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Craftsman GripLatch is back

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micromind

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I've had one of those for quite a few years in my van. I live about 2 miles down a dirt road and even though it's pretty much chock full of tools, all the drawers still work just fine.

It's really nice to be able to open a drawer with the top closed and have the drawers stay closed until you open them.
 
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71goldss

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I have two Craftsman 41” stainless stacks with Griplatch from around 2012. Love em, and still work flawless. I don’t understand why all box manufactures don’t use them. If a higher production cost is an issue, just charge the difference in price. It’s well worth it IMHO!
 
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BTL-A4

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I agree! I really like the Grip Latch. I LOATHE HATE DESPISE DETEST the soft close ones that seem to be on all tool boxes now. It's also called Posi-Latch for other brands. They are higher-end, though and cost accordingly.
 
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Toold_up

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71goldss said:
I have two Craftsman 41” stainless stacks with Griplatch from around 2012. Love em, and still work flawless. I don’t understand why all box manufactures don’t use them. If a higher production cost is an issue, just charge the difference in price. It’s well worth it IMHO!
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Looking at the latch mechanism it wouldn't be too hard to convert a non latching drawer to a latching drawer. Remove the drawer pull and modify it to rock like a hinge (think pop rivits). Then cut and bend a hook that catches the lip of whatever is above it. When you rock the drawer pull the latch drops and the drawer is now free to slide open.

I don't have the time, but I think it would be easy enough to do it on my other soft close Craftsman tool box.
 
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Steve_P

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I know Craftsman is detested here, especially boxes, but I have four 6' stacks of the Griplatch boxes, for 10+ years, and no issues. I really like them. Yes, the drawers should be thicker material; but I have mine way overloaded, and they're still functioning just fine for home use.
If I had to buy boxes today, I'd probably go a different route with so many choices, but 10+ years ago the options were limited. HF was selling the first gen hideous crinkle coated red-ish box and there was no way I was buying that no matter how great it was. I certainly wasn't paying for a tool truck box. So....
 
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Steve_P

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Toold_up said:
Looking at the latch mechanism it wouldn't be too hard to convert a non latching drawer to a latching drawer. Remove the drawer pull and modify it to rock like a hinge (think pop rivits). Then cut and bend a hook that catches the lip of whatever is above it. When you rock the drawer pull the latch drops and the drawer is now free to slide open.

I don't have the time, but I think it would be easy enough to do it on my other soft close Craftsman tool box.
Click to expand...

There is a dedicated female portion on both sides that the latch mechanism engages into- it doesn't engage to the drawer above.

Edit- to be clear, it is on the rail
 
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dscheidt

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mrvm said:
Back in the day some company made a grip-latch mechanism on a Kobalt box
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Waterloo sold boxes to whoever was buying them. Grip latch as a brand was exclusive to craftsman, I think, but the mechanisms weren't. Their own stuff was 'posi-latch'. I've got a 26" stack. The top and bottom are craftsman about 2002 or so, the 3 door intermediate cabinet is Waterloo, made right before Stanley stopped selling under that name. The original pieces spent some time in a commercial shop, getting used every day. The paint, especially on the sides, is scratched to hell, but they work fine, nothing is bent, borken or unsually worn.
 
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CHI_Tool&Die

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I was actually looking at those exact boxes before I bought my Kennedy. My biggest fear was that they would get damaged in shipping and then I’d find out those were NOS or discontinued or whatever. Glad to see it will actually be a production run. I may have to look into the again for the home garage.
 
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Toold_up

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Checking differences on the griplatch vs s2000:
I measured the griplatch box from bottom metal to top metal (removing caster height) and the griplatch is 34 1/4". The s2000 soft close is 31". The casters are much better on the griplatch box. Emblems and stickers are the same, so I can only assume they are both waterloo.

I tried to look up the part numbers on the Craftsman web page and nothing comes up. I'm thinking these are from Sears. Sears and SBD have an agreement that Sears can still sell and produce Craftsman products but they have their own part numbers.


A couple of years ago I had the 41" version of this box, but I sold it along with my machine shop.
 

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CHI_Tool&Die

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Toold_up said:
Checking differences on the griplatch vs s2000:
I measured the griplatch box from bottom metal to top metal (removing caster height) and the griplatch is 34 1/4". The s2000 soft close is 31". The casters are much better on the griplatch box. Emblems and stickers are the same, so I can only assume they are both waterloo.

I tried to look up the part numbers on the Craftsman web page and nothing comes up. I'm thinking these are from Sears. Sears and SBD have an agreement that Sears can still sell and produce Craftsman products but they have their own part numbers.


A couple of years ago I had the 41" version of this box, but I sold it along with my machine shop.
Click to expand...
How was the packaging and shipping? Pretty secure? My biggest fear is shipping damage.
 
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dscheidt

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Toold_up said:
I tried to look up the part numbers on the Craftsman web page and nothing comes up. I'm thinking these are from Sears. Sears and SBD have an agreement that Sears can still sell and produce Craftsman products but they have their own part numbers.
Click to expand...
Googling the part number shows an amazon listing (not in stock), with date first available 2018. these are probably old stock.
 
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Toold_up

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CHI_Tool&Die said:
How was the packaging and shipping? Pretty secure? My biggest fear is shipping damage.
Click to expand...

I bought mine from a local industrial supply warehouse. If I were to buy one online i'd call before I order and ask the vendor.

dscheidt said:
Googling the part number shows an amazon listing (not in stock), with date first available 2018. these are probably old stock.
Click to expand...

The top chest wasn't available on MSC last week. This week it's available. I assume they are still in production since mine has an April 2022 manufacture date.
 
