File cabinet tool cart...

So as not to Bring Up an old thread I know, but I just found this exact cabinet for free and all ready put it in my jeep... Now I'm thinking wheels and wooden top and organizers maybe gang box and cord

i've been looking for a metal rolling work suface with storage it quite deep
and i think it will fit the bill....

Thoughts, idea or examples please....

evintho said:

This probably doesn't help 'cause you're talking about workstations but as far as power tool storage, I picked up this used HON file cabinet for free and it works great keeping my saws and grinders dust free! Woodworking tools in the bottom drawer, metalworking tools in the top.

Click to expand...

They are ok as long as they are anchored so they cannot tip over.. One drawer at a time is all that is recommended to be open on a tool box with five or more drawers.. On the two drawer file cabinets, one drawer is half the total.. That is the same as opening half the drawers at once on a tool box and hope it does not tip... I tipped a two drawer file cabinet a few years ago. I was lucky enough to be standing beside it after placing a large socket in a drawer. The added weight of that socket was enough to flip the cabinet, and my hand was still in the drawer.. The side of the cabinet pushed my hand clear before crashing and jamming the drawers... I still remember My "whooa" that night... I also had a large assortment of parts and supplies stacked on top for extra weight.... That didn't do much good that time.

So its need to be weighted or some heavy items on the back maybe. Im gonna bring it to the shop now it futz around, i didn't really get a great look last night it was to dark...

I think your right the tipping is the biggest issue i'd have to compensate for...

Thanks....

I have 5 units that have 4 drawers each. 4 of the 5 have a top section that isn't a true drawer, but are called 5 drawer units.

They are all designed with a mechanical lockout so you can't open more than one drawer and collapse the unit. 2 drawer units may have that but many don't. Haven't worked with enough 3 drawer units to know. 4 or more though definitely.

I wouldn't put any of these on wheels. Especially a 2 drawer without a lockout. Even if you pay attention you never know what some other idiot will do.

Found an old super market bread card and bolted the file cabinet down installed a wooden top and painted it seems far so good...

To answer the above this cabinet has single drawer lock outs as well as full lock out..


A little update so I started finishing the top I did 5 coats of linseed oil let cure and then put 3 coats of poly over top, I'll probably do 2-3 more once this cures. Added a florucent fixture under the bottom shelf... will wire in a switch/outlets with 50ft extension cord. I was thinking of an air line as we have some extras lying around...


Oh and while the poly dried I built another tool rack for the side.


Im still looking for a solution to hold sledge hammer and pipe wrench???

So I got it all wired up today 4 outlets and a switch for the light on a 25' cord (I thought I had a longer one but nope) I used a bolt to assist in keeping the cord in place...

Attached the tool rack to the side did 2 more coats of poly

Finky198 said:

So its need to be weighted or some heavy items on the back maybe. Im gonna bring it to the shop now it futz around, i didn't really get a great look last night it was to dark...

I think your right the tipping is the biggest issue i'd have to compensate for...

Thanks....

Click to expand...

When we used to deliver those 2 drawer lateral files they sometimes came with a counter weight package. Basically, something like a piece of quarter inch steel plate about 1 foot square, double stick taped to the inside back. Taake out the drawers, tape in your steel, put your drawrs back in and load it up.

Time for an update... long overdue.
Im just going to add photos thru the build process

begining stages

Added Pelican 0450

Side Veiw

older layout

more layout changes

Reworking Peg Board

Completed pegboard

Expanding tool rack


Finished Rack

Older inside

Updated inside

Finky198, good job on the tool cart and refurbishing that file cabinet!

Thanks

I let this thread and a few others get way to old. Its been a work in progress.

More pics to come.

That sure looks functional, and compact! Nice job!

So another update I finally got some time to work on the cart and puller cabinet. I recently started to organize my box part of that involved putting together an almost complete set of snap on flare tools I took the red Malco box on the top shelf that was to heavy and split it into brake tools and flare tools and place the flaring tools in a new to me Craftsman tool box.



I used some left over pick n pluck foam the Top tray has an ATD flare tool extra parts as well as line disconnects, pipe cutters, and files. Organized in cases and nylon bags.



The top drawer is all Snap on on. 1/4” 12pt and 3/8” 6pt flare nut crows feet 1/4”-7/16”, 3/8”-1” 30/60 angle wrenches in 9/16”, 3/4”. Flare nut wrenches in 12pt 3/8”-11/16” And 6pt 1/4”-13/16”. In the middle is a 1/2” Flare nut socket. The back row is met 6pt flare nut wrenches 9-21mm and 3/8” Flare nut crows feet 9-18mm.



