File cabinet mods for tool box conversion?

[ADSR]

I did a search, didn't find much.

I find file cabinets all the time, and for dirt cheap too. Anyone have any good mods to turn them in to tool storage?

 

[InPrimer]

i keep low weight stuff in them like sandpaper and stuff like sheets of gasket material, you can build "sides" on them for taller stuff IMO the tracks are usually too light for heavy weight stuff, but then again I never throw any type of storage cabinets better than open shelves

 

[JimVonBaden]

Regular file cabinets are OK, but they are not ideal. The lateral file cabinets work better for most.




Personally I dislike open shelves because they get easily cluttered and dust settles on everything.

Jim

 

[Silver Heels]

I think good file cabinets work well for larger tools i.e. skillsaw, drills, and even cans of spraypaint. As far as being lighter duty than tool chests, I cant think of any tools that weigh more than a drawer full of papers, and they are robust enough to be opened and closed fully loaded many times a day for years on end. Of course I am referring to the older, quality ones, not the lightweight ones sold at Walmart.

 

[CNGsaves]

There were a couple threads like this before and one guy had bunch of lateral file cabinets. The most convenient for garages seem to be the cabinets that had the flip-up doors that slid out of the way at the top.

 

[nine4gmc]

Here is a lathe table I just made from the drawers of an old metal desk and a flat file cabinet from an arts and crafts room at a school.

And this was a security cart for laptops that I gutted and cut down some lateral file cabinet drawers to fit, then used the base as a work surface. There is a partial build documented on homemadetools.net I believe but not painted.

 

[evintho]

The HON lateral file cabinets work great!
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=132713

 

[ADSR]

Ok, the lateral ones look kick ***. I'm on the hunt for them now. I'm still thinking of making a side cab out of a regular one. Build a full door for it and add shelving.

 

[trainman1385]

I have a lateral file cabinet that I use for paint, I picked up a cabinet that was used for sewing patterns that I use for my cordless tools

 

[ADSR]

These cabinets are so dirt cheap or most of time free of charge, i'm going to have to devise a way to mod them for our tool use.

 

[cyamaha2007]

the file cabinets i scored from work had 2 slides on each drawer. I passed on 10 banged up cabinets. Well the drawers and frame had cutouts for 6 slides per drawer. I went back and harvested the slides now the drawers are very sturdy with the 6 slides.

 

[ADSR]

Picked up a free one after work today. A regular one in good shape. Will start the plan to mod it soon.

 

[futbol9]

I just bought this file cabinet today to put it I'm between two tall gray gladiator cabinets. I have a lot of red staff in my man cave garage/game room/gym. So I was thinking on painting it red with black stripes or chrome stipes in the front? Any ideas will help I will be using it to store tools and other things. I hope it does not tip over

 

[isb cornbinder]

Every so often SIMPLICITY sewing pattern company change out their steel cabinets. These cabinets are SnapOn strong and have roller slides. I have 6-8 left. Most were 4 drawer. The red cabinet is the only 5 drawer I have ever found.
The 4 drawer cabinets are made in 36" and 30' widths.

 

[kbs2244]

the office files with the deep drawers are for stuff in blow molded boxes
I like the wide, shallow drawer map/blue print cabinets for hand tools

but my favorites are the IBM card or library card files with the narrow drawers
they take the weight better
I even use the for ammo

in all of them I use scrap paneling for a smooth bottom to the drawers

 

[isb cornbinder]

I found this fantastic 10 drawer cabinet on CL. The seller was asking $50. The empty cabinet weighs over 90kg ( 200#). The drawers are on ball bearing rollers. This cabinet was in a type setting print shop.
I was able to fit 20 AKRO MILLS parts bins to each drawer. (5X4 per drawer.) I was in the process of transferring nuts, bolts and hundreds of miscellaneous small parts to this cabinet when I got interrupted. I am ready to finish this "big move" now.

Plastic Storage Bins | Akro-Bins Plastic Storage Bins | Plastic Storage Containers | Wire Shelving | Metal Cabinets

Akro-Mils specializes in storage and material handling products for home and business: plastic storage bins, totes and containers - steel and wire shelving - plastic and metal cabinets - platform trucks - dollies and more.

akro-mils.com

 

[egdede]

My lateral file cabinets came from a law-office and they have a pull out shelf. I have one set that the 'drawer front' slide over the top of the drawer and then the drawer slides out (like a shelf). That came from a medical office.

 

[Steve from Socal]

If you have muiti tier lateral file cabinets the best way to prevent them from tipping over is to bolt them to a wall near the top.

I have 10 5 tier lateral files with flip up doors like above. I store everything from power tools to small hardware in bin boxes. These have good weight capacity BUT, heavy dense items should be on plywood or other base to spread the weight across the entire shelf.

 

[inphx]

When i liquidated an office i took all the steelcase draw bases and bought a gallon of yellow tractor paint...

 

[johnnn]

On the roll out shelf flipper door style sometimes you can shorten drawer height with two simple straight cuts. Converting a 12" drawer into a 6" drawer. Here is a picture of some more shallow drawers roughly 3" on center. This was more work than described above. If you are good with sheet metal or even wood you could make your own shelf's. Many file cabinet cases have notches for drawer slides every 3" on center. Obviously you would need a donor cabinet for drawer slides and possibly drawers.

 

[Jbullfrog]

I have 3 drawer laterals under my office counter. I have 4 five drawer lateral cabinets with flip up doors and pull-out shelves on the cold side of my shop for rodent proof storage. I have 4 in my office for paint and other supplies as well.