Corner Cabinet - Geneva/NewAge review

[windward]

Several months ago I posted a question about corner cabinets for a L-shaped workbench. I wanted to provide an update of what I did.

Geneva Garage Gear seemed to be the only company that provided a corner cabinet, but what I did not like was the price point. I could understand having a premium ($400) for the corner cabinet, especially if your competitors don't have one, but the cost of the matching wall cabinets were about $275 each.

When I found NewAge wall cabinets for less than half that, I decided to try to mix and match. The NewAge cabinets are 28x28x14 vs the Geneva wall cabinets that are 30x30x15, so I new they would not perfectly align with the Geneva corner cabinet. I also knew that the colors would not match, but with my layout I figured it would look close enough.

So I ordered the NewAge cabinets and installed them with a french cleat system. I then had to travel to Chicago for work and was going to be 30 minutes from the Geneva factory, so I saved $60 by picking them up at will call. That made the price more palatable.

Here is what I can tell you.....the Geneva cabinet is half the cabinet that the NewAge cabinet is, and is over twice the price. NewAge cabinets are 18ga, very solid, and I would highly recommend. The Geneva cabinets are 22ga, which is not mentioned on their website, and very flimsy. I am not sure why I never researched the gauge of the Geneva cabinets before hand, I think because of the price point, I must have assumed they were a premium cabinet.

I don't regret buying the corner cabinet. It does what I needed it to do, and am very happy with how it looks, but I am glad I did not buy the Geneva wall cabinets.

Hope this helps anyone else looking to make an L-shaped bank of cabinets.

Matt

 

[FJ 432]

Thanks for posting. You have a really nice shop. Do you have masonite as you work surface? Hard to tell.

 

[windward]

Thanks!

Yes, it is tempered hardboard that I coated with poly. I did not not glue it....just used double sided tape and a pin nailer. Under that is two layers of baltic birch plywood, and I third layer of plywood underneath, around the perimeter to give me the thicker profile.

 

[dittle fart around]

Geneva Garage Gear seemed to be the only company that provided a corner cabinet, but what I did not like was the price point. I could understand having a premium ($400) for the corner cabinet, especially if your competitors don't have one, but the cost of the matching wall cabinets were about $275 each.

Here is what I can tell you.....the Geneva cabinet is half the cabinet that the NewAge cabinet is, and is over twice the price. NewAge cabinets are 18ga, very solid, and I would highly recommend. The Geneva cabinets are 22ga, which is not mentioned on their website, and very flimsy. I am not sure why I never researched the gauge of the Geneva cabinets before hand, I think because of the price point, I must have assumed they were a premium cabinet.

Thanks for the review. NewAge is offering a corner cabinet in it's Pro Series Cabinets.
Most of my customers go with the 18 gauge NewAge Cabinets. NewAge has a newer design, Performance Plus, with soft closing hinges with doors over laying the frames. Performance Plus is made of 20 gauge metal and they have a Performance Series that is 24 gauge meant to compete with big box store cabinets.

 

[Model A Fan]

Where did you find the corner cabinet? Using their search function yielded no results.

 

[coljar]

The corner cabinet is very nice, but I am admiring your whole set up. It looks great. I'm in the process of installing the cabinets (top and bottom), but I'm still torn on what to use for the surface of the bench. Not sure if the hardboard would hold up for my purpose.

 

[windward]

Where did you find the corner cabinet? Using their search function yielded no results.

Here is a link:

http://www.garage-organization.com/Product/Geneva-Garage-Gear-230375.aspx

 

[windward]

Thanks for the review.
Most of my customers go with the 18 gauge NewAge Cabinets. NewAge has a newer design, Performance Plus, with soft closing hinges with doors over laying the frames. Performance Plus is made of 20 gauge metal and they have a Performance Series that is 24 gauge meant to compete with big box store cabinets.

Mine are the NewAge Pro line.

 

[windward]

The corner cabinet is very nice, but I am admiring your whole set up. It looks great. I'm in the process of installing the cabinets (top and bottom), but I'm still torn on what to use for the surface of the bench. Not sure if the hardboard would hold up for my purpose.

I figure I can easily replace the hardboard, if needed. Another option would be to use HDPE....but it may be a bit too slick.

http://www.menards.com/main/p-2246284-c-14048.htm

 

[astrohip]

Very interesting, and very nice. Being in the home cabinet business, I've always used std base & wall cabinets, with plywood & trim for tops. But I like the way you used tool cabinets for base cabinets. Never seen it done built-in like that.

Are those just std tool cabinets, or something made special to go under a countertop? What is the height of your finished top?

Again, really nice looking workshop!

Here's a picture of mine, using std home cabinets. This is the 12' end of a Tuff Shed.

 

[windward]

Are those just std tool cabinets, or something made special to go under a countertop? What is the height of your finished top?

Yours look great too.

I used the Harbor Freight cabinets. I removed the casters and installed some leveling feet. The top of the cabinets has a lip around it, so I cut a piece of plywood to fit in the top as a filler, then put the workbench on top of that. I used a ledger board on the back wall, which carries a lot of the weight. I also put a diagonal cross brace in the back corner, where I have that large open area without support.

The top ended up at 36" high. My depth is 30", so there is about a 10-12" opening behind the cabinets, which is nice for storing things. Depending how your shop is laid out, that may become dead space.

Let me know if you want close up pics of anything.

Matt