addition to the krl

[adam_a]

hey all, my names adam, im a 25 year old diesel aprentice in ontario canada, this is a little introduction followed by a "build thread"

so as i stated im an apprentice and i work tor the peterbilt group of ontario. ive been there for a little under a year, ive been in the trade for 3 years now an dloving every day of it thus far (It deffinatly helps getting up in the morning and going to work) i recently bought a house with my fiance so that is what sparked the idea for this build.

so i have a snap-on krl722 and i need more space, im not done paying for the box as i wasent very bright and financed it through snap-on, i do not want to fork out the 1500+ for a hutch so i thought about it and said what the heck.

i got a hold of some scrap steel then bought the remainder to build the frame.





im yet to add additional x members for stiffening, and finalize my door plans. then comes powder coat and assembly, so far im $30 into this project aint to shabby.

the nice thing about being able to build it yourself is i can make it to a hight i like. its 35 inches off the top of the tool box. im 6'4" so having the one snap-op offers for this box (around 25" high) will result in me havingg to bend over to look innside all the time.

ill update as i progress.

thanks.

 

[mattmankow]

If you're going to weld the sheet metal to it, it shouldn't need "x" bracing. You probably won't be putting anything really heavy on top, maybe manuals or boxes of extra parts, not heads or block right? Looks plenty strong enough to me as is. Add the door and sheet the sides and good job! Welcome to the trade!

 

[Jim Johnstone]

Cool project. My brother in law is a diesel mechanic and used to work for Peterbilt for several years, I know he liked it, glad to hear you are liking it too.

Sent from my SGH-I727R using Tapatalk 2

 

[R.Anderson]

Nice, any thoughts about side shelves for manuals, beverages and misc to help clear the work area.

 

[toddacimer]

Looks huge, interested in seeing your progress. Good luck

 

[adam_a]

Nice, any thoughts about side shelves for manuals, beverages and misc to help clear the work area.

i was thinking on adding a shelf inside it, it would be the whole width of the hutch maybe 15 inches from the top and likely 10 inches deep.

 

[adam_a]

the difficult par im finding thus far is the door, i think i have gotten it down, it will be a bi fold design and swing up and rest ontop out of the way, with rubber bumpers between sheet metal to protect the finish. i picked up a couple piano hinges **** im worried they will not be strong / durable enough

 

[mattmankow]

Single panel, stud and roller at the rear and lock on the bottom end. After seeing your's I've been thinking about this quite a bit... thanks, one more project!

 

[adam_a]

Single panel, stud and roller at the rear and lock on the bottom end. After seeing your's I've been thinking about this quite a bit... thanks, one more project!

im not sure i know what you mean on the stud and roller at the rear.....

 

[mattmankow]

Have you seen the little hand carry boxes that have a panel that slides down to lock when not in use or transporting it? They seem to be rare now. I couldn't find one on a google search!
Figure a stud and roller on each of the top corners, a track running horizontal in the top of the frame you built. This track will be front to rear, one on each side. Now, with a lock on the bottom of the door, it will stay closed. You will also need to figure out how to keep the door up in the pocket when opened, but there would be several ways to do that. Basically, what you are doing is pulling the door out and pushing it into the rear of the top you built at the same time. this is sort of like the one piece garage doors.
Really hard to describe? Hope you are understanding what I mean. I am looking on google to find something to clarify.

 

[adam_a]

Have you seen the little hand carry boxes that have a panel that slides down to lock when not in use or transporting it? They seem to be rare now. I couldn't find one on a google search!
Figure a stud and roller on each of the top corners, a track running horizontal in the top of the frame you built. This track will be front to rear, one on each side. Now, with a lock on the bottom of the door, it will stay closed. You will also need to figure out how to keep the door up in the pocket when opened, but there would be several ways to do that. Basically, what you are doing is pulling the door out and pushing it into the rear of the top you built at the same time. this is sort of like the one piece garage doors.
Really hard to describe? Hope you are understanding what I mean. I am looking on google to find something to clarify.

OK I understand. I looked at it today and I know that will work but the one draw back is that this hutch is higher than it is deep, so when the door would be up it would be sticking straight out, I know I would hit my head on the 10 inches it would stick out. and worse yet what if someone els hit their head on a corner. I appreciate the input. I have a fair bit of time yet until I'm going g to start the door so I can work on working out kinks in the door operation.

