CL Find - Metal Drawers - FINALLY!

[machine_punk]

I've been watching my local CL for metal drawers for a LOOONG time. Finally found these. At the price they were asking originally ($25), I thought they'd be gone before I could pick up the phone. A week later, they were still there...and the price dropped to $20. I notified the person and ended up going to see them a couple of days later...thought they'd be gone before I got there. Anyway, broke all the CL rules (be ready with cash, notify the person you are on the way, dash out the door as soon as you see the add, etc.) and still got the drawers for $20.

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The drawers, top, and back are definitely aluminum. They have a neat system for 'locking' the drawers...the wire handle is mounted on pivoting bars on each side. Lift the handle and it releases the catch. Let go of the handle and it 'locks.'

They are pretty beat up. This is actually two sets of four drawers. The current side panels are galvanized steel, which is pop-riveted in place. They have friction slides. My plan is to at least replace the current side panels with aluminum, or just separate them into two sets of four drawers, if there are decent side panels under the steel. Of course, I plan to clean them up a bit and straighten the panels a bit. If I paint anything, it will just be the steel wire handles and pivot bar locks. I want to keep the rest of it unfinished aluminum.

Also got 4 punches, for cutting out leather or rubber circles, $5 for the 4 punches.

Kev

 

[cold807]

Good find!

Those were the type used on board several of the Coast Guard cutters I was stationed on back before the Vidmars became popular.

The latching mechanism was to prevent the drawer from sliding open when the ship took a roll.

 

[PelicanPines]

Awesome find. I would clean and paint but totally understand your plan. Post more pics when they are done. What are you gonna put in them?

 

[zkling]

Very nice. A bit unusual to see drawer slides on a box like that. What are the external dimensions? Congrats on getting them, looks like some real good storage for the $ spent.

 

[machine_punk]

Good find!

Those were the type used on board several of the Coast Guard cutters I was stationed on back before the Vidmars became popular.

The latching mechanism was to prevent the drawer from sliding open when the ship took a roll.

Thanks for the info! I thought they must be for some special use, since they are aluminum and not steel.

 

[machine_punk]

Awesome find. I would clean and paint but totally understand your plan. Post more pics when they are done. What are you gonna put in them?

Great question...I don't know. I have a general lack of storage in the studio and I am sure I will find something to put in these drawers. I was thinking about making some dividers and storing a different diameter rivet in each, with different lengths divided in each drawer. Could put some gas welding stuff in there. (torches, tips, solders, fluxes, shorter brazing rods, etc. We'll see where it fits, and what fits in it, once I get them cleaned up, lubed up, and straightened out.

Kev

 

[machine_punk]

Very nice. A bit unusual to see drawer slides on a box like that. What are the external dimensions? Congrats on getting them, looks like some real good storage for the $ spent.

Each drawer has a 5.5" x 5.5" (15CM x 15CM) face and is 18" (45CM) deep. The overall case (all 8 drawers) is just under 2' (60CM) tall, just over 1' (30CM) wide, and about 18" (45CM) deep.

Kev