Craftsman Toolbox Thread

[bagged89s10]

I forgot I have a couple plastic craftsman boxes.

This one is made in the USA. Not sure the model number. I kind of want to find a similar one as it's perfect to store flashlights and batteries. The top is broken on mine



This one is probably not made in the USA but still a handy box. I usually toss tools I'm done using off the bench into it then sort them back to where they belong.

 

[taumac]

I posted this in the vintage toolbox thread but copied and posting it here since it applies to all these Craftsmans.

While we are discussing clip and talks of replacement and making your own. I found a simple way of keeping the drawer in place.
This is my 86 craftsman with the top clip.

Now say you didn't have a clip you could use a zip tie or cable tie.

What your trying to do is to make a stop

Now make a bend at the end of the tie

And feed it through like this

And zip it down and

it keeps drawer from out too far off the slide and you still retain full drawer extension.

Same idea will work for others as well
My 1965 9 drawer.

My 1970 3 drawer bottom

The zip tie idea works on all 3 slides with 3 different clips.

 

[torqueman2002]

There are a lot of great CM tool boxes in this thread.

I don't know how I've missed it before this.

Anyway, I'll post my other vintage CM boxes here later; but I picked up this 3-piece set 2 days ago.

I have been looking for the mid-section, but these came home with me.

The tool boxes contained these socket organizers and 2 medium size USPS boxes full of misc. small tools, including several Crown Top Craftsman tools.

The bottom 3 drawers of the roll-around box have 'roller' slides.

The other drawers have these style slides.

 

[taumac]

There are a lot of great CM tool boxes in this thread.

I don't know how I've missed it before this.

Anyway, I'll post my other vintage CM boxes here later; but I picked up this 3-piece set 2 days ago.

I have been looking for the mid-section, but these came home with me.

The tool boxes contained these socket organizers and 2 medium size USPS boxes full of misc. small tools, including several Crown Top Craftsman tools.

The bottom 3 drawers of the roll-around box have 'roller' slides.

The other drawers have these style slides.

That's a great-looking set up you got there

 

[bagged89s10]

There are a lot of great CM tool boxes in this thread.

I don't know how I've missed it before this.

Anyway, I'll post my other vintage CM boxes here later; but I picked up this 3-piece set 2 days ago.

I have been looking for the mid-section, but these came home with me.

The tool boxes contained these socket organizers and 2 medium size USPS boxes full of misc. small tools, including several Crown Top Craftsman tools.

The bottom 3 drawers of the roll-around box have 'roller' slides.

The other drawers have these style slides.

Nice find on those! Those are my favorite style craftsman boxes.

 

[jrobb316]

I picked up this little hand carry box this weekend. I'll probably throw all my very seldom used SAE wrenches in it and put it on the shelf.

 

[bagged89s10]

I picked up this little hand carry box this weekend. I'll probably throw all my very seldom used SAE wrenches in it and put it on the shelf.

That's a sweet little box. Probably from the 1950s.

 

[jrobb316]

All my SAE 1/4 - 1-1/2 full polish pros, stubbys, and line wrenches fit in there, barely. All CMan USA stuff. So it will work sweet for that seldom used stuff and will keep it from rolling around a tool box drawer. 7/8 is about the only size I use regularly (O2 / A/F sensors), and I have a snappy extra in that size I just keep in my metric drawer

 

[taumac]

Picked up one if these today.



It measures 9 by 19

 

[Sauce73]

1969 cabinet I recently restored


Sauce
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Horror Business]

That looks brand new! Great work.

 

[bagged89s10]

1969 cabinet I recently restored


Sauce
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Wow! That's amazing. Please share the steps you took in restoring it.

 

[Sauce73]

Wow! That's amazing. Please share the steps you took in restoring it.

Here's a link:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=293832


Sauce
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[emeraldcoupe]

There are a lot of great CM tool boxes in this thread.

I don't know how I've missed it before this.

Anyway, I'll post my other vintage CM boxes here later; but I picked up this 3-piece set 2 days ago.

I have been looking for the mid-section, but these came home with me.

The tool boxes contained these socket organizers and 2 medium size USPS boxes full of misc. small tools, including several Crown Top Craftsman tools.

The bottom 3 drawers of the roll-around box have 'roller' slides.

The other drawers have these style slides.

nice. I want to find that config bottom box.

 

[taumac]

I always wondered why was the intermediate the only box from that era that had the drawer cover?

 

[taumac]

There are a lot of great CM tool boxes in this thread.

I don't know how I've missed it before this.

Anyway, I'll post my other vintage CM boxes here later; but I picked up this 3-piece set 2 days ago.

I have been looking for the mid-section, but these came home with me.

The tool boxes contained these socket organizers and 2 medium size USPS boxes full of misc. small tools, including several Crown Top Craftsman tools.

The bottom 3 drawers of the roll-around box have 'roller' slides.

The other drawers have these style slides.

I curious on what year the intermediate is. I know pre 1970 (from info I acquired) boxes had the badge on the right then post 1970 badge is on the left.

 

[zkling]

I always wondered why was the intermediate the only box from that era that had the drawer cover?

Drawer covers are an easier (cheaper?) way to lock a box. Craftsman made a few drop front top boxes starting in the mid 80's IIRC.

 

[taumac]

Drawer covers are an easier (cheaper?) way to lock a box. Craftsman made a few drop front top boxes starting in the mid 80's IIRC.

Yep, you are correct. I seen a few.

 

[Gypsy99]

Is this a actual Craftsman tool box or did someone put this decal on some other box?

