Milwaukee 46" top box as small workbench

Ign · Jan 30, 2017

I recently bought the 46" Milwaukee top box impulsively during the brief (and perhaps still ongoing at some stores) $75 clearance. Once I got it to my shop I realized I didn't really know where to put it or what to do with it.

However I've been meaning for months to build a real bench for my second vertical mill so I decided to rip the lid off the Milwaukee, mount it to my pallet racking and use the top of it as a sort of enclosed bench. It just needs to hold a few cutting tools, a blueprint and other misc for the job. If I'm doing a production run the parts get put on a rolling cart next to the mill.

I started with this, sad I know:

I had these brackets laying around, something for some heavy duty HVAC mounting:

Here's the finished product. For $75 I'm happy.

I also removed the lower left drawer and drilled out all the rivets to remove the stupid "work surface" cover. I hate those things, it just blocks everything that's actually in that drawer.

Ign · Jan 30, 2017

Here's where stuff gets weird. I also had to pull the lower right drawer to run bolts through the bottom of the box into my brackets. I found this. I think this is literally what Chinese painters wear to protect their lungs. Depressing actually.

Maybe I won't make fun of OSHA so much anymore.

trx125 · Jan 30, 2017

Where can I find one of these clearance boxes from? Buy me one, please.

kctyphoon · Jan 30, 2017

Ign said:
Here's where stuff gets weird. I also had to pull the lower right drawer to run bolts through the bottom of the box into my brackets. I found this. I think this is literally what Chinese painters wear to protect their lungs. Depressing actually.

Maybe I won't make fun of OSHA so much anymore.

Lol. I can just picture the "WTF?" moment...

k4rl.k3rk · Jan 30, 2017

Kind of awkward looking but functional.

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Ign · Feb 1, 2017

So I was tearing down the packaging yesterday and forgot these are made in Vietnam. So the above mask is what Vietnamese painters wear.

Anyway I haven't thrown any chips with this mill yet but each time I walk by the new setup I smile. It's so much better. I went through 2 years of school working out of and on a 26" roller box - building everything from 1-2-3's, a sine vise, 4 stroke model engine etc --so this is more than sufficient.

I may find a way to utilize the peg board but it's too short to hang most wrenches or even a hammer.

Honestly I think I'll brake up a little shelf about 6" deep to run across the entire top width directly above the pegboard.

isuhunter · Feb 1, 2017

SWEET IDEA! They are on sale for 225 at my local HD

Strouty · Feb 1, 2017

Two of them back to back would make a nice rolling workspace, I also like the idea of adding the shelf on top.

KMdef9 · Feb 1, 2017

Nice work!

Probably can't do too much work on the surface without thickening it up a bit?

Ign · Feb 1, 2017

KMdef9 said:
Nice work!

Probably can't do too much work on the surface without thickening it up a bit?

With obvious exceptions depending upon the type of work you do....

...."most" benches at a vertical knee mill need only hold a couple small parts, a few taps, edge finder, couple end mills, maybe a 1-2-3 block and some calipers.

It's more of a "staging area" for the tools required for the job than a typical workbench as Bob Vila would think of it.

kctyphoon · Feb 1, 2017

I wonder if you can take the top you removed, turn it upside down, and mount it under the box to use as a small ledge or shelf to store some stuff, or long items. Granted, it would be shallow, but with the lid bent the way it is, it would keep anything from sliding off the back of said makeshift shelf.. better than a lid sitting around somewhere just taking up space. Or would it wind up being too low?

Ign · Feb 1, 2017

Now I just don't know what to do w the lid LOL.

I looked at cutting it up for my upper shelf idea but much more trouble than it's worth given how the lid is built.

I'll save the struts....maybe they'll work on someone's camper shell or something. Interestingly, the struts are the same size as my 54" KRL but rated at about 30# less lift.

Ign · Feb 23, 2017

I've had several opportunities to do "real" work at this mill and it's working out great. For the moment I'm just using some of the Husky pegboard magnets. Not sure if that will be long term but it's not bad. I've started to fill the drawers w some staples like edge finders, 1-2-3 blocks, etc.

The whole setup is even sweeter since I was able to return and rebuy at $50.

vettex2 · Feb 23, 2017

Ign said:
Here's where stuff gets weird. I also had to pull the lower right drawer to run bolts through the bottom of the box into my brackets. I found this. I think this is literally what Chinese painters wear to protect their lungs. Depressing actually.

Maybe I won't make fun of OSHA so much anymore.

at least they weren't *******

WWheeler · Feb 23, 2017

vettex2 said:
Too bad they weren't *******

FIFY

vettex2 · Feb 24, 2017

WWheeler said:
FIFY

1982fxr · Feb 24, 2017

doesn't it drive ya nuts having it so low?

kick *** shop by the way

gamp945 · Mar 1, 2017

Looks great. I've been considering wall mounting my Milwaukee top box also. I haven't set mine up yet due to lack of time though.

The face mask appears home made. Looks like the Vietnamese employer doesn't even provide proper respiratory protection, leaving it to Mrs. Comrade's ingenuity instead. Shameful.

Milwaukee 46" top box as small workbench

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