 

[adam_a]

yesterday i ground down welds on the sides where sheet metal will be attached, and then today i added brackets for a shelf, and picked up hinges for the door, i have decided im going to go for the horizontal bi fold. tomorrow im going to pick up some more metal after work to add to the front to make the front corners seem to have more meat. (instead of having the 1 inch on either side of the door ill make it a little thicker.)

please don't mind the mess, i did not have time to clean up today

 

[adam_a]

oh ya and as you can see i have to trim the bottom of the front to match the contour of the top of the box,(the little lip) due to the welding i warped it a little, ill bolt it down then tack on the sheet metal and it should hold her square enough. (remember i aint no fab man.)

 

[Murphy4570]

Dude that thing is WAY overbuilt. You gonna park a car on top of your toolbox?


As for the door, why not copy the folding design Snap-On uses? A couple automotive hood shocks, some mounting points for em, and a u channel for the door rollers to move in, and you are set. The Door itself can be made out of a long hinge of some sort and 10 or 12 gauge sheetmetal.

 

[SiGmA_X]

This is GJ, we're allowed to give people are hard time about overbuilt?! Hah!

Adam, nice start. I'm looking forward to seeing how this winds up. I also have to agree, massively overbuilt! But using scrap leads to that - use what you have, buy more to match... And who doesn't like overbuilt?!

 

[Carsandtools]

Nice project. By the time you're finished with the build and added tools to the new space, you will have added more than a few hundred pounds to the weight of the unit. You might need to upgrade the casters to handle this. The best time to do this is now, before it gets too heavy. Most tool chests don't have appropriate jacking points to make caster replacement easy.

 

[Robert Haas]

Adam, you need to quit being a slob, if you add up all the minutes you spend in a year looking for tools that are buried under the **** in your work area it will add up to a week or more in a year. Putting every tool away the moment is not needed needs to become a habit and after 3 years in the trade you should already know this.

The build is going to be fun and the only thing I might suggest is bringing in a power strip and lighting as these hutches get pretty dark, also it is nice to have a power supply to charge your cordless stuff, power up lap tops and scopes and don't forget your stereo....

 

[adam_a]

not to worry it is only messy because I take the pictures before I clean up after work. I clean all tools and put them.away after each Job. as far as power. I will be adding a power strip along with led lighting to brighten things up.

 

[Robert Haas]

atta boy

 

[adam_a]

ok so i got a little more done today, pics to follow.

my snap on rep came in today and i had the project on a work bench welding and he asked what it was, and i was hones with him in saying it is something that your not going to like. he knew what it was, a hutch and a potential lost sale. i ordered a lock cylinder to match my box, i also asked him for heaver wheels. he reminded me that the ones on my box are rated to carry a top box and 1 locker full of tools so i would be fine.

i added pieces to the front to give it a better look for once the sheet metal is on, i was not a fan about the 1" wide corner,



i also added steel on the bottom to have a mounting point.


i wont be at it again till Monday evening, then ill mock up a small piece for the door and see just how it will work. and where i would be welding the door stops so the door sits flush.

to address the overkill,
i know it is overkill, i got a bunch of free material so i use what i got. and for the materials i have paid for i got a good deal on them, its all in part on keeping the cost down.

im looking at this project in may ways, it is a nice addition to my box, it is giving me something to do while the wife is working, and it is helping me work on my welding skill. im enjoying it overall! and that's the important thing.

 

[98TJ]

Nice.

I made something similar for my HF 56". I'm 6'1" so I built a taller hutch than what was available so I could stand and work at the box without hitting my head. Steel frame with pegboard on the inside walls, 18ga skins, and aluminum trim at the corners. Also welded in a couple of vertical rails and mounted a 26" LCD. 1/2 MDF was cut to fit on top of the lower cabinet and I used a 1/4" roundover bit on the top front edge. Also installed some puck lights.

Picture is distorted but I can assure you everything is level, square, and plumb.
https://sphotos-a-sjc.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/602504_3396117318996_1663500593_n.jpg

 

[R.Anderson]

98TJ that looks like my idea living room to bad I'm married. Definitely a mans version of a entertainment center just missing a fridge.

 

[98TJ]

There's a beer fridge out here but it's dead.

