Tired of Sortainers Coming Apart From Each Other!!!

[Wing79]

Hey guys, I have 5 Sortainers that are giving me headaches coming apart from each other carrying onto the job site.  Has anyone taken them apart to make one large Sortainer or in my case two large strainers.  Looks like they would be able to be taken apart and put back together into somewhat the configuration to fit the drawers. 

Any info is appreciated.
Thanks, Jim

 

[semenza]

Hey guys, I have 5 Sortainers that are giving me headaches coming apart from each other carrying onto the job site.  Has anyone taken them apart to make one large Sortainer or in my case two large strainers.  Looks like they would be able to be taken apart and put back together into somewhat the configuration to fit the drawers. 

Any info is appreciated.
Thanks, Jim

They are certainly modular and it would be cool to be able to customize them. I haven't found  a way to get them apart that didn't seem like something would break.

I haven't had any trouble with them disconnecting while transporting or carrying.

Seth

 

[Guilliaume woodworks]

Hi Jim
    How many are you stacking? I know my sortainers get heavy when loaded, I only carry two at a time from the handle. Or I'll put one sortainer combined with lighter systainers. That could be a mess if they just came apart. I'm always afraid of that.
        Good luck, David

 

[Wing79]

I usually stack 2 together. It's only been a few times they came apart (usually when lifting into the truck).  I just want to prevent this from happening again and before I screw them together I am gonna try and take them apart and make one larger sortainer.  We'll see how it goes!

 

[semenza]

I usually stack 2 together. It's only been a few times they came apart (usually when lifting into the truck).  I just want to prevent this from happening again and before I screw them together I am gonna try and take them apart and make one larger sortainer.   We'll see how it goes!

Post the method with pictures  [thumbs up]

Seth

 

[Kev]

I simple tie down strap will solve your problem.

 

[Wing79]

Tie down strap would work for sure.  Just cant seem to find one in festool green [tongue]
Anyhow I am looking for a long term solution, and a more efficient way to carry my tools in and out of the job site.  I will try tonight to get them apart and will be sure to post pics of the process once complete!

 

[jonny round boy]

Tie down strap would work for sure.  Just cant seem to find one in festool green [tongue]
Anyhow I am looking for a long term solution, and a more efficient way to carry my tools in and out of the job site.  I will try tonight to get them apart and will be sure to post pics of the process once complete!

TBH, I think you will struggle.

The components of the sortainer frames are clipped together, with metal reinforcing sections in between. Although it looks like you could un-clip them, I have tried myself several years ago, and I strongly suspect that they are ultrasonically welded as well.

Even without the welding, you will need at least 5 hands to hold all the clips open simultaneously....

If you want a semi-permanent solution to hold them together more securely, why not drill some small holes and bolt them together? There is room above and below the drawers for the heads/nuts, and it could be done without being visible from the outside.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

If you tilt or twist a stack of sortainers, they will fall apart.

 

[Julian Tracy]

Seems the simplest way would be to rivet a small 1/16th" plate to keep each latch from "un-catching".  Easy enough to drill out the rivets in the event you want them separate.

JT

 

[Wing79]

Tie down strap would work for sure.  Just cant seem to find one in festool green [tongue]
Anyhow I am looking for a long term solution, and a more efficient way to carry my tools in and out of the job site.  I will try tonight to get them apart and will be sure to post pics of the process once complete!

TBH, I think you will struggle.

The components of the sortainer frames are clipped together, with metal reinforcing sections in between. Although it looks like you could un-clip them, I have tried myself several years ago, and I strongly suspect that they are ultrasonically welded as well.

Even without the welding, you will need at least 5 hands to hold all the clips open simultaneously....

If you want a semi-permanent solution to hold them together more securely, why not drill some small holes and bolt them together? There is room above and below the drawers for the heads/nuts, and it could be done without being visible from the outside.

Thanks for the heads up Johnny!  I was going to make a jig with fingers to press against all the clips at once and try with a clamp to depress them. 

Thanks for all the ideas guys! I am still going to try and take them apart one night this week.  Ill post some pics once I give it a go!

 

[festoolviking]

Hi

There is a thread here somewhere about when I pulled my sortainer apart.
Just search "let's pull a sortainer apart"
I tried to post the link but without success.  ???
There's a few pics there too.

Festoolviking

 

[semenza]

Here we go   http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-and-tanos-systainers/lets-pull-apart-a-sortainer!/

Viking, for some reason I had not realized that you succeeded
.

Seth

 

[jonny round boy]

Here we go  http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-and-tanos-systainers/lets-pull-apart-a-sortainer!/

Viking, for some reason I had not realized that you succeeded
.

Seth

You're not the only one, Seth - I'd completely missed that thread too!

 

[aptpupil]

Hi

There is a thread here somewhere about when I pulled my sortainer apart.
Just search "let's pull a sortainer apart"
I tried to post the link but without success.  ???
There's a few pics there too.

Festoolviking

I knew I had seen this somewhere. I notice this time, though, that there seemed to be some broken parts. How well has it stood up since you did this?

 

[festoolviking]

I knew I had seen this somewhere. I notice this time, though, that there seemed to be some broken parts. How well has it stood up since you did this?

It's holding up just as new. The minor "damage" to the snap-locks was from my first trial with a piece of wood with four screws thru it to push all snap-locks at the same time. That was too tricky so I moved on with the method described in the post.
Since I only got the sys1/sort4 (tanos) i don't know how to pull the sides on the sys3/sort4 off but I would think it's a similar approach.

Festoolviking

 

[ScotF]

I remember reading the thread, but when I click on the link it does not open up for some reason...anyone else having the issue?

Scot

 

[semenza]

I remember reading the thread, but when I click on the link it does not open up for some reason...anyone else having the issue?

Scot

Hmmmm, yeah. somethin'  funny going on here. I just tried to paste the link in again, but it only opens to the Systainer board not the topic.

Will try to get it fixed . For now just search for ' pull apart ' and check the "search topic titles only box"

Seth

 

[anyheck]

The !/ was missing from the link earlier in the thread.

try this link:
http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-and-tanos-systainers/lets-pull-apart-a-sortainer!/

 

[semenza]

Hi,

 Welcome to the FOG!  [smile]  Thanks for spotting that.  All fixed now. For some reason my copy and paste wasn't putting it in correctly.  ???

Seth