Stack stability

[booker]

I am planning to purchase some classic sortainers with large drawers.  I need to place these under a stack of several TLocs that eventually could get heavy.  I'm try to decide between 4 four-drawer sortainers or 2 Tanos five-drawer sortainers.  Either way, I'll get the four large drawers that I need.

Would the five-drawer units (with two large drawers per unit) cause the stack to wobble from side to side when in accessing a drawer or TLoc? 

Would the smaller four-drawer sortainers (with the single large drawer) make this tall stack more stable?  Is it simply stronger overall?

If someone could test this for me, that would be great.  I don't own any sortainers yet, so I can't really try this myself.

Cheers

 

[Kev]

There's no stability problem. The only issue you'll have is weight (and your own strength).

 

[rst]

I have the five and nine drawer sortainers under T-locs and have no stability issues.

 

[semenza]

Welcome to the forum!  [smile]

    How tall are you planning to go and will the stack be moved in its full height configuration?

    Seth

 

[booker]

Thanks! 

This stack will be at most 7 feet high but it will not ever be moved in its full height.  I'll usually be removing the individual heavier TLocs from the top as needed.  I'd definitely split the stack when I need to occasionally move more of the units.  A tall stack fits the space I have perfectly. 

The lowest portion will have the large drawer sortainers.  My plan is to put some TLocs and maybe two rack systainers on top for now.  I don't want the stack to get super unstable or wobbly as I remove a TLoc or access a drawer.

 

[semenza]

4 four drawer (one large) will be 34" tall compared to 2 five drawer at 25" (two large).

I was able to do a little testing for you. I stacked them up. The stack with 2 five drawer has some side to side wobble in the units themselves. Not the whole stack tipping on the floor. Doesn't seem to be an issue except for being annoying.

The 4 four drawer stack has much less wobble. Probably stronger  too but I don't see that as a benefit over the five drawer since
they are also strong.

None have front to back wobble unless you are actually doing something that will pull the stack over.

Accessing drawers didn't cause any real wobble. Most of the wobble was when I was trying to make them wobble.

I also stacked a racktainer on top of both. No issues with pulling the boxes out. But be sure the box is released when you pull the handle otherwise you will be pulling on the whole stack.

In all cases above the units were loaded with tools and hardware.

Seth

 

[booker]

Thanks for testing this stack, Seth! 

It's good to hear that, in either case, my tall stack will be stable and not tend to fall over. 

I'll probably go for the four drawer units even though they make the stack a bit higher.  I guess I just prefer less wobble with a setup that I'll be using frequently. 

 

[semenza]

Thanks for testing this stack, Seth! 

It's good to hear that, in either case, my tall stack will be stable and not tend to fall over. 

I'll probably go for the four drawer units even though they make the stack a bit higher.  I guess I just prefer less wobble with a setup that I'll be using frequently.

You will gain two additional rows of small / medium drawers by going that way. So it won't be wasted height.

Seth