Modifications to the HF 4 and 5 drawer service carts - what changes have you made?

[Recoil Rob]

Proof we never grow out of that. I'm almost 30 and my girlfriend wonders when I'll stop with my projects. I guess the answer is never!

My ex could tell her it will be at least another 28 years.....

 

[kmoon]

Yeah, finger tight is key for most things.

So this piqued my interest, Mountain MTN3350RA side locker:

17.75" deep 15" wide and 34" high. For comparison the HF 7 drawer side box is just over 33" high, so this is about perfect height.

Discount Fleet Supply has them for $157 shipped, which seems to be the best in stock price I could find.

I found the side box at sears for 80 dollars, ship to a store for free. the Craftsman one

 

[alpinewhite]

I found the side box at sears for 80 dollars, ship to a store for free. the Craftsman one

Dimensions:
Depth (in.): 10-1/2 in.
Height: 29-1/4 in.
Width (in.): 17-3/4 in.

http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-...me=Cabinets&prdNo=33&blockNo=33&blockType=L33

Looking at the dimensions and picture, I see that the Craftsman one appears to mount sideways where the door is facing the side as opposed to the same front as the rollaway.

 

[Thunderbisciut]

Nope it mounts correctly, you can see the bent lip that fits over the side of the cart in the pic if you look closely. It's also much smaller, but seems to be about the only thing out there. This one is sized like the CFS-3001RD side box from International, but much cheaper. Keep in mind this will only be a little more than half as deep as the cart, and will be about 5" shorter as well.

International has another box that is like the one I posted. Overall: 14.6 x 18.2 x 33.5 A bit more pricey though.

Holy ****, I take that back, Sears wins for once! $162 free shipping.

 

[ghynes440]

side tables from napa

what is the part number on these?? that is a good idea!

 

[Exceller8]

I just went to the Snap-On parts website to order the lid hinge set. Turns out they are now out of stock on them I guess a lot of you guys have been ordering them already. I'll check back perodically, hopefullly they'll get more in soon.
Here's a link to the parts page:

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/parts/pro_det.asp?Item_id=73613&group_id=19698&test=Roll+Cart%2C+Locking+Flip-Top%2C+4+Locking+Drawers%2C+Screwdriver+Compartment%2C+Red%3B%240.00%3BKRBC8T%3B73613

Its: #15 KRBC8T9 1 Hinge, Clip & Pin Set $9.15

Snap-On is still out of stock. Does anyone else make a replacement set that will work?

 

[Thunderbisciut]

Looks like I ordered mine just in time. Got mine in Thursday afternoon. Not sure how I feel about them yet.

I also have a side locker coming in, but it shouldn't be here for another 2 weeks. It's going to house my air tools and hammers if I can jam it all in there. Best deal I could find on one.

I'm also part way through installing my Sunex lock set. The main lock is just a direct swap, but the side box needs a bit of modification to work. I've been lazy and haven't finished it yet.

Harbor Freight has this box too.
http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-t...-end-cabinet-for-roller-tool-chest-67436.html

Yeah, $200 though...

 

[Rsanchez91]

Here's mine.

I added a handle on the lid, as well as a rubber mat from orchard supply. Pretty happy with both.

Also made nut driver racks for both sides.

Soon adding a collapsible side tray, and moving 1 but driver rack to the other side

 

[alpinewhite]

Is it just me or do others feel that they don't want to leave screwdrivers outside of a lockable box? Somehow, I prefer them to be inside safe-n-sound. Maybe it's just me.

 

[STGFordCrazy04]

Well as a back yard mechanic I do not lock my boxes inside the shop. I guess I feel that if someone were to break into my shop they have plenty tools handy to get into any box or cart I have just as easy as turning the key. Cutting torch, crowbars, sledge hammers, axes, bolt cutters and even a forklift to put the whole box and/or cart in their truck/trailer are only an arms reach away.

