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

[davjac]

I just had to do it! Don't tell Snap On! HEHE

This is my lawnmower repair cart. I absolutely LOVE IT! I finally can work on things without spreading my tools out on a rough driveway that scratches them up.

 

[PelicanPines]

Interesting how you mounted the Eastwood side carry shelves into the inset of the cart. Nice name badge upgrade as well. I did that to my red cart... neighbor gave me the badge.

Nice cart...

 

[davjac]

Interesting how you mounted the Eastwood side carry shelves into the inset of the cart. Nice name badge upgrade as well. I did that to my red cart... neighbor gave me the badge.

Nice cart...

THANKS! I love the 3 can holder and the mini shelves. The paper towel holders comes in handy too. Before that I was always putting my greasy hands on the roll dirtying the new towels.

 

[Sokr915]

Can someone measure how long the 5drawer cart actually is? With and without the handle please. One link says 33 1/4" and another says 37 3/4". I have 35" to work with. My guess is the longer is with the handle and side storage. Thanks for the help.

http://t.harborfreight.com/tool-sto...4-lb-capacity-glossy-red-tool-cart-69397.html

http://t.harborfreight.com/tool-sto...4-lb-capacity-glossy-red-tool-cart-61427.html

 

[paigej]

here you go

 

[Sokr915]

You are awesome. Off to HF tomorrow I go

 

[B.Ellis]

Quick question....If I cut the bottom front lip off, how do you think that would effect stability? Thinking of hacking it off and putting a sheet of wood on slides so I can access the stuff better on the bottom. Would loose 3" or so by if I had to put it above the lip.

Thoughts?

 

[PelicanPines]

Quick question....If I cut the bottom front lip off, how do you think that would effect stability? Thinking of hacking it off and putting a sheet of wood on slides so I can access the stuff better on the bottom. Would loose 3" or so by if I had to put it above the lip.

Thoughts?

Goto page 52... I did it... and added a brace. Sucker is solid.

 

[ChevyEFI]

Goto page 52... I did it... and added a brace. Sucker is solid.

Nice job.

And tha'ts page 52 if you have 20 posts per page in your settings for those looking for it.

 

[lan240]

Screwdriver holder out of square tube aluminum

 

[ryanm]

I just had to do it! Don't tell Snap On! HEHE

This is my lawnmower repair cart. I absolutely LOVE IT! I finally can work on things without spreading my tools out on a rough driveway that scratches them up.

looks nice. did you ever think about a piece of stainless or diamond plate on top to use as a work surface? not sure how practical it would be...some guys just have the folding shelves on the sides for work areas

 

[davjac]

looks nice. did you ever think about a piece of stainless or diamond plate on top to use as a work surface? not sure how practical it would be...some guys just have the folding shelves on the sides for work areas

I have. I want a work surface on top but haven't decided what that will be yet. I'm thinking a finished 3/4" hardwood ply top and then add lift struts.

 

[gi bro]

Few guys here in the shop have the same cart so I needed to make mine stand out...

Custom signal green paint job with bedliner drawers, top, side holder, bottom tray and inside of the top compartment.

Custom bent connecting rod and acrylic rod handle.

Custom connecting rod end lid handle with a message to all who try and borrow my tools...


Drawer detail




I plan on ordering a snap on lock to match my big box, the snappy hinges, making full length thick rubber bumpers to the corners to protect the cars I work on, adapting a 12 volt battery, cables and charger for jumpstarting and providing power when programming vehicles, and a set of outlets to charge various tools.

I was running out of room in my big box so this $275 build saved me buying a $10K upgrade tool box.

This is completely awesome. The green matches my go karts.

 

[cheechi]

I have read through this whole thread and THOUGHT I saw someone who managed to fit the Cman/Mayhew pry bars into the red cart with some kind of mod. I just got mine and completely forgot that they don't fit properly. Any help would be awesome, I have been going back through but there's a lot of pages.

Thanks in advance.

 

[619DioFan]

I have read through this whole thread and THOUGHT I saw someone who managed to fit the Cman/Mayhew pry bars into the red cart with some kind of mod. I just got mine and completely forgot that they don't fit properly. Any help would be awesome, I have been going back through but there's a lot of pages.

