Secure your toolbox

[Robert Retired]

Please secure your heavy toolbox to the wall. When my 600 pound toolbox fell over because of too many drawers open I got trapped under a corner of the toolbox, cut my arm, bruised my ribs, chipped a tooth, and crushed my foot, and then surgery on my foot. Now I have a hardware store worth of parts in my foot and I can't put weight on for 12 weeks. No fun! See photo

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

Get well soon & I wish you a speedy recovery!

Hope the “retired” part of your nickname has nothing to do with the incident.

Kind regards,
Olli

 

[Robert Retired]

I am really retired age 76

 

[Oldsnapper]

It is no fun to stand them back up and attempt to shake tools down enought to close the drawers. Can't always secure boxes to anything. 30 years ago, i was at work with my toolbox behind the alignment machine. Another tech started a vehicle on the alignment rack that was in gear. Came off the end of the rack, into the alignment machine and dumped my box. Had to replace 3 sets of sliders and 3 drawers. Dealership covered the cost on a SnapOn box. i was lucky I had bolted the top to the bottom or could have been much more damage.

 

[zimman]

Never liked a tall tool box. Waste level and stop. Also you may want to evaluate your work habits. Open a drawer, pick a item and close it.
Glad you are recovering and know every old guy on this forum has thought about being trapped, crushed or injured in their garage. If they didn't, they're going to be caught off guard.
Safety first.
Zim

 

[Robert Retired]

It is no fun to stand them back up and attempt to shake tools down enought to close the drawers. Can't always secure boxes to anything. 30 years ago, i was at work with my toolbox behind the alignment machine. Another tech started a vehicle on the alignment rack that was in gear. Came off the end of the rack, into the alignment machine and dumped my box. Had to replace 3 sets of sliders and 3 drawers. Dealership covered the cost on a SnapOn box. i was lucky I had bolted the top to the bottom or could have been much more damage.

My toolboxes were bolted together and they stayed together. The bottom box will be turned into a rolling cart. The drawers in that box are probably not repairable. My engine hoist can in handy for separating the boxes and standing them up.

 

[captain14]

This should be posted as a PSA alert also.

How long is your recovery time?

Did you have help in the toolbox recovery operation or did you just supervise it?

 

[OMGdidhedied]

I like being able to move mine around when I want, but I’ve always followed the rule of not opening more than 1 drawer at a time. To anyone reading this, remember to follow this rule and constantly teach it to your kids if they’re ever fetching tools for you.

 

[Robert Retired]

This should be posted as a PSA alert also.

How long is your recovery time?

Did you have help in the toolbox recovery operation or did you just supervise it?

This should be posted as a PSA alert also.

How long is your recovery time?

Did you have help in the toolbox recovery operation or did you just supervise it?

Thanks for asking.
I expect to begin putting weight on my foot in early July. Meanwhile I'm, doing all my projects from a wheelchair. Everything just takes more time now.
My son in law used my engine hoist to separate the top and bottom toolboxes and bring the bottom box upright.

 

[JohnX14]

Damn, sorry to hear about your incident. Good post. I doubt I'll chain mine to the wall, but will definitely be mindful of opening only one drawer at a time.

 

[f121]

Are the tools ok?


(Hope you recover quickly

 

[Wrench-Polisher]

Are the tools ok?


(Hope you recover quickly

I love this place.
We have our priorities straight here.

 

[tripplejl]

Damn, that *****! Last drawer almost open, last thought, oh oh. Wishing you a speedy recovery!

 

[rust in the eye]

Glad you are able to tell the story and wishes for a quick recovery.
Why tool chests don't have interlocks to prevent more than one drawer at a time to be open baffles me. Filing cabinets have been this way for decades.
Given the price of some boxes you'd think maybe they'd want the guy to be able to make all his payments.

 

[merkyworks]

Glad you are able to tell the story and wishes for a quick recovery.
Why tool chests don't have interlocks to prevent more than one drawer at a time to be open baffles me. Filing cabinets have been this way for decades.
Given the price of some boxes you'd think maybe they'd want the guy to be able to make all his payments.

They probably figure office people are idiots and tool box people know better.....

