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MG TD TF 1500 - Oh my chest! Oh my chest! I need some help.

I have a 2 cabinet Sears Craftsman Tool Chest. The bottom is a 9-drawer rolling cabinet, whilst the top is a 5-drawer tool chest. I got this 25 years ago before the use of rolling bearings; so all drawers on mine are friction-type gliders.

My tool chest lives in in my unheated garage year round and the drawers have become progressively more difficult to move, to the point that some of them move only with major force, and removing most of them is neigh-impossible. I can easily remove only the half-drawers without getting a hernia from the others.

Has anyone had any experience with bringing a set-up like mine, back to life? Do I need to polish the gliders? What lubricant should I use, bearing in mind that it has to survive winter temperatures as low as -30°C (I spend my winters in Singapore for obvious reasons!).

I did a lot of on-line research but could not find anyone who dealt with the glider issue.

I would appreciate any guidance on this issue as my chest is becoming progressively useless!

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué .


Gord Clark

Gord - there is always a way to remove the drawers, varying from maker to maker. Do so, even if it means removing the tools, and spray down the gliders and rails with brake cleaner to remove the old gummy grease. Clean them as best you can with a cloth and brush, if necessary. Then spray them again with a good white lithium grease, which should give pretty good lubrication.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

Replacement drawer slides are readily available. I would go to your local home improvement store and look for a set which is the right width and length. They can be either screwed or riveted on.

But having said that, I have also had some success cleaning and greasing the old ones.
Lew Palmer

Lew, I'm afraid that replacing the the gliders with new ones, becomes prohibitive and self-defeating.

I have 11 full-sized drawers (12") and 10 - ½-sized drawers (also 12"). The replacement sliders are $9.15 and I will need 22, comes to $221 including VAT, and the half-drawers need 20 at $5.52 = $121 incl taxes.

The old ones sort of work when empty, but put in some tools and they won't budge.

Think I'll stick to Plan A.

Thanks Lew.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gord Clark

Since they are already broken, try WD-40. It works well on binding sliding door rollers/tracks. It is thin enough to dissolve any thick/gummed up old grease. If that fails, take the drawers out like Tom suggests, it is easier than it sounds. George
George Butz

Same chest, same problems.
Larry Brown

I have always had good luck with a silicone spay called Triflow in a black can or plastic bottle with orange letters. It is a lubricant, not a penetrating oil. I would clean slides and put this oil on them.
EL Brown

I have two of the same sort of Craftsman chests - one here in my shop and one up at the lake house. The drawers do come out - either you've got the ones with the little metal clip on the slider that needs pulling out while withdrawing the drawer, or the kind where you need to push in a flat metal tang with a small screwdriver while withdrawing the drawer. Once out, put them into your parts washer or use some mineral spirits and a stiff brush to dissolve the hardened grease. Then, as Tom Lange noted, use white lithium grease to lubricate the slides and put it all together. I'll differ from Tom and suggest using the white lithium in a tub, versus the spray-on (because the former is thicker), but either way you're good.

Triflo is a good lubricant, and I use it on my sailboat's hardware every year, but for this application it's not the best - it's too thin and although initially it may feel great, after a few months it won't provide much lubrication. White lithium will last years.
Kevin McLemore

I have used candle wax on my old one. But then replaced the other one. Lower and more wheels on the ground and slides also.
M Grogan

They make a draw wax for the draws with wood slides.
I think the wax is a mix of part bees wax.
I have an old oak file cabinet, works wonders.
Not sure how well it would work on metal, it melts into the wood and lasts for years.
G D

Okay I official hate apples spell check.
Drawer.
G D

This thread was discussed between 19/06/2017 and 28/06/2017

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