In a multi-bay mechanic shop or in a high traffic area I may feel differently.

 

[Larwyn]

Exactly, since retirement, some of my most prized tools are hanging within easy reach of my workbench and none of my tool boxes are locked these days. I remember, and do not miss, the time when tools walked if not locked up.

 

[Rsanchez91]

Is it just me or do others feel that they don't want to leave screwdrivers outside of a lockable box? Somehow, I prefer them to be inside safe-n-sound. Maybe it's just me.

This is my home box, I'm not too concerned with it at this time. If I do move the cart away from home, I will consider the sunex locking screwdriver box

I put them outside the box to free up some space inside the small cart.

 

[Djstorm100]

How do you guys have your carts organized?

 

[ihateminimumwage]

How do you guys have your carts organized?

I'm still working at getting mine all set up the way I want it, but I'll take some pics and post up when I get everything set up.

 

[Rsanchez91]

How do you guys have your carts organized?

Top- screwdrivers (in holes on side) lock a socket tray with sockets. Ratchets.
Top left drawer- hex keys, punches, pics misc.
Top right drawer- measuring tools, SO screw gun, bits ect
Middle drawer- wrenches
Bottom drawer- hammers, files, drill bits, pliers (on rack) ect.

Ill try to get pics next week of all the drawers

-rich

 

[paigej]

How do you guys have your carts organized?

Like this:

 

[paigej]

and this:

 

[Fyrme]

Like this:

Paigej, where can I find those wrench trays?

 

[mdbeck1]

Paigej, where can I find those wrench trays?

I've got a similar tray. I got them from Sears. They were called Sort-A-Tool. Yep, here's the URL: http://www.sears.com/sort-a-tool-in...0965223000P?prdNo=10&blockNo=35&blockType=G35

 

[Djstorm100]

Paigej, where can I find those wrench trays?

I've got a similar tray. I got them from Sears. They were called Sort-A-Tool. Yep, here's the URL: http://www.sears.com/sort-a-tool-in...0965223000P?prdNo=10&blockNo=35&blockType=G35

I actually just bought the try from sears, still trying it out to see if I like it. I put my standard wrenches in there and left my ratchet ones still laying in there.

 

[paigej]

Yep, I got mine from sears also. I have the ratcheting wrenches on the left and the standard combos on the right. I like how they don't take up much space but still trying to decide if I like the metric and sae mixed in the same tray.

 

[bcradio]

Well as a back yard mechanic I do not lock my boxes inside the shop. I guess I feel that if someone were to break into my shop they have plenty tools handy to get into any box or cart I have just as easy as turning the key. Cutting torch, crowbars, sledge hammers, axes, bolt cutters and even a forklift to put the whole box and/or cart in their truck/trailer are only an arms reach away.

In a multi-bay mechanic shop or in a high traffic area I may feel differently.

Why do you have a forklift?

 

[Thunderbisciut]

Why do you have a forklift?

Are you trying to say that if you had the chance to own a forklift, you would pass???

 

[mdbeck1]

Yep, I got mine from sears also. I have the ratcheting wrenches on the left and the standard combos on the right. I like how they don't take up much space but still trying to decide if I like the metric and sae mixed in the same tray.

I wondered the same thing when I first got them (several years ago). However the bolts I need to turn don't all come in SAE or Metric. It makes it pretty easy to figure out the head size.

In other words... You get used to it. ...and the slots are marked so you can pull just the SAE ones if you want (or Metric).

 

[Fyrme]

Yep, I got mine from sears also. I have the ratcheting wrenches on the left and the standard combos on the right. I like how they don't take up much space but still trying to decide if I like the metric and sae mixed in the same tray.

Thanks. Yeah I don't think I like the idea of the Americans and Britts sharing the same bed. (No offense to our friends across the pond, just making a joke). We fixed that problem a couple centuries ago. I thought about changing the stickers and getting a very full set in there or mixing regular box with ratchets but it looks like anything over 3/4" or 19mm will have to go somewhere else.

