The steel on the red 5 drawer is muuuuccccch thicker. It's like a tank. I'm guessing that's what he likes.
I can vouch for that being the pair.
You can see on the page for the cart they were made for, it says "units required: 1"
Modifications to the HF 4 and 5 drawer service carts - what changes have you made?
- Thread starter ndnchf
- Start date
The steel on the red 5 drawer is muuuuccccch thicker. It's like a tank. I'm guessing that's what he likes.
I can vouch for that being the pair.
You can see on the page for the cart they were made for, it says "units required: 1"
tncumminsguy
Well-known member
A good spray paint to use on these carts would be engine enamel from dupi-color if anyone wants some solvents resistant paint.
Gareth68
Well-known member
Got a little done today.
Oddly enough, that is exacty what I am using. Duplicolor Grabber Green engine paint.
If it does, It will make it easy to replace with something tougher.....though I have to say I have had it on teh tree bars and a few other places on my baja for 4 years with no delamination.
Perhaps prep issues or compatibility issues with the substrate?
Anyhow, I got two drawers painted...put one edge guard on, applied a sticker and painted and installed the handle.
Sorry, this one is a bit blurry.
Looking REALLLL good. I'm really diggin the green too. Almost looks like a snap on green. If I was patient and careful I'd try it with my 4 drawer cart. But until then it will remain black.
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Horror Business
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2014
- Messages
- 504
Great ideas in this thread! Thanks.
I can tell you for a fact, the 4 drawer carts metal is good. Thick. And not a subpar steel.
With as much drilling, fileing, and shaping as im doing to my 2. It's strong.
Gareth68
Well-known member
I can tell you for a fact, the 4 drawer carts metal is good. Thick. And not a subpar steel.
With as much drilling, fileing, and shaping as im doing to my 2. It's strong.
Not saying it's of bad quality...just saying that the 5 drawer is MUCH better.
So I hit up the sidewalk sale and got a new 5 drawer for $119. They had the price marked wrong but gave it to me anyway! Now I have a new welding cart
So, I'm a bit confused. What did you do with the drawers? Are they a single unit that just gets plunked down in there during assembly? If so, I'm stoked, because I've been looking for a "more than 3" drawer middle chest.
I actually had 3 carts. I did a few modifications and ended up with 1 cart with drawers all the way down, 1 cart with the extra drawers, and 1 cart with no drawers and 2 welders. I just drilled new holes and riveted just like the original construction. Then I sold the cart with the extra drawers for $120.
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Gareth68
Well-known member
It was a beautiful day today. Absolutely perfect weather. So, I had three drawers left to paint...
Killed it.
And, cut out a section of steel on my buddy's trailer to trim some 2x10's and replace teh deck (planks welded in).
Cooked a few pork steaks and drank a couple brews.... a perfect day.
So....here y'all go.
The finished product (for now).
I am happy. I think it looks awesome.
If you don't knock yourself out and paint one to your own tastes.....and by all means...POST PICS!!!
Killed it.
And, cut out a section of steel on my buddy's trailer to trim some 2x10's and replace teh deck (planks welded in).
Cooked a few pork steaks and drank a couple brews.... a perfect day.
So....here y'all go.
The finished product (for now).
I am happy. I think it looks awesome.
If you don't knock yourself out and paint one to your own tastes.....and by all means...POST PICS!!!
marty_p
Well-known member
^^^^^ Gareth68, that looks incredible! ^^^^^
Askme42
Well-known member
Man that's a sweet cart. I would never bother with painting mine. Just don't have the time or patience.
How far west of Mexico? I'm in columbia.
How far west of Mexico? I'm in columbia.
Gareth68
Well-known member
I'm in Fulton.
upgrading
Well-known member
Nice work.
ford guy
Well-known member
dualsub2006
Active member
I have the black one, and there's one feature that the black one totally kills the red one on: size.
The black one fits my available space and the red one didn't.
I know right haha. I work in a shop and refuse to beat my Mac cart up rolling it around everywhere. And I would never drill into a name brand cart. But these are so cheap you don't feel bad about modifying them. I want to put the seven drawer side box on, just have to wait for funds
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PelicanPines
ALLIANCE MEMBER
My HF red 5 drawer cart arrived 2 weeks ago. The modifications began.
The first thing i did was cut the front of the bottom shelf off. I couldn't use the bottom of the cart without this modification. I temp installed the legs in the front and measured the front to keep some meat on the side of the opening. I also kept about 1/2 an inch of the bottom lip. Measured twice and cut the bottom shelf.
Next i took some flat bar stock and fabricated a brace to put across the new opening from swivel to swivel. I drilled oblong holes to match the swivel holes and then drilled a series of holes across the length to install 3/16th rivets. Spaced the middle 4 close then the rest a bit more spread out.
Painted the new support, the cut. Installed the base and continued with other modifications.
More to come... Some pictures.
The first thing i did was cut the front of the bottom shelf off. I couldn't use the bottom of the cart without this modification. I temp installed the legs in the front and measured the front to keep some meat on the side of the opening. I also kept about 1/2 an inch of the bottom lip. Measured twice and cut the bottom shelf.
Next i took some flat bar stock and fabricated a brace to put across the new opening from swivel to swivel. I drilled oblong holes to match the swivel holes and then drilled a series of holes across the length to install 3/16th rivets. Spaced the middle 4 close then the rest a bit more spread out.
Painted the new support, the cut. Installed the base and continued with other modifications.
More to come... Some pictures.
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NewEdgePerf
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- Joined
- Nov 24, 2012
- Messages
- 198
Good idea! I may have to do that with my HF 4 drawer. I have a Craftsman 2 drawer box on my lower shelf that would be easier to access the bottom drawer if I cut the bottom shelf like you did.
