Tool cabinet blueprint

Corsario · Apr 10, 2010

Tool rolling cab from scratch

I am trying to put all my garage stuff in order. One of the things I like most in your garages are those fancy cabinets you have to storage the tools.
Here in Argentina we have ( I mean the shops have) two types of cabinets:
1 - Really **** chinese cabinets I saw in Wall Mart. When you look at those cabinets more than once they seem to tear apart ony by a view. Not to mention that are ugly.
2 - There are some Bahco cabinets that look solid, not very fancy, but extremely expensive for my budget. I think are imported and government put some extra tax for tools fabricated overseas.

I was thinking on making one from scratch, or even better, adapt a workbench made of steel, adding wheels and drawers.
I plan to change the top for other made of steel and perhaps do the same with the base, and all other sides. What do you think?

Do any of you have a blueprint or had done something similar to guide me on how to do that?

Thank you in advance!

Corsario

Corsario · Apr 10, 2010

Sorry for the wrong pics, here are the good ones.

MarcSeattle · Apr 10, 2010

A Wal-mart in Buenos Aires! Who would have thought? We were driving on the freeway on the west side of the city and there just off the freeway was a Wal-mart. We had to stop. Just like the United States, only with somewhat different brands and products.

Sorry, this is off topic, but what do porteños think of this American store invading your country?

Corsario · Apr 10, 2010

MarcSeattle said:
A Wal-mart in Buenos Aires! Who would have thought? We were driving on the freeway on the west side of the city and there just off the freeway was a Wal-mart. We had to stop. Just like the United States, only with somewhat different brands and products.

Sorry, this is off topic, but what do porteños think of this American store invading your country?

There are two big stores in our city. One is Wall Mart and the other is from the French chain Carrefour. Wall Mart has 24 stores in Argentina, according to local Wall Mart web page.
The big chains arrive here in the early 90's and supposed a revolution for local commerce. Consumers had more choices and a big place to buy almost all you need. However, local small shops started to close due to their problems to deal with the new market conditions.
Overall, I think the result was positive. Times changes and we could do nothing about it

MarcSeattle · Apr 12, 2010

We have the same problem here. Wal Mart comes to a little town and all the local shops close.

By the way, you have a beautiful country and absolutely stunning women. The phrase we use here "smoking hot" isn't enough -- maybe molten lava hot? Yep, that would be about right.

Corsario · May 29, 2010

Here they go, pics of the progress I made this rainy saturday!

Is not proffessional but it would be functional.

Will post more pics tomorrow

Take care!

Corsario · May 29, 2010

This is a first mock up, I need to put front and back of the drawers, I left this to the end to ensure the gap between every drawer is the same. The front side of the drawers will have a bent on the top, so that you can pull to open the drawer.

The front and back side will be welded and will add structural rigidity to the drawer. Now drawers bent when I put to much weigh in them.
All is made of 16 steel gauge.

I plan to make a bigger cabinet but with the frame made of rectangular tube.

Stay tuned!

Corsario · May 29, 2010

More pics

Vinko · May 30, 2010

I began a tool cabinet of my own using angle iron frame for "slides". And since I don't do a lot of sheetmetal or have the best equipment for it, got the sheetmetal cut for the shelves and tack welded it. Let me see if I can find the photos.

eborcim · May 30, 2010

I like it. Make what you need with what you have. I would think about riveting the drawer end pieces on. Some small head rivets would go well with your design.

Corsario · May 30, 2010

eborcim said:
I like it. Make what you need with what you have. I would think about riveting the drawer end pieces on. Some small head rivets would go well with your design.

I still need to do a lot of work on the cabinet. I will powder coat the drawers, hyde all screws from drawers and sides repaint the frame and change the top.
First I thought on puting a metal top, but now I think I will put a stanied wooden top. Something prety thik about 1" or 1 1/4 " (I can have it for free!) It will give a custom look

Corsario · May 30, 2010

eborcim said:
I like it. Make what you need with what you have. I would think about riveting the drawer end pieces on. Some small head rivets would go well with your design.

In the begining, a friend of mine told me not to weld the drawers to avoid they twist. I think I could tack the sides with small welds. It's all about experiment different techniques. I will rivet a couple of drawers I am fabricating for my next build.

Thak you for your comments!

Take care.

Corsario · Jun 5, 2010

A couple of pics of the work done today.

Put front and back of drawers. The front has a sort of handle ( I don't know the correct word in english!!!!) to make easier when you pull them. I plan to add in the edge of the handle an aluminium grip, similar to first class cabinets.

Another pic with the drawers open.
Take care!

OccupantRJ · Jun 5, 2010

The front edge of the drawer that you grab to open is called a "pull". Looking nice!

Slip_Kid · Jun 5, 2010

Nice work, keep showing the updates.

Nuts · Jun 5, 2010

Looking good

Nuts

Mickey O · Jun 5, 2010

Fantastic job and another alternative the the HF toolbox. :thumbup:

Corsario · Jun 5, 2010

Mickey O said:
Fantastic job and another alternative the the HF toolbox.

