metaldad
Well-known member
got it. didnt damage it. looong day today, ill put up a pic tomorrow, if you need it.That would be awesome. Please let me know
this will get bent, in an envelope. i suggest a usps priority box to keep it in one piece.
Modifications to the HF 4 and 5 drawer service carts - what changes have you made?
- Thread starter ndnchf
- Start date
this will get bent, in an envelope. i suggest a usps priority box to keep it in one piece.
56vette461
Well-known member
if you have ladies in the family who use the Cricut machine for hobby stuff you can make simple decals in any colors you want
TEKWRX
Well-known member
Oh great idea!! I'll ask my sister, my wife had one but returned it.
Mhritz1986
New member
Has anyone ever hung the HF locker off the side of the roll carts?
Howdy. Spent quite some time looking through this thread, gathering ideas (some really nice work!).
Saved many (but not all) hacks with photos to my Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mathiastabor/work/tool-cart-mods/ Hope this helps those looking for a central repository of pictures!
Saved many (but not all) hacks with photos to my Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mathiastabor/work/tool-cart-mods/ Hope this helps those looking for a central repository of pictures!
smokeyburb
Well-known member
Nice. Thanks for going through that effort! I think I found your pins last week while surfing.
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PAToyota
Well-known member
Not the locker, but I have the side cabinet on two of my roll carts: https://www.harborfreight.com/145-in-red-end-cabinet-64159.html
Remove Lid Lock but Not Permanently
What a great epic thread! I have been reading this for years and never had anything to add. I have not seen this detail before so I hope it's a new one?
I wanted to be able to open the drawers with the lid closed. There are a number of people who have done this. But I wanted the ability to add that feature back in when wanted/needed.
First drill the 2 rivets out that hold the locking bar covers to the box. Then mark the spring loaded bar so it's even with the top of the box. Make sure the top does NOT contact the bar.
The bar is then cut off and the rough edges smoothed off. The small piece of channel cut off is put back into the plastic cap. Push it all the way in until it bottoms out.
Looking into the plastic cover with the cut portion inside.
This is a test fit of the locking bar with the plastic cover installed. To check how high the plastic cap comes up.
When you get done the inside of the box will look like this. The covers will be stored loose in the top of the box when not in use. Now regardless of the position of the lid the drawers will NOT lock.
This what it looks like with the covers slid over the locking bars. Pretty much like it was before any modification. Now you are back to the factory setup and you must open the lid to unlock the drawers. The nice thing about this is the metal pieces in the plastic caps press on the metal locking bars so everything is still solid when locked.
This did what I wanted and is very simple.
.
.
.
..
What a great epic thread! I have been reading this for years and never had anything to add. I have not seen this detail before so I hope it's a new one?
I wanted to be able to open the drawers with the lid closed. There are a number of people who have done this. But I wanted the ability to add that feature back in when wanted/needed.
First drill the 2 rivets out that hold the locking bar covers to the box. Then mark the spring loaded bar so it's even with the top of the box. Make sure the top does NOT contact the bar.
The bar is then cut off and the rough edges smoothed off. The small piece of channel cut off is put back into the plastic cap. Push it all the way in until it bottoms out.
Looking into the plastic cover with the cut portion inside.
This is a test fit of the locking bar with the plastic cover installed. To check how high the plastic cap comes up.
When you get done the inside of the box will look like this. The covers will be stored loose in the top of the box when not in use. Now regardless of the position of the lid the drawers will NOT lock.
This what it looks like with the covers slid over the locking bars. Pretty much like it was before any modification. Now you are back to the factory setup and you must open the lid to unlock the drawers. The nice thing about this is the metal pieces in the plastic caps press on the metal locking bars so everything is still solid when locked.
This did what I wanted and is very simple.
.
.
.
..
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jakemac
Well-known member
Brilliant !!
fartymarty
Well-known member
Seconded!!
Nice work clubairth!
======================================================
I'm finally getting close to picking up my 5 drawer cart.
Questions for the masses here.
1. What mods, besides caster upgrades and bottom reinforcement, is/are best done during or before the assembly process?
2. Anything you wish you'd done different to yours during the assembly process?
Thanks guys (and gals if there are any in this thread), I've read this thread from top to bottom but not in one sitting and a recent skim only gave me the two items I mentioned.
Super Mech
Well-known member
I thought the new ones don’t fit the 5 drawer cart as they are deeper now?
cderalow
Well-known member
correct.
The new end cabinet won't fit on the cart because the end cabinet is deeper (22") than the cart.
cderalow
Well-known member
The pretty standard ones.
Snap-on hinges.
Made the holes in the top tray slightly larger to accommodate a couple of engineers hammers.
Mounted the extension mast of my work light to the back so I always have light nearby.
Still needs organization. I’ve outgrown it and am working on plans for a Steve-O styled 44” workbench to take this messes place.
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PAToyota
Well-known member
Super Mech
Well-known member
Are there any of those still available?
Super Mech
Well-known member
The pretty standard ones.
Snap-on hinges.
Made the holes in the top tray slightly larger to accommodate a couple of engineers hammers.
Mounted the extension mast of my work light to the back so I always have light nearby.
Still needs organization. I’ve outgrown it and am working on plans for a Steve-O styled 44” workbench to take this messes place.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk[/QUOTE
I know it’s probably somewhere in this thread but what is the part number for those hinges? Much appreciated.