Thanks in advance.

I remember that post. the op had opened up the area the prybars go through enough so that the handles would drop down lower. then he installed a bracket that was low enough for the handles to rest on ( obviously holes were drilled in the bracket to allow the prybars to pass through ) I thought about doing this but deemed it to much work I added a sunex prybar holder to the side of mine and am very happy with it. I believe I paid 20.00 for the bar holder on amazon.

 

[PelicanPines]

I have read through this whole thread and THOUGHT I saw someone who managed to fit the Cman/Mayhew pry bars into the red cart with some kind of mod. I just got mine and completely forgot that they don't fit properly. Any help would be awesome, I have been going back through but there's a lot of pages.

Thanks in advance.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2933526#post2933526

 

[cheechi]

thank you sirs.

 

[iScream]

Hey guys,

I've been lurking around GJ on and off for a while but never posted before. This thread convinced me to pick up a HB four drawer cart with the $104 coupon since I was going to be fairly close to a store over the weekend. Put it together last night and I'm really happy with what I got for my money.

I know I want to do a few things to it but have a couple questions for you guys with the same cart.

Does anyone know of a screwdriver holder similar to the Sunex locking one but without the cover? My cart will be used at home in the garage so I'm looking for convenience rather than security.

If I read right, people are using the same Sunex side shelf on the HB 4 drawer as the 5 drawer, except for the color. Does that mean the optional red HB folding shelf will work on my black cart?

Thanks for any help.

-Chris

 

[BladeExt]

I have read on it or maybe was an review off HF that red foldering shelf at HF will not fix. As i was looking for the same as i have a double 4cart i stacked together that i wanted to use the shelf to add to.

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

 

[jakemac]

You have the tools, I see no reason why you couldn't make it fit. You may need to drill new holes in either the shelf or the cart.

 

[CarsonConcepts]

The 4-Drawer Cart is 16.375" deep and the HF side shelf is just under 18.25" deep. The holes don't line up, but a drill would solve that easily.

I have a pair of the Kobalt sides shelves (from the 2-Drawer cart they cleared out a while back) that are 17.75" deep on my 4-Drawer cart. I just set them flush with the front edge and drilled new holes in the shelves. They hang off the back a bit but haven't been an issue.

~ Carson

 

[iScream]

I have read on it or maybe was an review off HF that red foldering shelf at HF will not fix. As i was looking for the same as i have a double 4cart i stacked together that i wanted to use the shelf to add to.

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

Thanks.

 

[iScream]

You have the tools, I see no reason why you couldn't make it fit. You may need to drill new holes in either the shelf or the cart.

Sure, I probably could. But if the Sunex is no more difficult to fit for $10 more and is already black I'll probably go with that instead.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[iScream]

The 4-Drawer Cart is 16.375" deep and the HF side shelf is just under 18.25" deep. The holes don't line up, but a drill would solve that easily.

I have a pair of the Kobalt sides shelves (from the 2-Drawer cart they cleared out a while back) that are 17.75" deep on my 4-Drawer cart. I just set them flush with the front edge and drilled new holes in the shelves. They hang off the back a bit but haven't been an issue.

~ Carson

Thanks. A little sticking out like your Kobalt wouldn't bother me either but since the Sunex SUN8004BK is 16" X 16" I'll probably end up paying a few extra bucks and going with it.

-Chris

 

[CarsonConcepts]

The Sunex one was actually what I was originally going to get for mine, as I wanted black. Well worth it from what I've read, and should work out great for you.

I ended up with the Kobalt ones free, because a manager let me keep them when swapping out one of the carts I picked on clearance (Looked like the box was speared by a forklift fork). Said that it was just going to get sent back and scrapped and asked if I wanted any extra bits for the replacement cart.

~ Carson

 

[iScream]

First mod complete. De-badge and a little personalization.

Still trying to decide which socket and wrench organization products I want to go with.

-Chris

 

[iScream]

Just made the first actual mod. Got my Sunex folding shelf installed. Easy to do and looks like it was made for this cart.

