drill cases, sander cases, sawzall cases......
I'm framing a 12'x13' room in the corner to hide all the stuff that can be shelved.

Anyway, I just found a display model of Kobalt 41" box on sale for $900, which is almost $200 cheaper than a new Craftsman box on sale, and I suspect, made by the same company (Waterloo). They both advertise ball bearings and the Griplatch® locking drawers. I was going to wait at least until I get the garage slab poured, but from what some of the managers told me, I think they're stopping carrying these boxes so it's now or never. I'll be picking it up in less than two weeks. I guess it'll just have to sit in the cluttered garage for a while. I'll let everyone know what I think of its quality when I use it for a while.

[hotrod66paul]

I see lowes now has a 41" stainles box now. Anyone have one yet ? Thinking of getting just the top to place on the work bench to put tools that won't fit in my old snap on.
Paul

[V-10 Killer]

I just saw that in their flyer today. $996 for the chest/cabinet set. I like the open front top design. I'm still not understanding how some of these stainless boxes are coming out hundreds cheaper than comparable painted models. It almost seems cheaper lately to get a stainless box. Two comparable craftsman boxes can vary by $200 depending on whether they're painted silver or black/red...

[zvezdah1]

I see lowes now has a 41" stainles box now. Anyone have one yet ? Thinking of getting just the top to place on the work bench to put tools that won't fit in my old snap on.
Paul

I've been looking at this set myself, not bad quality, the welds are not great and the finish grinding on the edges is not super great but a good price. Sams has a similar SS box set for around $700 I think.

In the same lines, lowes/kobalt also has a workbench, the alignment of the drawers is really bad and I'd not buy this one.

A friend told me about an open work table at Sams for $199, looked at it yesterday and a great buy, no drawers but heavy construction, adjustable foot pads, and a thick heavy solid(?) wood tabletop measures about 6ft long by 24" wide. I'm getting this.
Chris

[v8garage]

I have the 41" Stainless Kobalt set and I love it. The quality is a lot better than the Craftsman boxes I have. They did not have a combo price on the chest and cabinet so I talked the manager into selling me the pair for $900.00.

[V-10 Killer]

I have this Kobalt set and I love it. The quality is a lot better than the Craftsman boxes I have. They did not have a combo price on the chest and cabinet so I talked the manager into selling me the pair for $900.00.

I picked up a 40" black Kobalt combo this summer too. I've been waiting to move it out into my new garage. But from what I've used of it, it was $900 well spent. I did prefer one thing about craftsman toolboxes. More options for taller drawers if you're using upright socket organizers. The best price I could get a comparable Craftsman for nowadays is still around $1100.
I considered the Costco models, but I don't want to have to always be worrying about oily fingerprints and such on the toolbox.

[Kevin54]

Has anyone ever heard of Atlas. On Ebay there is a place called Greg Smith Equipment sales and they have a place in Indy. I am thinking about one of these for the money. By the way it reads it sounds heavy duty. I'd just like to get the most for the money and it's not something I would work out of like a lot of people that have SO's or Macs'. I just want a nice box for the garage. I just can't see/afford t refinance the house for something I am not going to use everyday. LOL!!! My Craftsman has served well, but just not big enough. It does say that the drawers have dual ball bearing slides and the metal is 12 ga. (.100 thick) By measuring up my nephews MAC, it would be about the same thickness. As a matter of fact, MAC only checks about .080 thick which is about 14 ga. I believe. and this setup measures 5 1/2' x 5 1/2'.

http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/ebay/16drawer.jpg
http://i22.ebayimg.com/01/i/000/a2/1b/c1c9_1_sbol.JPG

Kevin

[icnsltmfg]

I have the Atlas 41, and have been very happy with it. The quality is good, drawers are tight and roll nicely when fully loaded. Just FYI the paint is crinkle finish.

[The Super]

I would appreciate any comments comparing the latest 40" Kobalt to the Craftsman Ball Bearing Boxes

My Concerns on the Kobalt Box:
-Has soft rubber edging on the fronts of the drawer - will that edging last 20 years?
-The stainless will always show smudges

Kobalt® 41" 20-Drawer Stainless Steel Tool Storage Tower
On Sale for $798 Fri to Sunday and I have a 10% lowes Coupon for $718
Box includes liners

Chest
Height (Inches): 24-2/10"
Width (Inches): 41"
Depth (Inches): 19"
Construction Materials: Stainless steel
Number of Drawers: 9

Cabinet
Height (Inches): 41-1/10"
Width (Inches): 41"
Depth (Inches): 19"
Construction Materials: Stainless steel
Number of Drawers: 11



Cheapest Sears - 40" set

Chest $630
Sears item# 00959725000
Width: 40-1/2 in.
Depth: 16 in.
Height: 20 in.


Cabinet $360
Sears item# 00959726000
Width: 41 in.
Depth: 18 in.
Height: 41-1/4 in.

[C6H12O6]

I was looking at a ~26" top for my bottom cabinet. I almost bought a $300 floor model of the craftsman ball bearing 16" deep box, but passed because I really wanted the deeper 18" one to match the depth of my bottom cabinet. I hate the short-depth box I currently have on there. The quality of the craftsman wasn't great. Even the store models have warped fronts, dinged corners, and the drawers are pretty sloppy when you pull them out. I absolutely hate the grip latch handles, so that was a deal breaker too.

I was just in Lowes last night and saw a Kobolt 27" SS, five drawer top. It was last year's model, marked down to $207. I talked them down to $180. The drawers are much smoother and tighter than the craftsman. It is a shade wider (1/4") than my bottom cabinet, but it will do until I can hide enough money to replace the bottom. I'm sooooooo glad I waited on the craftsman box.