anyone know of reviews of this Costco workbench/toolbox?

bimmerZ5 · Jun 22, 2011

i was at costco today and they had this on display right near the entrance. it feels pretty solid, the drawers are smooth and decently heavy duty. the top is nice and screwed on from underneath so it is easily replaceable. the casters and lock are heavy duty. so, overall, it looks like a good product, but wondering if anyone knows of a more extensive review or 1st-hand feedback from someone who owns this unit?

ZRX61 · Jun 22, 2011

Damn, that's nice looking, kinda shallow tho.... but I'd still grab one if I had the room...maybe 2 & put em back to back...

bimmerZ5 · Jun 22, 2011

ZRX61 said:
Damn, that's nice looking, kinda shallow tho.... but I'd still grab one if I had the room...maybe 2 & put em back to back...

yeah... it felt pretty nice too and solid construction. i've been looking for something like this (more a work bench, but i would be happy to have the extra storage too)... i too thought it would be nicer if it was deeper, but it's about the same depth as my other toolbox so it's probably ok. love the stainless....

gunguy · Jun 22, 2011

I'm interestedt in that as well. Here's a similar item at Sam's Club.

http://www.samsclub.com/sams/shop/product.jsp?productId=prod1480010#desc

I've done internet searches for the Whalen unit but no good hits for capacity and dimensions. I guess I'll have to stop by Costco and take a look.

Jim

Tscott · Jun 22, 2011

gunguy said:
I'm interestedt in that as well. Here's a similar item at Sam's Club.

http://www.samsclub.com/sams/shop/product.jsp?productId=prod1480010#desc

I've done internet searches for the Whalen unit but no good hits for capacity and dimensions. I guess I'll have to stop by Costco and take a look.

Jim

I've seen this one in store. Looks to be pretty sturdy, but it was up on a shelf so i really could not get a good look at it. Drawers are ball bearing if I recall and don't seem to flex too much. I thought it was decent piece and would definitely buy it for the price.

Tom

Steves32 · Jun 22, 2011

gunguy said:
I'm interestedt in that as well. Here's a similar item at Sam's Club.

http://www.samsclub.com/sams/shop/product.jsp?productId=prod1480010#desc

I've done internet searches for the Whalen unit but no good hits for capacity and dimensions. I guess I'll have to stop by Costco and take a look.

Jim

I have the Seville one from Sams Club & several of their other matching cabinets. It's knocked down & takes about 3-4 hours to assemble. The one at Costco is ready to go (I think you have to install the handles on the ends) & $100.00 more. I like the drawer layout on the Whalen.

bimmerZ5 · Jun 22, 2011

Tscott said:
I've seen this one in store. Looks to be pretty sturdy, but it was up on a shelf so i really could not get a good look at it. Drawers are ball bearing if I recall and don't seem to flex too much. I thought it was decent piece and would definitely buy it for the price.

Tom

so, for something of that size and construction, you think the price is a good deal or reasonable deal?

allinon72 · Jun 22, 2011

I played with it once....I would pass. The box is way too shallow...much shallower than pictures show. As a result of that and the drawer configuration, tool storage would not be ideal. Finally, the drawers roll and lock really stiff. Maybe that would change with use.

SuperSocket · Jun 22, 2011

With the costco warranty you can't beat that. I've been considering this same unit.

bimmerZ5 · Jun 22, 2011

ockie said:
With the costco warranty you can't beat that. I've been considering this same unit.

what are your considerations?

six-T-seven · Jun 22, 2011

where are you located bimmer? anyone else seen these? if so, at what locations?

I am very interested in this box/bench but the part number doesn't come up on the Costco website. I'm waiting for our local warehouse to open up so I can call and find out if they have this available locally.

bimmerZ5 · Jun 22, 2011

six-T-seven said:
where are you located bimmer? anyone else seen these? if so, at what locations?

I am very interested in this box/bench but the part number doesn't come up on the Costco website. I'm waiting for our local warehouse to open up so I can call and find out if they have this available locally.

well, if i tell you, someone is going to go and buy them all out. ;-P let's just say i'm in the state with all the fruits and nuts.

SuperSocket · Jun 22, 2011

bimmerZ5 said:
what are your considerations?

Well for me it's another issue - space. 72" is a little wider than I would like so I am waiting till I finish my garage and then I will have to see how it is going to fit once I have the air compressor squeezed in along the same wall.

Alternatively I was looking at a chest form HF and put on a woodblock top... which will give me more drawers and a higher top to work from (I am quite tall)... and is not so wide.

Kobalt also makes a stainless workbench with block top, but it has few drawers.... what I like about it that it's half this units price and it's a deeper bench... also not so wide as I need.

