how to remove snap on friction drawers?

[Piper]

Hi

I just purchased an older snap on roll cab, top box and side cab. This unit looks older and has friction drawers. I haven't looked at it closely but I'm wondering if the drawers can be removed for cleanup and maintenance?

If anyone has any tips or suggestions I'm all ears.

Piper

 

[z28toz06]

Hi

I just purchased an older snap on roll cab, top box and side cab. This unit looks older and has friction drawers. I haven't looked at it closely but I'm wondering if the drawers can be removed for cleanup and maintenance?

If anyone has any tips or suggestions I'm all ears.

Piper

try this

With the drawer removed from the slide,push the slide back in slowly-watch through the holes in the center of the slide-you will see either screws or rivets-remove the screws or drill out the rivets-push up on the slide and they will come out.When reinstalling in new location,use screws to replace the rivets.

 

[Piper]

Further to my question, there are spring steel clips on each drawer glide. I found a 3/32 allen key slid down against the drawer allowed the "catch" to not "catch" allowing the drawer to come fully out. When I took the drawers out I found a date stamp on each drawer. Would you believe 1958?? This tool box is in great shape. I fully cleaned and lubricated the drawers and it's now back together. I still have the base cabinet and side cabinet to go.

On another note, I got all 3 cabinets plus a full set of shallow and deep 1/2" snapon sockets, full 3/8" shallow and deep as well as (yu guessed it) full set of 1/4" shallow and deep sockets. All for the very fine price of CAN$ 625.00

See my other thread about available Cman sockets if you like as I'm selling those now that I have the s/o.

Piper

 

[colinwri]

Could I ask you how to remove the bottom drawer as it does not have the spring clips?

 

[Junkman]

There is a specific spring steel removal tool that you can purchase on the SO truck. I have a pair that came with my SO box about 40 years ago. In the first picture, is the tool. The second picture shows the tool being placed in the drawer slide, and the third picture shows the drawer slide after it has been pulled out past the stop, with the tool still inserted in the slide. If you look carefully, you can see in the third picture the tab that holds the drawer from pulling out completely. The tool allows the drawer side of the slide to go past this stop and the drawer to pull out.

 

[jim m]

There is a specific spring steel removal tool that you can purchase on the SO truck. I have a pair that came with my SO box about 40 years ago. In the first picture, is the tool. The second picture shows the tool being placed in the drawer slide, and the third picture shows the drawer slide after it has been pulled out past the stop, with the tool still inserted in the slide. If you look carefully, you can see in the third picture the tab that holds the drawer from pulling out completely. The tool allows the drawer side of the slide to go past this stop and the drawer to pull out.

yep Junk man told me about these a few months ago they work just like he says
got mine off the snap on truck seen it at a shop and just stoped and ask the guy only cost me $6.50

Jim

 

[Merkava_4]

That blurry picture there shows the notch on the drawer AFTER it cleared the spring clip on the slider. If you don't have the special tool, you can make one similar by taking an old hack saw blade and grinding the teeth off and narrowing the the first couple of inches so it's easier to insert between the drawer and the slider.

 

[mulepackin]

As I recall, we have used old hack saw blades in place of the spring steel tools. Just slid them in in similar fashion and disengaged the catches.

 

[rsanter]

I have a couple of those. you can also use a feeler guage

bob

 

[Stanger]

I also use a hacksaw blade for my old SO box. Can we see some pics of the box? I have a thing for vintage SO boxes...

 

[XJ1100]

I also use a hacksaw blade for my old SO box. Can we see some pics of the box? I have a thing for vintage SO boxes...

I am also waiting on pics...there is just something about old SO boxes.

 

[colinwri]

Thanks for the help all - after taking a close look at Junkmans removal tool, I heated up the end of a hacksaw blade so I could put a slight bend in it and out came the drawer.
I would post images, but do not have any webspace to upload them to.

 

[colinwri]

Just realised I can upload inmages directly here, so one of the pics shows the different runners that my box has and that had me scratching my head. The other shows the box with the drawers removed. Does anyone know the model number as I cannot find it - there are 9 drawers? Also, what should I lubricate the runners with? Thanks again.

 

[Junkman]

The number is stamped into the middle of the back of the box. Usually on the top rear, but I have seen it in the middle or bottom also. Sometimes the drawers are also stamped with a date of manufacturer.
I lubricate mine with white lithium brake grease. I don't think that there is one grease that is better than another for this purpose, since all the grease does is reduce the friction, which is very little. Every few years, I remove the drawers, clean the old grease and put on some new grease. I like the white lithium grease since it cleans up easily and goes on easy.

 

[Rickster]

Does anyone know if you can replace the sliders with roller slides on a Snap-on box? They were interchangable on my Kennedy box.

 

[Kartbaan]

There is a specific spring steel removal tool that you can purchase on the SO truck. I have a pair that came with my SO box about 40 years ago. In the first picture, is the tool. The second picture shows the tool being placed in the drawer slide, and the third picture shows the drawer slide after it has been pulled out past the stop, with the tool still inserted in the slide. If you look carefully, you can see in the third picture the tab that holds the drawer from pulling out completely. The tool allows the drawer side of the slide to go past this stop and the drawer to pull out.

Thanks for the advice Junkman, I did follow your advice. I just bought a Snap-On Tool box from 1968 (KRA-59A USA68) and was able to remove all 9 drawers so I could clean all the old grease and dirt from it. I found a very old and heavy wrench behind the bottom drawer also. Question: Is it possible to remove the slides at all? Please advice. Thank you all this is a great place !!

