40" one drawer middle box. Useful or go for two drawer?

[Banjorear]

I've been working on organizing my tool box. I have an older SO 40" roll away with a 26" Craftsman top. I've been thinking of getting a 40" one drawer middle cabinet to put my sockets, ratchets, extensions, etc. all in one place.

I like the one drawer idea since it won't make the top box too high.

Curious if anyone else has the same or similar set-up and if you found it helpful or beneficial.

Thanks,

Tim

 

[I van putski]

I am thinking about this too. The only 1 drawer I could find besides a snap on is craftsman. It is only available in black. I'd like to find a red drawer.

 

[Banjorear]

I am thinking about this too. The only 1 drawer I could find besides a snap on is craftsman. It is only available in black. I'd like to find a red drawer.

Yep, that's the one I'm looking at too. I was kind of bummed out the black, but my top cabinet is black so it's not so bad for my set-up.

 

[454ragtop]

I have a red Waterloo Traxx single drawer, don't know if they still make it. I like, and need mine, but I keep a shop made step in front of the box due to the added height.
Jim

 

[bluebolt]

I have the Craftsman Griplatch 40" one drawer setup and love it. The old ones are on closeout sale right now for 50% off, about $135 as I recall. Add an extra set of slides and it will handle more than the 75 lb weight rating fine, thats what I did.

 

[bobcatdan]

SO offers a 40" two drawer middle box, one 2" and one 4" drawer.

 

[619DioFan]

I have the craftsman 40'' single drawer in between the matching craftsman 40'' top and bottom unit. I use it for all my impact sockets , impact extensions and other impact grade attachments as well as all my pry bars. it has a lot of weight in it and opens/closes smoothly. have had it set up this way for over ten years.

 

[jakemac]

Something that hasn't been mentioned, the OP stated that a 26" top box was going on this riser. I question whether the 40" riser can handle the concentrated weight since the box is designed to transfer the weight down the sides, not through the middle.

Thoughts ?

 

[devoncoolman]

Those are good but u have to make sure you bolt it to your bottom box. Or it will flip right off if you pull drawer out all the way with alot of weight in it.

 

[Banjorear]

Something that hasn't been mentioned, the OP stated that a 26" top box was going on this riser. I question whether the 40" riser can handle the concentrated weight since the box is designed to transfer the weight down the sides, not through the middle.

Thoughts ?

Hmmm, good point. I wonder if I'll need to cut a sheet of 3/4 ply to place under the 26" to help transfer the weight to the corners. Didn't think about that until you mentioned it.

 

[littletoes]

Any of you guys have pic's of your boxes with the mid box? I've got a Homak upper/lower set-up that is 40", and want to add a one or two drawer mid-box for my 1/2" stuff. Need the room.

 

[jakemac]

Hmmm, good point. I wonder if I'll need to cut a sheet of 3/4 ply to place under the 26" to help transfer the weight to the corners. Didn't think about that until you mentioned it.

It might be better to cut a 40" sheet, to spread the weight the full length of the box. You might want to check the thickness of the steel that is used on the different risers that you're considering as well.

If you were using a 40" top box it wouldn't be an issue, but with a smaller box the riser top could buckle if the weight isn't supported.

I've never had to deal with this issue, so I'm just poking around in the dark here.

 

[Banjorear]

It might be better to cut a 40" sheet, to spread the weight the full length of the box. You might want to check the thickness of the steel that is used on the different risers that you're considering as well.

If you were using a 40" top box it wouldn't be an issue, but with a smaller box the riser top could buckle if the weight isn't supported.

I've never had to deal with this issue, so I'm just poking around in the dark here.

Yes, sorry if I wasn't clear. I would cut it to fit on top of the 40" middle.

It's going to cost around $200 for Sears' top of line Craftsman box so I don't want any issues.

 

[chris fresh]

I have the Craftsman Griplatch 40" one drawer setup and love it. The old ones are on closeout sale right now for 50% off, about $135 as I recall. Add an extra set of slides and it will handle more than the 75 lb weight rating fine, thats what I did.

got a link for that 135 price?

i've owned the 40'' since they came out and have maxed my box out,i too am in need of the middle drawer set up.color not an issue,i prefer the red,but not a deal breaker.

 

[mrjaw14]

Will this fit betreew the hf 44 chest and top? Actual dimensions are closer to 41"

 

[bluebolt]

got a link for that 135 price?

i've owned the 40'' since they came out and have maxed my box out,i too am in need of the middle drawer set up.color not an issue,i prefer the red,but not a deal breaker.

