Sortainer Latches.

[WarnerConstCo.]

They latches on the sortainers suck.
I have more causality's than I care to count because of the poor holding of the sorts latches.

I count on 2 Sorts on a roll board, with a couple systainers on top for my job site set-up.

At least every other day I have a huge blow out because of the poor holding power of those latches.

Is there something that can be done sort of running a screw through it?

I guess I could wrap a ratchet strap around them but, that is pretty low rent for a high dollar tool box.

 

[spikfot]

I regularly clamp 3-4-5 systainers together to carry in/out of jobs and have never had one pop open on me without "user error", even real heavy large ones filled with extra goods.
The only time I've had them come loose is when I forgot to properly clamp one or forgot to blow the sawdust off the clamping surfaces, they can load up fast.

 

[spikfot]

Sorry, i just re-read and understood you are commenting on sortainers, I only have one of those.

 

[PeterK]

My experience is that the Sortainers don't work well at all for transporting small items in the drawers. They so easily get shifted and jam up inside making it very difficult to open them. Also I have the same problems with the latches you do. I sold all my small drawer units and only have the 4 drawer units in service for shop usage only. I really like the 4 drawer and the Tanos 5 drawer units for jigsaw and other tool packaging but the other Sortainers just waste too much space due to the design. You only get to use 45-50% of the volume due to the case design. Sorry - not a solution to your problem.

 

[jeffinsgf]

I have a Systainer model that I can't find listed in the online catalog.  I call it the "doublewide".  I'm sure someone here knows more about it. It is set up so that two normal Systainers lock onto it face to face.  With it, your two Sortainers could be locked in facing each other so the drawers can't open, and then the others you need stacked on top of them. 

The only downside to this arrangement is that (even more than a normal stack of Systainers) you have to do a lot of latching and unlatching to get to anything you want.  Now, in moving to a job site, that wouldn't be so bad, because once there, you can have a set on-site normal routine, and the advantages in transportation are significant.  However, in my home shop where nothing ever gets moved, I'm becoming a little disenchanted with the arrangement and have been studying the designs of the home cooked Sysports.

I keep my spare vacuum bags and bulky vacuum accessories in the doublewide.  A Barbie doll in a leopard print lycra stretch pant outfit was there for a while, but she left her '83 Trans-Am on blocks in the front yard and left a forwarding address for the WIC checks.  [big grin]

 

[tbellemare]

Jeff:

I think you're referring to a MaxiSystainer.

Tom

 

[Forrest Anderson]

They latches on the sortainers suck.
I have more causality's than I care to count because of the poor holding of the sorts latches.

I count on 2 Sorts on a roll board, with a couple systainers on top for my job site set-up.

At least every other day I have a huge blow out because of the poor holding power of those latches.

Is there something that can be done sort of running a screw through it?

I guess I could wrap a ratchet strap around them but, that is pretty low rent for a high dollar tool box.

When I began to read your post I thought you meant the green latches on the Sortainer drawers weren't holding well, meaning that the drawers flew open and crashed to the floor.

Then I got to the bit about "running a screw through it" and "winding a ratchet strap round them". This now sounds as though you might mean the latches on top of the Sortainer are causing problems - either the two green ones at the front or the grey ones at the rear of each side, which hold the sortainers and systainers together.

Could you clarify which latches aren't working for you? Thanks.

Forrest

 

[jeffinsgf]

Jeff:

I think you're referring to a MaxiSystainer.

Tom

That is it, precisely, Tom.  Thanks.

Still think Doublewide is a better name for it.  [wink]

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

I have no issues with the latches for the drawers, they work great and never come open.

I never really have any issues with stuff getting jammed in the drawers either.

The issue is with the green latches that you use to secure each sortainer together, or a sortainer to a systainer.

I have not had problems with systainer latches, just the sortainers.

I have a 4 drawer and a 9 drawer that for the most part stay connected to the roll board, on top of those I have a sys box and my systainer for my drill.

I know the sorts get kind of heavy but, so do the systainers.

At least twice a week I end up with a blow out of my go to stack I described above.

It is not a huge deal when in the garage or what not but, when it comes apart and bashes onto a tile or wood floor, I end up having to pray there is no damage to the floors/walls or what ever.

I really like my sortainers, I just wish the latches were as sturdy as the systainer one's are.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Well, there is bound to be a difference in holding force between a systainer and a sortainer. When stacked, the front latches of the systainer catch 6 knobs and the side latches catch 4 knobs. A total of 6+6+4+4 = 20. The sortainer on the other hand, only catches 2 knobs on the front and 4 on the side so the total is 2+2+4+4 = 12.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

The side one's are not the problem, the front one's hold almost no weight.

