Stacking the HF 44" ?

[Bookworm]

Okay, so I got the (seemingly) ubiquitous HF 44" lower box last year, cut some leftover plywood to fit the top, poly'd it for protection, put the rubber mat on it, done.

Worked just fine. Then, the company I work for (that would be me.... self employed....) decided I needed more box. The company owner (me) purchased the HF 44" for me. Merry Xmas !

As can be seen in the pic, my old boxes are a Snap-On KRA59C that I purchased used back in 1987 or so, set on top of a C-man 26" roller. When I stacked them, I put a piece of the thin drawer-liner in betwixt the two.

The question - Should I do the same with this HF set ? perhaps put the rubber mat under the top box ? Or leave it alone, metal-to metal (ugh...)?

Maybe get a piece of the thin drawer liner to separate the two ?

What is the consensus ?

 

[dodge610]

I would put yoga mat between the two to give it a little cushion and not damage the paint on the top of the bottom box. Just in case later down the road you take the HF top box off and put it in another location.

 

[bcradio]

Leave the rubber mat that came on it

 

[bobcatdan]

My personal rule has been if the top fits flush with the bottom, I go metal to metal. I normally bolt the two together at the factory mounting holes. If the top is shallow compared to the bottom, say a 12" deep chest on a 18" bottom, I put a mat between. Reason being is that ledge created becomes a **** collecting area.

 

[Bookworm]

Well... 3 replies, 3 different opinions.
I don't remember seeing any holes in the top of the bottom box, to facilitate bolting the two boxes together.

The system I used with the smaller boxes seemed to work fine for many years, I think I'll go get some drawer liner to put under this bigger box.
My fear is that if I use anything thicker it will raise the top box too high up the lip of the bottom box, making it unstable.

 

[Bookworm]

Sorry....double post.

 

[cheechi]

They are plenty stable with just the rubber mat in between. I had two stacks like that and both were just fine.

 

[nine4gmc]

I would go with a heavy felt between them. The rubber may press-bond them causing more issues than metal on metal. I'm in auto upholstery and we use a 1/2" thick felt as under carpet padding, it would be perfect for what you need. Check your local upholstery supply or shops, it's pretty cheap.

 

[Finky198]

Another quest has anyone stacked 2 44" bottom cabs? I am not really in love with there top box, but a double stack 44 would be pretty awesome and I think I'd be tall enough to see in the top drawer I'm 6'1" with boots .... Any ideas what the height is with and without the wheels

 

[zkling]

Another quest has anyone stacked 2 44" bottom cabs? I am not really in love with there top box, but a double stack 44 would be pretty awesome and I think I'd be tall enough to see in the top drawer I'm 6'1" with boots .... Any ideas what the height is with and without the wheels

The problem with stacking bottom boxes is that, the matching top is is slightly narrower than the respective bottom box. This is so that the top box will fit inside the lip of the bottom box. When you stack two bottom boxes, of the same size they will be resting on the top/pinch weld. Now if you put some blocks in place of the casters to replicate the loading path, that would work. You would also want to put something on the top of the bottom box to prevent localized loading from the caster substitutes.

 

[owenst7]

I never bolted mine together, just left the rubber in between them. I recently moved mine 20 miles to a new house with a moving truck and never really considered that they weren't bolted together. Didn't empty the drawers either, for those who wonder about how sturdy the frame and casters are. Mine is pretty loaded down with pullers and 1/2" drive tools. Also have the side locker which was full during the move with tool kits and stuff.