SYS A-Z drawers

[theplanesaw]

Has anyone determined what the best height(s) of a cabinet for the SYS A-Z drawers should be in order to get the most variables of sizes of systainers?  Hope this makes sense. 

I built one cabinet 1,000mm high, as I recall, which is what the instructions say should be the max.  It was for a display to show off the drawer units.  I believe the 1,000mm height is so that when one opens a drawer with a heavy tool in the systainer, that it doesn't fall forward.  But, if the cabinet is secured, then that shouldn't be a problem. 

But, are there any particular heights that seem to work best, given all the variables of which size systainers has to put in the drawer units?

Any thoughts?

Alan - planesaw

 

[Kev]

To be honest I think this is a very personal thing ... assuming you don't create an imbalance by creating something too tall and be certain to put  the heaviest things at the bottom, I think it's more about your own height and comfort.

For a person of average height )like me), a unit with a top height of 1,350mm would (in my opinion) still be very practical in a typical workshop ... this is the approximate height I'm considering when I build mine. This still allows for a Sys3 Sort to sit on top and comfortably peer down into all of the drawers.

 

[GarryMartin]

I'm 1.85m tall (about 6' 1") and the *bottom* of my highest drawer is just a shade over 1300mm high (about 4' 3 1/4"). With a SYS2 in the drawer, it allows me to see the contents and get things out relatively easily. Anything above that would be unusable as a drawer for me.

My cabinets are tall, don't roll around, and are fixed to the wall, so your mileage may vary depending on how you are building yours.

[EDIT: I see the photo rotation bug is back after the upgrade...]  [sad]

[attachimg=1]

 

[theplanesaw]

To be honest I think this is a very personal thing ... assuming you don't create an imbalance by creating something too tall and be certain to put  the heaviest things at the bottom, I think it's more about your own height and comfort.

For a person of average height )like me), a unit with a top height of 1,350mm would (in my opinion) still be very practical in a typical workshop ... this is the approximate height I'm considering when I build mine. This still allows for a Sys3 Sort to sit on top and comfortably peer down into all of the drawers.

Thanks, Garry.  In the Festool catalog (at least in US catalog) the sysports tell  you the various combinations that can fit in a given height.  Just wondering if someone had run some software program with all the variables that would say the best height (for instance, between 1000cm and 1500cm or 1750cm) would give the most options.  Probably doesn't exist and I will determine the height I want, and then build it.  Will probably put some sort of a work surface (not for hammering, but assembling or such) and see what arrangement of systainers play out.

 

[theplanesaw]

To be honest I think this is a very personal thing ... assuming you don't create an imbalance by creating something too tall and be certain to put  the heaviest things at the bottom, I think it's more about your own height and comfort.

For a person of average height )like me), a unit with a top height of 1,350mm would (in my opinion) still be very practical in a typical workshop ... this is the approximate height I'm considering when I build mine. This still allows for a Sys3 Sort to sit on top and comfortably peer down into all of the drawers.

I agree Kev, it probably just comes down to a personal decision. 

 

[GarryMartin]

In the Festool catalog (at least in US catalog) the sysports tell  you the various combinations that can fit in a given height.  Just wondering if someone had run some software program with all the variables that would say the best height (for instance, between 1000cm and 1500cm or 1750cm) would give the most options.

It's the SYS 2 that generally throws all the calculations out. The below might help; it's from the SYS-AZ "manual".
https://www.festoolusa.com/media/pdf/706994_002_MonAnl_SYS-AZ_Auszug .pdf

[attachimg=1]

 

[Tom the Remodeler]

I recently batched-out a dozen Sys-AZ cabinets for mobile use in my van. Using 2.5" polyurethane casters from Woodcraft, the total cabinet height works out to ~34.5"/875mm.

I've made several previous generations of prototype cabinets (some taller, some shorter), and thus far I'm happiest with the above dimensions. The small casters work great for moving around my concrete shop floor, as well as plywood subfloors or hardwood floors at job sites. The sides of the cabinets are 29.75" tall, which works out great with 60"x60" Baltic Birch plywood. This height allows for a great blend of mobility, while still allowing a useful load out of tools/systainers per cabinet.

For my purposes, the 34.5" height integrates well with the rest of my tools, in that it is just slightly lower than the table height of my Erika 70 saw, is the same height as my MFT/Kapex tables with my sacrificial cleats, and just a little lower than a Kapex saw setup. This means that my cabinets can serve as out feed tables, or at least they don't interfere with the work flow on my other saw stations and work tables.

I'll post up some photos when I get a chance, probably in a week or two. Good luck!

 

[theplanesaw]

Thanks Garry.  The chart you included is simply for spacing the various size systainers, but doesn't give the variables I was looking for.  Given all the possibilities, I didn't expect to get one, but I thought I should at least ask.

