Mounting a Craftsman side cabinet

[Tool Pants]

I just bought this used ball bearing side cabinet to go with my 26" 20 something year or so old friction slide boxes. I am going to have to look at my old catalogs to see when ball bearings sliders started.

Here is the local Craigslist picture. I was only interesed in the side box, with black drawers to match my old 26" incher.

I was wondering what was under the side unit in the Craigslist picture. It was a fork lift. At a general aviation airport.

The seller said he would sell just the side box, which is all I wanted. When I arrived it had been detached and we put it in my truck.

I remember this old logo. No grip latch back then.

I am by myself so I need to see if I can get what may be different generations to mate together. Needed to remove the drawers so I can pick it up by myself. There is a bracket that screws to the side cab so you can hang it.

But I have a large gap at the top and none at the bottom.

There is a lip on the bottom of my 26 incher that thought might be there to support the bottom weight of the side box. I can hook them together, but I still have a gap at the top. Picture of a putty knife on the bottom lip.

The seller could not find the key or never had one. He is a young guy, and very much doubt he was the original owner. In the rear of the picture is a white cloth drawstring bag and a bunch of papers on how to fix airplanes.

That white drawstring bag is on the right. I think it was the bag with the missing keys.

 

[ossaguy]

The gap is there because it came with 2 square stick-on rubber pads,that get stuck on at the bottom,and they are missing.That's how my CM side locker came.Nice looking side cab!

Steve

 

[sk farmer]

agreed on the rubber bumpers. you will need to find or make some to fit it. i beleive waterloo may be the oem. i would start with them. they should be able to help with more keys also if needed.

 

[nissan_crawler]

a quick call to sears parts should get both of them, for sure the keys.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Nice addition, you'll like it. I bought one a few years ago and ordered the one with the quiet glides by mistake. :tard:

 

[billymade]

Waterloo is definitely th eom, imho! You can contact them directly as well; all my customers were so impressed by their customer service and many times getting their parts directly from them, was cheaper then going through searspartsdirect.com! You should be able to find the part # of your side cab; look @ the top drawer on the inside on right, many times a sticker with the info should be in there!


Waterloo Industries, Inc.
Corporate Office
139 W. Forest Hill Avenue
Oak Creek, WI 53154
Phone: 1-800-558-5528

Customer Service
Phone: 1-800-833-8851
Fax: 1-319-235-6408
Email: [email protected]

Service Parts
Phone: 1-800-833-4405
Fax: 1-414-766-6585
Email: [email protected]

http://www.waterlooindustries.com/Customer-Support.jsp

 

[Tool Pants]

I went to the local Sears today because I remembered they had an unmounted side cab on display. Adam of Craftsman club fame works there. We opened the bottom drawer and there was the mounting bracket to hang the thing, 3 screws, and 2 pads/spacers in a plastic bag. Did not take a picture at Sears, but those 2 pads are just like what I have used when framing poster sized suff so the frame is plumb to the wall. I use spacers like this on the bottom of the frame.

Went home because I have something just like it, but mine are a bit to thin.

Used a piece of wood as a spacer to see what size works.

I am amazed the only thing holding the side cab to the main box is 3 sheet metal screws and the top bracket. As I said in my original post, I thought it was also supported by the lip on the bottom of the main box.

Then I realized I was trying to mount it on the side that had the handle for the main box. There is no handle on the left side.

So I switched sides.

Looks funny to see the now even gap that still looks like a gap, but then this is DIYer consumer grade stuff. I would have to check my old catalogs because I do not think think this side cab was approved for use unless it was on a 41", because a fully loaded side cab might cause a 26" to tip over due to the weight. I have 3 fully loaded 26" boxes, so I am not going to worry about the weight of the side cab.

 

[Mickey O]

Looks funny to see the now even gap that still looks like a gap, but then this is DIYer consumer grade stuff. I would have to check my old catalogs but I do not think think this side cab was approved for use unless it was on a 41", because a 26" might tip over with the extra weight.

Do what Mac did on their Economizer boxes:

A piece of chrome trim.

I saw this box at an auction of a Mac dealer that died, it was the biggest POS box I've seen with the Mac name, lightweight steel and friction slides. The top and bottom where actually two separate boxes banded together with a chrome strip to caver the joint. Didn't see what it went for, I left when I saw what people were paying for the tools.

 

[speed bump]

I am amazed the only thing holding the side cab to the main box is 3 sheet metal screws and the top bracket. As I said in my original post, I thought it was also supported by the lip on the bottom of the main box.

Looks funny to see the now even gap that still looks like a gap, but then this is DIYer consumer grade stuff. I would have to check my old catalogs but I do not think think this side cab was approved for use unless it was on a 41", because a 26" might tip over with the extra weight.

My grandpa has a Waterloo side cab on his 26' box and no problems with it, his has been loaded up since he bought it new in 97 and traveled around the country a couple of times as well.

 

[Kevin54]

Do what Mac did on their Economizer boxes:

A piece of chrome trim.

I saw this box at an auction of a Mac dealer that died, it was the biggest POS box I've seen with the Mac name, lightweight steel and friction slides. The top and bottom where actually two separate boxes banded together with a chrome strip to caver the joint. Didn't see what it went for, I left when I saw what people were paying for the tools.

How the hell can you even get close to that box to see what was in it

 

[Tool Pants]

Being the cheap guy I am, here is the deal on keys. Where I live there is a Sears place that just sells parts, and fixes things like lawn mowers. Been going there for 30 years. They also have refurbished power tools. They stock the lock with 2 keys for $7.99, plus tax, but were out of stock. I was thinking of waiting for it to be in stock, but I want to load up the cabinet now. I am also lazy and do not want to pull the drawers to replace the lock when the lock is in stock.

So I called Waterloo. The number is 1-800-833-4405. Keys are $3 each. Of course I had the number off the lock. Shipping for up to 6 keys is $2 via first class mail. I ordered 2 keys and with shipping it is $8. They are shipped from Missouri and I should have them within 5 days. So now I don't have to replace the lock and can load up the side cabinet.

Bit different with the 2 Kennedy tool boxes I bought at the flea market a week ago that did not have keys. Kennedy wanted $15 for a lock and 2 keys, plus shipping. If you just want a key via the code on the lock it is $12, plus shipping. Locksmith wanted $2.47 for the key, with $20 for labor. Made no sense when I paid $30 for one box and $35 for the other. I was able to buy a cam lock at Home Depot with 2 keys for $5.01 including tax, times 2 since I have 2 Kennedys. Unfortunately I cannot use the Home Depot cam lock I used on the Kennedys on the Craftsman side cabinet.

 

[Tool Pants]

Keys showed up today and they are the newer overmolded style. And they work.

Put them in the white drawstring bag with the other keys for the 26".

Good deal for $8.

 

[Here2Learn]

Thanks for the info on the keys!

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Toolpants, that is a nice Craftsman setup. I have a similar bottom and top box. That side box looks pretty cool, I'm sure you won't have any problems with it being loaded up and mounted on your rollaway.

 

[travisd]

Looks funny to see the now even gap that still looks like a gap, but then this is DIYer consumer grade stuff.

Maybe pick up some stick-on foam weatherstripping and use that to close the gap?