Zrexxer · Jun 22, 2011

What's a "40mm Rubber Wood" top?

bimmerZ5 · Jun 22, 2011

Zrexxer said:
What's a "40mm Rubber Wood" top?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubberwood

I suspect 40mm is the thickness of the top.

Falcon67 · Jun 22, 2011

Looks about the same width as my Seville. It's barely 20" wide but it holds a ton of tools. Drill sets, all the mill collets, drill chucks, tool bits, tool holders, some measuring equipment, etc.

six-T-seven · Jun 22, 2011

bimmerZ5 said:
well, if i tell you, someone is going to go and buy them all out. ;-P let's just say i'm in the state with all the fruits and nuts.

I'm on the other side of the continent, so no worries on me buying you out. :thumbup:

six-T-seven · Jun 22, 2011

Just got off the phone and my local warehouse has them for $569 ... and they will not price match the $499 price.

bimmerZ5 · Jun 22, 2011

six-T-seven said:
Just got off the phone and my local warehouse has them for $569 ... and they will not price match the $499 price.

sorry to hear that man... are you in NYC or DC?

dankicksass · Jun 22, 2011

I went in my local Costco for the first time over the weekend, didn't see any tool storage.

Zrexxer · Jun 22, 2011

bimmerZ5 said:
I suspect 40mm is the thickness of the top.

Yeah I kind of got that part

HotShoe · Jun 22, 2011

I just saw this at my local Costco yesterday.

I just couldn't get passed the stainless finish. It looks cool but it was LOADED with fingerprints and would be impossible to keep clean. Seems trivial but that would drive me crazy.

They also had a nice workbench wall unit with integrated upper cabinets.

ZRX61 · Jun 22, 2011

HotShoe said:
I just couldn't get passed the stainless finish. It looks cool but it was LOADED with fingerprints and would be impossible to keep clean. Seems trivial but that would drive me crazy.

It's only a problem if you have 5000 people coming through your garage every day. I have 2 stainless toolboxes & fingerprints aren't an issue because I use the handles & anyone else who gets near the toolboxes gets shot :thumbup:

bimmerZ5 · Jun 22, 2011

ZRX61 said:
anyone else who gets near the toolboxes gets shot

good policy! :-D

bimmerZ5 · Jun 22, 2011

so, i guess other than getting a handful of people interested in this and running down to their local costco, no one has any 1st hand feedback on this? Costco should be paying me...

Falcon67 · Jun 22, 2011

HotShoe said:
I just saw this at my local Costco yesterday.

I just couldn't get passed the stainless finish. It looks cool but it was LOADED with fingerprints and would be impossible to keep clean. Seems trivial but that would drive me crazy.

They also had a nice workbench wall unit with integrated upper cabinets.

Just wipe it down once in a while with WD-40.

bazzateer · Jun 22, 2011

The Costcos over here have them in from time to time too. Always liked the look but can't justify the price at the moment.

allinon72 · Jun 22, 2011

bimmerZ5 said:
so, i guess other than getting a handful of people interested in this and running down to their local costco, no one has any 1st hand feedback on this? Costco should be paying me...

Read my "first hand" feedback on the first page. It's not worth $500.

six-T-seven · Jun 22, 2011

allinon72 said:
Read my "first hand" feedback on the first page. It's not worth $500.

Pretty sure he's looking for more than one opinion on it. I am.

W650Mike · Jun 22, 2011

Whoever wrote that bullet list should be shot…along with fingerprinters.

bimmerZ5 · Jun 22, 2011

well, i picked it up today... i guess i'll find out if it lasts. haven't used it enough to have any detail opinion about it just yet.

but I can say that the packaging is really nicely done. The box allows the casters to protrude so you can remove the cardboard around the casters and roll the entire box around without opening it; nice thinking there! that's how I rolled it to the cash register and out the door. had a few Costco guys help me load it in the car and had a neighbor help me unload it when i got to my drive way.

i definitely like the drawers, and the lock will lock every drawer or the cabinet (two locks); not just one drawer or one column of drawers. the design and layout of the drawers are very similar to my Hammerhead stainless toolbox set that I got from Costco several years ago when they were still cheap and made in USA, so it matches what i already have in the garage; big plus for me, i like consistent look.

