There are stages to a man’s tool obsession that can often be measured by how and where he stores his tools. It starts with an old fishing tackle box that holds a few hand tools. Then it moves to your first socket or accessories set that comes in a case designed for each piece to have its own place.
Shortly thereafter, camping gear is relegated to the attic to make room for the tool boxes and tools that now need space. Eventually you build or buy your very own wooden work bench, but before long it’s just not enough space. You finally drop the money on a dedicated shop and invest in metal storage systems.
Enter stage right the DeWalt 40″ Tool Chest and Cabinet for your storage and organization needs – 13 beautiful drawers and covered top storage with nearly infinite possibilities in the mind of the newly initiated Tool Guy. Now that I’ve got you dreaming and scheming, let’s take a look a what to expect from this mid-size storage solution.
If you read Kenny’s review of the DeWalt 36″ Tool Chest and Cabinet, you’ll see some similarities between the two models, but with enough differences to make them very distinct from each other.
DeWalt 40″ Tool Chest and Cabinet First Impressions
DeWalt yellow and black is a classic look and probably the most well-known color scheme in the tool industry. Still, the bright yellow of the previous model can be a bit overwhelming. I really like the more subtle look of the black with yellow logos on the new DeWalt 40″ Tool Chest and Cabinet. It gives a sleeker appearance that fits well no matter what else you have going on in your shop.
Installing the hardware is not that time consuming at all. The biggest challenge is getting to the base of the cabinet to install the casters if you’re going to use them. I cut the box open to lay out the sides so I could tip the cabinet on top of the cardboard without risking scratches in the paint. 15 minutes later, the casters were installed using a simple wrench.
Once the casters are on, you’ll want a second person to help you lift the cabinet back up without it rolling away out of control. You’ll also want a second set of hands to lift the top chest up and complete the setup. From start to finish, you shouldn’t need more than 30 minutes and a couple of hand tools to be in business. One thing I noticed is the casters seem to be a little more heavy duty on this model than the last one. That’s not surprising since the total capacity is also up to 1500 pounds.
DeWalt 40″ Tool Chest and Cabinet Specifications
DeWalt 40″ Top Chest
- Model: DWMT74433
- Capacity: 10,359 cubic inches
- Drawer Weight Capacity: 100 pounds
- Total Capacity: 500 pounds
- Drawer Depth: 15.25 inches
- Height: 23 inches
- Depth: 18 inches
- Width: 40 inches
- Weight: 124 pounds
- Price: $578.99
DeWalt 40″ Tool Cabinet
- Model: DWMT74434
- Capacity: 12,533 inches
- Drawer Weight Capacity: 100 pounds, 200 pounds bottom 2 drawers
- Total Capacity: 1000 pounds
- Drawer Depth: 15.25 inches
- Height: 38 inches
- Depth: 18 inches
- Width: 40 inches
- Weight: 189 pounds
- Price: $678.99
Complete DeWalt 40″ Tool Chest and Cabinet Set
- Model: DWMT74434K
- Total Capacity: 22,892 cubic inches
- Total Weight Capacity: 1500 pounds
- Price: $1,108.98
From the Bottom Up
There still aren’t many ways we’ve found to make a base cabinet sexy. The DeWalt 40″ Tool Cabinet’s basic looks hide solid build quality and performance though. Each of the two bottom drawers hold 200 pounds and the other six have a 100 pound capacity.
There’s a nice mix of drawer sizes. I have my general contractor’s kit (impact driver, hammer drill, circular saw, recip saw, and work light) in the largest bottom drawer. The other deep drawer holds a variety of boxed accessory kits including hole saws and Forstner bits. I really like having two separate deep drawers.
A medium/deep drawer currently holds several pair of gloves and safety glasses that would otherwise be taking up the top storage area. The top long drawer has a medium depth and holds a variety and bar and C-clamps for me. The rest are standard shallow depth drawers holding low profile hand tools.
Moving up to the Dewalt 40″ Top Chest, you’ll find a long medium depth drawer and four shallow drawers. I’m using these to organize most of the accessories I use along with measuring and layout tools.
All of the drawers feature smooth sliding auto return hardware to keep them from popping out at the slightest movement. There are also standard rubber mats for each drawer to keep things from sliding around too much. Like every other tool chest I’ve owned, the mats still move around and bunch up if they’re not otherwise adhered to the metal.
Where DeWalt has moved ahead of the 36″ model is in the top storage area. There’s still a knockout on the right if you need it, but they’ve replaced the one on the right with a power strip. Four outlets currently run chargers and my jobsite radio. It’s a really nice addition on its own, however they took it a step further by including a pair of USB charging outlets as well. Now I’m out of excuses to answer my phone. Well, almost – my cell signal still isn’t that great out there.
Of course you still have 10-3/8″ of head space at the top to store anything from ear protection to impact drivers with the gas piston closure lid.
Parting Shots
DeWalt also increased the steel gauge used in the construction to improve durability even further. We didn’t have any issues with the last model from the durability standpoint, but I’ll still take the upgrade. For cordless tool users, the power strip is a big bonus for convenience. An extra four inches of width may not seem like much, but it opens up some additional versatility in the drawer sizes that we didn’t see in the 36″ model.
Understandably with the additional space, features, and thicker gauge steel, there’s a price increase. The DeWalt 40″ Tool Chest and Cabinet as a set lists for $1,108.98. Separately, the top chest runs $578.99 and the base cabinet will set you back $678.99. Price is the only downside at more than double the $498 price tag of the 36″ unit.
Overall, DeWalt has another solid tool storage solution that’s built to last. The locking casters allow for easy movement on hard surfaces like our shop floor. There’s plenty of versatility in your organization with agreeably smooth sliding drawers. Pros and prosumers alike will find this unit beneficial, especially cordless tool users.
