As many people know Craftsman went through some major changes in 2018 with their relaunch under the Stanley Black and Decker ownership. They set out to revamp a lot of their hand tool and power tool lines and they certainly did. What most don’t know is that Craftsman still has a tremendous newer line of tool and garage storage solutions. We took a look at the Craftsman VersaTrack System that was a really creative take on garage storage and organization. Taking a look into the Craftsman storage solutions, specifically, the Craftsman Freestanding Garage Cabinet may be a big difference maker for your shop and can save you some serious coin. Let’s look at the Craftsman Garage Cabinet Review and see how this storage solution stacks up.
Craftsman Garage Cabinet Review Overview
Truth be told, I’m very pressed for space in my shop a problem most homeowners are familiar with. Having a one stall garage with one third dedicated to storage makes a serious challenge for me especially since some of my equipment is quite large. For the two thirds that make my shop, I had to get creative. Tool benches with shelves, overhead storage, racks, hanging my many drills and drivers, you name it! I really have done it all, and to also to mitigate clutter so it looks “clean” to my neat freak eyes.
But the one thing I was missing was somewhere to put “everything else.” You know, the miscellaneous things. For me, it was extra large power tools and batteries, electronic components, and other things that don’t make frequent appearances. These are the things that made my shop ugly and unorganized! The next step was finding the solution. Enter, the Craftsman Cabinet, a 32” x 72” beast that can make your shop look sleek while still housing a ton of stuff!
It sounds very tool review cliche’, but this thing changed how I work in my shop. Yes, a storage cabinet changed how I work. Due to the amount of stuff that I was able to move from a busy work area, and into an area where it can be organized – not half falling off of a shelf.
Craftsman Garage Cabinet Review Features
At 32in wide, 72in high, and 18in deep, the cabinet allowed me ample space to squirrel away some of my clutter.
The materials, finish, and construction is very good in general. While Craftsman doesn’t specify what gauge of steel they’re using, it has very minimal flex and is very stout. The fasteners are par for the course, and all nameplates for the feet are welded nicely. The paint is also nicely done with no weak spray areas.
In two separate areas on the back panel are holes with rubber grommets to run cords into the cabinet. An especially nice touch if you’re planning on laying out your cordless charging arsenal on one of the shelves.
Inside of the split doors, you’ll find a pegboard layout. While Craftsman doesn’t provide hooks, most standard peg hooks should fit. This area is perfect for extension cords and other slim items that can be hung.
The locking mechanism on the door is a standard wafer lock, with a latch that secures into the 3rd shelf. Placement of this shelf is key, as this is the only way you’ll be able to lock the cabinet.
Not many garage floors are poured without a slope, and even so, floors warp and crack over time. Despite my garage floor being only 3 years old, it’s got quite the slope, so these feet came in handy. I was able to compensate where necessary and level the cabinet out with the turn of a wrench. It’s also noteworthy that the feet are very robust and definitely won’t have any give when this cabinet is loaded down.
Craftsman Garage Cabinet Review Performance
At face value, one may ask, how can a tool cabinet perform? Well, in many ways! Most of all, this thing handles the load, and very well. As stated above, the shelves can hold 100lbs each, which is generous for all of the items you’d wish to pack in. I never weighed what all I put in the cabinet, but my best guess would be that it was darn close. What made me so confident was the construction.
The materials and robust fasteners really make for a nicely put together storage solution. The shelves are held in place by grooves in the rear supports and fasten to the front supports, so there’s no worry of bumping a shelf loose as well, a nice touch.
In addition to just being built well, the Ergonomics of the cabinet are nicely thought out. It’s really not too tall, not too overly wide, and certainly not too short. The lock mechanism is placed in a location that isn’t a strain to get too, even if you’re tall. The handles, being full length, are integrated into the doors, making it easy to open from any height. Also, since the front supports have many options in regard to shelf placement, you can set the inside up to accommodate most comfortably.
Craftsman Garage Cabinet Review Value
For a cabinet this size, and so well made, I was pretty blown away at the price. Since Stanley Black & Decker acquired the Craftsman name, these cabinets are available at Lowe’s for around $260. Considering the quality of materials, fasteners, fit, and finish, this is a fantastic deal. Most other cabinets around this same size, in the same class, go for well over the $300 mark. So for the price, it is very hard to beat the Craftsman. It’s also very noteworthy that the cabinet is Made in the USA, with global materials. My guess on this is that even though the steel is sourced from outside of the US, all of the bending, drilling, and painting is done here in the states.
Craftsman Garage Cabinet Review Final Thoughts
Even though this model cabinet has been out for quite some time, right now is a wise time to take a second look at Craftsman. We’ve recently reviewed their new 20v Brushless Drill and Impact Driver kit, a very impressive kit for serious homeowners, or pros. The Craftsman tool storage line is just as strong as their other lines of hand and power tools and can make a big difference in your workshop. Often times, tool storage is an afterthought. Viewed as cumbersome and heavy rolling tool chests that don’t leave much spare room for large items. Alas, with this option, whether its parts storage, large tools, or random “stuff”, Craftsman has you covered.
Looks like you’re spot on with the assessment of how it’s made. You can see the raw steel in this video, and it looks like nearly all of the fabrication is done in the USA.