 

[adam_a]

well, this is not dead yet but on hold. we discovered water in our basement and i have been in the basement pulling walls apart discovering cracks in the cinde rblock. so unfortunatly for now this is on hold gotta have priorities set.

 

[adam_a]

well here we go again.... i got tired of looking at it every day and not having any progress.

i decided to test my door idea. now the pictures below is not hos the sheet metal will be attached to the hinges. the lower hinge im going to attach the sheet metal in the front so the door will lay flat ontop of the box. im thinking of a real thin sheet metal for the door then having someone roll stiffener groves (i cannot remember the term) in it for more rigidity and to keep the weight down.

 

[adam_a]

well work has been extremely busy the last 3 weeks and has no signs of letting up. every time i would go in early or stay late i would be suckered into working. so i brought my hutch home. now things should start to move along nicely.

 

[sasquatch12]

Nice work Adam,, an enjoyable follow along build.
(My son in law worked for Peterbuilt in North Bay Ont., for awhile.)

 

[Sims5]

Any updates?

 

[adam_a]

yes but not good ones. the garage cannot Handel a welder. I'm in the process of running 10-3 opposed to 14-2 from the furthest corner of the house to the garage.

 

[uniballer]

I am loving it so far! Cant wait for the finished product!

 

[rancherbill]

yes but not good ones. the garage cannot Handel a welder. I'm in the process of running 10-3 opposed to 14-2 from the furthest corner of the house to the garage.

That's a waste of time.

Just go in the kitchen, unplug the stove and weld in there. No re-wiring required. Git-r-done

 

[adam_a]

hahahaha. I don't think the wife will appreciate that. but I do like your thinking.

 

[adam_a]

well yesterday i received a shipment of tools from mac, i took advantage of their apprentice deal for 50%off, and then today i bought the snap on ct8810. i had to do some strategic organization to make everything fit. i would say i'm if not already maxed out for storage. i need more room so this means i have to kick into high gear and get this thing done!!

ran into a issue with the main breaker panel in the house, its out of space and they do not make space saver breakers for it, i need to free up 2 slots for my 30amp double pole breaker. then just pull the wire through the conduit and wire it up...

 

[gasgas17]

well yesterday i received a shipment of tools from mac, i took advantage of their apprentice deal for 50%off, and then today i bought the snap on ct8810. i had to do some strategic organization to make everything fit. i would say i'm if not already maxed out for storage. i need more room so this means i have to kick into high gear and get this thing done!!

ran into a issue with the main breaker panel in the house, its out of space and they do not make space saver breakers for it, i need to free up 2 slots for my 30amp double pole breaker. then just pull the wire through the conduit and wire it up...

Not hard to add a small pony panel with 6 or so spaces.

 

[mdkingsley]

Can't wait to see the final product

 

[burlybrute]

I built a hutch for my Matco box a few years ago. Made it taller than the factory built hutch so it works better for me. I didn't make a door for mine, it's in my home garage so no need to lock it up everyday. I had my dealer order matching trim pieces for the front corners and had a body shop friend color match the red and paint it for me. Even buying most of the steel and having it sandblasted and painted I still only have about $500 into it!!

 

[adam_a]

well with new wire is now ran to the garage, still need to re attach the interior wall and insulation then im good as gold

 

[adam_a]

so leason for the day.... when you drop something off to a sheet metal guy to make the sheet metal you need. do not tell him you are "not in a hurry" to think it will be a fill job for him for a little cheaper" turns out it was priced pretty darn good i think. but it took forever.

needless to say i got it back monday and set the sides in place. i tacked them on yesterday and plan on going into the shop early today to afix the shelf and the back of the box. more pictures to come soon.



so far im into this about $400 in metal (frame and sheet metal) adn 50 for led strip lighting i ordered off ebay the other day.

 

[ADSR]

That's awesome! I can't wait to see how the door works out!

Sub'd

 

[adam_a]

well here is the biggest update thus far....

got the shelf welded in, the back on, the top welded down, and the 2 door pieces welded together.






still need to pull it off and trim the bottom to fit the lip on the front of the box










got the sheet metal guy to bend this up for me.... i really like this piece


test fitted the doors.



here is a simple sketch of the door operation.


there will be no updates for a week. im getting hitched this weekend and have alot of things to do.