For those concerned about depth, it's about 19" deep... it's fine for my purposes. the storage cabinet door has a metal peg board on the inside where you can insert hooks to hand things. the hooks included mostly **** though except for the big one. might be worth getting some nicer hooks.

all the stainless surfaces except the drawers and cabinet door came covered in a protective vinyl coating... so for those concerned about fingerprints, as long as you don't touch it after removing the protective coat you're fine. ;-P

the wood top seems ok for now... i threw some tools on it and it didn't scratch or dent yet. i'm not sure how long it will last (and this was sort of the feedback I was looking for from someone who's owned it for a while.... does the top board last? etc.)

the stainless steel is a ferrous type so it's good for those who want to attach magnetic tool holders or other things on the side. the Hammerhead toolbox used a non-ferrous stainless steel so I could never attach any magnetic holders to it; so this is a plus.

one more thing, the brakes on the casters are only on one side, i wish they had brakes on all four corners.

bimmerZ5 · Jun 22, 2011

something else that just occurred to me; for those who want a deeper work surface top, you can buy this :

http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/p_10155_12602_00914961000P

and just replace the top. you can push the extra 5" depth out the back side and you'd have yourself a top with more depth.

thrifty bill · Jun 22, 2011

I've been looking at one myself, for home use. Would make for nice storage under a workbench IMHO.

iajonesy · Jun 23, 2011

I have searched high and low on Costco site and cannot locate this box/workbench. Can anybody put up a link? Nearest Costco to me is about 120 miles but worth the drive if they have one. Thanks.

Mike

bimmerZ5 · Jun 23, 2011

iajonesy said:
I have searched high and low on Costco site and cannot locate this box/workbench. Can anybody put up a link? Nearest Costco to me is about 120 miles but worth the drive if they have one. Thanks.

Mike

see the 1st post and write down that item number. then call your nearest costco and ask for it by item number. not all items sold in stores are available online, that's why you're not seeing it on the website. sometimes items like this are regional too... so better call and ask before you make that trip.

mikeyr · Jun 23, 2011

For the 19" depth is perfect, I have just the spot for it but the drawer configuration really *****, all the drawers are too tall, they could have cut them in half and put in 4 more drawers on the thing. But I will drive by tonight and see if my Costco has one as I really do have the perfect spot for it. I don't quite understand the height of the drawers, drill bits, wrenches, sockets, screwdrivers, etc. don't need that much height, only power tools need it. Guess that is why when I had my tool chest made, I have lots of 1 1/2" tall drawers made and only one big one at the bottom, but i can't afford that again.

Oh and Stainless fronts is not a problem in a real shop, not enough people around to leave prints all over it and a simple wipe down once in a while when putting the tools back in is all you need.

iajonesy · Jun 23, 2011

bimmerZ5 said:
see the 1st post and write down that item number. then call your nearest costco and ask for it by item number. not all items sold in stores are available online, that's why you're not seeing it on the website. sometimes items like this are regional too... so better call and ask before you make that trip.

Thanks bimmer. I'll give that a go.

Mike

Porcupine · Jun 23, 2011

We have one on display at our local Costco - while it does look pretty good, not sure of overall durability - the display model had the door on the far right of the unit come apart (one hinge broke away from its weld on the unit). Probably damaged in shipping.

bimmerZ5 · Jun 23, 2011

Porcupine said:
We have one on display at our local Costco - while it does look pretty good, not sure of overall durability - the display model had the door on the far right of the unit come apart (one hinge broke away from its weld on the unit). Probably damaged in shipping.

i'm glad it wasn't mine that got damaged in shipping!

however, now that I've owned this thing for a day, I have noticed that the sheet metal on the back seems rather thin. I don't know what gauge it is, but it's one big sheet and flexes a little if you push on it. However, the frame of the whole thing is rock solid... when you're pushing and turning this thing around (and I had to push it out of my garage to re-orient it and push it back in) it feels like one solid block. i guess it would have been nice to "over build" and use thicker sheet metal on the back, but I'm not going to worry about it too much.

i'm now thinking about cutting a hole in the back panel and/or through the wood block as the cabinet on the right seems just the right size for a small pancake compressor. i can then run the air hose up through the block and the electrical out the back and hang any small air tools on the cabinet door pegboard.

i also really like the wide center drawers. I'm thinking about possibly moving all my socket sets there and consolidating all the sockets in the top two center drawers instead of the way i have them in the hammerhead toolbox in 4 different drawers.

now that i have a proper working surface in the garage, i need to think about getting some sort of seating or stool so I can sit down.

bimmerZ5 · Jun 23, 2011

mikeyr said:
I don't quite understand the height of the drawers, drill bits, wrenches, sockets, screwdrivers, etc. don't need that much height, only power tools need it. Guess that is why when I had my tool chest made, I have lots of 1 1/2" tall drawers made and only one big one at the bottom, but i can't afford that again.

so i guess you don't like the bottom two rows of drawers or are you saying even the top rows of drawers are too tall?

i'm thinking of putting my sockets in the center drawers and I've had problems when drawers being too shallow. i have my sockets organized on rails and I have them standing up. on the deeper sockets, especially the 1/2" drive ones, I can't stand them up since they are too tall. that's where I would like a deeper drawer so I can have all my sockets standing up on rails and pack them tightly together.

anyone know of reviews of this Costco workbench/toolbox?

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