CRAFTSMAN Tool cabinet drawer repair

[ole442]

I bought these two CRAFTSMAN tool chests quite a few years ago. The bottom cabinet has the two middle drawers that appear to have dropped out of the drawer glider channel (see photos below). Is this common for CRAFTSMAN cabinets? Is it due to putting too many tools in the drawers. Any comments on how to fix them (with photos hopefully!|
Thank you, OLE442.

 

[Jeff Ivers]

If it were me, I would empty and remove both those drawers so that you can examine the condition of the drawer slides and post pictures of the condition so others can assess the repair process.

 

[four.cycle]

You use a broken hacksaw blade to get in along the sides of the drawers to release the little "catch" thingie.
I have a cabinet like that that I still need to effect repairs to. Repair instructions were posted as follows:

That bottom drawer was likely over loaded or the whole box was dropped, easy fix though.
The slides are simple if you just look at them carefully. Make sure the slide rails in the box are snug to the removable slides, and make sure the removable slides are straight. Take the drawer out and put the removable slide into the rail inside the box, then give the rail a gental squeezes with a pair of channel locks to snug it up around the removable slide. Clean and lube and you’re good to go.

Oh and make sure the little tabs that are supposed to stop the drawer aren’t pushed in to far. If they are, just pry them out a little.

 

[Not Bob]

I have the same box, I think it was called the homeowner series. One my kids gave it to me when he moved out of state. I don't keep tools in it, just light stuff like sandpaper, scotchbrite pads, etc. Probably overloaded it. Push the drawer tabs in to remove the drawer from the slide, then you can see if the drawer, box, or slide is damaged compared to one of the other drawers.

 

[DAWrench]

You use a broken hacksaw blade to get in along the sides of the drawers to release the little "catch" thingie.
I have a cabinet like that that I still need to effect repairs to. Repair instructions were posted as follows:

The hacksaw blade is more for snap on drawer slides. That Craftsman box should have clips you can see if you just pull the drawer out a few inches

 

[Skellyii]

The hacksaw blade is more for snap on drawer slides. That Craftsman box should have clips you can see if you just pull the drawer out a few inches

Nope. A lot of Craftsman of that era don't use clips, you'll have to use the hacksaw blade.

 

[Skellyii]

I have the same box, I think it was called the homeowner series. One my kids gave it to me when he moved out of state. I don't keep tools in it, just light stuff like sandpaper, scotchbrite pads, etc. Probably overloaded it. Push the drawer tabs it to remove the drawer from the slide, then you can see if the drawer, box, or slide is damaged compared to one of the other drawers.

I have a similar box that the slides are messed up similar to the OP.

I think I paid $20 for it, can't say it's worth more than that. Really, really poor construction quality, similar to the current S1000 series. Those drawers are just not going to hold much weight.

If I really cared about putting anything useful in it, I might take the time to repair it.

 

[RTM]

I have a similar lightweight box where the drawers actually destroyed the slides on their way to the bottom of the box. I have a couple of full extension 50 lb drawer slides. I'm going to either try to remove and replace the existing slides or remove slides, trash the drawer and make a wooden drawer to fill the spot. I don't have the metal working skills to straighten both sides of the slides and the drawer side and still have confidence in its strength.

 

[DAWrench]

Nope. A lot of Craftsman of that era don't use clips, you'll have to use the hacksaw blade

You may be correct but from the pics it appears that box like it has the basic friction slides and should have exposed clips

 

[DAWrench]

If the OP would post a pic of drawer slide from the side it would be easy to answer how to remove

 

[Codyboy]

My wife (girlfriend then) bought me the same craftsman boxes almost 40 years ago for my birthday or Christmas.
Push the little tab in the slot and pop the drawer out.
Mine are friction slides , no ball bearings.
On the box there is a small tab that holds the slide in place. It bends outward and drops the slide.
Bend it back in place and reinsert slides then the drawer.
I used a small screwdriver or pick to push in the tab.
You may bend the tab on the slide too much and if you do just bend it back over center so it will catch and hold better.

