Anyone ever use office cabinets for garage storage?

[METALMOVER]

My work is getting rid of a bunch of filing cabinets, Im going to configure them into a storage area versuses spending a bunch on Gladiator type ones,luckily there all black, anyone done this before? Whats gonna be the drawbacks? Thanks METALMOVER

 

[tigerxj]

I got a couple lockable 4 drawer filing cabinets from a friend. Using one for tool storage. I have my angle grinder, drill, power screw driver, jigsaw, palm sander, dremel, brad nailer, all in their storage boxes, extension cords, screw drivers, and all the various drill bits, sandpaper, jigsaw blades and some other misc stuff in mine. Made a lot of space because it is so tall and deep.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Are they lateral or vertical cabinets? The lateral style work very well. They can hold a decent amount of weight. If they're the ones that have a "hide away" door it's even better. You can leave them open like shelving or close them & lock them when you're out of the shop. I just got (2) wall mount lockable horizontal cabinets with those style doors & (2) 3 drawer lockable under desk units from a local company that donated everything to the town before demoing their old building. Those things work great, I say go for it!

Tommy

 

[METALMOVER]

Theres 4-4 drawer filing cabinets, 2-2 drawer, 3 big 4 drawer where the drawers are like 48in. wide by 18in. tall, 2 big armoir type with swing open doors, all in black. Could have more if I wanted cream color also.

 

[kenners]

I've got several lateral file cabinets in my shed. I use the 4 or 5 drawer for corded and cordless power tool storage. Then 3 two drawer lateral file cabinets, two will be used under the future weld table. The last one is presently has a wood top and has two motors with wire wheels.

 

[PCO6]

Theres 4-4 drawer filing cabinets, 2-2 drawer, 3 big 4 drawer where the drawers are like 48in. wide by 18in. tall, 2 big armoir type with swing open doors, all in black. Could have more if I wanted cream color also.

I have a 2 drawer cabinet (non-lateral) under each end of my bench. They're great for power hand tools and/or fluids, cleaners, additives, etc. At about 28" deep they are a few inches short of a fairly typical 30" deep bench which makes for a good use of space.

View media item 38661

 

[astroracer]

Yup, sure do...

Put casters on this one too.

Put a big Sears power box on it. Rolls around great!

This one is used for parts storage during a build.

 

[Homebody]

The majority of mine are all old filing cabinets. Painted em Craftsman red and couldn't be happier. People think I paid a ton for high end ones and I got em all free!
Can't really see the 48" wide 4 drawer one behind the table but it's my favorite.

 

[METALMOVER]

Yep I like the ideas, especially adding wheels on some. As soon as I get the paint on the osb Im gonna move on em, I think Ill try and find some thin diamond plate and trim em out.Thanks guys.

 

[70C-10]

Theres 4-4 drawer filing cabinets, 2-2 drawer, 3 big 4 drawer where the drawers are like 48in. wide by 18in. tall, 2 big armoir type with swing open doors, all in black. Could have more if I wanted cream color also.

The lateral filing cabinets I've come across are 36" W & 42" W. If your finding 48's I'm jealous.

I would say take more than you think you need. You can always sell or giveaway any extra units later.

 

[zkling]

They are better built than most tool boxes. Downside is that a good majority of them aren't the most efficient means of storage for small tools (ie, drawers much deeper than they need to be). But for bulky items such as power tools and fluids they are great.

 

[E.rodz]

yes here is what I did with some file cabinets and a blueprint file. they all have roller bearing drawers and after 20 years they still roll in and out perfectly.

 

[Toolman12]

Dad was always too cheap to buy a good toolbox so he would go to the local scrap yard and pick up file cabinets for a buck or two and use them instead of toolboxes

 

[wafer]

Got mine when work was giving them away. No regrets. Can't think of any downsides.

 

[taumac]

yes here is what I did with some file cabinets and a blueprint file. they all have roller bearing drawers and after 20 years they still roll in and out perfectly.

Nice setup..... Looks great



Have a good one, Gerard

Florida GJers ( FGJ)
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/group.php?groupid=117

The 5 Stitches Garage
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=211899

 

[volleyball]

I have a coupe odd size file cabinets as well as regular 2,3,4 &5 drawers. A double map file cabinet.
Never thought about painting them all to match. Oh darn, another future project.
I don't get the cabinets flush with the edge of the top. You must be wearing steel toe shoes or have beer bellies to protect them toes. A few inches overhang goes a long way.

 

[fury9]

Look Here-- http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=177784&highlight=lateral+filing+cabinets

 

[oldgoaly]

lower ones sort some machinist tools and tooling, small file cabinets are for the small files for the die filer.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

yes here is what I did with some file cabinets and a blueprint file. they all have roller bearing drawers and after 20 years they still roll in and out perfectly.

That's great! I don't have near the space to do what you've done.

I just lost out on a blueprint cabinet at work. The custodian threw it out before I had a chance to nab it.

