I’ve had this Luxor 3-shelf mechanics tool cart in my topics list for a few months now, and I’m still not quite sure it’s a good product to post about.
On one hand, it’s a mechanics tool and utility cart, and of a different design than typical mechanics tool carts. But on the other hand, it looks like it could be very useful as a general purpose tool or project cart.
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The marketing photos show the Luxor tool cart filled with a sparse selection of tools, covered in spray bottles, and with a couple of misc. parts placed in its compartments. That’s not how I would use it – I’d have this covered in tools and supplies.
The cart has 3″ casters and is said to support up to 44 lbs per shelf for a total weight capacity of 132 lbs evenly distributed.
Each tub-shaped tray measures 2.75″ deep and has separators for some organizational flexibility. The legs are made of aluminum, and the shelves from polyamide (nylon) plastic.
The cart measures 22.75″W x 18″D x 32″H, and the empty cart it described as weighing 17 lbs.
It has magnetic side panels for holding steel hand tools and parts.
I found this on Zoro when looking for a different type of tool cart, and it’s on Amazon as well from the same brand. There’s also a seemingly identical tool cart by BikeMaster on Amazon, and at lower pricing. I’ll link to both.
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This looks too light and flimsy to hold a lot of tools or equipment, but would it suffice for light duty tasks?
Might it be a good task-oriented cart, such as for woodworking glue-ups to hold all of your glue, supports, and brushes? A woodworking finishing cart? 3D printing tools and accessories cart? Automotive detailing cart? I can see this being used as a bike maintenance cart.
I find myself between two walls of thought – this could be useful and I need something a lot less… plasticky. Still, it seems to be an interesting and potentially useful design, so I thought I’d bring it up and finally cross it off my list.
What kinds of projects or tasks might you use something like this for? Or would you skip it in favor of something else?
Price: $71-92
Buy Now: Luxor via Amazon
Buy Now: BikeMaster via Amazon
Buy Now via Zoro
Peter Fox
Small carts like this can be really handy. Often you don’t really need the larger Rubber made shelf carts or heavier purpose built tool carts. Smaller carts work better in more cramped work areas lie home shops.
I have several of the Olympia Tools 85-188 Pack-N-Roll folding carts https://www.amazon.com/Olympia-Tools-85-188-Collapsible-Service/dp/B00M0V5PWA and really like them. They are rated for 50 Lbs per shelf and because they fold are a bit more flexible feeling than a non folding cart. I have had probably close to 100 Lbs on mine numerous times and they have held up fine. I did upgrade the wheels too much larger 5″ polyurethane tired ones as a few times a year they are used to transport tools and parts from my car several blocks to work locations over average bumpy sidewalks and crosswalks. They fold up and fit in a car or store out of the way easily, carry lots of stuff and help keep it organized when you are working, whats not to love.
At the shop where I work we have a huge variety of carts and wheeled tables and some of the favorites are the smaller shop built wood carts that are 16″ x 24″ just the right size to have the tools and parts you are suing right at your finger tips but not clutter you work area with a larger cart or table.
Patrick
I saw one of those at my dad’s house recently. They look fantastic where space is a premium, like my garage.
Julian Tracy
Silly ass design using the same shelf on all three levels. It’d have a ton more utility with some non-obstructive lower and middle shelves.
Who’s going to be storing screws and washers, etc. in those tiny sorting compartment at the bottom of a cart? Looks like a lazy build quality to me. With such a poor design, I’d be suspect of everything else about it unless I could check it out in person..
David Zeller
I saw this and thought it was a great idea. I have several skilltypes, with some unique supplies or items. Leather working, painting (artistic), carving, knife customization, pen making, etc. Having some actual places to put things and find them, and not just huge areas, is a plus.
Joatman
I would consider something like this, however this one appears pretty flimsy. I have a classic car that I tinker with every so often. If I set an alternator or carb on this, it looks like it might collapse. Carts like these are great when painting a room. Nice to have your brushes , rollers, paint and tools all in one place. I have 3 Keter foldable work tables that I use constantly. When I’m finished with them they get stored under my bench. I think a rolling cart has the potential of turning into a rolling junk drawer. That would be the only downside.
