Desperate for help with a 1993 Matco box!

[E92FF]

I’ve got a 1993 Matco MB2010SX toolbox that belonged to my father in law. It’s been in storage since he passed and I recently made space for it and brought it home. This box has a full width top drawer and I sadly discovered that one of the slides has been damaged. I called Matco to get a replacement and was told that they stopped carrying this slide in 2017. He did give me their part number CHRN-024U and told me the slide was a 24” fully extendable ball bearing slide originally supplied by Knapp & Vogt manufacturing. I gave their customer service a call but they had no records of what Matco purchased and the part number I was given was no help. He suggested I email their customer service department and send pics which I did but I have not received a reply. I even took the damaged slide to a local machine shop to see if it could be repaired. They gave it a shot but it’s too badly damaged. I’m at a loss at this point. I am using the box minus the top drawer but I would love to get it fully functional again. If anyone has any advice or ideas on how to replace this slide I would be extremely grateful!

Thank you for taking the time to read all that!

 

[seanb02]

Rather than dealing with Matco corporate, do you have a local Matco tool truck that you could get into contact with? Don't contact the driver directly about the tool box slide, but about buying a couple hundred dollars worth of whatever tools you may need. Buy the tools and then talk about the drawer slide with them, the drivers have a different line with corporate than you do, and will be able to find a replacement somehow, but you have to be willing to make it worth their time to deal with.

 

[jkesselr]

Rather than dealing with Matco corporate, do you have a local Matco tool truck that you could get into contact with? Don't contact the driver directly about the tool box slide, but about buying a couple hundred dollars worth of whatever tools you may need. Buy the tools and then talk about the drawer slide with them, the drivers have a different line with corporate than you do, and will be able to find a replacement somehow, but you have to be willing to make it worth their time to deal with.

THIS right here is why I love snap on tools, but hate the tool truck ********. I watched my old man try to warranty a 1/2” to 3/8” adapter with the Snappy man. My dad previously bought thousands of dollars in snap on tools from a driver that frequented his shop. Over the years, my shithead brother stole several of my dad’s tools. My dad retired and was working in a friend’s shop just for something to do. Anyways, my dad tries to warranty the adapter that he purchased new several years before. Driver said he would have to order it, as he didn’t have it on the truck. The next week, it was sorry, it hasn’t come in yet. My old man got the same response week after week after week. Finally, one week after getting the same ******** reply, my dad reached in his pocket and pulled out a list of a couple dozen part numbers of tools my brother had stolen and my dad needed to replace. He politely explained to the driver that he needed to buy all of these tools to replace what he had stolen from him, but that he wasn’t going to buy any of them until he had his new adapter. Magically, in that moment, the adapter appeared, as the driver suddenly thought of “one more place he could look on the truck.” Needless to say, my dad got the replacement adapter and bought his tools from another driver. That is the game playing **** that I cannot stand!

Sorry for the rant, but your reply made me think of this scenario. You can either help or you can’t. As a representative of the company or, hell even the company itself, shouldn’t make its ability to help contingent upon spending even more money.

End rant.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

OP, I would just find a Matco tool truck, and very respectfully tell him your story. He'll either help you or he won't. I don't see the point in trying to bribe him with your business. If he can help you, then you'll think of him when you have business to transact.

 

[E92FF]

Years ago I worked for a VW dealer and had a great relationship with the Matco rep. I didn’t buy a lot but bought what I needed from him because he was a genuine honest guy who was eager to help. One day he came in and told us he was discounting everything and selling his truck. Turns out he had extended credit to too many tech’s who weren’t paying their bills and he was somehow liable for the debt. He was barely breaking even and decided it was time to sell everything and get out before it pulled him under. I was there a couple years after that and never saw another Matco rep.

I work in a hospital now and don’t know how I would connect with a Matco truck. There is a rep listed on google though. I take a shot Monday and give him a call. Thanks!

 

[Flyordie]

Can you get a pic of the slide with the drawer removed? Would like to see how its mounted.

 

[E92FF]

Since you guys have been so kind I thought you might like to see the box! This is minus the top drawer of course. Just put a few tools in the cavern until I can get it fixed.

Like I said this belonged to my father in law. He was a really cool guy and early on we bonded over tools. He owned a commercial roofing company and apparently never got rid of anything he acquired to do a job. After he passed no one in the family had any interest in that stuff. His son (my brother in law) didn’t have anyplace for this box so I bought it from his estate. I didn’t need it but just couldn’t see letting it out of the family. I can make good use of it for now and one day may pass it down to my nephew. (My father in laws grandson) Those Cars stickers on the top of the box belong to him anyways and I’m not removing them!

 

[E92FF]

Can you get a pic of the slide with the drawer removed? Would like to see how its mounted.

