Alternative Tool storage

[2mJps]

I need more tool storage. I have thought about building something but get stumped wondering how it will workout. It needs to be something that can be looked up.I have thought about pegboard in a lazey susan. Is their a cheap way to store tools that dosent cost as mush as a used box?

 

[t100]

file cabinets on CL, tons of them everywhere and the lateral cabs can hold a lot.

 

[maddawg308]

Ditto on lateral file cabinets - you'd be surprised how many folks give them away, most don't want the lateral ones. Do a search on CL under the "FREE" section. They are great for tools, but they are not as heavy as a rollaway tool box, you're going to have to do something to prevent accidentally loading them up heavy and then when you pull a drawer out the whole thing flips over. Just a warning.

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

How many tools are we talking? The HF 4 drawer cart for $100 is about as much of a bargain as you can get.

Also look under "workbench" on Craigslist. The chick got herself a Craftsman 5 drawer "project center" (the ones with the plastic/MDF top thing added) for $25 a couple weeks ago.

 

[BARN ONE]

The lateral file cabnets are your cheapest bet. I took one and built a angle iron frame with casters for it to sit on, it works great.

By the time you buy peg board and material, you could probably get a cheap used box.

 

[crewchief888]

kinda depends on what kinda tools you want to store.

used toolboxes can be found cheap (sometimes) on CL, garage sales, flea mkts, and estate sales.
bigger, bulkier powertools, filing cabinets, kitchen cabinets/countertops.

sometime a drive around the neighborhood, the night before trash pickup, will turn up something, as will dumpster diving.

i picked up a couple a metal wall cabinets, a 4'x8' x38" wide table make of 3/4" & 1/2" plywood, and a homeowners 4ft workbench( still in the box) on trash day.

i use both the cabinets in the garage, and the wife uses the workbench for her gardening stuff. i cut the big table down to fit in the space available in the garage.

 

[wmartin]

The lateral file cabnets are your cheapest bet. I took one and built a angle iron frame with casters for it to sit on, it works great.

and keep an eye out for good ones. Herman Miller makes decent ones, a lot of them are kind of crappy.

My own take is to simply use shelves. So much of my stuff is in cases and rolls, I really don't need much in the way of drawers. If you're the king of molded plastic cases and German black steel boxes like me, it's more like a bookshelf.

 

[critter]

or

 

[Bolster]

Desk drawers.

You can find old desks that people are tossing as they upgrade. Take off the bank of drawers left and right, stack them, and you have a 5-foot high bank of drawers.

 

[wmartin]

Good call on the flat file cabinets. Those show up a lot around here and seem well made.

Fabric stores have similar systems.

I wonder how they do loaded up with bits of metal.

 

[2mJps]

I Would like to find a used bottem box but they they are a not very plentiful around me.I live 60 miles from any pawn stores. If one comes up for sale it only last a hour or two.

 

[ChrisF250]

So I was reading this tread and tried a local search for them. Found 2 about 2 miles down the road, for free! Both are made in the USA and weigh a ton

 

[Outlawmws]

Good call on the flat file cabinets. Those show up a lot around here and seem well made.

Fabric stores have similar systems.

I wonder how they do loaded up with bits of metal.

They are designed to hold paper, and I mean stacked solid. (we always had one jammed full of blueprint paper, and another full of drawing paper, stacked solid sometimes...) Probably rated at 200 lbs per drawer at least...

So I was reading this tread and tried a local search for them. Found 2 about 2 miles down the road, for free! Both are made in the USA and weigh a ton

Them? 2 what? lots of suggestions have been made!

 

[ChrisF250]

Ha my bad just a couple of vertical filing cabinets.

 

[BARN ONE]

Here is my lateral file cabnet. I like this one because the front is flush (no handles sticking out)
I built a angle iron frame with casters for it to sit in. The drawers open full length, and interlock so only one can be opened at a time. I was even lucky enough to get a key to lock it.
As allready said, these things are made to be loaded full with paper, thats alot of weight.

 

[Outlawmws]

Laterals (and the better vertical file cabs) have good roller slides also. so when picking one pay attention to that also.

 

[beerdog]

The only problem with flat files is they are typically 3ft deep since they were designed to hold the largest commonly used blue print sheets. You have to have some space to use them. Outside of that, theya re typically very well built and make great tool storage. With the proliferation of CAD systems, thousands of these have likely gone to the junk pile. It is to bad. It was very common to see them made from Oak.

 

[Outlawmws]

If you get the "D" or "C" sized flat files they are great for tools (C is 11X22, and D is 22X44 so 24-26" deep max) above that, (E & F) yest they get big (And heavy)