In the process of designing a new mft / Sysport outfeed table for my cabinet saw. Torn between building my own sysport drawers or buying the festool ones. It appears the festool ones require less vertical height. Anyone done it both ways and have thoughts on way way or the other? Thanks!
Sys drawers VS shop made
- Thread starter Gunder
- Start date
ryanjg117
Member
- Joined
- May 18, 2015
- Messages
- 333
The SYS-AZ drawers will always require less height as the tub is relatively thin plastic, though still sturdy because of the beefy side walls. The price appears to be on the high side, but keep in mind each SYS-AZ includes not just the drawer, but also high quality full extension drawer slides, a "switch" on the handle for keeping the drawers secure, and the ability to add a lock to each drawer as well (you do have to purchase the lock accessory I believe). They're very well made and I haven't had a failure in the 20 or so drawers I've installed.
I recommend buying them in the five pack (and I think you get one drawer for free). At least that used to be the deal.
I recommend buying them in the five pack (and I think you get one drawer for free). At least that used to be the deal.
rmhinden
Member
Gunder said:
There are a lot of different ways to make your own systainer drawers. I have been making them out of 3/4" plywood and routing out holes for the systainer feet.
If you make your own, and the cabinet is deep enough, you have room for two per shelf.
Here are some pictures.
Bob
[attachimg=1][attachimg=2]
Attachments
Also keep in mind that the (only/lower) drawer of COMBI and SORT/3 systainers will be inaccessible while being in a SYS-AZ. IIRC.ryanjg117 said:
For my self-build (similar to the one of [member=66813]rmhinden[/member]) there is one thing I will definitvely change next time, at least for all the below working-height ones: rotate the drawer layout 90° (resulting in the drawer being deeper but less wide) with a symmetric hole pattern so it can hold a systainer both directions (lid opening to left or right, depending on how the systainer is being put down).
This will have the upside of an open lid effectively blocking the drawer from closing, resulting in less t-loc knobs to pick up over the day. Also space utilization will be way better as the full extension drawer will need to extend the systainer just shy out of the cabinet, not quite a bit more to have room for the lid to open (which results in that additional space sitting empty at the back when the drawer is closed). This also leads to multiple systainers on deep drawers being able to sit right next to each other (instead of needing a some cm gap to be able to open the lid of the front one, or the back one to be more shallow than the front one), which should make it possible to create the hole pattern for the systainer feet in a way to seat a SYS3 XXL (making these an option for me, which currently they are not as they would return me to having to unstack stacks to access things). Also having four columns of drawers is better than three (over basically the same total width of the shelf) when it comes to accessibility.
YMMV, that whole thought may be completely irrelevant to you in case you have a big shop and do not need to care about storage density.
Michael Kellough
Member
[member=53905]Gregor[/member] good idea!
Jeff Zanin
Member
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2009
- Messages
- 328
For my first seven Syssport-style cabinets I used shop-made drawers with full extension slides. For the last two I used SYS-AZ drawers.
If I were starting fresh I would use SYS-AZ for everything that is used for Systainers because they are lighter and provide more capacity for a given cabinet size.
If I were starting fresh I would use SYS-AZ for everything that is used for Systainers because they are lighter and provide more capacity for a given cabinet size.
I really like the flat plywood "drawers" !
I am doing some remodeling in my shop and went with shelves for a Systainer storage unit. No slides or drawers, but shelves designed for the purpose. Drawers would actually be a nuisance due to the height. Lowest are at about 38" from the floor and the top row is about seven feet. Having to lift them out of shallow drawers at those heights would be harder than just sliding them off the shelf.
The whole shelf unit is on top of my miter saw bench just behind the fence. I went end wise to get more Systainers into the space. The shelves are adjustable. The cutouts allow easy grabbing to slide the Systainers out and not have to leave and room for hand placement either vertically or horizontally.
[attachimg=1] [attachimg=2] [attachimg=3]
Seth
I am doing some remodeling in my shop and went with shelves for a Systainer storage unit. No slides or drawers, but shelves designed for the purpose. Drawers would actually be a nuisance due to the height. Lowest are at about 38" from the floor and the top row is about seven feet. Having to lift them out of shallow drawers at those heights would be harder than just sliding them off the shelf.
The whole shelf unit is on top of my miter saw bench just behind the fence. I went end wise to get more Systainers into the space. The shelves are adjustable. The cutouts allow easy grabbing to slide the Systainers out and not have to leave and room for hand placement either vertically or horizontally.
[attachimg=1] [attachimg=2] [attachimg=3]
Seth
Attachments
[attachimg=2]Gunder - I went for shop-built drawers with Blum Tandem slides. I looked hard at the Festool SYS-AZ drawers and I elected to go shop-built so that I could have self-closing drawers. I sacrificed some storage going this way, but I wasn't impressed with the slides and construction of the Festool drawers for the price.
- Attachments and other options
[attachimg=2]
- Attachments and other options
[attachimg=2]
Attachments
I considered making my own equivalent of the SYS AZ's until I looked at the prices of the drawer slides I use (Blum) and add a small amount for material and my time. For me it does not make sense as I like one drawer per Systainer and single depth is more desirable for me.
