caster removal on tool boxes

[donnykooy]

I have a craftsman 40 inch tool cabinet with no top chest...i want to incorporate into a work bench desighn and was wondering if its ok to take the casters off and just set it on the ground or do i need to buils a platform for it. Will setting it on the concrete damage the box.

 

[Zeke]

Concrete is usually damp unless it's far enough from an exterior wall. I'd set it on small thin blocks of aluminum, plastic or even some hardwood. Chances are once you set it there, you will never move it. It will rust under there if you leave it in contact with the concrete.

 

[FiveFinger]

Yep metal on concrete is asking for trouble. A wood bloack works but I would spend a buck or two and use those bolts that have a self leveling head with the plastic covering. You should be able to find them at a home improvement store.

 

[Sea2Sky]

I would use some treated 2X or 4X material set back to give you a toe kick space.

 

[Camper]

I would stay away from using wood between floor and toolbox without some type of foot.
Water can seep up through the wood and rust the box and the wood will hold the moisture.
Just my thoughts

 

[crazytrain]

I would stay away from treated wood as it will react with the metal and corrode it unless you put something between the wood and metal.

I would buy a few hockey pucks and set it on them. they will not rust or rot away and wont damage the tool box.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

A mudflap from a large truck works good for that .... They are easy to cut with a saw.... you have a choice of several materials.. They are not that expensive new....

 

[donnykooy]

i like the hockey pucks idea...thanks

 

[darkk]

Tractor supply sells really nice heavy duty 4x6 rubber horse stall mats.

 

[rburke65]

O would think that the adjustable "feet" or a rubber spacer would be better than the wood......IMO

 

[Journaler]

i like the hockey pucks idea...thanks

let me know if you can find hockey pucks in NM. I went to 3 sporting goods stores here in GA, and nobody has them. I'd actually prefer some cheap, beat up ones.

 

[Steevo]

Cut a couple of short sections of 2x6 Trex (or similar) decking to use as skids under the metal channels on the box that the wheels were bolted to.
You can even drill through it, countersink the holes, and bolt them to the original caster mounts so they will stay put if you slide the box around.
The plastic composite decking material won't absorb moisture, and will keep the box off the floor, protecting the outer edge of teh box from floor contact.

 

[Falcon67]

Build a 2x4 support suport grid under the bench and bolt it up to the bottom of the bench. Then you can sweep under it.

 

[NUTTSGT]

For ideas, clink the link in Steevo's sig for the workbench thread.

 

[joe_padavano]

Lots of ideas here, but I'm assuming that the O.P. wants to get the box as low as possible. In that case, just use roof flashing between the box and the floor.

 

[alpinewhite]

Has anyone tried using squares of HDPE to put under each corner? Is it tough enough? A $10 cutting board from WalMart cut into four pieces would do the trick.

 

[senlow]

Has anyone tried using squares of HDPE to put under each corner? Is it tough enough? A $10 cutting board from WalMart cut into four pieces would do the trick.

Sure, it's tough enough. A tool box isn't going to deform a chunk of that stuff. However, HDPE is slippery stuff. The box could slide around.

 

[dumper]

I put down tar paper (roofing felt) to cover the entire concrete area under the tool box- moisture from a slab and no air flow is asking for rust, whether the tool box is on hockey pucks or not.

 

[DIC]

I would just put a 4x4 block under each corner It gives a place for your feet to go.

 

[alpinewhite]

Spraying bedliner paint on the bottom of the toolbox would also protect the toolbox from rust.