I really like having my sorts on the job, I can fit a lot of stuff in there.

I wish the sysports were not so much money, I would like to have several of them.

Don't say build my own, I have more productive things to do with my time than build those things.

 

[Wood_Junkie]

Don't say build my own, I have more productive things to do with my time than build those things.

Just screw one sortainer / systainer to a 3/4" plywood base with casters attached.  Cheap Systainer rolling base.
Stack up a tower of 'em and go.  ;-)

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Don't say build my own, I have more productive things to do with my time than build those things.

Just screw one sortainer / systainer to a 3/4" plywood base with casters attached.  Cheap Systainer rolling base.
Stack up a tower of 'em and go.  ;-)

I have the Festool Roll board for the systainers.  It is great for wheeling a big stack around the shop, even better for my go to work kit as I mentioned earlier.

The problem is when I pick it up to load it or move it upstairs or what not.  Great rolling around but, as soon as you pick up a small stack with the sortainers hooked to systainers, you better watch out.  Something may get damaged whether it be someone's house, my sorts, my systainers, or my foot.

 

[danrush]

Come on, Darcy.  I know I've got you using a Sharpie, now it's time to drill some holes and bolt those boxes together!!

Dan

 

[tbellemare]

Darcy:

I'm curious here...

I stack mine up until they're hard to carry. Sometimes I have pretty far walks where the potential customer occasionally helps me carry stuff in to their place to do demo's. I don't want to get caught with my pants down or "covers open", if you know what I mean. So far, mine have held together pretty well and I sometimes give them a pretty good workout.

Is it that the green flippers on the front of the Sortainers are not engaging or, when you're moving them around, are they working their way loose?

I haven't experienced the problem yet but I don't want to either.

Tom

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Baby steps Dan, right? [big grin]

I did mention screwing them together. [cool]

Tom- It has nothing to do with the latches that keep the drawers closed on the sortainers, it is the green latches that you use to hook each sortainer together, or to another systainer.

I have a picture somewhere with my sorts hooked together with a sys-box and c-12 systainer on top of them.  2 sorts and 2 sys 1's.

I have had the latches let lose at least a dozen times, most times crashing onto concrete but, a few times on nice finished floors.  Ironically when that happens, no drawers on the sorts come open.

I have some weight in there, that is for sure but, I know my regular stacks of systainers weigh more.

 

[tbellemare]

When I mentioned the "Green Flippers", I meant the two plastic things on the front of Sortainers that grab the thing above it. They are different, as I think Alex pointed out, than the normal Systainer clamps. The Systainer clamps "reach up" and are designed differently. The Sortainer clamps come out of their nested place and grab the one above. They are dependent upon their pivot to bear the burden of both the weight of those above and how they move around.

Are these the things that are causing problems?

Tom

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Those be the ones Tom.

They just dont hold like the rest of the systainers.
I see a lot of guys just use them in their shop but, my shop is out and about, in and out of the suburban, trailer and peoples homes.

There is a large % of people on here that don't transport these tools, so some might have a hard time relating to my issues.

 

[Inner10]

Warner I'm SOOOOOOOO with you on this one.

My guy was carrying my drill kit with a 4 Drawer of bits and a 12 Drawer of screws and the bottom one popped off and crashed....this has happened twice and then we agreed that the sortainer latches should never be trusted with a heavy load....Mind you my fastner sort is HEAVY!

Now my sort's latches on the front have white lines where they make contact with the tabs of the above systainer from the stress they are under.  (I'l post pics if you want)

I think the issue it the way they latch they are a little "swingy" and this added play acts as a weak spot.

Yeah it sucks but its not a complete travesty like the poor designe of the tool side of my Veto LT-XL.

Want some cheese with your whine hehehe.... [tongue]

 

[Wood_Junkie]

Warner I'm SOOOOOOOO with you on this one.

My guy was carrying my drill kit with a 4 Drawer of bits and a 12 Drawer of screws and the bottom one popped off and crashed....this has happened twice and then we agreed that the sortainer latches should never be trusted with a heavy load....Mind you my fastner sort is HEAVY!

Now my sort's latches on the front have white lines where they make contact with the tabs of the above systainer from the stress they are under.  (I'l post pics if you want)

I think the issue it the way they latch they are a little "swingy" and this added play acts as a weak spot.

Yeah it sucks but its not a complete travesty like the poor designe of the tool side of my Veto LT-XL.

Want some cheese with your whine hehehe.... [tongue]

The solution for you, of course, is to get a Maxi and put two of the Sys1 fastener kits inside!  ;-)
Or, convert out of the Sort12 and use a double stack of Sys1 storage containers.. not ideal but at least aren't prone to gravitational abuse.