Because they are clearance they are running out fast. Store stock only.

 

[All]

Where are you seeing $135.??? Cheapest single drawer mid box grip latch black 40" I can find is $188.88.

 

[bluebolt]

Where are you seeing $135.??? Cheapest single drawer mid box grip latch black 40" I can find is $188.88.

It's at my local Sears. I almost bought it. I really like that big drawer but I would have to use a step stool to get in my top box being only 5'7". That or get my 6'3" son to come visit and help out in the shop LOL.

 

[zkling]

It's at my local Sears. I almost bought it. I really like that big drawer but I would have to use a step stool to get in my top box being only 5'7". That or get my 6'3" son to come visit and help out in the shop LOL.

I feel you on that one. I saw a few at my sears the other day, ranging from $85 to $135, all single drawer black, grip latch. No use for one.

I'd get as many drawers you can tolerate the height of your top chest on. That has always been my issue with middle boxes, either the top and bottom box have to be small or the user has to be vertically gifted.

What about getting rid of your 26" top box, forgetting the middle and finding a 33" or larger top box to match your SO 40" bottom? You will be in^2 ahead. Jake brought up a VERY good point. You can and will stretch out the top sheet metal on a box if you put a smaller top box on it. Just a heads up. What 40" SO bottom do you have?

It might be better to cut a 40" sheet, to spread the weight the full length of the box. You might want to check the thickness of the steel that is used on the different risers that you're considering as well.

If you were using a 40" top box it wouldn't be an issue, but with a smaller box the riser top could buckle if the weight isn't supported.

I've never had to deal with this issue, so I'm just poking around in the dark here.

You are 1000% correct on that issue. Consider yourself lucky, 2 of my boxes have/had this issue. One a guy had a 20" top on a 26" bottom, other a 26" top on a 33" bottom. Nothing in between. It actually stretches the sheet metal out.

 

[bluebolt]

I feel you on that one. I saw a few at my sears the other day, ranging from $85 to $135, all single drawer black, grip latch. No use for one.

For $85 I would have probably bought it. I lucked out a few months back and got one of these single drawer mids for $80 from the scratch and dent pile. The Craftsman logo was falling off and thre was no key. I used it on my blue 40" Griplatch bottom roller that has a Tractor Supply dark green hutch on top and that works pretty good. My other 40" Griplatch has the multidrawer top on it and I can barely see in the top compartment as is.

 

[zkling]

That one was pretty scratched and had a few dents. Plus I could not think of any place to put it. My widest box is 33", I thought about trying to mount it to the bottom of my work bench, but it just didn't seem like a great idea in the end. They had a few of them ranging in price and thus condition. All single drawer units.

 

[All]

For $85 I would have probably bought it. I lucked out a few months back and got one of these single drawer mids for $80 from the scratch and dent pile. The Craftsman logo was falling off...

I know of someone in Las Vegas who could use that logo if you want to sell it. It seems his partnership with Sears came to an abrupt end this past weekend, so he might be interested in alternative sources.

I WISH my local Sears had a pile of scratch and dent boxes I could paw through to get the intermediate box I've always wanted. A lot of my tools are too long to fit in a 26" drawer. Despite my having both 41" bottom and top chests, all the drawer widths still max out at only 26", which is too short for larger wrenches and torque wrenches.

I found ONE intermediate chest (the weaker rated of the two that Sears sells) available in the Sears several towns away from me, but that was at a much higher price.

My local store has been focusing on the "Softer Side of Sears" for the last 30 odd years. There are clothes everywhere. How can people possibly wear that many garments? Back in the late 70's and early 80's, the main floor of my local Sears was a tool and homeowner's paradise. Now, the store looks like the inside of a stuffed pillow. Random colored fabric everywhere.

 

[pepi]

I am thinking about this too. The only 1 drawer I could find besides a snap on is craftsman. It is only available in black. I'd like to find a red drawer.

PAINT and an hour or so of your time will fix that.

 

[chris fresh]

PAINT and an hour or so of your time will fix that.

no kidding,if i could score one for 100 or less,i'de paint it and take the castors off my bottom so the top box would still be easy to get to.

 

[alxdgr8]

Will this fit betreew the hf 44 chest and top? Actual dimensions are closer to 41"

Nope, I thought of this too. Grabbed a tape at Sears and measured, it's pretty much spot on 40" wide.

 

[MikeF2316]

My local store has been focusing on the "Softer Side of Sears" for the last 30 odd years. There are clothes everywhere. How can people possibly wear that many garments? Back in the late 70's and early 80's, the main floor of my local Sears was a tool and homeowner's paradise. Now, the store looks like the inside of a stuffed pillow. Random colored fabric everywhere.

