Craftsman replacement friction slides

[BradnCali]

I'm turning to the collective wisdom of the Garage Journal community because I am out of ideas. I picked up this 1955 Craftsman Roller cabinet last year and haven't done much with it as it is missing one friction slide on the bottom drawer of the bottom cabinet. Last weekend, I started getting serious about searching for one and thought for awhile that I was successful with my search.

I contacted Sears through their online chat and found someone (Murry) who was extremely helpful and told me he was able to find a substitute that would work. I received it in the mail today only to find my hopes dashed. Although it was the same style, it was 6" too short and appears suitable only for the top box. I went back through their online chat and went through 3 people, none of whom was as helpful as the one that helped me the other day. They simply told me my cabinet was too old so they couldn't help me. They sent me to my local Sears parts store, who was sympathetic, but still unable to help me find the right slide. I know that Murry could have matched it up because he managed to find nearly the right match before. If only I could reach out to him again.

I contacted Waterloo who were nice but when I told her the manufacturer, said they couldn't help. I talked to a sheet metal outfit who told me they could replicate the slide but it would cost me about $500.

If I am unable to locate a matching slide I will either have to try and replace with ball bearing slides or I would swap out the new (shorter) slide on one of the small top drawers and using it on the bottom drawer. It would limit the opening range of the small top drawer but I could at least make my bottom drawer usable.

Anybody out there have any ideas for me? Anybody have one (1" x 15") laying around in their shop?

Brad

 

[Zeeman]

I guess you've tried to find a donor box. There is one in my local CL for sale, but it's a little pricey. Good luck with your search.

 

[smokeyburb]

Contact your local community college and see if an autobody or aircraft maintenance class will make one. They could use your original for a pattern.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[jakemac]

Cut the short slide in half, then have a 3" piece welded in the middle to make up the needed length. Only weld the center web, leave a gap on the slide channels. A gap in the middle shouldn't cause too much trouble if you don't overload the drawer.

 

[BradnCali]

I guess you've tried to find a donor box. There is one in my local CL for sale, but it's a little pricey. Good luck with your search.

Contact your local community college and see if an autobody or aircraft maintenance class will make one. They could use your original for a pattern.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

Thanks for the input guys. I had been looking for a donor but none seemed to be readily available where the price was right. The community college idea is a good thought too though.

After noodling over this a bit more, I found that the guy at the Sears parts helped me more than I thought. He referred to them as "drawer glides" rather than "slides". I did a google search for "replacement craftsman tool box drawer glide" and the fifth entry down was a 15-1/2" slide...er, glide exactly like the one that I received in the mail today except longer.

In the meantime, I tried the shorter one out on the bottom drawer to see if it would work. It turns out it that the slide does work although the drawer doesn't pull out as far. In fact, it appears now that I am unable to pull it out far enough to access the tabs to release the drawer, so it may just have to stay that way. I can live with it though because it does work properly.

Anyway, thanks for checking out my post.

Brad

 

[rsanter]

Do you have any calipers?
Can you give some more complete dimensions?
I would look at some of the snap on slides and perhaps some of the more modern craftsman ones as well. I suspect they are close enough you can make them work.

I could make them for less than the $500 but not sure if it will be really easy or really hard. I would have to try to know.

The other thing would be to buy a trashed version or a similar toolbox and then rob the parts you need from it

Bob

 

[jakemac]

In the meantime, I tried the shorter one out on the bottom drawer to see if it would work. It turns out it that the slide does work although the drawer doesn't pull out as far. In fact, it appears now that I am unable to pull it out far enough to access the tabs to release the drawer, so it may just have to stay that way. I can live with it though because it does work properly.

Sounds like it's time to make fishing with a jimmy your new hobby to get the tab to release. Good luck.

 

[CKS1955]

I would probably research ball bearing guides. They can hold more weight and are much easier to use.

Jay