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fartymarty
Well-known member
Post #3061 ?
cderalow
Well-known member
PAToyota
Well-known member
Harbor Freight hasn't sold them since they went to the Gen2 boxes. You might be able to find someone willing to sell their old one, though.
chipjumper
Well-known member
158 pages is off the hook. How do I install the Snap On hinge set? I can’t find any good high resolution photos of this.
I tried to glean off of a few users photos but they are too small. My box won’t close with the hinges installed. Did you guys use spacers?
I tried to glean off of a few users photos but they are too small. My box won’t close with the hinges installed. Did you guys use spacers?
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cderalow
Well-known member
on my box, I used 1" long 1/4-20 bolts, flat washers, nylon locknuts and a pair of 1/4" long plastic spacers.
you'll need the additional holes as detailed back towards like page 3 or so. I want to say it's 5-1/4" from the back and 1-3/4" up from the bottom of the top tray.
for mine it's 1" bolt, washer, hinge, washer, upper strut point, washer locknut
1" bolt, washer, hinge, washer, 1/4" spacer, lower strut point, washer, locknut
if you zoom in close on my 2nd picture above you can see it above the hammer heads
I'm not sure how folks are mounting them on their 2nd generation ones as the strut mounting holes are in a different spot from my first generation
aka Larry
Well-known member
I've asked this before, so I guess a lot of owners are having their gas struts to fail or something? My 5-drawer is a few years old and mine still work just fine. The lid is not what I'd call heavy, so they don't have to hold up much.
jakemac
Well-known member
It’s not so much of an issue with the struts failing.
It more has to do with wanting the lid to open fully.
aka Larry
Well-known member
Ah, OK. Thanks for the clarification.
Couldn't you just move the mounting points for the struts?
PelicanPines
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Some tried and said it didn't work because of the "throw distance"... it either wouldn't open all the way and when positioned so it did... it wouldn't close... NOW... im saying this based on what I read when I did my modifications.
Also … to the poster that says it won't close with the Snapon hinges...
Is this 5 drawer a series 2 (new type)??? Just asking.
chipjumper
Well-known member
It’s the older one. I bought this about six years ago. The struts failed after a year. I’ve just been propping it open with a stick.
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Rogers954
Well-known member
Can anyone send me a link to a set of 4 way casters that fit on there new boxes, i just picked up my new cart and ordered a set off of amazon but the mounting plate is way to small, the dimensions that amazon have made it seem like they would fit but nope. I’m trying to find 4 that all swivel with 2 that have brakes. Thanks guys
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Rogers954
Well-known member
Ok i circled back around and about 10 pages back i found these anyone found a set that’s not so steep that amount up without moding the box? 
Oh just a heads up this coupon still worked the cashier took one look at it and said nope i have seen a sale add for that for a while i said can you please just scan it and check, she did was was shocked i said yep I’ll be taking one of those in black today as well [emoji106]
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Oh just a heads up this coupon still worked the cashier took one look at it and said nope i have seen a sale add for that for a while i said can you please just scan it and check, she did was was shocked i said yep I’ll be taking one of those in black today as well [emoji106]
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Rogers954
Well-known member
Disregard my previous post fellas, i almost forgot what i already had siting around in storage. When i got my old trusty 44” box about a year ago i took the wheels off to put it under my workbench. Just found the box i through them in and did some comparisons, mounting plate is exactly the same size with the same hole locations, and the height is almost identical (the ones that came with the cart are probably like an 1/8” taller) i don’t think the height will make that much of a difference and if anything i could always add a spacer. Amazon wheels are getting returned and I’m keeping my cash in my pocket. 4 way swivel 
locking casters WIN!!!
Caster on the right is what came with the service cart, on the left is what came with my 44” box. [emoji119]
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locking casters WIN!!! Caster on the right is what came with the service cart, on the left is what came with my 44” box. [emoji119]
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javyLSU
Well-known member
seabeerob213
Active member
Bought an open box for 140, missing the handles and keys. Lock removed so I can try and source one. That's a Ford ****** key set with quiksteel putty in a 6in1 handle, bolted in as the lid handle. Anyone have a lock with keys? Also replaced struts with some Monroe's.
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Bagherra
Well-known member
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PelicanPines
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Bought an open box for 140, missing the handles and keys. Lock removed so I can try and source one. That's a Ford ****** key set with quiksteel putty in a 6in1 handle, bolted in as the lid handle. Anyone have a lock with keys? Also replaced struts with some Monroe's.
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Oh great... now i gotta get old screwdriver handles for all my keys...
jakemac
Well-known member
Oh great... now i gotta get old screwdriver handles for all my keys...
Ain’t OCD a *****.
slowTA
Well-known member
I added a latch to the side shelf to keep the support from slipping out if the shelf is bumped. I tried the magnet trick but wasn't happy with how strong the magnets were that I bought.
It's pretty solid with 1 latch towards the front, I don't feel the need to add a second latch.
2 Set Stainless Steel Hardware Boxes Spring Loaded Toggle Latch Hasp https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G9BENXY/?tag=atomicindus08-20
It's pretty solid with 1 latch towards the front, I don't feel the need to add a second latch.
2 Set Stainless Steel Hardware Boxes Spring Loaded Toggle Latch Hasp https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G9BENXY/?tag=atomicindus08-20
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dodge610
Well-known member
Got a new series 2 cart thought I would customize it a little. Rubber grommets in the screwdriver holes and carbon blacking the chrome drawer pulls. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Shootnjunky
Active member
I am still waiting for my blue one to come in