Slammin a box, or tool box lowering

[DarrenF]

Just got my KRL7023 KRL1203 combo and its way too tall. I like having the top compartment for sockets, and as it is i can't.

The casters on this bottom box stand about 9" tall from floor to mounting surface. I could remove them and drop the box on some 4x4 blocks to get a drop of 5.5" but then i lose mobility. This is good in respect to security, but bad for doing big jobs on the other side of my 40x50 bay. Until i come up with a better idea, this is what i will go with.

My second idea is to build a subframe to move the casters outside the body and allow a drop of 6-7 inches. They are nice chrome ISO ride casters, and very expensive at $240 each, so id like to use them.

As far as security goes, i could build a locking drop pin onto each end of the subframe that would drop several inches into drilled holes in the floor and lock into place with hidden locks. That would definatly slow the thieves down.

Has anyone done anything similar?

 

[Packard V8]

Life is about trade-offs. Building a subframe will add nearly a foot in all four directions, plus I'd be tripping over them all the time. Engineering cantilevered caster mounts to handle big box weight takes more design experience than most of us have.

Most choose to use a tool cart for mobility and leave the mondo box in place. I've got mine so full, it is like starting and stopping a freight train - takes more horsepower than I've got.

thnx, jack vines

 

[Cryptic1911]

how about taking the easy approach and just using a step stool?

 

[mjozefow]

Moving the casters outboard would be sweet if you have the fab skills. If 6" of drop will get you the height you need, then this would likely be the way I would go.

I agree with just using a service cart though.

 

[DarrenF]

Thanks for the input guys. I guess a step stool would work, but its not very cool looking. I have the fab skills to build the subframe and make it look good and make it strong. I have some thinking to do. BTW here is a pic to show the height (i`m 6 foot 2 in boots. more pics in the show your toolbox thread).

 

[mjozefow]

Helluva nice box man!

 

[tatra]

subframe, use the original casters and add sidelockers so as no tripping hazards............also make the caster frames at each corner seperate so they can slide into female sockets [ trailer hitch stlyle]......this way you can jack it up, remove the casters, store in the lockers and now your box is immobile to be taken from where you want it to stay..........hope this gives you some ideas..........

 

[tatra]

another thought would be to have a motorized axle on one end and use the locker for the batts. and controllers............

 

[Mickey O]

Big piece of plywood and 300 office chair wheels.

 

[DarrenF]

Big piece of plywood and 300 office chair wheels.

haha nice

 

[Rickster]

Big piece of plywood and 300 office chair wheels.

Add a metal skirt around the base of the box so they're not visible.....

 

[Ser50]

every one with a crafstman, and one guy with a mac have had to build subframes since the boxes have all buckled under the load. one has even set his casters out as you describe. its not that challenging.


hate to start slinging toolbox mud, but people that say craftsman is good enough for professional use obviously is an automotive mechanic. HD tools fold those boxes like superman on laundry day.
its not a coincidence that all non-snap-on/mac boxes at our shop have had subframes installed.

 

[Ser50]

Thanks for the input guys. I guess a step stool would work, but its not very cool looking. I have the fab skills to build the subframe and make it look good and make it strong. I have some thinking to do. BTW here is a pic to show the height (i`m 6 foot 2 in boots. more pics in the show your toolbox thread).

youre taller than me and i reach my the exact same box fine. personal preference i guess...

 

[mjozefow]

What bout mounting some sort of step to the underside? Perhaps you could make it so you could kick to unlock it and kick it to lock it back in. Kinda like an entertainment cabinet door. Press to open, press to close.

 

[tonydanzah]

You need to copy nissan crawlers setup. If i remember he drop the box on a frame, then added the casters/outriggers on either side. No need to go front and back since you are already lowering the center of gravity.

paging nissan crawler from a picture of you box

 

[DarrenF]

youre taller than me and i reach my the exact same box fine. personal preference i guess...

My issue is not really the height so much as the depth. If i put my sockets up top i cant see the sockets at the back,

Gonna look for nissancrawlers pics

here it is:

Thats very close to what i was thinking about doing.

 

[Merkava_4]

The 7023 is already shorter than the 1023...

Some guys are just never effing happy.

 

[DarrenF]

I almost bought a 1023 1203 combo until i did the calcs compared to my old kra5213 kra4114 combo. It would have been about a foot taller. Right now i am about 6 inches taller than my old setup.

