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

[gipraw]

Ok... I got those 2 striking screwdrivers... 18+ inches long... wanted to hang them on the cart... thought of the PVC idea... but it needed to be kicked away from the cart a bit... thumbed through my scrap **** and found nothing...

then those electrical box ceiling light straps popped into my head... the rest is history.

Still deciding what color to paint the PVC... Looking for a contrast...

Good idea. If you wanted to clean it up more, you could bolt or pop rivet the pvc to the bracket and lose the clamps .. It looks good now, but as clumsy as I can be, I'd end up hanging my shirt or something on one of the clamp bands.

 

[dsgreen3]

Here is what I have done so far.

 

[PelicanPines]

Good idea. If you wanted to clean it up more, you could bolt or pop rivet the pvc to the bracket and lose the clamps .. It looks good now, but as clumsy as I can be, I'd end up hanging my shirt or something on one of the clamp bands.

Definitely my end goal... lose the clamps... I cut the dangle off and filed down the sharp edge... I have yet to bump/snag it yet... guarantee the first time I do and rip my leg or clothes... I will make it a priority.

I painted the PVC Black... not happy with it... will go with tool box red...

 

[mbshop]

How are the tools being held on the lid ? Clean setup, nice.

Here is what I have done so far.

 

[Tucker99]

You bet, nice job. Notice the shelf moved down. Wonder if HF sells the shelf separately? Be nice to have another shelf for more aerosol cans misc ****.

 

[dsgreen3]

How are the tools being held on the lid ? Clean setup, nice.

They are held on by magnets that I bought at Home Depot.

 

[Brian_WK]

Ok... I got those 2 striking screwdrivers... 18+ inches long... wanted to hang them on the cart... thought of the PVC idea... but it needed to be kicked away from the cart a bit... thumbed through my scrap **** and found nothing...

then those electrical box ceiling light straps popped into my head... the rest is history.

Still deciding what color to paint the PVC... Looking for a contrast...

Any reinforcing done to the bottom to have it flat instead of the lip? I hate having to fight to get my totes out that are just a hair smaller then the opening now and have been thinking about cutting the lip off.

Brian

 

[PelicanPines]

Any reinforcing done to the bottom to have it flat instead of the lip? I hate having to fight to get my totes out that are just a hair smaller then the opening now and have been thinking about cutting the lip off.

Brian

Yes... I used a piece of 3/16" x 2 inch stiff steel from one end to the other... attached to the caster nuts and riveted with stainless rivets in the middle. If you go back to page 52ish... you can see the details... the lip is almost even with that steel brace so ... its almost smooth in front. That door edge is proud but it's not an issue for my setup... I also have a front door mat to aid in the boxes sliding in and out.

 

[TerryH]

Here is what I have done so far.

Like it but for me anyway, that can rack on the bottom would be an ankle biter.

 

[Mrmontebuilder]

Ok so my snap on hinges came today and I head out to shed to install them and I open the package to find a hex drive Phillips bit about 4" long. Bill is proper part number and says hinge assembly but not hinges LOL

 

[PelicanPines]

Ok so my snap on hinges came today and I head out to shed to install them and I open the package to find a hex drive Phillips bit about 4" long. Bill is proper part number and says hinge assembly but not hinges LOL

I got my Snap on order today as well... Ordered a 4mm Hex socket 1/4 drive... they sent 3/8 drive... Maybe the Snap on packers are sampling the egg nog...

 

[mbshop]

Which magnets ? Not clear enough for me to see. Thanks,

They are held on by magnets that I bought at Home Depot.

 

[PelicanPines]

Which magnets ? Not clear enough for me to see. Thanks,

Here is a link to some close up photos of how tools are held on the lid.

Click this link to jump to the post within this thread...

 

[Loscaldazar]

Can someone measure the gap from the bottom shelf to the sheet metal edge below the last drawer? Don't have my cart anywhere near me (few hundred miles away...) but am trying to figure out some ideas for modifying it!

Thanks!

 

[mbshop]

Thanks but I'm confused. The pics are different.

Here is a link to some close up photos of how tools are held on the lid.

Click this link to jump to the post within this thread...

