Question about the Four-drawer Sortainer

[Wood_Junkie]

Can anyone tell me the dimensions of the large drawer in the four-drawer Sortainer?  I haven't been able to find any resource online that lists the specific dimensions.  It only says "1 large drawer, 2 small, 1 medium".

Specifically, I'm wondering if it (the large drawer) is the same, or very nearly the same, as a Systainer 1.  I want to put my compact cleaning kit in that drawer, since I always have some other tool Systainer on top of it on my CT.  Removing the tool(s) to get to the cleaning brushes and nozzles is getting annoying.

However, the compact cleaning kit barely fits into the Sys1 as it is.

Thanks in advance for any info.

 

[Peter Fish]

Hello I have just measured mine and while it looks similar in size to the Sys 1 it is smaller, the internal dimensions are 13 5/8" across  ,11" front to back and 3 1/4" deep not sure if this will work for you
Good Luck
Peter

 

[Forrest Anderson]

Can anyone tell me the dimensions of the large drawer in the four-drawer Sortainer?  I haven't been able to find any resource online that lists the specific dimensions.  It only says "1 large drawer, 2 small, 1 medium".

Specifically, I'm wondering if it (the large drawer) is the same, or very nearly the same, as a Systainer 1.  I want to put my compact cleaning kit in that drawer, since I always have some other tool Systainer on top of it on my CT.  Removing the tool(s) to get to the cleaning brushes and nozzles is getting annoying.

However, the compact cleaning kit barely fits into the Sys1 as it is.

Festool Fishy has already kindly supplied the dimensions, so here are some comparison photos showing a large drawer from a Sortainer next to a Systainer 1 from a C12 kit:

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

[attachimg=3]

[attachimg=4]

Note that whilst you can use the lid of a Systainer to slightly squash its contents, the drawers in a Sortainer can easily jam if the contents of a drawer are higher than the the sides, as can happen with a drawer full of screws that gets juggled around.

Forrest

 

[greg mann]

I put my compact cleaning kit in a Sys 2 because I found it a pain to fit in a Sys 1. I agree that putting it in the drawer will probably not work, and if it did, you would be dreading the job. Forrest brings up a good point about gettin things hung up. That is easy to do and highly likely with the cleaning tools.

 

[tbellemare]

the drawers in a Sortainer can easily jam if the contents of a drawer are higher than the the sides, as can happen with a drawer full of screws that gets juggled around

That's where the Sys Box or Sys Uni come in handy. They don't get stuck with screws or other small items.

Tom

 

[woodguy7]

The sides of the large drawer are a little flimsy, so if you were to jam stuff in it would probably bind.

 

[Corwin]

I keep a lot of my vac accessories in that large Sortainer drawer.  The floor sweep from my Workshop Cleaning Kit fits diagonally within the large Sortainer drawer.  In addition, I also keep a couple brushes, some hose connectors and some Fein hose adapters in that same drawer.  This works great for me.

 

[Wood_Junkie]

Thanks everyone!  That was exceptionally good information.  Thanks especially Forrest for the comparison photos.  That helps a lot to visualize the differences.

Given that the compact cleaning kit *barely* fits in a Sys 1 (I had to take a photo to remember the specific arrangement of the parts!), I was hesitant to spend for the Sortainer and have some leftover parts laying about.  But I'll buy one locally and play around with it.  Maybe keep it, maybe return it if it doesn't work out...

Cheers!

 

[Inner10]

The big drawer is a little wobbly, especially without the dividers.  Very nice to have a drawer with that depth though, I really wish they would offer more sizes of drawers in sortainers for I absolutely love the convenience of drawers and not having to stack/unstack.

I use mine only for drives and bits:

 

[Wood_Junkie]

Just came across this variant of a Sortainer.. I guess it would be called Sortainer 5? 
http://www.japanwoodworker.com/product.asp?s=JapanWoodworker&pf_id=25%2E561%2E006&dept_id=23400

Also comes in the dark grey (Anthracite) variant.. Pretty cost prohibitive for my originally conceived needs, but perhaps....  $70 upcharge for that extra large drawer  [eek] compared to the regular Sort4 (Price compared to LV and others that sell the Sort 4 at $127..... there apparently is a $13 premium buying the Sort4 from some places..)

 

[Wood_Junkie]

I thought I'd post a follow-up.

I decided to get the Sortainer 4 (Sys 3 size), after finding that you *can* fit all of the parts of the compact cleaning kit in the large drawer.  Yay for my local Woodcraft letting me fiddle around with all their stuff this past week. 
Additionally, I have the small round brush and it fits too.  It's a complex fitting operation to get everything in there, but it all does fit (e.g. three extension tubes, the bent handle, large floor sweep, two sweep heads, upholstery brush, and round brush).  I will have to take a photo to remember how it goes.  I mostly use the round brush and upholstery brush for cleaning dust off workpieces before finishing, so the extensions are not that important to me.  But having them handy and available means I *can* use them when I want.

Also, the medium sized drawer nicely fits up to three clamps... so I have one Quick Klamp and two screw clamps in there.  Yay!
Small drawers I am debating final uses for.. obviously a tape measure, Toolie, pencils... maybe some Skittles, hehe.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

I think the bes part about the drawers is one's ability to change their mind later and put something different in there, or move the drawer to another sort.

I often take the drawers out and take them with me to different areas, grab the drawer with the things I need and off I go.
Same thing with the SYS-Box, pull a box of screws out and take it with you.

 

[Inner10]

I often take the drawers out and take them with me to different areas, grab the drawer with the things I need and off I go.
Same thing with the SYS-Box, pull a box of screws out and take it with you.

That is a big advantage of the SYStem, instead of grabbing a bunch and filling your pocket or pouch and then forgetting to put them back at the end of the day and loosing them/throwing them out.  You can work directly out of the drawer while it in on top your ladder....If only they had magnets in the drawer and on the ladder so I would stock knocking them off and dumping them everywhere.

I strongly considered the Sort5 for my patch cords...but its pretty big and for bulkier items Sorts are not efficient means of storage.