 

[rsanter]

sockets go in the wide top drawer of the bottom box

top of the top box is for long prybars and extensions

bob

 

[crewchief888]

sockets go in the wide top drawer of the bottom box

top of the top box is for long prybars and extensions

bob

when i bought my KR550/555's years ago, i had the same problem, i always kept my sockets in the top
i eneded up moving sockets to the deep drawer in the top box, and using the top for paperwork, spare welding lenses, ect.
with my 90th aniv, harley boxes it even worse with the center box in it. i cant see in the top drawer, let alone the top compartment. i end up moving everything down, use the top drawer/compartment for paperwork.

seems like SO used to make a pull out/ drop down step for some of their combos, i used to work with a guy that was 5' 2", and had a tall box, i rmeember him having a slide out step

 

[ears]

You could build a platform/step wide enough and deep enough to fit under your box. Use spring loaded casters, roll it out with your toe, step on it and the casters sink in so that it is on its feet.

 

[Merkava_4]

sockets go in the wide top drawer of the bottom box.

That's exactly right; nobody puts their sockets in the top compartment of the chest no more. The OP needs to get with the program.

 

[DarrenF]

While waiting the 3 weeks for my new top box to arrive, i have had my sockets in the top drawer of the bottom box. I cant stand it! I actually miss my old box....kinda

 

[Merkava_4]

I cant stand it!

Dude...

 

[arkangel06]

While waiting the 3 weeks for my new top box to arrive, i have had my sockets in the top drawer of the bottom box. I cant stand it! I actually miss my old box....kinda

Man how could you not like that!

 

[DarrenF]

probably because my sockets get used a lot and opening and closing the drawer 500 times a day gets old. Maybe i'm weird but i have always had my sockets in the top.

 

[rsanter]

if you have compresses air available there, you could remove the wheels and install
air slides' or air skates under the box

bob

 

[DarrenF]

if you have compresses air available there, you could remove the wheels and install
air slides' or air skates under the box

bob

school me on air slides...sounds interesting.

 

[tatra]

dust......................

 

[PassnThru]

every one with a crafstman, and one guy with a mac have had to build subframes since the boxes have all buckled under the load. one has even set his casters out as you describe. its not that challenging.


hate to start slinging toolbox mud, but people that say craftsman is good enough for professional use obviously is an automotive mechanic. HD tools fold those boxes like superman on laundry day.
its not a coincidence that all non-snap-on/mac boxes at our shop have had subframes installed.

Yada yada yada....

 

[bgott]

You could always find a set of automatic extending steps that they sell for RVs and 4WDs. Put a switch on the side of your box, when you need something in the top, push the button.

http://www.electricstep.com/

This is just a quicky Google, you would probably have to modify them to shoot straight out from under the box. There might be a set that is set up like that already.

 

[Mugen AP1]

Man i have a 7023 and not a day goes by where i don't wish that i had gone with the 1023. That extra 4 inches would be a world of difference.

 

[DarrenF]

Man i have a 7023 and not a day goes by where i don't wish that i had gone with the 1023. That extra 4 inches would be a world of difference.

do you have a top chest or a riser? Had i gone with a workstation riser, i would have gone with a 1023

 

[rsanter]

school me on air slides...sounds interesting.

take a look at these
http://www.hovair.com/products/air-bearing-caster-modules/air-bearings-and-caster-modules.htm

you install them under the box. you supply air to them when you want to move the box

bob

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

No garage is complete without one of these...

 

[Merkava_4]

 

[Stick Figure]

and think of the extra free time.... i mean after stepping up and down that all day, you can skip the stair stepper at the gym!

 

[Fubar]

Thanks for the input guys. I guess a step stool would work, but its not very cool looking. I have the fab skills to build the subframe and make it look good and make it strong. I have some thinking to do. BTW here is a pic to show the height (i`m 6 foot 2 in boots. more pics in the show your toolbox thread).

I would put the sockets in the top long drawer in the bottom roll cab. Take the tools you use the most, and put them in the most accessible drawers and just use the space in the top for things you seldom use. Sounds like you're stuck in the mindset from your old box, you just have to re-think your organization. Outgrowing three boxes in thirty+ years on the third box had a compartment on the top, so I had to get used to sockets NOT being in an open top after twenty years

 

[Mugen AP1]

do you have a top chest or a riser? Had i gone with a workstation riser, i would have gone with a 1023

No just the roll cab itself...i didn't pick up the stainless top either...but i think it will help.

 

[KEH]

Interesting thread. Lots of insights into how mechanics organize their work. Nothing personal to add since my box is not too high. I've been concerned about the too high box problem since I've noticed them and wondered how they would do to work out of, since any change bothers me and heaven forbid that I would have to work out of someone elses box.

Local mechanic(a very good one, has his own shop) has a large probably 72" x 72" cabinet. His FORMER boss would pull out the bottom drawer of that nice big SO cabinet and use it for a step to reach the top. Not a polite thing to do to an employee's box. Mechanic is trying to get SO to do some warrenty work on the box.

KEH