Well, as you can see, I'm not a pro, but with a little practice the boxes would improove. I thought in adding trhee more drawers, painting and of course I would like to change the top.

Today a friend of mine gave me trhee pair of ball bearing slides he had lying on his garage. He told me he took them off, from pant pull out he had in his closet.

The slides are a bit shorter than the ones I use for the cabinet, I think I will make a small top cabinet when I finish with this.

Thank you all for the comments!

Take care

Corsario · Jun 6, 2010

Today I painted outside of drawers only to see if an all black scheme would be nice. What do you think?

Slip_Kid · Jun 6, 2010

I like the all black, maybe make the drawer pulls a different color (chrome).

chopper1 · Jun 6, 2010

You did a great job. I'm impressed with your drawer fabrication.

BWright · Jun 6, 2010

I think you should've clear coated the bare metal drawers. imho

tonydanzah · Jun 6, 2010

wow those look really good. :beer:

Corsario · Jun 6, 2010

BWright said:
I think you should've clear coated the bare metal drawers. imho

Yes, the details are seen better on a clear color. I like the rough metal finish too. Maybe the next. I plan to build all tool sotorage cabinets in my shop from the ground up.
Thank you and everybody for the comments.

Corsario · Jun 6, 2010

chopper1 said:
You did a great job. I'm impressed with your drawer fabrication.

I didn´t made them by myself, I drew a squetch and then made the steel gauge bent according to that. After I recieve the parts, I only had to tack all together with a few welds!

Take care

Corsario

dan76 · Jun 7, 2010

Are you considering producing these units for commercial sale?

Corsario · Jun 7, 2010

dan76 said:
Are you considering producing these units for commercial sale?

Well, as I told in another thread, I started thinking on making the boxes from scratch cause where I live there are two kind of boxes,
One kind are ****, and expensive

The other kind are decent, but too expensive

None worth what you pay for them.

In the other hand, I am a public accountant for a living, but always wanted to fabricate something. I am intrested in motorcycles, mostly from 60's, 70's and early 80's. I am rebuilding/redisigning one xs 650 at this moment (will post pics of the finish product).

Althoug I do all this fabricating/designing things as a hobby, I allways wanted to start a back yard (front yard in this case) part time business, and I think I found a market niche here... my dream is to start a kind of coffe shop where you can see how things are desinged and fabricated...custom motorcycles, and custom tool storage solutions also, why not?

Of course this cabinet is only a trial version of what can be done with more planification, better tools and all that I learned from this experience.

old salvage · Jun 7, 2010

I really like the style that the rails/frame give it. It would look nice anywhere in a home even though its strong enough for shop use.

Corsario · Jun 7, 2010

old salvage said:
I really like the style that the rails/frame give it. It would look nice anywhere in a home even though its strong enough for shop use.

Believe me is strong enough. There are some details missing like changing screws for nuts and bolts, puting a base of steel ( I will put the welder in the bottom, and that will help to lower the the center of gravity, make exterior of the side pannels.
Next project will be bigger and with a lot of improoves from the experience of this build!!!

Take care

Corsario

Thumper · Jun 8, 2010

Nice work !!

Monte · Jun 8, 2010

Looking good !

Corsario · Jun 8, 2010

Today I went to a aluminum shop to find a pull to drawers edges. the front of the drawers was bent forming an inverted J on the top, so in fact the aluminum pull is not really necessary, but I think it will look better.

Here is a pic of a test I did this morning with a short sample of the pull to see if it fitted the drawer. The pull gap is a bit larger than the drawer thick but I think I will found some way of adjust one to the other.

Tomorrow I will be posting pics of all the pulls in place.

Take care

Corsario

HankMurphy · Jun 9, 2010

Corsario said:
... my dream is to start a kind of coffe shop where you can see how things are desinged and fabricated...custom motorcycles, and custom tool storage solutions also, why not?

Like Choke in east Hollywood, California - espresso and mopeds:

http://dethroner.com/2007/05/11/coffee-motorcycles-east-hollywoods-choke/

Buena Suerte...

bradleykd · Jun 9, 2010

That's cool man. Way to make what you want!

Corsario · Jun 9, 2010

After work, put the aluminum pulls. what do you think?

philw · Jun 9, 2010

Looks great! The pulls really make a difference in the appearance of the drawers.

JC23 · Jun 9, 2010

That is starting to look like a Pro-built box with every modification you do to it. Great job!

You have some good fab talent so keep at it.

Corsario · Jun 10, 2010

Thank you all for the comments. As I told before in the thread, I work in an office all day, so is very relaxing to arrive home after work and walk around the garage doing stuff, drawing projects or just dreaming about future projects. The project is a motivation itsef, whatever if the project result in a good product in the end!

Keep tuned, there will be more upgrades

Take care

Corsario

Corsario · Jun 10, 2010

Today I put the new top. I am getting there!

Take care

Corsario

porschedude996TT · Jun 10, 2010

Corsario said:
Sorry for the wrong pics, here are the good ones.

These are ****!

Tool cabinet blueprint

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