How to straighten racked side box

[Reese]

I bought a pile of used tool boxes over the weekend that included a Snap On KR277 side cabinet. I was messing with it and noticed the door across the front didn't close. A diagonal measurement across the front shows a difference of about 3/4" on the diagonal which I assume means the box is racked.

The damage isn't noticeable visually and drawers all still operate ok. How would a go about un-racking the box? I assume it needs to be pulled back into square but I don't have a clue how.

 

[lilredex]

I'd make up a screw jack with a threaded rod and a coupling nut, across the short diagonal, and see what that does. It usually works better than trying to squeeze the longer one with some sort of clamp.

 

[Gear Box]

I would strategically place one or two rachet straps. Measure and rachet just past the memory of the rack. Measure again repeat if necessary.

 

[The Cobbler]

as above, but depends on how strong of a box it is, if it doesn't move by straps, some angle iron along the corners with threaded rod front & back and pull it back into shape

 

[ard]

Or pony clamps. I have them up to 10 ft for tweaking cabinets/boxes during assembly..

Depends on how racked- if one plane is good, clamp that down onto a table- then work on the stuff out of square. Understand you likely need to go past, as it will spring back.

 

[rburke65]

We would get a better idea if we had a photo or three!

 

[Hammer1963]

I have repaired many tool cabs for area Snap-on, Matco and Cornwell dealers. If you post a photo, I can give you some recommend some repair procedures. I have a pseudo pulling system that I have erected for extreme impact damage.

 

[Reese]

Here are a couple pictures. The box has a decided lean to the left.

 

[larry_g]

For me I would want to do some more checking other than just the door opening. Such as are any of the other sides out of square? Any of the panels wrinkled or warped? Can you see any signs of where the box was hit to cause this? Do you have a GOOD FLAT surface you can set this on and use a framing square to check each corner for vertical in both X and Y directions?

Do your best to find out all that is wonky with the box, not just the door opening. Then the fix might become more obvious. Me I would take it over to friends house who has a fab table and clamp the bottom to the table and work from there.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[GMCGarage]

bolt it to the floor and push it till straight.

 

[rsanter]

I have fixes a couple boxes that were racked.
I have always removed all the drawers and used pipe clamps to either push or pull at a diagonal.
You will need to make some wood blocks to do at the corners so the jaws of the pipe clamps to not damage the box.

That box looks like the metal is bent. I have had a couple that cracked or spot welds broke so I was able to weld it up when in position and it stayed

I am thinking on that box that it was on a main box and the with some pounding on or holding some excess weigh it bent down over time

Bob

 

[Reese]

Thanks for everyone's input. I got the box straightened this afternoon. I removed the door and all the drawers and then pulled it back square with a couple lengths of angle iron and some all thread rod. I was surprised how easy it was. The toughest part of the job was drilling holes in the angle iron for the all thread.

 

[Zexx]

I have found that a drop on the opposite corner from about 3 inches up usually straightens things out.