Vintage Craftsman Roller Retro Mod

[catch2otwo]

So I picked up a small old craftsman roller from an old timer yesterday day for 25 bucks. He bought it years ago when he was first became an air craft mechanic for United Airlines. Thing is in pretty decent shape, no dents, some surface rust, and the top lip is a little dented on one side. Anyway, the only info I could find on it was in this thread, so it looks like the era was 1940 something.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=151431

I would like to retrofit it with some newer style slides. Doesn't have to be ball bearing as this will never see a lot of weight, but the slides on there now are pretty worn and the stops dont really work well. Would like some slides with a bit tighter tolerance.

I plan on putting a nice wood top on it, fresh paint, some larger softer casters, and retro fit some nicer slides and reinstall a lock. Itll make a cool little service cart of sorts at home. Anyone have recommendations for slides I could use? I can weld and fab a little. Will be learning some body work skills with this project, never really done any real body work before aside from some rattle can primer/paint jobs.

 

[jakemac]

Pictures of the current slides would help.

 

[catch2otwo]

ya, I will get some this weekend when I start taking it apart.

 

[zkling]

About the only way to get high tolerance drawer slides is to use rigid ball bearing slides. Friction slides work on the principle of low tolerance. I can't remember if those have friction slides with blind welded on stops or ball bearing rollers on the front edge. Either which way, converting slide styles can be very labor and resource intense.

 

[catch2otwo]

About the only way to get high tolerance drawer slides is to use rigid ball bearing slides. Friction slides work on the principle of low tolerance. I can't remember if those have friction slides with blind welded on stops or ball bearing rollers on the front edge. Either which way, converting slide styles can be very labor and resource intense.

These have friction slides all the way through. It has this little welded tang thats supposed to hit a stop but they feel like they are one more bend from snapping off.

I was thinking I could pick up a cheapy craftsman and rob the slides out of it and mod either the drawer or the slide to fit.

Maybe even use a roller bearing type slide from some drawers for a kitchen counter. We have some at work that hold some decent weight. Again this wont be a work box, but i'd like it to be a reliable functioning piece for home

Edit: quick google on self closing drawers I found lots of bb options. I will try something like this

http://www.wwhardware.com/kv-8400-full-extension-100-lb-ball-bearing-drawer-slide-kv8400