However if someone wants to go full custom like double depth or width then it makes sense to make your own. For me buying the SYS AZ drawers made the most sense.
However if someone wants to go full custom like double depth or width then it makes sense to make your own. For me buying the SYS AZ drawers made the most sense.
ryanjg117
Member
- Joined
- May 18, 2015
- Messages
- 333
I like Bob's design because one problem with sysports always ends up being their shallow depth. They end up being forward-tippy, especially if your top drawer is something heavy. Obviously a bigger problem if you're making a single-wide cabinet on four casters. Building the cabinet deeper (and also to accommodate two systainers per shelf) is a really practical way to fix that dilemma.
KelleyCrafts
Member
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2018
- Messages
- 50
I went the route Bob did, two deep with my MFT cart. Works really well and was easy enough to make a template to route the foot indentations.
Turning the Systainers sideways is something I would have maybe done if I could still go two deep in the cart. I didn't think about it at the time unfortunately.
Turning the Systainers sideways is something I would have maybe done if I could still go two deep in the cart. I didn't think about it at the time unfortunately.
rmhinden
Member
Coen said:
[member=8955]Coen[/member] Thanks!
I have used a mix of slides. I started with (Woodcraft) High Point 14" full extension slides (heavy duty for the bottoms and regular for the rest of the systainer cart, a mix of 26" High Point models for the deeper ones, and 14" ones I found on Amazon on the Kapex stand. BTW, I think 28" would be better to hold two Systainers. I got the 26" ones on sale at some point, should have measured first
[member=69305]KelleyCrafts[/member]
I also used a template to make the drawers. I should add that the Systainer cart is based on plans I purchased at TSO TSC-90 Systainer Cart Plan Set . It includes details on on a template for the drawers. Well worth the $7.
Bob
KelleyCrafts
Member
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2018
- Messages
- 50
I agree on the 28" slides. I used those for my MFT cart and can open systainers at will without removing them and the lids stay open. Good point to bring up [member=66813]rmhinden[/member].
FestitaMakool
Member
- Joined
- Oct 12, 2019
- Messages
- 1,491
SRSemenza said:
That’s a neat and compact set up. Easy reach of MANY [blink] systainers. Looks very tidy as well. [smile]
Hiersekorn
Member
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2012
- Messages
- 21
I keep seeing these amazing walls, filled with systainers. And, I have to wonder -- what exactly is in all those boxes?
Does everyone have $30,000 worth of Festo stuff? Or, are people just buying empty systainers to organize their stuff?
Does everyone have $30,000 worth of Festo stuff? Or, are people just buying empty systainers to organize their stuff?
Crazyraceguy
Member
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2015
- Messages
- 5,009
Cost is a relative term. What is your time worth? Hobbyist or commercial time?
Assuming that you have a cabinet that they fit, the AZs can be installed in a couple of minutes.
Building the drawers takes some time. How much depends on the style.
The 3/4" ply slabs with a front edge (like mine) only take a little bit of time, but it is more than just installing the pre-made units.
Slabs with holes for the feet take time to make a template too, but less material.
If it is purely about cash outlay, making them yourself is cheaper, especially if you have some scrap available. If time matters, the AZ might be a better option.
I went with making my own for a couple of reasons. Mine are 20" deep, which leaves space behind them to store accessories or consumables that don't fit in the Systainers themselves. I also knew that they would be expanding over time and I could keep the cost down by using off-cuts of both the plywood and the oak fronts.
Yes, there are a few of us out there with a lot invested in this stuff. Mine may not be 30k, but it's probably close. I only have 2 Systainers that were purchased empty. One is full of router bits and the other is the one with a drawer in the bottom. I store bags of Dominos in the top and spare bits in the drawer. All of the rest are Festool, WoodPeckers, or Shaper. I haven't counted lately, 25 or so?
Assuming that you have a cabinet that they fit, the AZs can be installed in a couple of minutes.
Building the drawers takes some time. How much depends on the style.
The 3/4" ply slabs with a front edge (like mine) only take a little bit of time, but it is more than just installing the pre-made units.
Slabs with holes for the feet take time to make a template too, but less material.
If it is purely about cash outlay, making them yourself is cheaper, especially if you have some scrap available. If time matters, the AZ might be a better option.
I went with making my own for a couple of reasons. Mine are 20" deep, which leaves space behind them to store accessories or consumables that don't fit in the Systainers themselves. I also knew that they would be expanding over time and I could keep the cost down by using off-cuts of both the plywood and the oak fronts.
Yes, there are a few of us out there with a lot invested in this stuff. Mine may not be 30k, but it's probably close. I only have 2 Systainers that were purchased empty. One is full of router bits and the other is the one with a drawer in the bottom. I store bags of Dominos in the top and spare bits in the drawer. All of the rest are Festool, WoodPeckers, or Shaper. I haven't counted lately, 25 or so?
Similar threads