@Robert Retired wish you a speedy recovery.

 

[orangeblood]

robert - glad you are here to tell your story and provide a warning. hope you're back to 100% soon

just curious.... how many drawers were open?...was it mainly top chest drawers?...were you doing anything you normally do not do and needed tools from many drawers?

 

[cgrutt]

Ugh ... glad you're ok heal up quick.

 

[bassJAM]

Why tool chests don't have interlocks to prevent more than one drawer at a time to be open baffles me. Filing cabinets have been this way for decades.

That's a good point. I know to never open more than one or two drawers at a time, but I should probably start teaching my kids to do the same thing. My teenaged daughter already goes searching for tools on her own.

 

[mikedodge]

That *****.
I never have more then one or two drawers open at a time.

 

[kbeefy]

Only open one drawer at a time.
Lock the drawers when moving them.

I also dislike top boxes. All my boxes have latches so the drawers don't open themselves.



I've been a mechanic for 40 years. The only time I've seen a box tip was when someone moved them without locking the drawers or due to an earthquake.

I hope you fully recover.

 

[YesIHaveAHammer]

Why tool chests don't have interlocks to prevent more than one drawer at a time to be open baffles me.

I believe this is an option on some models.

They probably figure office people are idiots and tool box people know better.....

It's a pretty reasonable assumption that most office people are less likely to think or understand this sort of thing. Physics, and generally how things around them work.

 

[Jacko264]

Sorry to hear about your accident
I have always thought most tool box / roll cabs are to narrow just because of accidents like this
G

 

[Jmellc]

Sorry this happened to you. We had something similar at work this morning. Tall shelving stacked with heavy metal sample parts, 2 sided rolling rack. We had to move it to get access to a corner. One side buckled & twisted, dumping parts everywhere. Fortunately, no one hurt. Reminds me of a tall cabinet in another room that I need to anchor to a wall. It jiggles a little with door open. Another accident waiting to happen. Gonna anchor it Monday night.

 

[Shelbylex]

Get better soon!

 

[msharley]

Dang...

Hope you heal up quick....

 

[Crazyjake8493]

Hope you heal fully!

I saw that happen in an RV shop I worked at years ago. Ever since I got my first "big" toolbox at home my rule is no more than one drawer open at a time. And lock/secure all drawers before moving a toolbox or cart, if moving is necessary.

 

[Twisted Sid]

I have a coworker who opens multiple unorganized drawers all at once and leaves them pulled out while digging through them for the needed tool. I have warned her twice not to do that and she still does. Im not doing it again nor am I going to help clean up the mess when it tips over.

 

[kbeefy]

Hope you heal fully!

I saw that happen in an RV shop I worked at years ago. Ever since I got my first "big" toolbox at home my rule is no more than one drawer open at a time. And lock/secure all drawers before moving a toolbox or cart, if moving is necessary.

Ni! Now cut down the largest tree in the forest with a herring and bring me a shrubbery! Something nice...

 

[mikedodge]

I prefer stacks with top boxes. They take up less floor space and keeps the tools you use the most at a level that are quick to reach that you don't have to to bend down to get into the drawers. The lower the drawers are hold the tools that get used less often. The only mid height tool boxes I have are the bench type.

 

[whateg01]

I also dislike top boxes. All my boxes have latches so the drawers don't open themselves.

That was a factor in my choice of boxes, picking one with the grip latch style of drawers. I also tilt the boxes rearward so that if something like an earthquake happens the drawers will want to stay closed, even without the latches.

 

[bob from indiana]

Our Fire Dept ran a notice to bolt your tool box to a wall. Some kids have climbed Dad’s box and it fell on them.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Never liked a tall tool box. Waste level and stop. Also you may want to evaluate your work habits. Open a drawer, pick a item and close it.
Glad you are recovering and know every old guy on this forum has thought about being trapped, crushed or injured in their garage. If they didn't, they're going to be caught off guard.
Safety first.
Zim

As the DuPont textile plant that was voted safest place in the world to work in 1973 drilled into us,
Safety First, Last, and Always.