 

[DB10]

You might need to do a bit more searching on here but I'm sure I stumbled on an old thread where someone had put a formula together and it was all in a spread sheet.

 

[Dunn wood]

I found that if you drill your holes at 16mm centers, double row of 32, that they will accommodate various systainers with little wasted space.

 

[Tom the Remodeler]

This should give you some ideas. Inside cabinet height is 29.75", holes drilled at 16mm.

 

[GarryMartin]

You might need to do a bit more searching on here but I'm sure I stumbled on an old thread where someone had put a formula together and it was all in a spread sheet.

[member=1049]sroxberg[/member] and [member=7486]Wood_Junkie[/member] have had posts regarding a spreadsheet they used to calculate optimum sizes but alas the files themselves have disappeared in the same way that the photos did. [member=1049]sroxberg[/member] is still active so may pop along, but [member=7486]Wood_Junkie[/member] hasn't visited in a long time. They may not be optimised for 32mm though.

 

[Kev]

This should give you some ideas. Inside cabinet height is 29.75", holes drilled at 16mm.

[member=2726]Tom Gensmer[/member]

How'er the drawers with the cantilever tool box?

I think they should make 4 different drawers ... for other size systainer footprints and one for orienting the systainer end on (easy access for the cantilever toolbox).

 

[Tom the Remodeler]

[member=13058]Kev[/member]

Hi Kev! I was pretty dubious about the cantilever tool box, but in the context of the Sys-AZ drawers it works great!! You have full access to all of the storage areas without removing it from the drawer. Right now I am using two to store my most commonly used hand tools, and plan on picking another one up soon for cordless drill bits and accessories.

 

[sroxberg]

I don't think that I have the photo's anymore or the spreadsheet. If folks are interested I could recreate the sheet fairly easily. If my memory serves me correctly my spreadsheet allowed you to determine the height of the sides of a Sysport based upon the thickness of the top and bottom, the actual Systainers installed, and the spacing between above/below the drawer/Systainers.

Mine was in inches and I've purchased the LR32 system since that time so I'd probably create any new one in metric using 32mm spacing.

 

[tiralie]

This should give you some ideas. Inside cabinet height is 29.75", holes drilled at 16mm.

Nice set up.
Tim

 

[tjbnwi]

I'll check the height of mine tomorrow.

I need another 60 AZ's.

Tom

 

[Flatsawn]

This should give you some ideas. Inside cabinet height is 29.75", holes drilled at 16mm.

Is it just me or did a fish eye lens become involved? Because this can't be.

 

[Horio]

I don't think that I have the photo's anymore or the spreadsheet. If folks are interested I could recreate the sheet fairly easily. If my memory serves me correctly my spreadsheet allowed you to determine the height of the sides of a Sysport based upon the thickness of the top and bottom, the actual Systainers installed, and the spacing between above/below the drawer/Systainers.

Mine was in inches and I've purchased the LR32 system since that time so I'd probably create any new one in metric using 32mm spacing.

I'd be very interested in an updated spreadsheet based on 32mm/16mm hole spacing using the Sys-az drawers.  I'd imagine many others would find this very useful as well. 

 

[leftistelf]

There is no single optimal number. A lot had to do with what you have.

If using 32mm hole spacing I'm starting with this formula to figure out what you need... assumes a hole spacing under the top and the bottom most hole is used for the first shelf, maybe Yu could do the top differently...

Number of holes needed = [# of sys1 * 5] + [# of sys2 * 7] + [# of sys 3 * 8] + [# of sys4 * 12] + [# of sys5 * 15]

Total height = number of holes * 32

Cabinet height = [total height + # of cabinets you want * 32] / # of cabinets you want

Last formula adds 32 for space below first hole, but I'm not sure if it breaks a sys in pieces.... hmmm need someone's help here to make this work. Also need to figure out to ensure cabinet height is limited to 32mm increments...

So for me:

Number of holes needed = [12 of sys1 * 5] + [11 of sys2 * 7] + [9 of sys 3 * 8] + [11 of sys4 * 12] + [2 of sys5 * 15] = 60 + 77 + 72 + 132 + 30 = 371 [dont judge me]

Total height = number of holes * 32 = 371 * 11,872

Cabinet height = [11872 + 6 * 32] / 6 = ~2010 each, but probably 2016 each to stay at 32mm increments.... and I'd build 7 to give me room for expansion  [big grin] and so I don't need to optimize it perfectly.

If I want to base it on 2400mm panels, 5 would be 6mm too few, so I would build 6 and most of one would be empty.  I just think 2400 is a bit tall for drawer systems.

Help? Suggestions to improve?