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It's not a SORTIMO, but check out my parts cabinet I made!

Y

ybnormal70

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 8, 2010
Messages
931
Location
Conway, SC
Like a lot of people I'm sure, I recently watched the episode of Tested where Adam Savage showed off his Sortimo parts cabinets.


I loved the idea but knew I could not afford that quality or brand of system. I then decided to search about making my own. I ran across this website here:

http://davewirth.blogspot.com/2014/07/organize-parts-storage-stacking-cases.html

After thinking about making a cabinet from scratch, I thought of something that I use daily in my work that would almost fit the bill.

http://www.webstaurantstore.com/reg...-unassembled-20-pan-capacity/600PR20316K.html

I knew to use one of these bun pan racks that they would need to be modified. There are several styles that range from bolt together, welded & even riveted. The easiest to modify was going to be a bolt together. After a quick craigslist search, I found a local used restaurant supply place and went to pick one out. $65 later and I had this back at my house:

<a href="http://s239.photobucket.com/user/ybnormal70/media/PartsCabinetStage11.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff215/ybnormal70/PartsCabinetStage11.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo PartsCabinetStage11.jpg"/></a>

The cart was very wobbly but the depth was perfect and only the width needed to be shortened. I remove all 6 of the cross bars and found that they were all held together with a bolt and a wedge nut that was inside the tubing. I cut off both ends of the tubing to remove these and get the desired width I needed. To connect everything back together I picked up 2 6' pieces of 5/16” all thread. I cut them to my desired width and bolted everything back together with lock nuts and washers. It is now very very sturdy.

I based all of my measurements on the Harbor Freight Portable Parts Storage Cases:

http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=portable+parts+storage+case+bin

The larger of the 3 bins will only fit 2 on the very top shelf due to it's height. I can fit up to 38 of the 20 bin cases. I can also fit 4 of the smaller ones per shelf if I install a bottom on a rack. I do plan to do this to at least 2 shelves just to have a little variety. That will leave me with 2 large, 34 medium and 8 small parts cases. That is a lot of storage.

After assembly of the cart and putting in a few cases, I realized that I would need to have a shelf/table to set it on to look for my required items. I then thought of a folding shelf on one side so I ordered these:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006FKP40/?tag=atomicindus08-20

This led to me installing a small folding shelf on one side. I then put a little bit of trim around the edge so that I could keep small parts and the case from sliding off. The shelf has 3 locking positions (1 I think will make a great laptop table for shop use):

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-...CHkVc/w808-h606-no/20140802_183630-MOTION.gif

<a href="http://s239.photobucket.com/user/ybnormal70/media/PartsCabinetStage31.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff215/ybnormal70/PartsCabinetStage31.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo PartsCabinetStage31.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s239.photobucket.com/user/ybnormal70/media/PartsCabinetStage32.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff215/ybnormal70/PartsCabinetStage32.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo PartsCabinetStage32.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s239.photobucket.com/user/ybnormal70/media/PartsCabinetStage33.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff215/ybnormal70/PartsCabinetStage33.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo PartsCabinetStage33.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s239.photobucket.com/user/ybnormal70/media/PartsCabinetStage34.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff215/ybnormal70/PartsCabinetStage34.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo PartsCabinetStage34.jpg"/></a>

Then I had the idea to install pegboard on the sides to give me even more storage for smaller items:

<a href="http://s239.photobucket.com/user/ybnormal70/media/PartsCabinetStage42.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff215/ybnormal70/PartsCabinetStage42.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo PartsCabinetStage42.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s239.photobucket.com/user/ybnormal70/media/PartsCabinetStage43.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff215/ybnormal70/PartsCabinetStage43.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo PartsCabinetStage43.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s239.photobucket.com/user/ybnormal70/media/PartsCabinetStage48.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff215/ybnormal70/PartsCabinetStage48.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo PartsCabinetStage48.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s239.photobucket.com/user/ybnormal70/media/PartsCabinetStage49.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff215/ybnormal70/PartsCabinetStage49.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo PartsCabinetStage49.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s239.photobucket.com/user/ybnormal70/media/PartsCabinetStage412.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff215/ybnormal70/PartsCabinetStage412.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo PartsCabinetStage412.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s239.photobucket.com/user/ybnormal70/media/PartsCabinetStage413.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff215/ybnormal70/PartsCabinetStage413.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo PartsCabinetStage413.jpg"/></a>


All in all, I am very happy with this cabinet. I can store a very very large assorments of items, it is mobile and can be configured in a number of different ways. The approximate price breakdown is as follows:

Bun rack $60
5/16” all thread $12
Folding shelf brackets $41
Wood for shelf $10
2 Large Parts Bins $28
8 Small Parts Bins $32
38 Medium Parts Bins $270
1 sheet of pegboard $18
Various fasteners $10

Total $481

I think for a little over $500 give or take it was well worth it. If you waited for a harbor freight 20% off $100 or more you could really save on the parts bins, almost $60 savings vs sale price. All in all, I am very happy with it.