 

[Jacko264]

There maybe a locking system but I don’t know of where only one drawer can be opened at a time
does anyone know of one?
G

 

[logical]

I believe this is an option on some models.


It's a pretty reasonable assumption that most office people are less likely to think or understand this sort of thing. Physics, and generally how things around them work.

This isn't a thread started by an "office person" now is it? Maybe it's because I've worked mostly in offices with engineers, research scientists and manufacturing related positions, but I don't think your stereotype holds even a tiny bit of water. Of course there are those who are and are not mechanically inclined but office /non-office is not the line that separates them.

 

[M.Jay]

Why tool chests don't have interlocks to prevent more than one drawer at a time to be open baffles me. Filing cabinets have been this way for decades.

At least here in Germany the majority of them have this feature build in and you have to search to find one without this option.

 

[whateg01]

There maybe a locking system but I don’t know of where only one drawer can be opened at a time
does anyone know of one?
G

Pretty common in filing cabinets. I can think of times where I wouldn't want it on a toolbox though.

 

[YesIHaveAHammer]

This isn't a thread started by an "office person" now is it?

I wasn't saying anything about this thread in general.

but I don't think your stereotype holds even a tiny bit of water. Of course there are those who are and are not mechanically inclined but office /non-office is not the line that separates them.

I didn't start it, look at the post I quoted. And I did say "most", perhaps "many" was the right word.

 

[Mr Ratchet]

First of all, welcome to the forum. Thanks for posting this risk hazard at your own expense. Glad you were not injured more than you were.

With every box set up I've had over the years, I've always checked their balance. I start by pulling the first top drawers all the way out. Then with a slow smooth motion, I work my way down. I keep one hand towards at the top of the box feeling for any motion forward. Once I do, i start pushing drawers back in. Then I make a mental note. I'm not in the habit of opening more than one drawer at a time unless they are side by side. My latest set up is help together by a 3/4" plywood top with the boxes back to back. I plowed out a little depth on the bottom of my SO box side. The top pan depth is a little deeper on my Matco box. I cut grooves in the rest of the bottom of the top to lock them together. This set up allows me to open all 24 drawers at once with no signs of tipping. Not something recommended because a caster could get overloaded and push through one of the boxes floor. I also made a toe kick to go around the boxes. This keeps objects form going under the boxes when dropped. the bottom supports between the wheels are cut on 45's to keep the boxes locked in place from side to side movement.

It only takes a minute or two to remove the top, toe kick, and mat to move them around if need be.


File cabinets are a whole different matter. It's not that office people are dumb, it's a physics thing. Most lateral files are only 18" or 20" deep. Common widths are 30", 36", and 42". They can get pretty tall in 5 drawer form. Their drawers tend to be deep around 12". Opening the top drawer on a 42"x18" 5 high loaded fully with paper is a lot of unbalanced weight. If the bottom drawers are loaded lightly, it's worse yet. Tool boxes tend to have shallower drawers especially up higher. Most modern tool boxes have some sort of latching system to help avoid drawers opening by accident. File cabinet interlocks have been mandated by law since the mid 80's. In addition to interlocks, file cabinets can also have counter balances. You'll usually find these at the back and low of the cabinet. They can be made of steel (usually older), cement, and even composite nowadays.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

No offense, but that looks like a cheaper box that's definitely going to be more prone to taking a dump with a few drawers open. Never had the slightest worries with any of mine, but I also am good about closing any heavy drawers.

 

[Junkman]

A lot of people don't realize that your home stove comes with a bracket you screw into the wall, and when you push the stove towards the wall, it engages the bracket, which keeps the stove from tipping over when you pull out the oven rack. Dishwashers also have this same feature. The people who installed our first kitchen forgot to install those brackets, and the oven started to fall when my wife was removing a turkey. I was close enough to catch it and push it upright. The next day, they came back and made the modification to all the appliances.
I don't worry about my tool boxes falling on me, but I do worry about tripping in the garage. It happened to me last fall, and I couldn't get up. My wife came looking for me and found me on the garage floor. She cleared a path for me and helped me up. Falling when you are old is a common thing to happen, and if you hit your head, it can cause a brain bleed. Those can be fatal if not treated quickly.