Thoughts on classic Sortaniners?

[Lime green]

I own a few T-Locs and Sys 3's but was curious about what people's thoughts are on the classic Sortainers?  I know they can only go on the bottom of the Sys roll and I'm okay with that.  I eyeing the 4 drawers Sortainer because the bottom drawer is deeper than the drawers on the SYS 4 TL-SORT/3.  From what I looked up it's 3 1/2" deep versus just under 3" deep on the SYS 4 Sort 3.

Also curious about the 9 and 12 drawer Sortainers.  I read one review that said the screws get stuck sometimes and the drawers can't open.  Is this easily avoidable by not overfilling the drawers?  I will be mobile with these so that could become an issue.

 

[semenza]

  The pictures and description below are all pre gen 3 (Sys3) drawers and units. Maybe the Sortainers will get a Gen3 update? Maybe not?

  The Classic Sortainers have their uses due to the different drawer sizes. I use quite a few of them.

    The large drawers is nice and will hold quite a bit.  It also makes the difference if you want to put power tools in a drawer. I have my Carvex (corded) and C12 drill in the large drawer. Carvex will not fit in the newer T-Loc drawer. But most of the drills will fit with the battery removed. The drills fit better in the Classic large drawer due to more arrangement options.

    The shallow drawers are not the best for screws if they will be bouncing around. Yes, screws will stick up and jam the drawer shut. BUT, they work fine for 2" plus as long as the screws are dropped into the compartment aligned, as opposed to dropped in a jumbled pile.  Originally I had screws in mine but opted for something different.

    On the other hand a lot of other things go well in the shallow drawers.

    Note the small and medium drawers are interchangeable. Two small fit the space of one medium.

First set of pictures are the newer style (T-Loc) drawer.

[attachimg=1]            [attachimg=2]              [attachimg=3]                [attachimg=4] 
____________________________________________________________________________________________
       
Classic large drawer ...... 

[attachimg=5]

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  Classic drawers-----
         
      [attachimg=6]          [attachimg=7]            [attachimg=8]              [attachimg=9]

Seth

 

[Lime green]

The deep drawer is only 2 3/4 deep?  I thought it was 3 1/2?

 

[semenza]

The deep drawer is only 2 3/4 deep?  I thought it was 3 1/2?

No, that is the new style drawer. I made some revisions to the post above.

Seth

 

[semenza]

Here is my current C12 arrangement in the Classic large drawer. One note on the batteries ...................... Some of them  just  fit on edge. And others do not.  Batteries on edge will not fit at all in the newer T-Loc drawer.

  [attachimg=1]

Seth

 

[ScotF]

Nice set up, [member=1619]SRSemenza[/member]! I like the configurations and organization of your different drawers. 

 

[semenza]

Nice set up, [member=1619]SRSemenza[/member]! I like the configurations and organization of your different drawers.

Thanks.

The drill drawer is current. Most of the others are similar but different now. But the pics still show possible usage.

Another note on the shallow drawers ............ it appears that screwdrivers would fit well. But they do not. Most screwdriver handle are just a bit too big. And many handles that will fit, need to have something supporting the shaft. Otherwise the  weight of the shaft tilts the handle end up. Making it too high.

Seth

 

[woodbutcherbower]

I’m a big fan and I have 4 Sortainers contained in my van racking. One’s full of screws and other fixings (great, but bone-crunchingly heavy), one’s full of chisels, diamond plates, squares, small planes and various other hand tools, one’s full of copper plumbing components, and the last one contains countertop bolts, space-plugs, jointing biscuits, dowels and so on. They’re incredibly useful as a means of storing a lot of items in a small footprint.

Yep - the drawers can jam if you put too many screws inside a compartment, so don’t overload them.

 

[Coen]

Yeah, if you load it chuckfull of screws... how long will the handle stay put? I now have my screws in steel boxes, and the handle isn't a clicker but has actual hinge pins.

 

[ghhsolutions]

The newer three drawer Sortainers are totally flat above the drawers so screws can't get stuck. I use the Sys3 Organizer L for screws. There is a good selection of different sized internal containers, the design keeps everything in place and I find the L size more useful than the M.

 

[woodbutcherbower]

Yeah, if you load it chuckfull of screws... how long will the handle stay put? I now have my screws in steel boxes, and the handle isn't a clicker but has actual hinge pins.

5 years worth of construction sites, in and out of the van at least a dozen times every week, and always carried by the handle. No issues whatsoever.

 

[Lime green]

The newer three drawer Sortainers are totally flat above the drawers so screws can't get stuck. I use the Sys3 Organizer L for screws. There is a good selection of different sized internal containers, the design keeps everything in place and I find the L size more useful than the M.