 

[Westozfixer]

Can someone measure the gap from the bottom shelf to the sheet metal edge below the last drawer? Don't have my cart anywhere near me (few hundred miles away...) but am trying to figure out some ideas for modifying it!

Thanks!

345mm or roughly 13 inches

 

[PelicanPines]

Thanks but I'm confused. The pics are different.

Pics are different ... but you wanted to know about the magnets used to hold tools on the lid... these pics show them in more detail.

 

[cdsloop]

Ok so my snap on hinges came today and I head out to shed to install them and I open the package to find a hex drive Phillips bit about 4" long. Bill is proper part number and says hinge assembly but not hinges LOL

Same here, they sent me the same Phillips bit. I'm going to call in a little bit to see what the deal is. My bill was the correct part number and description as well.

 

[Mrmontebuilder]

Glad it wasn't just me cdsloop!!! I am calling in a few minutes to see what they say.

 

[dsgreen3]

Like it but for me anyway, that can rack on the bottom would be an ankle biter.

I moved it there because I want to add the fold down shelf and I am not sure how much clearance I need. when I add the shelf I might move it back up if it does not interfere with the shelf folding down.

 

[dsgreen3]

Which magnets ? Not clear enough for me to see. Thanks,

They come 6 to a package for just under $4. They are about the size of a fat dime and very strong.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/MASTER-M...rth-Magnet-Discs-6-per-Pack-07046HD/202526367

 

[cdsloop]

Glad it wasn't just me cdsloop!!! I am calling in a few minutes to see what they say.

I just got off the phone with customer service, of course they're going to make it right. She told me to keep the bit for my troubles. I have no idea what I'll use it for, but I have one now if I ever need it!

 

[mbshop]

Thats it, thanks so much. Will hit the store today.

They come 6 to a package for just under $4. They are about the size of a fat dime and very strong.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/MASTER-M...rth-Magnet-Discs-6-per-Pack-07046HD/202526367

 

[cheechi]

those are somewhere between quarter and nickel size?

Funny story. few years back Fastcap did a givewaway for their '11th finger' push stick, that has two magnets in the end to help store it. The plastic just had two slots opposite each other for the magnets to slide in and a semi 'friction' fit (smooth plastic) kept them in place. The plastic on the face was super thin, like maybe 10mil (not much of an exaggeration, it's orange plastic and it was translucent orange)

So the 11th finger plastic that surrounds the magnet eventually tears itself apart just hanging off a metal rack shelf, never even used. But I was able to salvage the magnets and they are the best damn magnets I have short of old speaker drivers.

now back to your regularly scheduled HF cart discussion.

 

[dsgreen3]

Thanks but I'm confused. The pics are different.

Here are some close ups of the magnets and tools on the lid.

 

[mbshop]

Thanks, not confused anymore. There were two sets of pictures using differant magnetic setups thus my confusion.i like those buttons and will look for them today. thanks,

Here are some close ups of the magnets and tools on the lid.

 

[mbshop]

Went to hf today. They only had one tube of those small button magnets so will go back for more later. Strong little buggers. Got some of the larger rectangular ones. Not bad for the sale price. Got my freebie light, not bad either.

 

[cheechi]

thinkgeek and other sites used to sell neo magnets in balls, like 25-100 packs of them to shape and play with as toys. Then hospitals started reporting they don't pass all the way through your stomach they just sit there and cause health problems. Most of the small neo magnets toys you cant find or cost a lot more now, and the HF ones they sell in tubes (they didn't used to sell in tubes) were all recalled when this came out and repackaged. Now the stores don't stock much of them at a time.

 

[Mrmontebuilder]

I got a Matco 28 hole pry bar holder in red for $8 at a Goodwill store yesterday. No key but I am hoping to get a pair of keyed alike locks for it and the HF cart so I only need one key. Once I figure out how to post pictures on here will put up a few of my little project.

 

[cliftonbros89]

First time ever at a HF today. Didn't buy a thing. Strictly just went to see the quality of the 5 drawer cart. I have to say I was very impressed. I'd considered getting one to store stuff out of my 72" JD box. But I ended up just getting a 56" JD box to pair next to my 72". No need for a 5 drawer cart now.

