Craftsman has launched two new parts organizers to their VersaStack modular tool box system.
Craftsman says the new 20-compartment organizer (CMST17828) is also compatible with their TradeStack tool box system, when used with the TradeStack-to-VersaStack adapter that is included with the TradeStack rolling tool box.
The Craftsman VersaStack 20-compartment organizer features a soft handle, plastic latches, clear lid, and a grid of removable dividers for customization.
Craftsman has also launched a new VersaStack-compatible 8-compartment organizer, CMST17827.
The new 8-compartment organizer is VersaStack-compatible when attached to the 20-compartment organizer. It can connect to TradeStack system tool boxes when connected via the TradeStack adapter and VersaStack 20-compartment adapter via the 20-compartment organizer.
It can also be attached to large and medium Craftsman organizers and tool sets.
From the product images, the 8- and 20-compartment organizers look to be around the same size as Craftsman’s medium and large ToughCase accessory organizers, respectively.
As you might be aware, Craftsman VersaStack products are compatible with Dewalt Tstak products, and the same is true about Craftsman and Dewalt ToughCase accessory storage cases.
It seems strange for the 8-compartment organizer to be given VersaStack branding, seeing as how it is not natively compatible with VersaStack products aside from the also-new 20-compartment organizer.
The new organizers will launch alongside the existing Craftsman VersaStack 10-compartment organizer, CMST17817, which was upgraded a few years ago.
According to Lowe’s product listings, the new 8- and 20-compartment organizers have IP54-rated dust and water resistance, but this isn’t mention on Craftsman’s pages.
Price: $15 for the 8-compartment case, $22 for the 20-compartment case
Thank you to Alex and Franck for the tip!
Discussion
Both organizers look quite compact and also economically-designed.
But, the 8-compartment organizer seems to be more of a ToughCase product, than VersaStack, since it seems it can only connect to VersaStack tool boxes via the 20-compartment organizer or hard-to-find large ToughCase products, sold separately.
Here is what Craftsman says about the 8-drawer organizer’s VersaStack-compatibility:
compatible with VERSASTACK system storage via the VERSASTACK 20-Compartment Organizer (CMST17828) or large & medium CRAFTSMAN organizers and tool sets
This is fairly clear when shopping online, and hopefully the in-store product tag mentions the same clearly enough.
Craftsman says this about the 8-compartment organizer’s TradeStack compatibility:
This organizer is also fully compatible with TRADESTACK System Storage, when connected to the the TRADESTACK System Adaptor via the VERSASTACK 20-Compartment Organizer (CMST17828) or large & medium CRAFTSMAN organizers and tool sets.
That’s a lot of requirements for a “fully compatible” accessory.
The 20-compartment is also “fully compatible” with the TradeStack system, when used with the TradeStack to VersaStack adapter, which is only available with the rolling tool box.
The 8-compartment organizer looks to be a deeper version of Dewalt’s medium ToughCase organizer, and with thicker dividers.
See Also:
The 20-compartment organizer is approximately the same size as Craftsman and Dewalt large ToughCase organizers, which are most commonly available as part of accessory set bundles, especially during holiday shopping seasons.
Compared to the large ToughCase, the new 20-compartment VersaStack organizer has a soft handle on the outside of the case, rather than an inset handle, maximizing its storage potential.
I have many Stanley and Dewalt storage products, most of which are now available under Craftsman branding, and it can be difficult to determine which connectible products are compatible with each other.
In my opinion, it helps when every product has a family name, such as ToughCase, VersaStack, or TradeStack, but only when there’s native compatibility.
I find myself utterly distracted, in knowing that tool users are going to buy the 8-compartment organizer and then bring it back to the store after finding it doesn’t fit any of their existing VersaStack tool storage products.
But if we forget all that, the new organizers seem decent.
I prefer organizers that have removable bins over those with adjustable dividers, at least in organizers of this size.
The standard VersaStack 10-compartment organizer is regularly priced at $26, and the new 20-compartment organizer is $22.
I really wish that Craftsman went with a low-profile organizer with removable bins, but I suppose removable dividers are better than their not offering a VersaStack-compatible shallow parts organizer at all.
