Bolting 44" HF Tool Boxes Together

[black00lightning]

I have 3 Hf boxes I want to bolt together and I assume I use the 2 rivnuts on the side bottom. I can see how one could do it with the boxes laying on their backs. How can I do it with upright and casters bolted on? Thanks.

 

[kctyphoon]

Can't you just remove the drawers and drill some holes through the sides, add short botls/nuts ?

In some other treads, guys have built a frame out of angle iron for the boxes to sit in/on, and added casters to the bottom of the custom frame they built..

 

[black00lightning]

I've thought about drilling through the sides but concluded that using the rivnuts would be much stronger. Welding up a frame is in the plan but down the road. Trying to get them setup together till then. If I can't figure out how to do it, I may drill the sides.

 

[kctyphoon]

If you just want something quick and dirty - how about a 2 long pieces of 1/2" steel black pipe and two sets of those pony clamps that slide onto the pipe.. Stretch a clamp across the front and back bottom ledges, or underneath the cabinets, and just give it some moderate pressure.. No damage to the boxes either.. Just a thought, probably won't work without clamping the tops together if you need to roll them around though....

 

[bmwpowere36m3]

I can't see using the rivnuts…. those are likely there for side cabinets/lockers and/or handles. Pull a few draws out, drill some holes and bolt them together. Doubt you'll be able to roll them around, unless you build a frame on its own castors.

 

[black00lightning]

I can't see using the rivnuts…. those are likely there for side cabinets/lockers and/or handles. Pull a few draws out, drill some holes and bolt them together. Doubt you'll be able to roll them around, unless you build a frame on its own castors.

That may be my only option, drill the holes. As far as rolling the cabinets, I drilled and tapped new holes to move the swivel caster to the front of the cabinet. Hopefully I'll be able to roll them away from the wall for clean out.

 

[Richard Cranium]

I just can't see this working, and then trying to move them.

 

[jhelrey]

Silicone them together!




























JK. Though it may work

 

[racinfarmer]

If you have plans to make a subframe for them, why waste the time and effort of bolting them together? Just line them up and build the frame in the next week or two.

 

[black00lightning]

I'm trying to do something sort of temporary. It'll be at least 6 months before I am able to work on the platform. Too many other higher priorities. We moved into a new house recently and a lot of honey-do's on my list.

 

[fury9]

Highly unlikely the riv-nuts will even line up, they have a hard enough time putting them in the right spot for the handle

 

[black00lightning]

I'm going to look at the bottom structure tomorrow and do something similar to what kctyphoon suggested. Use clamps to secure the cabinets.

 

[fourjeepin]

Wow, that's a lot of tool storage there. I like it.

 

[astroracer]

Just wondering WHY they have to bolted together right now?... What are you doing that makes this a priority that can't wait till you build the frame...?
Mark

 

[decableguy2000]

Get a side cabinet to go between the 2. It will lock the bases up.

Jeremy

 

[Rlfd213]

The rivnuts will not hold them together. Take a couple drawers out and drill holes. Take a 1/8 or 1/4 piece of steel and put it on each side and then bolt the boxes together. The steel will capture the stress. Just make sure it's 1 piece of steel for all the holes.

 

[bcradio]

Am I missing something? Use the existing holes and bolt them together... that's what I did

 

[NUTTSGT]

Can you pull the axle bolt out of the caster, insert a section of all thread (or make your own long axle rod) and through bolt a pair of casters together ?

They won't swivel but the should pull straight out for cleaning.

 

[Farrier]

If you have plans to make a subframe for them, why waste the time and effort of bolting them together? Just line them up and build the frame in the next week or two.

I agree with this guy

 

[Bierisch]

I agree with this guy

I agree as well.

 

[RedneckWelder]

I don't see what advantage you gain to temporarily bolting them together as opposed to waiting till you can make your frame.

 

[racinfarmer]

I agree with this guy

I agree as well.

I also agree with that guy.

 

[taumac]

Bolting 44" HF Tool Boxes Together

Am I missing something? Use the existing holes and bolt them together... that's what I did

That's my thought too. Of course you'll need to drill out threads on one side.

My thought is to keep them as they came and just put finish top on it. If want to key them together take I piece of ply and cut it to fit inside the recessed top then screw finish top to that.

 

[yamaha0343]

Just wondering WHY they have to bolted together right now?... What are you doing that makes this a priority that can't wait till you build the frame...?
Mark

I agree, just lock the casters for right now until you have time to do it right. The riv-nuts won't hold up if you try to move that behemoth.

On the upside, congrats on the massive storage.

 

[GeorgeFromPa]

i dont now why anyone would do that but if you must why not weld it together

 

[geartow]

it you bolt them together without a subframe it will not be moving with 8 casters trying to do there thing.

 

[cheechi]

The casters are too close to each other to bolt them directly. Unless you got a 7 drawer side box for each pair to bolt to, you really can't bolt them directly without removing some wheels.

Steevo bench is the best idea. Second best is wedge a 2x4 between each and use the bolt holes to put a through bolt smaller than the threads and just make it as tight as you need and don't move them around too much.

 

[dslabuda]

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Tapatalk

 

[kkroger]

OK I'll be "That" guy, cover the end of one cabinet with 3M VHB (it comes up to 48" wide) then peel and stick....

 

[five9dak]

Set the wheel locks, build the bench 6 months later.

 

[monkeyspanners]

Could you make and fit a sandwich plate between the castor and cabinet that spans the gap, using the castors bolt holes? You'd need to pack the end castors the same thickness. It would leave the cabinets unmarked should you wish to split them in future.

 

[kkroger]

A connector plate to span the seam and bolt to the caster points with a single caster in the middle of it... then some re-inforcing plates where you bolt the cabinets together.

 

[tarbellb]

Spacers and RATCHET STRAPS.