I’ll post the pics I have. Hopefully the quality is high enough to make out. The largest Chanel that attaches to the box has two tabs that slide back and lock the slide in place with a screw in the front to secure it. The smallest inside Chanel is the same except it has three tabs.

 

[E92FF]

I will have to figure out how to attach higher res pics.

 

[Flyordie]

Held in with 2 screws correct? (or rivets)

Ok, measure the depth of the full slide.. from metal to where the slide would mount to the drawer. Basically, that and the 24" depth is known so the only question at that point is mounting the replacement slides on the drawer using the existing mount points. I am going over the OEM's slides and they have a few HEAVY duty slides that may work depending on mounting methods.

 

[E92FF]

Held in with 2 screws correct? (or rivets)

2 screws, one securing the front of the slide to the box and the other securing the slide to the drawer. The purpose of the screws seems to be to keep the slide from dislodging the tabs. I believe the tabs carry the weight.

 

[E92FF]

One more bit of info, the slides have “Matcoglide” stamped into them.

 

[Flyordie]

None of the OEM's models have the tabs. They are all held in with rivets or screws. Wonder if a Waterloo 24" slide would work? It uses tabs as well as rivets. So, idk..

I would give Vogt till say Wednesday to respond. Sometimes it takes a few days as they might have to go through some paperwork. (1993 wasn't exactly.. computerized as much as we are today)

https://www.knapeandvogt.com/sites/default/files/OL2890-8600-SellSheet-WEB.pdf

I'm thinking this could be the closest one to it depending on slide thickness. (From tool box to drawer face, how thick is it?)

 

[E92FF]

Ok, measure the depth of the full slide.. from metal to where the slide would mount to the drawer. Basically, that and the 24" depth is known so the only question at that point is mounting the replacement slides on the drawer using the existing mount points. I am going over the OEM's slides and they have a few HEAVY duty slides that may work depending on mounting methods.

Rough measurements:

3 Inner channel tabs at:
2-1/4” 12-3/16” 22” from the back of the channel. Slides towards the rear of the drawer to lock in.

2 outer channel tabs at:
6-1/2” and 22” from the back. Slides towards the front of the box to lock in.

 

[E92FF]

Oh, and the slides are about 3/4” thick.

 

[Flyordie]

Ok, after seeing that.. It looks like you have a custom version of this slide..

https://www.knapeandvogt.com/8810?

It could also be the 815 but those 2 series are the ONLY 2 lines they make at .75" width. The rest are .5".

My guess is, they discontinued the design and you'll have to make some modifications to get a new set of slides to work in place of the old ones.

 

[E92FF]

This forum is awesome, thank you all for the help!! Got several of ideas on where to go next and a little encouragement at the end of a tough week. (Least of all over this box)

Just for fun and because my shop door is only about 10’ from my garage door I ran out and measured the drawer. I think it was 56-1/2” wide. Maybe 51-1/2” been sipping a nice reposado as we’ve been talking and I forgot a little between there and here.

I sincerely thank you all though. I am considerably cheered up and it’s not because of the reposado.

 

[E92FF]

Tried a couple reps this morning. There doesn’t seem to be one in my area any more and the guys I did get in touch with recommended Matco Customer Service. Tried them again and I’m pretty sure I got the same guy. I asked if the slide number superseded to another, if there was any chance there was some old stock somewhere, if he could see the inventory on his reps trucks, if he had another slide that I could modify to work. He had exactly zero interest in helping me at all. I would probably not buy another Matco product if he is indicative of their attitude towards customers.

Gonna try Knap & Vogt again tomorrow. Maybe Accuride and a few other manufacturers as well. I think I’m just looking for something I can make work now.

 

[Flyordie]

Tried a couple reps this morning. There doesn’t seem to be one in my area any more and the guys I did get in touch with recommended Matco Customer Service. Tried them again and I’m pretty sure I got the same guy. I asked if the slide number superseded to another, if there was any chance there was some old stock somewhere, if he could see the inventory on his reps trucks, if he had another slide that I could modify to work. He had exactly zero interest in helping me at all. I would probably not buy another Matco product if he is indicative of their attitude towards customers.

Gonna try Knap & Vogt again tomorrow. Maybe Accuride and a few other manufacturers as well. I think I’m just looking for something I can make work now.

I'm gonna see if Waterloo would have anything that could work. The slides I have are for a 26" chest, 125lb slides.. They use 2 tabs and a rivet to attach to the drawer and 2 tabs (the slide slips in and slides forward on the rear tab and drops into it on the front tab then the rivet goes in just in front of that tab)

 

[E92FF]

Cool, thanks!

I’ve seen several that use tabs (I also learned they call them bayonets). Mine all slide one direction (in-line with the drawer) The modern slides all seem to have one “bayonet” that slides front to back inline with the drawer, and one that slides up or down. Either way I think if I’m gonna make something else work I would be better off with screws or rivets. Seems like drilling holes would be much easier than cutting slots!