 

[pirana]

Thanks for the advice Junkman, I did follow your advice. I just bought a Snap-On Tool box from 1968 (KRA-59A USA68) and was able to remove all 9 drawers so I could clean all the old grease and dirt from it. I found a very old and heavy wrench behind the bottom drawer also. Question: Is it possible to remove the slides at all? Please advice. Thank you all this is a great place !!

Yes, the slides can be removed from the box too. On the other end of the slide (towards the rear) should be another spring clip riveted to that end. It removes the same way the drawers do. I just used a 1/8" welding rod hammered flat on the end & bent 90 degrees about two or three inches from said end.

 

[Kartbaan]

Yes, the slides can be removed from the box too. On the other end of the slide (towards the rear) should be another spring clip riveted to that end. It removes the same way the drawers do. I just used a 1/8" welding rod hammered flat on the end & bent 90 degrees about two or three inches from said end.

Thank you pirana, I read your post late last night and this morning I removed the slides and clean them real good. The box was so dirty inside that I decided to spray it with some oven cleaner and after 90 seconds I wiped off and grease and paint came off. The inside is almost bare metal know. How do I post some pics? HHmmmm Thanks again.....

 

[Junkman]

Next time use something less caustic such as dish washing liquid. It will remove the grease, but not the paint. Time to buy some spray cans of red paint... Snap-On offers the red paint in spray cans, but it is a little pricey at $14 a can..

 

[Kartbaan]

Junkman, 14 bucks a can is a bit expensive. I wonder how many cans should I need to spray paint the whole tool box? I have remove almost all of the paint inside and outside, do I need to prime it first? Please advice. Thank you all.

 

[Junkman]

I would use a metal etching primer on it first, and then top coat with a inexpensive red enamel paint. I wouldn't spend what Snap-On wants for paint. I will assume that you don't have much in the way of painting experiance, so buying the Snap-On paint in quart cans and spraying it with a paint gun is out of the question. Don't get discouraged, in the end, it will look fine. It is a tool box, not a collector car.

 

[Kartbaan]

Alwright, thanks for the advice Junkman. I'm still trying to figure out how to post pictures on here?
kartbaan

 

[48548]

When you post a posting go to advanced and clip on the paper clip(attachment option) and point it to your files and upload them. This will bring up a seperate window to do this in.

 

[Kartbaan]

When you post a posting go to advanced and clip on the paper clip(attachment option) and point it to your files and upload them. This will bring up a seperate window to do this in.

Thank you 48548, I follow the instructions twice and at the end I was told that my pic. exceeds the forums limit of 78.1 KB How do I make pics. smaller ?

 

[wrenchr]

Tow strap attached to the back bumper of your truck Kidding!!!

 

[Kartbaan]

Tow strap attached to the back bumper of your truck Kidding!!!

R U NUTS? (lol lol lol )

 

[48548]

I use a program called irfran view and you can say make the file a certain size, and I say 75k and that make sure that they will fit. Let me know if that doesn't work. The program is free, look for it on downloads.com or google.com.

 

[Junkman]

I use a program called irfran view and you can say make the file a certain size, and I say 75k and that make sure that they will fit. Let me know if that doesn't work. The program is free, look for it on downloads.com or google.com.

It is IRFANVIEW.... click here

 

[Kartbaan]

Thanks to both of you. I will try to download this evening, if not I'll do it over the weekend.

 

[eschoendorff]

Thanks to both of you. I will try to download this evening, if not I'll do it over the weekend.

Dude, you are doing way too much work. Just go to www.photobucket.com and sign up for a free account. You can upload pictures to your account and use photobucket as a host for your pictures on message boards.

Here's a simple how-to:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13567

 

[Kartbaan]

I hope the picture comes OK. Please let me know, I am not so good with computers. Thank you all.
P.S Pic. to small or to big?

 

[Kartbaan]

 

[Kartbaan]

http://http://i474.photobucket.com/albums/rr106/kartbaan_2008/Snap-Onbox2.jpg

 

[Kartbaan]

http://i474.photobucket.com/albums/rr106/kartbaan_2008/Snap-Onbox5.jpg

 

[mbatarga]

I just got this used toolbox off Craigslist - http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28089

Someone linked this thread when I asked about removing the drawers. After reading and seeing what was needed, I wanted to add my homemade tool that I just made for this purpose.

I rarely throw away anything that I might be able to use in the future -and my wife just loves that. You know those thin metal strips that reinforce each side of a windshield wiper refill? I took two of them and laid them side by side and took some clear packing tape and laid it over them. Then rolled the two strips once over, still side-by-side so that both sides were covered with the tape. Ran a utility knife down the edge to cut the excess from the side. This basically laminates each side of the strips and holds them side by side. I took two other strips and did the same thing. I bent one end of each at about a 10 degree angle, and the other end at about 90. With the drawer open a few inches, I inserted the 10 degree angle end first and slid it back between the drawer and the slide just like the Junkman posted pictures.

 

[chrislehr]

Guess its time for a hacksaw blade for me!

 

[TruckTech]

Guess its time for a hacksaw blade for me!

I just looked up this same thread and used a cut up hacksaw blade a few weeks ago. Works great!

 

[chrislehr]

Man, I am either feeble minded or willed - no luck whatsoever. Too hot out to go try again

 

[lbgradwell]

Instead of the dedicated tool or the hacksaw blade, I used a large cable tie! After a minute's practice, you'll be able to release them almost instantly...

 

[chrislehr]

ahah !!! I got it - and hack saw blades did NOT do it for me...

I used tin snipped from some ductwork instead. Like some said, once you get the hang its easy.

I made a youtube video... but im *******, so warning for manboob. I will try to edit out somehow if I can.