Would a door edge guard ( the plastic stuff) give a more finished look to the cut area and be easier on the hands?
Thanks for sharing!
Tony D
Would a door edge guard ( the plastic stuff) give a more finished look to the cut area and be easier on the hands?
Thanks for sharing!
Tony D
PelicanPines
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I painted everything individually before putting it all together. Here is a picture of how it ended up and how im using it.
I agree with the door edging. I will try it... I have some.
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PelicanPines
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Galvonzo
Well-known member
More pictures of my bottom shelf modification process.
This is so far my favorite mod I've seen. Small modification with a big impact on use.
PelicanPines
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Thanks Galvonzo.
I didn't like the way the open sides looked. Seeing the rivets from the drawer slides... it looked unfinished.
So this happened:
By the way... the last picture shows how I ran the electrical cord under the box...
If you are wondering... I used the side panel from an old PC frame from the early 90's.
I didn't like the way the open sides looked. Seeing the rivets from the drawer slides... it looked unfinished.
So this happened:
By the way... the last picture shows how I ran the electrical cord under the box...
If you are wondering... I used the side panel from an old PC frame from the early 90's.
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PelicanPines
ALLIANCE MEMBER
To do that side panel... it posed a few assembly issues I want to clarify.
I positioned it... and ran blue tape along the uprights of the cart to mark the rivet holes. I then drilled out ONLY the cart holes and the RIGHT side thru the panel. I left the LEFT holes in the panel to drill later.
I took everything apart... cleaned the burrrrs and painted.
During assembly: I riveted the RIGHT side, using stainless 1/8 inch. I then installed the box itself, bolted and tighted everything on the cart.
ONLY THEN did i go back to drill the thru holes on the left side. The holes in the leg were already there so i was just drilling thru the panel at this point. I used a very stiff ruller in the gap at the top to hold the panel in place by giving some back pressure.
I ran the left side of rivets and cut a trim piece from 1/2 inch wide flat steel. Painted that and attached it with 3M molding tape.
Looks pretty clean now.
I positioned it... and ran blue tape along the uprights of the cart to mark the rivet holes. I then drilled out ONLY the cart holes and the RIGHT side thru the panel. I left the LEFT holes in the panel to drill later.
I took everything apart... cleaned the burrrrs and painted.
During assembly: I riveted the RIGHT side, using stainless 1/8 inch. I then installed the box itself, bolted and tighted everything on the cart.
ONLY THEN did i go back to drill the thru holes on the left side. The holes in the leg were already there so i was just drilling thru the panel at this point. I used a very stiff ruller in the gap at the top to hold the panel in place by giving some back pressure.
I ran the left side of rivets and cut a trim piece from 1/2 inch wide flat steel. Painted that and attached it with 3M molding tape.
Looks pretty clean now.
PelicanPines
ALLIANCE MEMBER
The electric outlets... I really wanted to be able to plug stuff in on my cart. I figured a power strip would be simple but I wanted something that is all metal. I happened to have an all metal surge protector with a switch and fuse that can handle 12 amps...
I took the box apart and its full of "stuff" you don't want to run a screw into... I considered just attaching the outlet box with 3M tape but that would not have been solid enough from my OCD.
I took off the end panel and drilled holes for "nutserts", I used 2 x 1/4-20tpi. I then realized i had to thread a screw into this and wanted to protect the insides a bit more. I had these red rubber caps from something, so I epoxied them over the nutserts on the inside of the box.
I reassembled the box and attached it to the bottom of that side thing on the cart. I also stuck some 3M tape in there to soften the connection.
I ran the cord under the box and installed hooks on the back of the box, which allowed me to hang an extention cord too.
The hooks I attached on the back, I got them from Walmart and had to trim a tab off the back and mod one hole about 1/32 of an inch lower and the thing bolted into the existing holes. I had to use longer bolts to attach them correctly tho.
I took the box apart and its full of "stuff" you don't want to run a screw into... I considered just attaching the outlet box with 3M tape but that would not have been solid enough from my OCD.
I took off the end panel and drilled holes for "nutserts", I used 2 x 1/4-20tpi. I then realized i had to thread a screw into this and wanted to protect the insides a bit more. I had these red rubber caps from something, so I epoxied them over the nutserts on the inside of the box.
I reassembled the box and attached it to the bottom of that side thing on the cart. I also stuck some 3M tape in there to soften the connection.
I ran the cord under the box and installed hooks on the back of the box, which allowed me to hang an extention cord too.
The hooks I attached on the back, I got them from Walmart and had to trim a tab off the back and mod one hole about 1/32 of an inch lower and the thing bolted into the existing holes. I had to use longer bolts to attach them correctly tho.
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PelicanPines
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Yes ! I saw your modification and remembered the hook. After holding it up to the cart... I noticed how close it was to fitting the existing holes. Kinda like it was made for it.
I got great inspiration from everyone here.
Thank you.
jakemac
Well-known member
Yup, and then you took it one step further by making some really practical changes. Good job, and thanks for the step-by-step descriptions w/pictures. I'm sure you'll inspire others.
PelicanPines
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Yup, and then you took it one step further by making some really practical changes. Good job, and thanks for the step-by-step descriptions w/pictures. I'm sure you'll inspire others.
More is coming, ...
1. Nice thick grommets on all the screw driver holes
2. 20 inch magnetic bars on lid
3. Snap on hinges
4. Hoffman 18 x 18 folding shelf "ebay SCORE"
5. Matt's Plier Racks !!!
alpinewhite
Well-known member
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