It's the same here. The tool/Craftsman sections aren't even worth visiting anymore. I was Christmas shopping yesterday, and parked so that Sears had the closest doors. I just walked straight through Sears and into the mall. 20 years ago, that walk would have required at least a 30 minute detour through the tool section.

 

[John in OH]

Any of you guys have pic's of your boxes with the mid box? I've got a Homak upper/lower set-up that is 40", and want to add a one or two drawer mid-box for my 1/2" stuff. Need the room.

I added the intermediate drawer to my CM tool chest about a year ago. I wanted a single drawer for all my 1/2" drive sockets, bars, extensions and ratchets. So far, I've been very satisfied with the box and drawer; however, I'm not a professional mechanic and most of my work is general car maintenance and tractor restoration.

The overall tool chest with intermediate drawer.



Close-up of intermediate drawer.



Intermediate drawer with the 1/2" drive tools.

 

[Tsquare]

I added the intermediate drawer to my CM tool chest about a year ago. I wanted a single drawer for all my 1/2" drive sockets, bars, extensions and ratchets. So far, I've been very satisfied with the box and drawer; however, I'm not a professional mechanic and most of my work is general car maintenance and tractor restoration.

The overall tool chest with intermediate drawer.



Close-up of intermediate drawer.



Intermediate drawer with the 1/2" drive tools.

Nice looking tool chest - looks like it's fully optioned

 

[454ragtop]

Here's a pic of my 40" Waterloo stack, and the platform we made to make it easier to access the top. Note the "rat hole" in the front of the platform, makes it easy to pull out with your foot.
Jim

 

[zkling]

EDITED

I WISH my local Sears had a pile of scratch and dent boxes I could paw through to get the intermediate box I've always wanted.

EDITED

Don't let me lead you to believe that my store has a pile of discounted boxes either, it was just random and caught me off guard. Actually it was strange they were standing on their short end, most out of the box.

Within a ~10 mile radius we have 1 sears hardware (kinda run down), 2 mall stores and a outlet store, which I recently learned is a different entity. The store I usually go to is a mall store. They have 2 or 3 ~4' wide shelves of clearance items. Most of it is socket, torx, wrench, etc sets that are missing a few pieces out of the set. Although the discount is not very good compared to what is missing IMHO. I just pop in ~ once a week to kill time and window shop.

 

[bluebolt]

Here's a pic of my 40" Waterloo stack, and the platform we made to make it easier to access the top. Note the "rat hole" in the front of the platform, makes it easy to pull out with your foot.
Jim

I like that platform need to steal that idea!

 

[NUTTSGT]

I have a single 40" drawer and love it. I have often thought of taking my top box off and replacing them with several single drawers. The biggest problem is that it would be very cost prohibitive.



I thought I had a picture of the drawer somewhere but apparently not or I couldn't find it, 1400 plus pics on PB will cause that.

I keep all my air tools and impact sockets in the drawer.

 

[zkling]

I added the intermediate drawer to my CM tool chest about a year ago. I wanted a single drawer for all my 1/2" drive sockets, bars, extensions and ratchets. So far, I've been very satisfied with the box and drawer; however, I'm not a professional mechanic and most of my work is general car maintenance and tractor restoration.
........

Very nice setup. Glad to see I'm not the only one that incorporated the index file drawers into their tool box setup. I have mine stacked and bolted 5 high as a poor mans side cabinet.

 

[Banjorear]

Side bar question: Do you have to bolt the side cabinet onto the middle box or is that sheet metal strong enough to just hang from the lip on the side of the "host" box?

 

[NUTTSGT]

Side bar question: Do you have to bolt the side cabinet onto the middle box or is that sheet metal strong enough to just hang from the lip on the side of the "host" box?

It just hangs there.

 

[dcarden]

Here is mine, one drawer stores most of my wrenches and the other all my sockets.

Sorry pics came out blurry

 

[Banjorear]

Here is mine, one drawer stores most of my wrenches and the other all my sockets.

Sorry pics came out blurry

Thanks. I have one on order and my plan is to use it for exactly the same purpose.

 

[zkling]

Was browsing at sears and thought I would take a few pics. Only one middle drawer left now. They also had a 50+" top sitting on the floor and a side cabinet, both looked like they fell off the truck yet marginal discount, sorry forgot a pic of those

Additionally a pic of some wrenches on the clearance shelf.