Done!! Craftsman Tool Chest Drawer Modification

[John in OH]

is there any room for more drawers or sliders on the left bank of drawers?

love what he did with the box...does anybody know if it is possible to add drawers to the left bank of this box...or maybe even just add double sliders to some of the drawers on the left bank...thank you

I don’t see any reason why you couldn’t replace the wider left-hand drawers just the same as the narrow, right-side drawers. The rails on the left side are also pre-punched at roughly 1-1/16” intervals and there are multiple tabs on the lock bars.



Keep in mind, the modification that I made used “repair” components, not “optional” parts. So, the only probable options are 3”, 4” and 6” deep drawers.

Regarding doubling up on slides, the 4” and 6” drawers have a second set of slide mounting holes 2-1/8” below the top set of holes so it appears that double slides can be installed on these drawers. The 3” drawers have only one set of holes for the top slides.

Double set of slide mounting holes in 4” drawer



Double set of slide mounting holes in 6” drawer



Single set of slide mounting holes in 3” drawer.

 

[rshadd]

I received my four 3" drawers on Monday and installed them today.

I think the most time consuming part was removing the adhesive stickers from the slides.

12" drawer removed and replaced with a 3" drawer...

Completed. I love having the extra drawers, for me it's way more useful this way.

 

[ken w.]

How much weight can you put in these drawers ? I'm looking at buying a used box like this for $250.00 with a vise on top.

 

[John in OH]

How much weight can you put in these drawers ? I'm looking at buying a used box like this for $250.00 with a vise on top.

Per the Sears website, the drawers in this Griplatch cabinet are rated for 70 lb. each. The site also lists the current price of the black 40" Griplatch cabinet at $776 and the best "on sale" price I've ever seen is around $500, so you are getting a really good deal if you can buy one for $250 ... assuming it's not beat to ****.

 

[bobemmerich]

That is a nice modification, John.
I like a lot of shallow drawers, rather than a deep one that just collects junk.

^^I agree 100%^^. That's a great job and it looks good, too. That's why I'm doing the same to one of my C-Man 26" boxes. The deeper drawers just don't do it for me. I figure for less than buying a new box, I can have a set up I like/use

 

[MrSnicks]

I just picked up a floor display griplatch side cabinet at my local sears store that was advertised on searsoutlet.com for $186.00. I'lll be replacing the large bottom drawer with the drawers from the side cabinet and then attempt to recoop some/most of the money spent on the side cabinet by selling it on craigslist. I already have 1 side cabinet on my setup now and don't have room to hang another.

Patrick

 

[MrSnicks]

Update (pics later) I can't believe how easy it was to do this swap, and I didn't have to worry about stickers and plastic to unwrap like some of the other posters... Now.. Anyone want to buy a RARE Craftsman Griplatch Ball Bearing Side Cabinet with 2 deep drawers and 1 shallow drawer? Super Rare, probably will not see another one until some else does this .

 

[radrush]

Hate to revive an old thread but........you could buy the side cabinet on sale, take the shallow drawers & slides out, and put your big drawer back in the side cabinet and have your wife return it to Sears. Chances are they won't even look in the box.

 

[archirelic]

Hate to revive an old thread but........you could buy the side cabinet on sale, take the shallow drawers & slides out, and put your big drawer back in the side cabinet and have your wife return it to Sears. Chances are they won't even look in the box.

I sure hope you're joking...

 

[PCO6]

Hate to revive an old thread but........you could buy the side cabinet on sale, take the shallow drawers & slides out, and put your big drawer back in the side cabinet and have your wife return it to Sears. Chances are they won't even look in the box.

I was with you up to the ... "return it to Sears" part.

 

[cburnscrx]

I don’t see any reason why you couldn’t replace the wider left-hand drawers just the same as the narrow, right-side drawers. The rails on the left side are also pre-punched at roughly 1-1/16” intervals and there are multiple tabs on the lock bars.



Keep in mind, the modification that I made used “repair” components, not “optional” parts. So, the only probable options are 3”, 4” and 6” deep drawers.

Regarding doubling up on slides, the 4” and 6” drawers have a second set of slide mounting holes 2-1/8” below the top set of holes so it appears that double slides can be installed on these drawers. The 3” drawers have only one set of holes for the top slides.

Double set of slide mounting holes in 4” drawer



Double set of slide mounting holes in 6” drawer



Single set of slide mounting holes in 3” drawer.

One other thing of note...rivet the slides to both the drawers and the sides. You'll be AMAZED at how big of an upgrade it is.

 

[John in OH]

Hate to revive an old thread but........you could buy the side cabinet on sale, take the shallow drawers & slides out, and put your big drawer back in the side cabinet and have your wife return it to Sears. Chances are they won't even look in the box.

I'd be ashamed to even suggest such an idea.

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

I'd be ashamed to even suggest such an idea.

I agree with you! Especially on the Garage Journal Forum.

 

[er3456df]

One other thing of note...rivet the slides to both the drawers and the sides. You'll be AMAZED at how big of an upgrade it is.

Yeah? You mean just to take all the slack out? I'll try it out, I have a bunch of roller drawers that came out of a craftsman chest.

 

[kgorman]

Great idea I am going to check my full red color box and see if it has the tabs to replace the single 12" with 4"s. Haven't seen anyone do the all red box yet.

 

[Schony]

Know this thread is really old but but I have to comment. I've been wanting to swap one of my deeper drawers for 2 shallow drawers on my matco 6s toolbox. Talked to my dealer today he told me each drawer was 370. Plus 35 for one pair of slides. I told him he was insane. I was just looking around to see if anyone else had done this andi see they have. .. wish it was this cheep for me!

 

[John in OH]

Know this thread is really old but but I have to comment. I've been wanting to swap one of my deeper drawers for 2 shallow drawers on my matco 6s toolbox. Talked to my dealer today he told me each drawer was 370. Plus 35 for one pair of slides. I told him he was insane. I was just looking around to see if anyone else had done this andi see they have. .. wish it was this cheep for me!

The cost of adding the four drawers and associated hardware, plus shipping, to my Cman chest was a little over $200 in Dec. 2012.

 

[rande]

Know this thread is really old but but I have to comment. I've been wanting to swap one of my deeper drawers for 2 shallow drawers on my matco 6s toolbox. Talked to my dealer today he told me each drawer was 370. Plus 35 for one pair of slides. I told him he was insane. I was just looking around to see if anyone else had done this andi see they have. .. wish it was this cheep for me!

See if you can find a tool chest something similar to what you want on Craigslist, swap the drawers, then re-sell the other tool chest.

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

One other thing of note...rivet the slides to both the drawers and the sides. You'll be AMAZED at how big of an upgrade it is.

Pop rivet? Or aircraft style bucked rivet?

 

[Scott H in Wheaton]

Hardware plus shipping was a little over $200. Not the most economical way to add storage, but that 12" deep drawer has always annoyed me and I wanted to get better utilization from that space.

Not economical indeed, for only $139 more than that I got an entire General/HF 44" box with 13 drawers