Out of square box

[Rakoprtr]

Alright guys I have an issue I need some help with I picked up a 41 inch 4 draw craftsman grip latch box on cl for a steal the guy had all the drawers out and it fell of the bottom and knocked it out of square which is why I got it so cheap any one got an idea to straighten it I tried taking the drawers out and hitting it with a dead blow it didn't work I don't have a big enough press to try to press it I need help

 

[Jawn]

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=112657

Try a pipe clamp. I straightened a 42" International to be good enough to use a couple years ago.

 

[Professur]

Take all the drawers back out and drop it on the other corner naturally

 

[monkeyspanners]

Put a twist in my hand tool box when the handle broke off and it landed on my foot, dropped in on a flat surface and it squared itself! Hand steel toes on luckily.

 

[Zeke]

Back into it with your truck.

But seriously, you have to figure out some leverage to pull or push it back into shape.

 

[zkling]

It probably took a good jolt to get it out of square, will take a good but opposite jolt to get it back into square. The pipe clamp suggestion is a good one. Can you post a pic of how it is out of square? Any evidence of where it was hit to get it the way it currently is? Go slow and keep checking the diagonals.

 

[metaldad]

My eyes hurt from that mile long sentence.
I'm sure you could 'force' it back into square, with clamps, shock, drop.

 

[CNGsaves]

My eyes hurt from that mile long sentence.
I'm sure you could 'force' it back into square, with clamps, shock, drop.

^^ That's for SURE . . . ROFLMAO !! Hell, that's about 10 sentences and 2 paragraphs !!!

Back to OP toolbox . . . lets' SEE that distorted box. This is GJ & must have pics!!

 

[jakemac]

Back into it with your truck.

But seriously, you have to figure out some leverage to pull or push it back into shape.

This is the way that I'd go with it.

Figure out which side/corner needs to be pushed,
brace the other side with 2x4's,
push it all against a cement wall,
line up your car/truck bumper with the box,
use another 2x4 between the box and truck,
GENTLY !! persuade the box into shape with your car/truck.

Go slow, if you push it too far you'll only create another problem.

 

[PugetDude]

Alright guys I have an issue I need some help with I picked up a 41 inch 4 draw craftsman grip latch box on cl for a steal the guy had all the drawers out and it fell of the bottom and knocked it out of square which is why I got it so cheap any one got an idea to straighten it I tried taking the drawers out and hitting it with a dead blow it didn't work I don't have a big enough press to try to press it I need help

The best way to fix any out of square box is to apply pressure in the opposite direction measure the box across the diagonals then use a couple of pipe clamps to apply pressure on the long side you will have to overbend it to compensate for the springback go slow take your time and measure frequently and you should be able to get it back to square the problem with only using a deadblow is that the force is localized with the clamps you can spread the force out over the entire box but might stillneed to give it a whack with the deadblow in the center of an end between the clamps to help it along hope this helps might be helpful if you could post pics of the out of square box

 

[Rakoprtr]

It's hard to see this is the only thing I could find to show relation it pivots on the back right and front left corners when sitting flat on the ground


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[Rakoprtr]

I hooked one corner to a tree and the opposite to my truck and took it from an inch out to a 1/4 inch so at least the drawers and lock work now


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[lilredex]

Assume the problem is that the box has "racked". Make up some pipes that slide over a threaded rod ( 1/2" OK) and jack it back into square with nuts and washers on the rod. Cut the business ends of the pipes to a bit less than a 90* (blunted) point. Put it across the short diagonal as suggested.

Think you will find this more effective than trying to squeeze it from the outside corners.

 

[Jolomite]

Assume the problem is that the box has "racked". Make up some pipes that slide over a threaded rod ( 1/2" OK) and jack it back into square with nuts and washers on the rod. Cut the business ends of the pipes to a bit less than a 90* (blunted) point. Put it across the short diagonal as suggested.

Think you will find this more effective than trying to squeeze it from the outside corners.

That sounds like some smart advice. Is that something you just came up with or is there a great story behind it? Thank you for sharing!

 

[Danglerb]

Pictures would help, but I am thinking you need to pull or push it out. Scrap wood and a small jack might do the trick.

 

[senlow]

I've repaired several racked boxes. I push across the short diagonal kinda like lilredx described. I use a porta-power, but pipes and a threaded rod will work just fine. Be sure to distribute the load with a couple of blocks of wood in the corners. As others have mentioned, you will have to bend beyond square to compensate for springback.

Pipe clamps used to pull the box square should also work. Be aware that the outside corners are often more fragile than the inside corners.

I recommend against dropping the box on the opposite corner, or pushing with a vehicle. You will be more successful by applying carefully controlled forces on the box.

 

[cinco]

Well, I guess I know where you live. I thought about that one briefly, but passed due to the work necessary to make it right (as opposed to just functional) again.