 

[mdbeck1]

Thanks. Yeah I don't think I like the idea of the Americans and Britts sharing the same bed. (No offense to our friends across the pond, just making a joke). We fixed that problem a couple centuries ago. I thought about changing the stickers and getting a very full set in there or mixing regular box with ratchets but it looks like anything over 3/4" or 19mm will have to go somewhere else.

Too late about the systems being mixed. When I work on my Chevy truck both wrench sets have to be in attendance.

 

[Fyrme]

Oh, I know. It's pissed me off since 1981.

 

[STGFordCrazy04]

Why do you have a forklift?

My family and I owned a lumber yard and hardware store from 1976-2010. When i shut the doors I kept our first lift we bought. '76 Clark IT-40 with a continental 4cyl gas engine.

I dont use it daily around the house but its handy to have.

 

[Rsanchez91]

I added the sunex side tray, it's a bit of a pain to install but it came out nice! I'm going to get more rubber matting from orchard to match my lid

 

[Blake150]

How do you post pics from a cell phone I put a large drawer on the bottom and a stainless to

 

[ihateminimumwage]

I added the sunex side tray, it's a bit of a pain to install but it came out nice! I'm going to get more rubber matting from orchard to match my lid

Looks good and was probably easier to mount than mine.

By the way, where'd you pick up that Snap-On decal? Wouldn't mind throwing one on mine.

 

[Rsanchez91]

How do you post pics from a cell phone I put a large drawer on the bottom and a stainless to

On my iPhone, I have the photobucket app. It's very easy!

Please post pics of your large bottom drawer! I was going to do SS top, but I couldn't justify spending that much money on a $99 cart.

 

[Rsanchez91]

Looks good and was probably easier to mount than mine.

By the way, where'd you pick up that Snap-On decal? Wouldn't mind throwing one on mine.

Snapon.com lol!

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Snapon.com lol!

For some damn reason I didn't think of that!

EDIT: You have a # for that decal? The website doesn't have **** for pictures or descriptions...

 

[Rsanchez91]

I don't, I believe it's around 26" long or something like that, I think I got it off the official mechandise link.

 

[STGFordCrazy04]

Its ss3266a. 23x4 in white

Silver black and red are also available.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Excellent. Thanks guys!

 

[andrew9]

I've got a similar tray. I got them from Sears. They were called Sort-A-Tool. Yep, here's the URL: http://www.sears.com/sort-a-tool-in...0965223000P?prdNo=10&blockNo=35&blockType=G35

Aren't most of the sizes out of order in those trays?

Shouldn't it go 10mm,11mm, 7/16", 12mm, 1/2", 13mm, 14mm, 9/16", 15mm, 5/8", 16mm, 17mm, 11/16" 18mm, 19mm then 3/4"?

By my reckoning they got four wrong!

 

[alpinewhite]

Aren't most of the sizes out of order in those trays?

Shouldn't it go 10mm,11mm, 7/16", 12mm, 1/2", 13mm, 14mm, 9/16", 15mm, 5/8", 16mm, 17mm, 11/16" 18mm, 19mm then 3/4"?

By my reckoning they got four wrong!

Good observation. You are right.

 

[mdbeck1]

Aren't most of the sizes out of order in those trays?

Shouldn't it go 10mm,11mm, 7/16", 12mm, 1/2", 13mm, 14mm, 9/16", 15mm, 5/8", 16mm, 17mm, 11/16" 18mm, 19mm then 3/4"?

By my reckoning they got four wrong!

I never noticed that. I probably need to check mine (they're quite a bit older) and see if they need to be corrected.


...actually I've been thinking about making my own. I like to have two of each wrench handy (one for the nut and one for the bolt) and I'd like to put the sizes together. I like how the wrenches stack but having them on a tray is useful. I probably need to think on it some more and it's an overcast we day here so maybe I'll take some time and dream something up.