 

[greg13]

Check with a Snap on rep., they look like the slides in my tool cart. May be a different size but you may get lucky.

 

[Professional Tool User]

Unless the OP can cross over the slide part number and find something that works from another supplier, he's out of luck if even corporate says they don't stock the slide anymore.

As for dealing with tool truck guys, the first I do when I meet a new tool truck guy is warranty a broken tool or two. He will either help me (I'll try to buy something off him every now and then) or tell me to get lost (I go buy my tools elsewhere). And if you are a big spender on the truck and there's something that's supposed to be not warrantable, threaten to cancel anything you may have on back order.

 

[Mr Ratchet]

Id stay on Matco. They replaced a couple of slides on my older MB 1440 for free and should do the same for you. Tell them that they need to get you a replacement slide that will fit you box.
If you want to go the K&V route, give them a little more time to get back to you. They are a pretty good company, my brother works there.

 

[Marlin]

Matco has a slide that is CHRN-422M which is a 22" slide, it's a long shot but it may work and just not have the same travel.

 

[E92FF]

Tried Knape and Vogt again today and got a guy named Tim in their tech department who was a great help. Kind of disappointing but he explained that Knap and Vogt never made this slide and he wishes Matco would stop telling people that. These slides were made by Waterloo so Flyoride you might be onto something! Unfortunately Knape and Vogt bought Waterloo in 2013 but they have none of the original tooling and no record of these slides. He did suggest that I get a 250lb capacity flat mount slide and mount it with Tox fasteners. I think I am going to explore that as my solution. I will let you all know hoe that turns out!

Thanks again for the interest and help!

 

[Flyordie]

Sorry I wasn't able to get back to you earlier. Was dealing with bad weather and tornadic storms. (we had tornado's all around us.. )

Anyway... Here is the slides my broken tool chest uses. idk if these would work for your application though.

 

[E92FF]

Sorry I wasn't able to get back to you earlier. Was dealing with bad weather and tornadic storms. (we had tornado's all around us.. )

Anyway... Here is the slides my broken tool chest uses. idk if these would work for your application though.

Thanks, looks like they mounts the same but are for a smaller drawer. I ordered replacements from Amazon yesterday. They are supposed to be here Friday so I’m hoping to mount them Sunday. I’m instructing our fire academy all day Saturday.

 

[Flyordie]

Thanks, looks like they mounts the same but are for a smaller drawer. I ordered replacements from Amazon yesterday. They are supposed to be here Friday so I’m hoping to mount them Sunday. I’m instructing our fire academy all day Saturday.

Ok. Well, keep us posted.

 

[E92FF]

Update: got the new slides and they seemed like the Channels were a match for the old slide. Just for fun I took one apart and did the same with my old slide. The largest channel was undamaged and it’s the one that locks into the box so I want to try and use it. The original bearings between the middle and largest channel were too small and the new bearings were too large so I ordered a bag of 15/64” ball bearings. I figure if they don’t work I can try them on one side and the new larger or old smaller bearings on the opposite side and get a good fit. I will let you know if it works out tonight!

 

[E92FF]

IT WORKED!!!! Old channel meet new straight channel! I’ve got a slide mounted as Matco intended! Now all I have to do is attach the new innermost channel to the drawer and put it all together! Planning to use small machine screws unless anyone has a better idea. I’ll drill the channel on my drill press then clamp it to the drawer and use the holes as guides to drill the drawer. Throw in 4 machine screws and nuts and load this drawer up!

Thanks again to all who offered advice!

 

[E92FF]

Booyah!!

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Awesome! Sharp box!

 

[Flyordie]

Great job! Glad you found a solution to the problem.

 

[Michael_in_DE]

That's freaking awesome! Great job. With all the boxes out there I almost never see parts for them.


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[E92FF]

Thanks! I’m hopeful it will see another 30 years or more in my shop! Maybe longer if my nephew shows interest in it.

Next job is to get the duct tape residue off of it.

 

[Mr_B]

Thanks! I’m hopeful it will see another 30 years or more in my shop! Maybe longer if my nephew shows interest in it.

Next job is to get the duct tape residue off of it.

make sure nephew gets interested .
Be a nice proper vintage box for him. better than buying box store junk .

 

[njride]

Great job
You should post the part numbers for future reference, i have an old kr1000, but i like those boxes too.

Maybe someone else will run across the same problem, maybe it will be me if im lucky lol.

 

[E92FF]

Great job
You should post the part numbers for future reference, i have an old kr1000, but i like those boxes too.

Maybe someone else will run across the same problem, maybe it will be me if im lucky lol.

Sure, here is everything in Amazons description:

TCH Hardware 24” Heavy Duty 250 lb Drawer Slides - 2-1/4" x 3/4" Wide Steel Full Extension Over Travel

Part# 520-24113AZ1800

ASIN: B07C2F897B