A Craftsman Tool Chest at 173 - Finally!

The Workshop

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Craftsman 2000 Series
26" Wide x 36.5" High
Model #CMST98268RB
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This is a somewhat exciting day for me.  Not as exciting as the birth of a child or grandchild, or anything like that, but exciting nonetheless!  For today, I bought my first Craftsman tool chest.  Because of my sentimental attachment to Craftsman tools, I've always wanted one of their rolling tool boxes, the problem was - I already had two tool chests and in my mind I could never justify a third.  But things change and here we have it!


So What Got in the Way? 

One of the things that got in the way of me getting a Craftsman tool chest was my Popular Mechanics tool chest.  That's right - Popular Mechanics!  A buddy of mine got it for me as a Christmas gift back in 1998 or '99.  I've taken really good care of this tool chest, even waxing it once or twice a year, so it's in near-mint condition!


The other thing that inhibited an earlier Craftsman purchase was this beast:


It began its life as a crash cart in the hospital I worked at.  For years it carried all kinds of equipment for managing Code Blues - IV fluids, needles, medications, defibrillator, all kinds of stuff.  Then one day, as I was leaving work, I went out the back way, past the loading dock and they had maybe a dozen of these lined up.  I asked the facilities chief what was going on.  He said they were all being replaced.  Dear lord!  My mind soared!  I asked if I could take one and he said take as many as you want!  So I got my old pickup truck...


Loaded up two of them, delivered one to my friend's house and dropped the other at 173.  I rushed back to the hospital to get more, probably thinking of selling some or something, but when I got back to the loading dock, they were all gone. Turns out a few other guys got excited about having one too.  Just as well I suppose.


Why Now?

In the summer of 2021, I hauled the old tools chest out to the back yard.  I thought I'd restore it and I wanted to paint it red, you know - to match my Popular Mechanics tool chest.


I didn't get very far before I noticed that most of the drawer slides had rusted out, explaining why I was have a little difficulty aligning and closing the drawers in the past couple years.  I knew right then that the gig was up.  I closed up shop and hauled it back to the workshop.  From there it was just a matter of time.  I should probably mention - I found what appeared to be a date code on this tool chest, and if it was, the chest was made in August 1973!


Features and Specifications

So today, it was finally time.  Off to Lowes I went!  From Lowes' website:  Taller than most comparable tool cabinets, the high-endurance S2000 26-in 5-Drawer Rolling Tool Cabinet packs plenty of storage space without using much floor space. The cabinet's soft-close drawers gently close and will not slam shut, helping preserve it's life and keeping your tools in place. Each heavy-duty drawer can support up to 100-lbs and glides smoothly on ball-bearing slides while the 5-in x 2-in casters support up to 1500-lbs total.


  • FULL EXTENSION DRAWER SLIDES: Support 100-lbs of product
  • EMBOSSED TOP MAT FOR SURFACE PROTECTION with drawer liners under the lid and in every drawer
  • EXPANSIVE STOWING SPACE: 9,266 cubic inches of storage
  • SAFEGUARD YOUR TOOLS with over-mold key and internal locking system
  • HIGH DURABILITY AND STRENGTH: 1,500-lb load rating with 5-in x 2-in casters with toe-locking brakes and reinforced mounting casters
  • BUILT TO LAST: 18-20 Ga. steel I-Frame® construction and top bumpers
  • PROFESSIONAL-GRADE MOBILITY: Full-grip, tubular side handle
  • MADE IN THE USA WITH GLOBAL MATERIALS: Forged in Sedalia, Missouri
  • (5) Drawer Liners for every drawer(1) Top Mat for the Tool Cabinet Surface(1) Set of Keys(1) Caster Set
It only took maybe 15 minutes to get the new tool assembled - I only need to install the casters,  I decided to use a Craftsman driver I inherited from my father.  Moments of poignancy.


Its Natural Habitat 

The workshop at 173 isn't real big so there weren't a lot of options for placement of the new tool chest. But I like where the old one was anyway, so it kind of works out!


I remember the cool, varnished smoothness of the rake's wooden handle -- always a Craftsman brand rake, bought at Sears. Always buy Craftsman tools, Dad said, because if it ever broke -- ever -- you could take it back and they'd replace it. Guaranteed for life. That was a profound thought, to a 12-year-old. - Frank Ahrens in The Washington Post, October 29, 1995

And here she is, in her natural habitat at 173! And there's the old Gerstner, a perfect pairing!



Thanks for stopping by - see you next time!

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