 

[Steelerz1]

Just picked mine up yesterday for that price. Got it together and very happy with quality so far! Packaging was very good and nothing was damaged which is always a plus. Only difficulty I had with assembly was the lack of an extra person to help me lift box onto cart so I laid the cart and box flat and slid it together that way. Stood it back up and got everything aligned and tightened up.

 

[rick carpenter]

Ok... I got those 2 striking screwdrivers... 18+ inches long... wanted to hang them on the cart... thought of the PVC idea... but it needed to be kicked away from the cart a bit... thumbed through my scrap **** and found nothing...

then those electrical box ceiling light straps popped into my head... the rest is history.

Still deciding what color to paint the PVC... Looking for a contrast...

Nice work, I like the attached electric box. You could drill in four little screws through the legs of the stand-off straps into the pvc to dispense with the screw clamps. As for paint, maybe black and then glue on some split rubber heater hose (because you know you're gonna knock 'em on something sometime).

 

[PelicanPines]

Nice work, I like the attached electric box. You could drill in four little screws through the legs of the stand-off straps into the pvc to dispense with the screw clamps. As for paint, maybe black and then glue on some split rubber heater hose (because you know you're gonna knock 'em on something sometime).

I did paint them black... I clipped the dangle on the hose clamps... I am happy with how it turned out. Walk past it a dozen times a day... in a TIGHT garage and have yet to bump them. Good idea tho... I could use that heater hose bumper idea for my tractor lift in my shed... Thanks.

One other thought... if the clamps do become an issue... I could coat them in liquid rubber...

 

[jimreed2160]

There are some great ideas here. Keep 'em coming. I keep my cart in the laundry room. It is full of household tools and batteries. It keeps me from pillaging the garage when something inside breaks. Today I bought the new Kobalt screwdriver set and thought it might be a nice addition to my HF cart. But the foam is too wide for my drawer.

And the foam is printed in two different sections. Good thing I have a bandsaw.

That was quick.

I guess I could lay the Torx on top.

But I decided on this arrangement.

Now I have a good set of drivers in the house and don't have to rely on those fiddly magnetic bits.

 

[mbshop]

Man, all that space being taken up would drive me nuts. But if it works for you then thats all that matters.

 

[Alexbn921]

There are some great ideas here. Keep 'em coming. I keep my cart in the laundry room. It is full of household tools and batteries. It keeps me from pillaging the garage when something inside breaks. Today I bought the new Kobalt screwdriver set and thought it might be a nice addition to my HF cart. But the foam is too wide for my drawer.

And the foam is printed in two different sections. Good thing I have a bandsaw.


That was quick.

I guess I could lay the Torx on top.

But I decided on this arrangement.


Now I have a good set of drivers in the house and don't have to rely on those fiddly magnetic bits.

Holy wasted space batman.
Its clean but you could have it 4 times then number in that drawer.
I'm a big fan of using every square inch.

 

[stamanti]

Last weekend I Kaizen foamed my 5 drawer service cart. My speed improved dramatically from the top shelf to the last drawer. The fastcap kaizen foam hot knife made finishing out the drawers and small adjustments to get the tools to fit better much easier.

I am also happy i finally removed the lid of the tool cart. It always collected parts that would then block access to tools. Having my go to wrenches and screwdrivers always accessible and visible has been very useful.

 

[pstemari]

...
I'm a big fan of using every square inch.

That case should easily hold three more rows of sockets ;-)

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[Stknuckl]

Sorry if this has already been mentioned on here. I wasn't going to go back and look through 100 pages to find my answer lol so my question is has any one added Castors to the side drawers to counter the weight the instead of adding weight in the open storage underneath the cart? This is in reference to adding the side drawers to the 5 drawer roll cart. Has anyone added side drawers to the 4 drawer roller cart?

 

[PelicanPines]

Sorry if this has already been mentioned on here. I wasn't going to go back and look through 100 pages to find my answer lol so my question is has any one added Castors to the side drawers to counter the weight the instead of adding weight in the open storage underneath the cart? This is in reference to adding the side drawers to the 5 drawer roll cart. Has anyone added side drawers to the 4 drawer roller cart?

yes to all