MoogleMan3
I could definitely see something like this being useful in my work. I’ll be building my own though.
The idea of using one of these came from watching Adam Savage’s videos; in quite a few, he uses a rolling instrument tray like those used in tattoo shops or operating rooms.
Good for having things you need for a particular task easily accessible, yet easily relocated if necessary.
GeoffA
Perfect for car washing supplies.
BP
I agree. Been thinking about getting this as the price is reasonable for that type of use. But, wanted to hear more about it – outside of Amazon reviews. Glad Stuart did a post on it.
Joe
Have used it for auto detailing supplies, polishers, etc. for a few years. Added a few plastic bins to the shelves, works great. Saves lots of trips across the garage by moving the supplies to the car. Jo
Aaron
what if I set something on it, lean on it, or try to use it as a work surface? I like the trays and deviders but wish the top shelf at least had higher capacity.
David Zeller
My first thought was, you’d be abusing it relative to it’s apparent intended purpose. It looks like a storage/transport cart, not a mobile workbench. It sounds like you’d be better served by something intended for your needs.
Aaron
Agreed, it wouldn’t work for me because sooner or later I’d put an 80 lbs box on it and the top shelf would flex. My thought was that if they had reinforced the top shelf for higher load it could be minimally more expensive and far less vulnerable to the obvious abuse case
Matt the Hoople
I see something like this as being handy when working on the car. For that application, only one or two shelves at a time would get used. If I’m sitting on a stool working on brakes, it’s likely the lower two shelves. If I’m working under the hood then maybe the top two.
I tend to agree with many of the above comments. In that it appears maybe a bit flimsy and I would appreciate a more open concept on the shelves. Really like the Rubbermaid utility carts but as mentioned above, they are rather large for many projects.
I really like the idea of this type of product being foldable so it can be stored out of the way when not in use. The Olympia model mentioned above looks promising. If I’m concerned about the hinge making the “working” shelf feel flimsy on something like the Olympia, I can cut a piece of 3/8 plywood to size to set on it before placing tools and such. If I need something really solid to work on (not the point of these carts) I can always roll out one of my tool chests which have wooden tops.
I like the rolling cart concept a lot. It like just wouldn’t be this one.
MM
It looks pretty handy. I’ve used metal mechanic’s carts before, but they’ve only ever had plain shelves or perhaps a drawer under the top. I didn’t like how they had just one compartment. A mechanic I often work with uses a Rubbermaid cart which he modified by drilling a bunch of holes in the top shelf so he can store long tools like pry bars, socket extensions, screwdrivers, etc, vertically. It’s a great idea and this cart seems to have some holes for that kind of thing built in. I also like the small compartments around the different levels. That’s great for keeping commonly used but smaller tools organized. Those compartments are also great for consumables like loctite, anti-seize, grease, etc. And I can also see them as being a convenient place to temporarily store small parts and fasteners from the vehicle being worked on.
That said, there are a couple red flags for me. The weight capacity rating is low. The metal carts I had were rated for a couple hundred lbs *per shelf*. I can’t imagine how flimsy this one must be if it’s only rated 45 lbs each shelf. I want something that I can load up with heavy tools and parts without worrying about it. I don’t know how tough this would be once it’s loaded with tools and the parts for whatever vehicle I’m working on. Heck many car parts which I might want to put in there exceed the weight rating of one shelf by themselves. Later this weekend I’ll be replacing the rear differential in my work truck. It alone weights more than 44 lbs, so I couldn’t put it on the cart, for example. My other red flag is the casters. Given that the whole cart costs under a hundred bucks I can only assume they are garbage.
Jared
It has a lot going for it, if the lightweight capacity isn’t an issue for the task. Those magnetic panels are a nice idea. I like all the dividers.
Might waste space considering the big gaps between shelves and the dividers which seem to imply smaller parts would go there. But that’s only an issue if storing stuff on the cart versus using it as a project cart.
I think it’s neat. I could see working from it as I do motorcycle maintenance. The dividers would help separate parts and tools as I go.
