Possible Cman Tool Chest Modification

John in OH · Dec 17, 2012

A couple of years ago I bought a 40" Cman 14 drawer Griplatch bottom tool chest.

Craftsman 14 Drawer Griplatch Tool Chest.jpg

I've been satisfied with the chest, but the 12" deep drawer in the lower right-hand corner is pretty useless for my purposes.

So, I've been looking at the possibility of removing the 12" drawer and replacing it with some combination of 3" and 4" drawers identical to the drawers above. Each drawer is in the $35 range and each pair of slides would be an additional $30. So, I could get three new smaller drawers for under $200. It would sure make my existing box more useful to me.

Now, I realize that I could buy half of a new HF 13 drawer box for that same $200 so this isn't a very economical solution, but just wondering if anyone has done this before? Any difficulties or special issues?

dumper · Dec 18, 2012

for $200 or so, you can probably find a used Cman top chest to match your roller on CL (eventually) or at a Sears outlet. It would have alot more storage space than changing that single drawer. I always thought that roller cabinet was a really nice setup, in spite of that 1 large drawer.

dumper · Dec 18, 2012

you could also put the Cman side box that goes with your bottom- then you would have a real spread! Replace the big drawer? Not worth the trouble or the money.

Conductor562 · Dec 18, 2012

I've got the same bottom chest. I agree with Dumper, I'd invest that $200 in a matching top chest.

RVDan · Dec 18, 2012

Change the drawers. Usefullness outweighs cost effectiveness every time. A while back I let my tool man talk me into a side cabinet instead of changing the stupid deep drawer into a couple shallower ones. I regretted it every time I opened that stupid deep drawer that only contained stuff that would fit in a three inch deep drawer

KSB · Dec 18, 2012

Cannot tell dimensions from the pic but in my box with a similar layout I use that drawer for my spray cans, lubricants, etc.

MrSnicks · Dec 18, 2012

Add more boxes, don't worry about 1 drawer, you'll eventually find something that is the perfect size to store.

I don't have any recent pictures on my computer at work of it all together, but I've added the Craftsman Griplatch Side Cabinet and the Mountain Side Locker.

Patrick

archirelic · Dec 18, 2012

RVDan said:
Change the drawers. Usefullness outweighs cost effectiveness every time.

I couldn't agree more with this statement. Of course, it also depends on how much extra/free cash you've got lying around, as well as spacing issues in regards to where you'd be putting an additional box or if you also use the top of your current box as a work surface.

For me though, I'm with you, don't like those deep drawers and for the life of me, can't figure out how I'd ever actually put one to use...I've got several filing cabinet stacks that I store bigger, bulkier items in.

chevroletfreak · Dec 18, 2012

What if you were to just put a sliding drawer(s) in the inside of the drawer? It could still use the same drawer frame and give a bit more useable space.

vartz04 · Dec 18, 2012

I think that drawer would be the perfect place to store rags, I have a crappy 2 drawer file cabinet sitting on my bench that is full of rags (cut open socks, cut up tshirts ect) and cleaners and the file drawers are about that size.

1953mercury · Dec 18, 2012

Air tools, valve spring compressor, or fab up a piece of flat sheet metal with holes drilled it for tools with handles and rivet it in. Split into four sections vertically for appropriately sized items. False bottom to hide your gold bars, etc. This is a great chance to exercise your imagination and avoid giving sears way to much money for way to little stuff. Mike

Aberdale · Dec 18, 2012

1953mercury said:
Air tools, valve spring compressor, or fab up a piece of flat sheet metal with holes drilled it for tools with handles and rivet it in. Split into four sections vertically for appropriately sized items. False bottom to hide your gold bars, etc. This is a great chance to exercise your imagination and avoid giving sears way to much money for way to little stuff. Mike

I agree with this. Just because the drawer is too deep to fit your current needs, that doesn't mean you couldn't use some creativity to modify the existing drawer, or to rethink how you currently use it.

I have a deep drawer that wan't used very efficiently. Then one day while I was trying to get room for more ball peen hammers, I found that if I lay the hammers upright next to each other with the striking face down, that all of my hammers fit nicely in that tall drawer. I still store them this way and the tall drawer is now my hammer drawer.

Dale

kmccorm2000 · Dec 18, 2012

I put all my battery operated tools in that drawer. I think I fit in about 7 (drills, router, sander, jigsaw, etc.) It's a little clunky to get some out when the one you need is at the bottom, but it's not like I use them everyday and it was a good use for that size drawer.

CARS · Dec 18, 2012

Not sure about the Craftsman boxes, but I have the same odd drawer in my Snap-On box. The box has provisions for doing just what you propose. All I'd have to do is find the drawers and snap the slides in the boxes structure.

Maybe just make due till you find a used box you can rob drawers out of??

lametec · Dec 18, 2012

I use that deep drawer for my angle grinders. It's just the right height to put the grinders in "standing up".

RVDan · Dec 18, 2012

There are good arguments for keeping that space but it's all about what tools you want to keep in the toolbox. I store skilsaws, grinders, bulky air tools like nail guns and sanders, etc under the bench where I use them.

Currently the huge narrow drawer in my new krl1023 holds all those kits that come in the annoyingly bulky plastic molded cases, but I'll be changing it eventually to shallower drawers so I'm only stacking a couple plastic cases instead of having to move six of them to get the one I want

St-rider · Dec 18, 2012

Does anyone know if the tangs on the lock bar in the cabinet can be changed to hook on to different depth drawers?

This and the matching top box come up for sale at half price every now and then.

NUTTSGT · Dec 18, 2012

I have that same bottom box, except not griplatch, along with a side box on each end. I have three of those drawers.

One contains speciality tools in their plastic cases. The mainbox drawer holds paint guns and related stuff. The other side box holds a few other small plastic cases, MAPP/LP torches, " grinder and valve spring tool.

I just found what fits in those drawers and left them as is.

Falcon67 · Dec 18, 2012

What nut said - I have two of those drawers and they work good for the right stuff.

NUTTSGT · Dec 18, 2012

While I was out in the garage tonight, I snapped some pictures. You can see how I have utilized my deep drawers.

X
EDIT:
Let me replace that last picture.

You might notice, the Drill Dr. made it's way into one of the drawers.

ed_v · Dec 19, 2012

KSB said:
Cannot tell dimensions from the pic but in my box with a similar layout I use that drawer for my spray cans, lubricants, etc.

I use that drawer on my box for the same thing. Works great.

Ed

Man of Many Vices · Dec 19, 2012

I use the useless tall narrow drawer on my Maximizer for more delicate tools packaged in those blown plastic cases, such as dwell/tach meters, radiator pressure tools, timing lights, and other big volume, seldom used tools.

71goldss · Dec 20, 2012

I have that drawer configuration in my Cman 41" SS box and I use that drawer for my Cman C3 7 1/2" circular saw. My other C3 tools fit well in the drawers next to it. Works out great for me and I'm glad it's there.

Possible Cman Tool Chest Modification

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