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Toold_up

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Steve_P

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Toold_up said:
Checking differences on the griplatch vs s2000:
I measured the griplatch box from bottom metal to top metal (removing caster height) and the griplatch is 34 1/4". The s2000 soft close is 31". The casters are much better on the griplatch box. Emblems and stickers are the same, so I can only assume they are both waterloo.

I tried to look up the part numbers on the Craftsman web page and nothing comes up. I'm thinking these are from Sears. Sears and SBD have an agreement that Sears can still sell and produce Craftsman products but they have their own part numbers.


A couple of years ago I had the 41" version of this box, but I sold it along with my machine shop.
Click to expand...


I know this is an old post, and this may not be relevant, but C'man made two different heights for the bottom Griplatch boxes. I know this because I have four of the standard height ones, and one of the shorter ones. The short ones are very uncommon, but I bought one on closeout right when they were discontinued to someday incorporate into a future steel frame workbench.
 
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Toold_up

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Steve_P said:
I know this is an old post, and this may not be relevant, but C'man made two different heights for the bottom Griplatch boxes. I know this because I have four of the standard height ones, and one of the shorter ones. The short ones are very uncommon, but I bought one on closeout right when they were discontinued to someday incorporate into a future steel frame workbench.
Click to expand...

Show them shorties!
 
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Bubba Fett

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Toold_up said:
Yep, MSC has the top chest available again now too. These are SEARS not SBD items, the part number isn't available on the Craftsman website.

I love the bottom cabinet I have now, and the 41 I used to have.
Click to expand...
The CMST40763BK part number looks like a SBD number. They always have a letter designation CMST = Craftsman Storage, whereas hand tools would be CMHT. They do this for other brands as well.
 
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Steve_P

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Toold_up said:
Show them shorties!
Click to expand...

Mine isn't in use and is unfortunately buried. I have the brochure paper and it lists the overall height at 34.5" vs 41" for the "standard" lower. They don't label the shorter one in any way in the description to say it's shorter, just that it's a 6 drawer vs 8 for the standard lower cabinet. The regular price on the shorty was $516 and on sale / closeout for $380 when I bought it in January 2016. I bought the rest of them in 2010-2011.
 
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Toold_up

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Steve_P said:
Mine isn't in use and is unfortunately buried. I have the brochure paper and it lists the overall height at 34.5" vs 41" for the "standard" lower. They don't label the shorter one in any way in the description to say it's shorter, just that it's a 6 drawer vs 8 for the standard lower cabinet. The regular price on the shorty was $516 and on sale / closeout for $380 when I bought it in January 2016. I bought the rest of them in 2010-2011.
Click to expand...

That's interesting my 8 drawer is 34.25" Maybe 34.5" if I take the outside lip into consideration... I guess I have a shorty 8 drawer?
 
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Toold_up

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I sent an email to support@craftsman, they told me to email WATERLOOCS@SBDINC , I got a response from Waterloo and this is what they had to say:

First email response:
Good Morning,

Thanks for contacting us.

These Craftsman units are a redesigned item using the "Grip Latch" ball bearing slides.
Click to expand...

I then asked who is the owner of this design (Sears or SBD) - email response:
Good Morning,

The CMST40763BK is a Craftsman item manufactured by Stanley Black & Decker.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reply to this email.

Thank you,
<redacted>
Customer Service
Stanley Black & Decker – Waterloo Division
Click to expand...
 
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908Jim

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Toold_up said:
That's interesting my 8 drawer is 34.25" Maybe 34.5" if I take the outside lip into consideration... I guess I have a shorty 8 drawer?
Click to expand...
As a data point, I have the 2008 Waterloo Catalog PDF and there are no 34" pos-latch boxes. It only lists the 7 Drawer TR71807 and 4 drawer TR71804 as 34.6" traxx (BB without Posi-latch/grip-latch) boxes. Everything else seems to be 41" high.
 
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smintman

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Here is my 26” Edge box with Griplatch. I bought this when I was 20 years old. No issues. In the Rare Red color. I bought this online at SEARS and picked up in-store. I paid about $500 back then and then with the Sears points I also got a Samsung over the range microwave for like $100 too. Still have the microwave too. The steel not as thick as a US General but it made in the USA and I like the grip latch drawer locks. It’s loaded up with tools and have seen no fatigue or buckling.
IMG_8215.jpeg
 

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Kscardsfan

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Does anyone know if they made the 41" intermediate/single drawer with Grip Latch slides for any other brands besides Craftsman back in the day? I'd kill for another one for my stack and I have been struggling to find one within a reasonable distance.
 
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Toold_up

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Kscardsfan said:
Does anyone know if they made the 41" intermediate/single drawer with Grip Latch slides for any other brands besides Craftsman back in the day? I'd kill for another one for my stack and I have been struggling to find one within a reasonable distance.
Click to expand...

Yes but good luck finding one. I've seen pictures of a black single 41" griplatch.
 
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dscheidt

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Kscardsfan said:
Does anyone know if they made the 41" intermediate/single drawer with Grip Latch slides for any other brands besides Craftsman back in the day? I'd kill for another one for my stack and I have been struggling to find one within a reasonable distance.
Click to expand...

They sold them as Waterloo ("posilatch" is the branding for the locking latch slides). They're not exactly the same, but they're close (the latches are different, the piece you lift is deeper.). The locks are also different (which is changable, if that matters.) I know there were 1 and 2 drawer versions in 41" wide, don't know about others. Intermediate tool boxes were never big sellers, so they're not common. But if you're committed to a full stack, they're a great expansion, especially if you're tall enough to see into the top still.

I have a 26" waterloo professional in my craftsman stack, and it's fantastic, puts three usefully deep drawers at a good height. the top open area is about the height of my nose (i'm 6'), so not terribly good for storing small things in, but bigger stuff is fine, as I never close the top cover.
 
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