I do have the M series Sys 3 organizer but the problem I have with that is that it has to be on top of my stack to have quick easy access to vs drawers. What I don't like about the Sys 3/4 Sortainer is that the smallest bin is oversized for my needs, I only need a small number of screws for each bin. 

 

[semenza]

The newer three drawer Sortainers are totally flat above the drawers so screws can't get stuck. I use the Sys3 Organizer L for screws. There is a good selection of different sized internal containers, the design keeps everything in place and I find the L size more useful than the M.

I do have the M series Sys 3 organizer but the problem I have with that is that it has to be on top of my stack to have quick easy access to vs drawers. What I don't like about the Sys 3/4 Sortainer is that the smallest bin is oversized for my needs, I only need a small number of screws for each bin.

If you are only putting a small quantity (relative term here) of screws in, then the Classic shallow drawers will work. You just need to avoid having them pointing up in a jumbled pile.

Another option would be to find a way to subdivide or layer the deeper (taller) drawers.

Seth

 

[FestitaMakool]

Appreciate the photos with content examples SRSemenza.

I’m not overly fond of the drawers on the newer T-Lock, that’s why I’ve hold back on the 3-drawer systainer. I have two combi, battling whether I like them or not.
I keep one empty to fill it with the tools of choice when I need one to-go.

For screws I bought two of these from Raaco, photo below, your having one from before. I really like how easy these are in use. And I can grab one drawer only if I need just that one close.
Plan is to make a base and fit T-Lock feet on them with a pull out support shelf. They must be on top on a stack, but that’s ok. The variety of compartments and the easy arranging make these very well suited to fasteners and alike.

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

[attachimg=3]

 

[semenza]

I use all the Sortainer types in order to get the most variety of drawers for various purposes.

I would like to see a new modular drawer system. A couple different heights of Systainer units that could hold any  combination of three or four drawer heights.

I like overall functionality of the newer T-Loc drawers better than the Classic. But I want size options.

Yeah, Raaco is a great storage system.

You know there is a Racktainer.  A collaboration between Tanos and Raaco. It is a Systainer size IV unit that holds four Raaco boxes. Basically the Raaco unit you have pictured but in a Systainer case.  I believe they are discontinued but with some searching you can still find them.

Seth

 

[FestitaMakool]

Yup, I’ve seen those Raaco-Systainer hybrids. Wish they’d do it again..
I’ve 5 Raaco Compact tool chests, the plastic are superior, and I can pick these small trays from the sortainer drawer in the Handy Box and put them in the Compact’s tray or their drawers.

Agree also, a 3-4 variations of drawer based Systainers would be nice. Being able to choose drawer depths, modular design; absolutely!

It is one of those things I do believe Tanos/Festool are aware of and working on.
Judging by the popularity of Milwaukee’s Pack Out drawers, I’d be surprised (or not?..) if Tanos/Festool didn’t notice..

 

[semenza]

If you have lots of little bits or want squeeze in more variety but less quantity, there are also half height Raaco containers in five different compartment arrangements. They all have the same footprint as one of the other sizes. And can be mixed and matched with the full height compartments. The half height double stack.

  [attachimg=1]            [attachimg=2]            [attachimg=3]            [attachimg=4]

  Seth

 

[Coen]

There are competitors with pretty much the same thing. E.g. Allit;

[attachimg=1]

These are, starting top left going clockwise;
The Allit..
EuroPlus Pro >M< 44H-48
EuroPlus Pro >M< 44/2L-59
EuroPlus Pro >M< 34L-14
EuroPlus Pro >M< 44L-23

It's not really 'half height'. The bins are either 45 or 63. The double layer thing has two layers of 45.

The insert boxes themselves are like 3-5x cheaper than the Festool Organizer bins... Say you need 50 of the small (54x54x45) ones... that will be €10,50, which at Festool buys you exactly 10 of the 50x50x68 bins... at Germany's cheapest.

I pondered over switching over from these metal boxes... but the Festool solution is $$$$$...

The problem is these don't have a transparent lid. The advantage is... they have a metal lid.

They also sell 'sysport' for them. Although pricey...

The 45mm height one with 23 boxes I got for €25.80 a piece in 2020. Now they are €35. But I think that seller had forgotten about 10 years of price hikes, since he was way way cheaper than everyone else back then and still is the cheaper one around.

 

[Lime green]

I'm noticing that they are impossible to find in Anthracite,  why is that?

 

[Coen]

Classic Systainers? I have one  [tongue]