The bottom drawer has a collection of tubing benders as well as a set of USA made mixed 12pt tubing wrenches 3/8” - 1” and Snap on and KD bleeder wrenches.



I feel like A ton of stuff has gone on at the shop that I forgot. I know I’ve also added a second wire rack which now makes the cart 72” wide I’ve also been condensing both top shelves and both main drawers neatening things as best I can More Pics coming... maybe complete box tour..? Soon...

So lately we've gotten busy again and my cart was in need of some serious overhauling... I have a little more organizing to do now, but the bulk of it seems to be working efficiently...

Latest up dates were top and bottom draw overhauls, Air tool Rack now hides the ipod and stereo, second side shelf and clearing out and de-cluttering the top 2 shelves... The tow away sign is also new... The Red Box on the Top Right is the one seen above it can be opened as it sits or be taken down if needed...



Top Drawer: The wire basket in top right corner rides on the rails.
SAE & Metric 1/2" impacts, 1/2" Chrome, 1/2" and 3/8" Specialty sockets, including chrome and impact swivels, my reg 3/8" sunex impacts are missing from pic.

Bottom Drawer: Has a Cordless hammer drill, Taps & Dies, Extractors, Re-threaders, measuring tools, Torch setup, Sensor sockets, torque sticks, and a few other odds and ends.

Side Rack: Has 7 hammers 6 are shown, 9 Snap on Pry bars and Sl80, SF80, Cm18" breaker bar, Sn36. and bunch of extension in all different sizes and arangements...

Side View: with new Shelf for bags and tape at this time addtl tool are visible on the tool rack

Close up: shows 3 pipe, and 3 strap wrenches, a chain wrench, a large adjustble and two grinders...

Completed pegboard

2nd side shelf: stores funnels, empty work bins and plstc Folgers cans which are my personal fav. 2 benzomatic torches and my glove holder...


and finally some update TOOL BOX pics...

















So thats Almost all of it as far as the cart/workstation goes. I still need pictures of my wrenches, Electrical, and some more detail on the top shelves...

This is on one big post a long time in the making....

I don’t use my wrenches too much I tend prefer using sockets anytime I can. But I make do

Combination Wrenches I have 2x set of Craftsman RP 6mm-22mm and 1/4”-1-1/8” xlarge sizes are separate. Bottom left is short metric Snap on set.


Ratcheting Wrenches stubby flex, DBE, open end ratchet and std style.
The rest of my wrenches are either flare or specialty. And housed elsewhere...

I can't see any pictures?

There all working on my end from multiple devices can someone else please confirm.

Wow, that's a lot of stuff packed in there!

+1

I can see all the pics just fine right now. Nice work!

Thanks it’s a constant work in progress and JR7 yeah it’s a little tightly packed...

One of the other sets of tools that kind of goes with the cart, but does not actually fit on it,
Are my 3/4” drive Craftsman USA sockets up to 2 1/2” and 42mm in a pelican 1600
This is an old pic, but it sits directly across from my cart now... it’s heavy as a
(The flashlight on the floor next to the case is roughly 6” long for size ref...)

My Automotive Electrical tools Fluke 70, power probe 3, HF battery tester, HF fuse testers, leads, probes and extensions. Klien, Knipex, and Xcelite pliers. Wiha and snap on drivers. electric solder, tape, zip ties, and 2 lock out tags for non auto use...

At this time of year I'm usually running around the shop like a nut. So I recently put this together using one on my carpentry bags and belt... and some of my tools off the cart.
so far its saved me a ton of trips back and forth so its definite win.....

More of and update it seems like time just flies by, I've since
reworked some drawers. I turned this waste of space









Into this by Reorganizing the big drawer separating what I could in better places throughout my box and cart, and by condensing my pliers I am left with an extra 1.5-2 full shallow drawers in my top box. still debating on how and what to do with them.....







I pulled my punches and chisels out of this drawer and made a separate drawer, but im leaning toward a Roll up pouch which will add more box space?







I built this out of some left over wire rack shelving turned out perfect... simple but keeps things more organized.






I found a Free "side cabinet" almost an identical match just a few shades different... pulled a U turn and what do you know same brand its a Hohn. I needed some extra space so I couldn't pass it up... amazing what people put at the curb.





Recent Setup working out of the Hand carry box...