I wasn't going to paint mine, but now that I've seen yours I may just go the extra mile. Just gotta figure out what spray bomb paint will match the Craftsman boxes best...

Tommy

 

[kpilot]

Here`s mine, a mix of office & metal kitchen cabinets I`ve recycled.

 

[Sled heed]

These are not exactly file cabinets. But i can tell you it would have been a helluva lot easier to paint the craftsman box to match the cabinets!

 

[OrneryDuck]

What are you guys storing in these cabinets? I've thought about grabbing up some old HON's from surplus but couldn't think of what I'd store in them given the size. The blueprint cabinets would be great for fastener or small part storage, but they are rare in my next of the woods.

 

[Compy222]

I use a 4 drawes for my car detailing stuff. Top drawer is exterior wash products. Then wax/after wash exterior products including my da polisher. Then interior cleaning products. Bottom drawer is my handhld vacuum and other odds/ends.

 

[Justanoldguy]

I have a 2 drawer cabinet (non-lateral) under each end of my bench. They're great for power hand tools and/or fluids, cleaners, additives, etc. At about 28" deep they are a few inches short of a fairly typical 30" deep bench which makes for a good use of space.

View media item 38661

Nice compact set up.
Everything at easy reach by the looks.

 

[Lippyp]

Yep, I have a bunch of canadian made Teknion lateral filing cabinets bought off ebay for £35 each. Oh and yep, the colour is original. Wish I'd bought a couple more but I couldn't haul any more home. They came out of the head office of the AA (UK equivalent of AAA)

 

[roscoe2000]

Office cabinets are a good match for garage as they are often found cheaply and are durable. One pair I use a mobile work work bench, or more like catch all till i get around to cleaning up.

 

[PCO6]

Nice compact set up.
Everything at easy reach by the looks.

Thanks. It's not easy to see but there's even a nice compact beer fridge in the upper left of the photo. It's at a very easy reach!

 

[smedly]

They are great for storage of power tools.

 

[BBChevro]

All the pics in this thread show good use of "recycled" products - who said car guys aren't environmentally friendly.

I tend to use pretty much anything (as long as it's free) - I've got a couple of old post office pigeon-hole sorting frames that I hung (sideways) on the wall.

Although the metal filing cabinets are great (would be great - I don't actually have any ), even cheap "bedside table" type drawers can be useful - either fixed to a wall or (like I did) put castors on them (I have sand paper in one, masking tape in another, etc.).

Mark

 

[Steve from Socal]

I have a number of 5 drawer lateral files that hold everything from power tools to, paint sprayers. The bigger files are quite sturdy and each drawer can hold a couple hundred pounds of stuff. Plus; the top drawer is a great place to keep manuals and shop reference books.

I have a mix of files with the flip up doors and regular drawers, I really prefer the door style for most things. They are generally more substantial than the drawer type. For things like power tools the drawers are fine. For heavy things or concentrated weight like starters, ac compressors etc the shelf type feel stiffer.

Steve

 

[nolimits76]

Theres 4-4 drawer filing cabinets, 2-2 drawer, 3 big 4 drawer where the drawers are like 48in. wide by 18in. tall, 2 big armoir type with swing open doors, all in black. Could have more if I wanted cream color also.

What brand are they? HON and Steelcase are fairly heavy duty and should do you well.

Personally I'd be all over the armoir style cabinets you mentioned. Even if you have to take cream, you will be money ahead -- paint is cheap.

 

[METALMOVER]

Im not sure on what kind they are, Ill look today, Ill probably have about 20 ft of cabinets in black alone, I suppose I could put the cream in the loft or paint em if need be, thanks for all the pics, ill post some as soon as I get em home. MM

 

[FloydShine]

Another good source is governmental auctions, like state surplus, or even local estate sales. I bought a pickup load of 2 drawer and 4 drawer vertical cabinets at a state auction, for next to nothing, painted them up to match and put them to use in the shop. Folk come from all around and drool over them.

 

[twertsy]

Yup, sure do...

Just snagged that exact cabinet off CL. Sucker is heavy, and useful.

 

[JimVonBaden]

Mine have everything from gallons of paint to organized plastic containers of electrical parts to scrap pieces. They are heavy duty and very versatile for storage, plus keep the dust off everything.

 

[fireguy229]

 

[dawgee]

Metalmover look at cutsmetal.com for thin diamond plate

 

[Hantke]

That's awesome to see what you guys are doing with them! definitely makes me want to go find some and go through with my work-bench building plans! Thanks for the good inspiration pictures, now i want to add kick plates and matching paint to!

 

[jholder]

Just snagged that exact cabinet off CL. Sucker is heavy, and useful.

That looks awesome, what type of filing cabinet is that? (i.e. what magical search terms would I use to track one down)?

Sorry, was talking about this one:

http://images52.fotki.com/v734/photos/9/904975/3555066/MVC006F-vi.jpg

 

[hayhauler71]

wish i had bought more