Frank D
That looks very handy to me (non mechanic) for projects and repairs of different kinds.
I have done something similar with three wire shelving carts. One holds the car detailing stuff. One was for DIY projects, did great for a while for some long projects, then after those were done, it collected way too much stuff on top and it totally was not practical to move between floors, or even up and down a few steps, as you can’t lift those things with the press down shelving. I then converted into a smoking / grilling station on wheels.
So, I could see this cart work. 22 x 18. Maybe the 22 side is a bit short. Three identical shelves doesn’t really bother me. Would like it if those red dividers could be repositioned. Throw the most used tools and parts on it while working on something or another. Especially the things where you need to repair something, in a confined space and keep bringing in more tools. Want to keep things in sight, not lose track of things, have stuff all over the floor. Just roll the cart out when done. Vs multiple trips in and out with bits and bobs.
mikedt
Kind of nice but unfortunately nearly as expensive as a Rubbermaid cart and I *know* those things can go through hell and still live.
DC
As a mechanic I prefer flat plain shelves to not only put tools on it but parts that I remove until I can bring it to the bench.
Josh
I’m in the facilities world and I’ve used several like this over the years. A similar cart is handy for repetitive tasks such as changing bulbs or ballasts, checking smoke detectors and even painting. Would be able to load up several of one item, grab some tools and a garbage bag and go. Now that I do more the managing of people doing that, I’ve bought similar carts for my techs to do the same. As someone said, maybe not this particular cart as it doesn’t look sturdy and the casters look cheap. In my personal life I work on my cars and friends cars. A heavier duty copy of this kind of cart would be useful having everything in one spot or at least collecting tools and stuff as I drag them out. I’m nowhere near a professional in that regard but as a DIY gearhead it could be handy.
Plain grainy
It looks like it would be handy for any kind of hobby. Certainly cost effective. I would add simple lift off covers for each tier. Could be made from light clear plastic, or even 1/4” plywood. Just something to keep the dust out of the compartments. The bad thing about carts is they take up valuable floor space. I might be better off with 3 Packout organizers instead.
Plain grainy
I would suggest to instead purchase the Dewalt folding workbench. It can be moved anywhere, has a 33 x 23 work surface(1000 pound capacity). I’ve seen them on sale for around $59-69. The you can set your appropriate Packout organizer on it, or simply use it to set currently needed items on it. When your finished everything can be removed, with no lasting lost floor space.
blocky
For certain types of small art-gallery or museum installations, this would be a decent cart to have on site that would save time on every installation. Many already have something akin to the rubbermaid style rolling carts that gets customized over time by the technicians. Non-marring wheels are a plus.
I’d arrange it top-down:
-small hardware and hand tools
-tapes, gloves, and small power tools
-track lighting fixtures, cleaners, pads, garbage bags
Stacey Jones
Looks like junk to me.
Tom D
I just don’t see how it can compete with something like https://www.harborfreight.com/tool-storage-organization/u-s-general-tool-storage/tool-carts/30-in-x-16-in-three-shelf-steel-service-cart-red-62179.html – and that’s not even more expensive!
Plain grainy
I like the us general 30 in five drawer cart. At $239.00, it looks like a real usable cart. I don’t have any experience of owning these carts. But they look like the buyers give favorable reviews.
Tom D
I have the five drawer in blue (on sale) and it’s really nice.
Only thing that could be better is if the top controlled the door locks instead of each having an individual latch – but it works well.
Plain grainy
I was looking at a toolbox on Acme tools site. It is a Stanley 26 inch, 100 series 4 drawer tool chest. It states on the front of the toolbox, made in the US with global materials. Ironically, under specifications it states country of origin- Chn
This Handyman Can
As a self employed contractor. This works perfect for me and I bring it to every interior job I gave. If I and hanging doors. It’s right next to me to hold my nail gun, shims, caulking gun, etc.
If I am installing switches and outlets. It hold all those, some romex, switch plates and roll it from room to room inside a clients home.
If Painting, same thing, my cut-in pail, paint tray, paint and rags, brushes. Doesn’t roll the best on carpet. But hardwood floors. It’s great
It’s a very productive accessory for me.