 

[inphx]

Anyone have a source for the 16.5" long friction slides? Or a retrofit

 

[Etchase]

Call craftsman to get slides. That paper tag on the inside of the drawer in the picture has the information they need. It even has a date code on it, if you are interested in when it was manufactured.

 

[four.cycle]

^ Your box was built by Waterloo Industries, Waterloo, Iowa.
If you cannot procure new rails through Craftsman, you might contact Waterloo.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Anyone have a source for the 16.5" long friction slides? Or a retrofit

I wouldn't be surprised if the math worked out for buying an older Cman box for pennies on the dollar to part out a sell the slides.

A set of decent used slides worth $10 ??

 

[inphx]

Waterloo seems deceased.

i have several cabinets in that family since sears double delivered a 3 cabinet sale set decades ago and may straighten the slide, flip it, and relegate to a light use drawer. Alternatively i have a substantial bone pile of computer server rack slides... but i have enough unfinished projects in the queue.

 

[Skellyii]

Contact Stanley Black and Decker in Springfield, MO. Last I heard that's where the boxes are being made.

 

[Etchase]

Almost a decade ago Stanley purchased Waterloo and its factory in Sedalia, MO. They invested in modernizing the facility and made it economically viable to produce product there. They outsource the slide production, just like Waterloo did. Craftsman and some other Stanley brand tool chests and cabinets are made there. They compete favorably with the imported HF, Husky and Kobalt offerings in my opinion. Their v-Series are very good. Last time I checked they were able to supply parts, like slides for some old Craftsman products like the OP’s with the paper tag in the top drawer. Here is a fairly recent video of the manufacturing process. They use NuCor steel.

 

[four.cycle]

Interesting.
The KOBALT top chest I recently repaired is stamped "U.S.A.", and from what I was able to gather was manufactured by J.B. Poindexter in Houston, Texas. (I have not been able to confirm this from a second source.)
Currently the "KOBALT" offerings on Lowes' website say they are now manufactured in Cambodia.

If SBD is still cranking out those "homeowner" boxes, I would think those aluminum drawer rails would be available.

 

[alinc100]

You may be correct but from the pics it appears that box like it has the basic friction slides and should have exposed clips

The homeowner series "basic friction slides" did not have the clips to which you are referring. Every now and then you need to step back, look at the pictures, read what others have wrote and assess the situation. Stop doubling down on incorrect information.

 

[alinc100]

Anyone have a source for the 16.5" long friction slides? Or a retrofit

I replaced a set of slides in a Beach toolbox with a purchased set off of Ebay labeled as Rem-Line slides. I'll measure them and see if they match. Do you think the cabinet structure can be bent/reshaped well enough to hold?

 

[rust in the eye]

Interesting.
The KOBALT top chest I recently repaired is stamped "U.S.A.", and from what I was able to gather was manufactured by J.B. Poindexter in Houston, Texas. (I have not been able to confirm this from a second source.)
Currently the "KOBALT" offerings on Lowes' website say they are now manufactured in Cambodia.

If SBD is still cranking out those "homeowner" boxes, I would think those aluminum drawer rails would be available.

Were talking about friction rails? Aluminum, really? Those will last a hot minute

 

[inphx]

They are steel and I pounded/encouraged them to be pretty straight. More friction than before because imperfect - but drawer is back in with a light load. next time in lowes or home depot wil peek at the current slides. thanks!

 

[Lorydr]

My crapsman box has slide issues as well with the the drawer falling out of the slide. I probably had it overloaded. I'll deal with it this summer maybe.

 

[inphx]

Draw falling out when extending is a bent in tab that can be pressed in deeper.. unless it's the wobbly fixed track which can be reformed with pliers. (i guess there is a tab there too.)

 

[four.cycle]

Were talking about friction rails? Aluminum, really? Those will last a hot minute

They're just fine if the drawer isn't overloaded.
Unfortunately, the drawers always get overloaded and the rails fail (or rather the little tabs on the inside of the box get bent out of shape.)
The "fix" on the BOX isn't that difficult - you just need the correct tool for the task to be able to get in there and bend those little tabs back to where they belong.