IMSA GTO
Member
Long time lurker and admirer of the many interesting HF, Menards, Craftsman, etc toolbox workbenches on this forum. Like many here, I am stuck in the typical suburban 2 car garage without the space to build the larger frame multi box type set up that I could really use to organize my small shop.
Existing tools and equipment left me with about 78" of wall space, and my initial stab at organization after moving in was a set of MDF Coleman cabinet bases with drawers. Once loaded with tools, parts, and hardware the shortcomings of these cabinets became very clear. I needed a solution that would increase the storage density (mostly for specialty tools, hardware, and supplies), but be cost effective and provide a solid base for a workbench surface.
Unfortunately, I don't live near a Menards to be able to take advantage of their 72" box which I preferred, and shipping costs for theirs and any other heavy duty boxes pushed the limits of the budget too far (not lucky enough to find a good deal on a used Snap On on CL either, but I am sure one will pop up now that I have pulled the trigger on this set up!) I have to say though that the HF box is pretty nice for the price, and a few of the drawers I have loaded with heavy fabrication tools seem to open and close better than when unloaded.
I wanted to get the cabinet as low as possible to obtain a good working height for the top surface, and since I am only using the one box I decided to fab up some simple plates and feet to mount in place of the huge casters that come with the box.
Leveler feet came from source on Amazon, about $7.25 each. Steel tubing and plate were from my scrap bin.
I didn't have plate as wide as the caster plates that came off, so could not pick up the second set of bolt locations, but after seeing how heavy the support frame is and the fact that my legs are simply in compression only I went with 3" wide plate and two bolts. I'm not moving this thing, particularly after loading it, so it won't be an issue. This thing ended up solid as a rock.
I went with a 1.5" Oak butcher block top from Lumber Liquidators since I have one close by. I would have preferred a stainless top, but I wanted to fill up the 78" available space, and cost to have a custom stainless one fabbed up was more than I wanted to spend on this now. Top is one of their builders grade 8' x 25" that I cut down and rounded over the top edge. I also wanted to keep the overall height as low as possible, so I routed out relief grooves on the underside so that the top would sit flush on the top of the HF box with overhang on each side and about 2.5" in the front. Final height after leveling is 40.38".
Seems solid as a rock so far. Will update down the road.
Existing tools and equipment left me with about 78" of wall space, and my initial stab at organization after moving in was a set of MDF Coleman cabinet bases with drawers. Once loaded with tools, parts, and hardware the shortcomings of these cabinets became very clear. I needed a solution that would increase the storage density (mostly for specialty tools, hardware, and supplies), but be cost effective and provide a solid base for a workbench surface.
Unfortunately, I don't live near a Menards to be able to take advantage of their 72" box which I preferred, and shipping costs for theirs and any other heavy duty boxes pushed the limits of the budget too far (not lucky enough to find a good deal on a used Snap On on CL either, but I am sure one will pop up now that I have pulled the trigger on this set up!) I have to say though that the HF box is pretty nice for the price, and a few of the drawers I have loaded with heavy fabrication tools seem to open and close better than when unloaded.
I wanted to get the cabinet as low as possible to obtain a good working height for the top surface, and since I am only using the one box I decided to fab up some simple plates and feet to mount in place of the huge casters that come with the box.
Leveler feet came from source on Amazon, about $7.25 each. Steel tubing and plate were from my scrap bin.
I didn't have plate as wide as the caster plates that came off, so could not pick up the second set of bolt locations, but after seeing how heavy the support frame is and the fact that my legs are simply in compression only I went with 3" wide plate and two bolts. I'm not moving this thing, particularly after loading it, so it won't be an issue. This thing ended up solid as a rock.
I went with a 1.5" Oak butcher block top from Lumber Liquidators since I have one close by. I would have preferred a stainless top, but I wanted to fill up the 78" available space, and cost to have a custom stainless one fabbed up was more than I wanted to spend on this now. Top is one of their builders grade 8' x 25" that I cut down and rounded over the top edge. I also wanted to keep the overall height as low as possible, so I routed out relief grooves on the underside so that the top would sit flush on the top of the HF box with overhang on each side and about 2.5" in the front. Final height after leveling is 40.38".
Seems solid as a rock so far. Will update down the road.
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