Still trying to figure out how I want to organize this thing. The main thing I'll use it for is working on my motorcycle so I know I want to hang my 1/2" breaker bar and torque wrench off the other side under the handle. Haven't decided how to do it yet though.

I'm thinking seriously about making all my metric stuff and my hex keys/drivers easily accessible while keeping SAE tools in a simple portable box on the bottom shelf, or maybe not even on the cart at all.

 

[B.Ellis]

Cut the bottom lip off and added a baking pan on sliders. Works great.

 

[PelicanPines]

Cut the bottom lip off and added a baking pan on sliders. Works great.

WOW. Great idea with the lip and tray on slides. From one lip cutter to another... outstanding job!!!

 

[iScream]

I've got a picture in my head of tube lights mounted vertically on either side of my cart. Something simple and corded that I can leave attached to the cart most of the time but also be able grab one of them if I want get it closer to where I'm working.

I've been browsing Home Depot and Lowes but haven't seen anything that looks good to me. Anyone have suggestions for a particular light or just a good web site to check out?

 

[swflge8]

How about an led work light, I would post a link but my phone doesn't want copy the link. Here's the part tho
ATD 80351 - Saber II 15 Watt LED Underhood Light with 25ft Cord
This one is $100 but I'm sure you can fine something cheaper


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[MagnumForce]

It was a good run for my 5 drawer and side cab but a new industrial maintenance job required me to trade up to something bigger. Sold my 5 drawer and side cab for 150 and got this.

Thought about the 44 but this was so much nicer for 100 more.

 

[iScream]

Added a couple lights to the top of my cart. I plan to keep the top open and use the inside of it for more storage so these won't be a problem where they are. Lights are 12 volt but I've got a bunch of different ways to power them and they were only $10 each from Amazon.

Without the lights

With the lights

 

[HanShotFirst]

Added a couple lights to the top of my cart. I plan to keep the top open and use the inside of it for more storage so these won't be a problem where they are. Lights are 12 volt but I've got a bunch of different ways to power them and they were only $10 each from Amazon.

Without the lights

With the lights

Okay that's kind of a slick idea. Oh, and VERY nice bike!!

 

[iScream]

I modified an old PC power supply and mounted it under my cart this weekend. Gives me 15 amps of 12V DC to power my lights an still have about 10 amps left over.

I took a plastic case that a RC car receiver came in, cut part of it and drilled it to mount banana jacks. My lights are plugged into one set and I wired up another set for whatever I may be doing, like the car audio stuff I mess around with. Or to power a battery charger for radio control stuff.

Here's a view from the front with the bottom drawer removed.

And the banana jacks mounted to the back. I can turn the lights on and off with that little switch or unplug them if I want 12V DC for something but don't need the lights on.

 

[swflge8]

That's pretty cool, and here I thought my old power supply where just paper weights


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[iScream]

I kept looking at that plastic casing I made for the wires and banana jacks and it bothered me to have it stuck out on it's own like that. Even though this is my home garage and I'll be the only one using the cart I would eventually hit it with something and break it.

So I glued together some scrap 1/2" MDF I had then cut a bevel on the edge with the tablesaw. Squirted them with some black primer and stuck them on either side of the plastic case with some good 3M tape to provide a little protection.

I think this pic gives a better idea of the size of the thing as well.

-Chris

 

[CarsonConcepts]

Finally found a good deal on a second cart (used) to fill in the lower section. Locking bars are working for both sections, and the magnets are just a temp solution for the lock hole and scratches on the face of the lower section. I'm still deciding on what I want to do with the "dead area" between the two sections.

Also added an air tool rack (Blue Point) to the left side and moved the Kobalt magnetic shelves to the lower right side.

Build Cost:
Cart 1 - $60
Cart 2 - $50
Kobalt Shelves - $10 for the pair
Shelves - Free (From damaged Kobalt cart return)
Magnetic Strip - Free (HF coupon)
Air Tool Rack - Gift
Total: $120

 

[gipraw]

NIce. I like the second set of drawers idea.

 

[swflge8]

Well I finally picked up a cart last week from Harbor Freight. I'll be adding some mods down the road but first that chrome had to go.