I did not realize the picture was going to end up that way.

 

[Gypsy99]

Ok, that's better.

 

[beatcad]

Does wood count?

Has anyone found a reliable way to date these? I tried pulling drawers and looking on the inside of the box, but didn't see anything.

hell, yeah. wood counts.
that chest made by UNION. early to mid 50s is a fair time frame.
i wish i had one

 

[beatcad]

i've owned a dozen or more craftsman boxes over the years.
carry boxes, bottom/top/stacks, machinist boxes....all have been sold, traded, or given away.....except this one.
UNION made wooden body w/ leatherette covering w/ metal drawers.
40s or 50s i'm sure.

 

[bagged89s10]

Look at this killer deal in Rhode Island.



Sears Craftsman rolling tool box $75
http://providence.craigslist.org/tls/5152628902.html

I posted a couple others in the vintage toolbox thread yesterday too. They are coming out of the wood work all of a sudden.

A bunch of old craftsman boxes right now in boston and Rhode Island CL

 

[jeffmoss26]

Paid 5 bucks for this on Saturday:

 

[nucklebuster]

Picked this one up for $15 at a sale, guy had cut some nifty retro carpet to fit each drawer so there is no wear or rust inside. Still had the keys too. Rigged up a mini-bench to rest it on so I could extend my workbench if the lid was closed. Just looking for an intermediate now so I can add to the collection!

 

[Travisnd]

The top box is a recent addition....it matches the bottom box that I inherited from my wife's grandfather year's ago.

After cleaning it up....



It matches up quite nicely!!!

 

[mrvm]

Look at this killer deal in Rhode Island.

Sears Craftsman rolling tool box $75

Got the same vintage CM 12 drawer roller tool box. No BB slides but plenty of good size drawers to arrange your tools. Strong drawers and well built for the diy garage or pro overflow box. Mine may be a tad dusty but like-new condition and everything works as designed.

 

[taumac]

Picked this one up for $15 at a sale, guy had cut some nifty retro carpet to fit each drawer so there is no wear or rust inside. Still had the keys too. Rigged up a mini-bench to rest it on so I could extend my workbench if the lid was closed. Just looking for an intermediate now so I can add to the collection!

Nice find for $15. Good luck on finding that intermediate. Been looking for some time myself.

 

[Mike-T]

Can anyone help me identify this box? Just got this at flea market for $7, but there are no marking, ID or whatsoever aside from the emblem. There's some kind of logo made below the CMan emblem but I don't think it has something to do with the box.

 

[Duct Tape Man]

Looks like a toolbox meant for a power drill of some sort. I have a 1950 Craftsman Power Tool catalog in .pdf format, but looked through it and doesn't show any boxes meant for the drills.

 

[maddawg1952]

3 of many, some have lived in a service truck and are pretty beat not these thou. They are at my house 1 in the basement 1 in the garage. And my 6 drawer from the 60's

 

[rickhigginshtbr]

Got a few keepers floating around...

this small guy I ended up clear coating as is and just keep it cause of the local drag racing history:



This stack I cleaned up pretty nicely:


Are we counting wall cab's too?




This I keep on my drafting table, mainly holds pics, punches, etc, etc...




These, the before shots, are the basis of a rolling bench I've been slowly working on... just need to paint the green one now. Both 3 drawers with open bottoms, perfect for keeping drills and stuff down below, and bits and stuff in the drawers:

 

[Mike-T]

Looks like a toolbox meant for a power drill of some sort. I have a 1950 Craftsman Power Tool catalog in .pdf format, but looked through it and doesn't show any boxes meant for the drills.

That's probably it, I know that the holes are for drill bits but I cant figure out what are the contours for. Thanks a bunch man.

 

[rmalkow2]

That's probably it, I know that the holes are for drill bits but I cant figure out what are the contours for. Thanks a bunch man.

It's from the 50's time frame and would look like this fully equipped with drill and accessories.

 

[maddawg1952]

I had this exact set-up back in trade school, I still have the top box, but my brother has claimed my bottom as his for awhile now I sure would like to replace it , as my Dad had bought this for me when I was in school. Been hunting E-bay and Craigslist for awhile, but to no avail.

 

[bagged89s10]

My reorganized tool chest wall.

 

[bagged89s10]

What do you guys use for lube on the slides of the older craftsman boxes? I was thinking dry graphite lube.

 

[Cato]

Hello everyone. I've been lurking here for a while but this is my first post. This forum is fantastic and I've already learned so much.

I recently picked up this 8 drawer machinist chest and I've been slowly filling it up with some "around the house" hand tools. As far as I can tell the paint is original. The drawers are lined with a black felt which seems too clean to be original, but I really don't know for sure.

I've looked through some old Craftsman catalogs and I think this one dates back to the early-mid 1960s, because in the late 1960s catalogs they are listed as having a wrinkled brown finish. I believe the model is a 65228C but a search for that doesn't return much info.

I'm guessing this is a re-brand of an early version of the Kennedy 526, but I've never seen a Kennedy-branded 526 without the latches for the top lid. I'm not sure if I've ever seen a Kennedy with the gray paint, either, rather than the usual wrinkled brown. Were these earlier Craftsman models possibly made by another company?

That's a sweet box. I love the minimalist look when the cover is closed.

 

[skunkape1]

What do you guys use for lube on the slides of the older craftsman boxes? I was thinking dry graphite lube.

Graphite is what I've been using for awhile and I like it. The not attracting dirt quality alone makes it a winner as a tool box lube. Messy stuff though!

 

[taumac]

The Wall of Craftsman.....