Lets talk friction....Slides that is

[zkling]

After reading on here, for years I have been wanting a vintage snap on tool box. Something like a KRA-59 top and matching bottom. Rarely do I come across one, and when I do it is usually more than what a 13 drawer Harbor freight bottom runs. Or it is in extremely poor condition.

Doing some Christmas cleaning of the garage got me thinking....Are the vintage snap on friction slides so much better than other friction slides of the same time period????

I have personally owned Craftsman (newer and old), Kennedy (old), Waterloo (old, same as craftsman?) and seem to have had no issues with their service. I was most impressed with the Kennedy slides. Now granted I am just a home mechanic opening the drawers maybe 5 times every day average. All of my tool boxes I have bought used, well used. And for the longest time I did really good with a cheap craftsman 5 drawer project center that I received from my parents as a gift.

It seems to me that majority of used tool boxes fall into one of three different categories. First, said box is extremely worn out (drawers sagging, covered in rust) and not that good of a price. Or second; said box is good used condition but again not that great of a deal price wise. Third, box is a nice truck brand box, good deal for what it is, but a bit spendy for the average home mechanic.

What are you thoughts on the vintage friction slide boxes? Please discuss....

 

[thightower]

I have a Kra 58B, at least I think that is the model. It is about 40 years old, I've had it for about 30. Dad used it as a junk box for a few years. When I went to college I took it to school, pretty much took it over. I've used it on and off for the last 25 years. I believe it still has the original friction slides in it, they still work fine, never had a problem with them. I also have one of the Craftsman 3 drawer bottom with the big storage in the very bottom. Both boxes are roughly the same age, about the same usage. The slides on it are all but worn plumb out.

 

[djjsr]

I think it depends on how much weight you're going to put in the drawers.

Many years ago when I was wrenching for a living, I had a typical Craftsman setup, chest and roller cabinet. Back then (over 40 years ago) they didn't have bearing slides.

The upper drawers had lighter stuff and the lower drawers had large industrial size tools and a LOT of weight. After using it daily for 6 or 7 years, the lower drawer slides were shot, even though I kept them lubed. The uppers were fine.

 

[Steevo]

I just went through my Snap-On cab and top/middle boxes recently and pulled all drawers, cleaned the slides and tracks, re-lubed them and flipped the slides side-to-side to reverse the wear areas. This box was bought new by me in 1978, and this is the first time the slides have been fully serviced. Some were pretty rough, but all work smoothly now.
Since this is now my machine tooling cabinet, it should outlast me.

 

[Outlawmws]

I think all my tools boxes use frictions slides except three; a ~15 year old Husky (the small 1/2 width drawers are still F slides), a 57 Craftsman 5 drawer roller with roller slides (not The modern ball bearing slices; each drawer has 4 ball bearing rollers) and a 2 drawer Pressteel roller (Same setup as the Craftsman) from the 40's. all the rest, (193 drawers worth) are friction slides, aged from the 30's 40's 50's and 60's at least, and all work fine, even when somewhat overloaded.

 

[kc-steve]

My 1983 Craftsman/Waterloo machinist boxes are using friction sliders I think. Never had any issue, except they got a little sticky and decided to lube them once with silicone spray.

But I have been thinking about putting some bearing sliders on my kitchen drawers. I picked up a set from a hardware for $16. I wanted to measure them to see if it was possible to install on preexisting wood drawers. If I were to do that on a tool box it would cost a bundle. Hardly worth it when the old sliders seem to be doing fine. "If it works, don't fix it."

Steve

 

[Provincial]

When I was setting up my first service body truck, an experienced mobile mechanic advised me that friction slides hold up better in trucks than ball bearing slides. He felt that the balls had a smaller contact area and wore quickly because of this. The friction slides spead the load over a much larger area, and were therefore much more resistant to the vibration and bouncing.

 

[crewchief888]

most of my toolboxes have friction slides
all but one set would be considered vintage, '70 CM top, 70's & 80's snapon, and a mac side cab.
ive only replaced 1 set of drawer slides, (on a box i bought new in '85)
that drawer that held pullers, and puller accesories, well over 250lbs of tools.

non vintage set bought new in '94 has roller slides.

friction slide CM top ('99) in my service truck hasnt needed a slide replaced, the outer frame has cracked several times, and the inside wall of the box where the slides attach is cracked and broken.

 

[RV77]

I just went through my Snap-On cab and top/middle boxes recently and pulled all drawers, cleaned the slides and tracks, re-lubed them and flipped the slides side-to-side to reverse the wear areas. This box was bought new by me in 1978, and this is the first time the slides have been fully serviced. Some were pretty rough, but all work smoothly now.
Since this is now my machine tooling cabinet, it should outlast me.

Damn Steevo.....nice vintage box Good to see someone else takes care of their property.

 

[zkling]

Thanks all. I will try to keep an eye out in the future for a vintage snap on setup. I went to look, but passed on a KRA59 top with 7 drawer base a few weeks ago for $75. It was heavily rusted inside and out and required a firm stance and two hand grip to open the drawers. I don't really have the time or patience right now to repaint an entire tool box. Nor did I really NEED the box.

There is just something really neat about the old front cover snap on type top boxes.

Here's to hoping for a garage sale find mint condition setup on the cheap one of these days. Until then I will continue to use my second hand craftsman and waterloo boxes.

Happy holidays to all.

Steevo, really nice setup!!!

 

[Steevo]

Unfortunately, when I was young and dumb(er), I drilled two holes in the KRA59 top box to rivet on the "Colorado Kenworth" emblem you see on it. Otherwise it would be in original condition.

 

[L5wolvesf]

I just went through my Snap-On cab and top/middle boxes recently and pulled all drawers, cleaned the slides and tracks, re-lubed them and flipped the slides side-to-side to reverse the wear areas.

What did you use to lube them?

Thank you,
L

 

[Steevo]

I used a molybdenum light grease.
Some will say to use a dry lubricant to keep dirt and dust from clinging to it.

 

[rsanter]

in my opinion yes the vintage snap on frictions slides are better than most others of that era. the next best or equal to would be the old kenedy cabinets.
I think the reason is the tollerance or precision they were made was better than most others and the structure or strenth of the drawer overall is better

bob

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Unfortunately, when I was young and dumb(er), I drilled two holes in the KRA59 top box to rivet on the "Colorado Kenworth" emblem you see on it. Otherwise it would be in original condition.

I think we can forgive you that indiscretion.

 

[Ramblur]

Had to tweak a few of the slides (especially on the deeper lower drawers) on
my 65 vintage KRA 500/???/510, but they still work fine.

 

[zkling]

Ah... My dream tool box. That thing is so nice.