Looking for some ideas on toolbox drawer modification

[NinnyCTSV]

So 1 thing that drives me nuts about my box as well as most is that with a drawer fully opened, filled all the way to the back with tools. And you’re left with a good 1-2” overhang where you’re forced to tilt sockets sideways, move stuff out the way etc to get to the tool you need. I have a Matco tool box and have seen it with everything from the cheap stuff at department stores to all 4 tool truck brands. I recently was watching a video on a strictlytoolbox tool vault 72” and the guy was showing that the drawers all the way opened sit flush, with not overhang. Has anyone modified or purchased different slides to allow for this on their boxes?

 

[WWheeler]

I'm not sure I understand what you mean.

I've just recently picked up a homeowner-grade Husky 52" tool chest combo and the drawers all pull all the way out flush. I thought that's pretty much been standard on most boxes for a good while now. I could have sworn the HF and craftsman boxes I compared this to pulling out flush also. Am I wrong about that? Or am I misunderstanding what you mean?





As it is I haven't settled on a socket organization solution so as you may notice most are just sitting in there for layout purposes. At least with the soft-close drawers they don't all fall over on me every time I go in there.

 

[NinnyCTSV]

Maybe husky has changed since the last I looked. Used to own a 44 hf and had the same issue. Went with a tool truck box for the deeper drawers. Attached a picture of 1 of my socket drawers where as you can see the last row is virtually unreachable without moving stuff. This same overhang problem is with a coworkers snap on krl and another’s cornwell custom. Window shopped a few other Matco and Mac boxes with the same issue

 

[Mr_B]

Is just a case of some do and some don't, no rule on brand or price .

 

[Wamsutta]

I'm not sure I understand what you mean.

+1 to that. I was waiting for somebody else to chime in that knew what the OP meant.

 

[Lassen Forge]

His drawers on his box don't pull out all the way, leaving the last couple inches of the drawer covered by the drawer above.

 

[Wamsutta]

His drawers on his box don't pull out all the way, leaving the last couple inches of the drawer covered by the drawer above.

They don't pull out all the way? I thought all boxes had full extension drawer slides by now.

 

[dumper]

I have an older than 20y/o Craftsman roller that has full extension slides. You have to check for them before you buy the box. Its a deal breaker to me if they do not have them.

 

[The Cobbler]

you can easily replace them with good quality full extension slides .
I bought a Husky box at Habitat that had been grossly overloaded and one of the slides was twisted. replaced it, fastened with pop rivets and all is good, in fact the replaced is better action than the OEM

 

[dumper]

probably cheaper to buy a new or used box to replace yours. Check out the new HF deep 26" 8 drawer roller cabinet. Deep drawers with full extension BB slides. At $229 on sale, looks like a good deal, feels at least as stout as the old 44"er.

 

[MikeF2316]

Even my Snap-on box (KRA 4107) the drawers leave about 2 cm covered.

 

[Wamsutta]

If the box is a Matco box, the drawers should extend all the way out. Sometimes you have to yank on the drawer to reset the slides so that it will fully extend.

 

[SRSemenza]

It is also interesting to compare the actual drawer depth (front to back) on boxes with the same depth. Box depth and slide depth can be the same but if the drawer is built an inch or so shorter it will come all the way out flush. But in reality you have lost an inch or so of storage.

I think it would be easier (maybe cheaper depending on box cost) to get a new box that doesn't have the problem. But you could swap out the full extension slides for over travel
slides. That will reduce the weight capacity when fully extended by 10 - 20 %. So if you have 100# slides buy 120# over travel slides.

Another way to combat the problem is to not put small items in the back. Long items in a front to back orientation. Or put wider flat items in the back. That way you can still pick up the front of the tool or whatever without reaching "under" the overhang.

Seth