All pics can be seen here:

http://s239.photobucket.com/user/ybnormal70/library/?sort=2&page=1

What do you all think? Anything you would change or recommend? Lets hear your opinions.

Kevin
 

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C

cuog

Active member
Joined
Apr 15, 2013
Messages
30
Location
RVA
How are those HF bins as far as things getting mixed up when you pick them up by the handle?
 
OP
Y

ybnormal70

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 8, 2010
Messages
931
Location
Conway, SC
I'm sure if I carried them around a lot by the handle they could possibly have very small items move around some. I have not had it happen and I have moved them around by the handle a decent bit. They are not perfect by any means, but for $7 a piece for the mid size, they are fit my needs excellent.

Thanks,

Kevin
 
K

kfainf

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 28, 2007
Messages
300
Great idea! Now I have to start looking for a bun rack. Hope you don't mind if I steal your ideas?
 
OP
Y

ybnormal70

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 8, 2010
Messages
931
Location
Conway, SC
I was hoping others would like this idea well enough to use it themselves. I've learned a lot from this site and the members here. I was hoping this is something I could give back a little bit.

Thanks for all the great compliments everyone!!!!

Kevin
 
C

cuog

Active member
Joined
Apr 15, 2013
Messages
30
Location
RVA
ybnormal70 said:
I'm sure if I carried them around a lot by the handle they could possibly have very small items move around some. I have not had it happen and I have moved them around by the handle a decent bit. They are not perfect by any means, but for $7 a piece for the mid size, they are fit my needs excellent.

Thanks,

Kevin
Click to expand...


Thanks, at a tiny fraction the cost of SORTIMO I was worried they may be complete junk, I'll have to check them out and maybe steal your idea like everyone else.:beer:
 
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H

Haveblue

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 8, 2013
Messages
1,484
Location
kansas
That is a great set up! Looks like a lot of storage in a small footprint. Great work man! :thumbup:
 
P

ph1gering

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 1, 2013
Messages
194
Location
Upstate, NY
Exactly what I am planning on doing, love these nice lil bins, I have about 20 filled already..

great job..
 
M

miner

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 3, 2012
Messages
96
I would have reinforced it with something more stout than pegboard. Also I would have reinforced it at the base, top, and mid section where the cross piece is located, probably with sheet metal. Once you start to fill up those parts bins you will be putting a lot of weight on just a few pieces of tubing.

I used to have one of these catering carts, but with solid aluminum sides, back, top and bottom, and with a solid hinged front door. So, basically, way more stout than yours. I used the stainless steel baking sheets that are meant to slide into these things. It did hold a good bit of stuff, but it was quite precarious and awkward moving it around because of its height and small foot print. You have made yours even narrower.

I ended up getting rid of mine after I got proper cabinets. I do hope you end up enjoying this, though. If I were you I would only roll it front to back, not sideways, and very slowly. And watch out for anything you left on the floor that will want to bring your cabinet to an immediate halt. I have found that no matter how clean you think your floor is, these kinds of cabinets are extremely adept at finding the small bits you missed. Good luck!
 
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Y

ybnormal70

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 8, 2010
Messages
931
Location
Conway, SC
It is narrow but I do plan to keep the heaviest items on the bottom to help lower the center of gravity. The cart is very stout as it is. These are made to hold quite a bit of weight as 40 stainless or aluminum sheet pans filled with bread dough is pretty heavy. I have thought of making a little bit wider/lower base with better casters with locks if it becomes a problem.

Thanks again for all the compliments everyone!!!

Kevin
 
W

woodrail

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 23, 2012
Messages
2,456
Location
Lorain, Ohio
I love the utility of this, but I have the same fear as miner. I have one of the harbor freight one sided bin cabinets on casters. It is thin, tall and holds bunches of weight. I only pull it in and out of its own cabinet and I can feel how unstable it is only doing this. I suspect yours will be amplified, after all it's meant to carry buns!

You got nice bracing north/south, but realistically have next to nothing east/west. I minimally would get some X-bracing thru the middle between the boxes. Also I would sacrifice the small footprint and add some outriggers.

Of course, you have your hands on the great project. It might feel perfectly fine!

Good job. :)
 
M

miner

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 3, 2012
Messages
96
Cut away some of the rails and you can fit the bigger, heavier boxes on the bottom rather than at the very top.
 
B

BAM its mitch

Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2014
Messages
10
Very nicely done. I made something similar a while back using plywood (prior to ever seeing the Sortimo setup that Adam has) , mine only holds somewhere around 16 cases though. When I run out of space or move into another house, I'll probably remake it to resemble yours/the sortimo version.
 
K

Kevin54

MEMBER EMERITUS
Joined
Jan 12, 2005
Messages
29,341
Location
Urbana, Ohio
take some round rod, drill and tap each end, and fasten it through the holes of the pegboard to make some bin stops. That way when you slide them back in they will be all lined up.
 
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