Trade rolling box for built-in tool cabinetry?

[iroc409]

So I just bought my first house a couple months back. It has a 3 car garage, but the garage is short (19.5 ft). We have a 4Runner, and I'm going to be working on an old truck fairly soon (that is about 18 ft LOL).

I'm thinking of selling my rolling tool box, and building storage into a work bench, since I have a pretty small amount of space. I'll hopefully get some sort of rolling cart to work with in the garage, but I thought about doing some wall cabinets and building in some drawers. I'll basically have some of the space in front of one of the stalls for a work bench and the main part of my stuff. I'll have other storage in the garage, but it's all going to be a tight fit.

Anyone have experience with this? Are there any downsides to storing tools this way? It seems like a lot of work to build all the drawers and such, but I'm not sure how else to best use the real estate.

 

[Packard V8]

I'm a woodworker and I'd never build drawers to store tools.

Look for a Lista or other quality banks of drawers which can be built under a workbench.

Comes to that, any roller cab can be taken off the casters and built under a bench. Not the most convenient way to go, but you've got to make compromises.

One friend of mine has an older triple stack box which he took off casters and put on a wood pedestal in the corner of a small shop. It sits at a 45-degree angle to his workbench and makes useful which would otherwise be dead space.

Send us photos of how you decide go.

jack vines

 

[bobcatdan]

I would build a bench tall enough that a roll cab fits under it. I like having portability. Depending I would swap out the casters for four swivel one. Just my two cents.

 

[beerdog]

look through some of the bench build threads on this site. there are many. The typical solution is people build their benches around the lower tool cabinets. Many do not even remove the wheels. A common choice are the roller boxes from harbor freight.

Building proper cabinet drawers is easy once you know how. All you really need is a table saw, glue, and clamps. Nails, screws, or a Kreg jig can speed it up. Wood selection is key. You want to use true Baltic birch for the sides and bottom. 1/2-3/4 for the sides and 1/4 for the bottom. Also, the bottom must float in dado channels. Then get good 100lb full extension roller guides. Then a few coats of poly. My local good hardwood lumberyard sells pre-made Baltic birch drawer sides which speeds up the process. Could do it for 1/2 the cost if I make the sides myself. I am actually going t make some more 3'x2' drawers for my cabs in a month or so. It can be done well.

 

[Steevo]

I also don't like that rollaway/top box combo's eliminate usable wall space above them.
So, I did a bench/tool storage setup.
See the link in my sig below.

 

[TheGrooveking]

I'd recommend putting you rolling box against a side wall near the front of the vehicle you are working on.

TheGrooveking

 

[SteveCh]

Just don't ever move the rolling cabinet, leave it against the wall.

Or.

Take off the casters and don't ever move it.

 

[iroc409]

Just don't ever move the rolling cabinet, leave it against the wall.

Or.

Take off the casters and don't ever move it.

I don't really ever move it. The problem is space. The 4Runner takes up all of its bay (mostly), and the old truck will take up all of its space, with 1.5ft to spare (no room for anything in front of it). So I just have the amount of space in front of one bay of the garage.

The HF box like what Steevo did will probably work, depending on how wide it is. My current box's bottom cabinet isn't sufficient for my tool storage needs. I'll have to check into that one's price and size.

I wasn't sure how well home-built drawers would work for heavy tools, so the cabinet would probably work better.

I'll try and get some before/after pictures when I get some of this stuff going. The house actually came with a fairly decent work bench, but it's 8ft long and I think that's too much for what I am looking for. I might be able to adapt it.

 

[SteveCh]

Ok, got it.

I have made my own drawers before. It was quite a project, though they came out fine. What I did was use good-quality plywood for the sides and pine for the fronts. I figured out the sizes I wanted and "mass-produced" them. I used decent full-extension slides. Turned out very nice.

On the other hand, it was quite a project and I spent a lot of time on it. Just installing the slides in itself seemed to take forever. If you have the time and patience and the tools, you can do it. If you find some reasonably-priced cabinets/drawers, you can bolt them to the walls and be done in no time.

 

[Givl Reggin]

Build a bump out on the end of the garage to fit the tool cabinet - this way it won't take up any garage floor space and the drawers will be flush with the wall - and because a picture is worth a thousands words... http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/7525/bumpout.gif

 

[iroc409]

The bump-out is a good idea. The only down side is I couldn't get to my tools when the truck is in there. I might be building an add-on to the garage for extra storage, but it might be more like an attached garden shed. Because of its location, it may or may not be very accessible. If we made it a two-story add-on, I know my wife would love a second story laundry.

Ok, got it.

I have made my own drawers before. It was quite a project, though they came out fine. What I did was use good-quality plywood for the sides and pine for the fronts. I figured out the sizes I wanted and "mass-produced" them. I used decent full-extension slides. Turned out very nice.

On the other hand, it was quite a project and I spent a lot of time on it. Just installing the slides in itself seemed to take forever. If you have the time and patience and the tools, you can do it. If you find some reasonably-priced cabinets/drawers, you can bolt them to the walls and be done in no time.

I have the tools to build it, figured I could use a Kreg jig. I also (currently) have the time--at least until I get the truck here, as then I'll be working on it. My work affords me a lot of free time.

I guess my big concerns would be building them so they can withstand the weight, and the overall cost. The latest mailer I got for the HF 44" roller is $400. I would assume I could build-in shelving with good ball bearing heavy slides for that price, but not certain.

What did you use for the drawer bottoms?

 

[rsanter]

If you are going to build drawers I have the bb drawer glides you can use to do it

Bob