File Cabinets For Tools

[scarrylarry]

Hi Fellas

I was wondering with the high price for new tool chest and boxes has anyone used gently used metal filing cabinets for tool storage ? Was wondering if you could put a set of drawers in them to make a tool chest .if anyone has pictures of something they have done I would appreciate it !
Thanks !
scarrylarry

 

[Snakebyt]

I used one at my old job to store alot of my specialty tools, and tools in cases ect

 

[four.cycle]

a buddy of mine uses them to hold stuff like electric drill motors, skil-saws... power tools and what-not.
you can beat the **** out of them and not be out a lot of money - who uses files anymore?
people unload them for free on Craigslist around here quite often.

 

[ez-duzit]

I've been thinking of building a welding cart using a file cabinet for the base to store related equipment, grinders, hood, etc.

 

[dutchgray]

I have a few, good for bulky items, tools in cases, fluids in 5 L cans. Got one of mostly large G clamps.
Paper is heavy so they can stand tge weight just fine.
Also got one of the small ones with shallow paper sized drawers, no slides so you can just pull them out, use that for lesser used screwdriver, T handle sets, inch hex keys and some small consumable items..

 

[mikebaker1129]

I have 2 in my garage that I have loaded.
They work well and they do not scream "steal me" like a shiny red tool box does,when I have my garage door open!

 

[CudaChick1968]

I have two legal-sized lateral file cabinets in the shop, one 2-drawer and the other a 5-drawer. I picked them up off the side of the road in Louisiana after Katrina (nooooo I wasn't looting LOL -- they were in the trash pile) and put casters on the 2-drawer so it rolls around. They've held up very well over the years and can take quite a bit of weight. The tall one's drawers pull out to the front and the drawer covers lift up out of the way, whereas the smaller one is just drawers. The tall one also has a VERY handy pull out shelf in the middle. For free storage, I cannot complain one bit.

 

[stonesfan68]

I have a couple of large file cabinets that I picked up free from work. They work great for storing bulky items that come with plastic cases like circular saws, drills, etc.

 

[ndnchf]

I keep my welding supplies in one I picked up at a thrift store.

 

[Finky198]

Here’s a thread I made a while back. The pics are old I will have to snap a new one ...
but it’s worked out extremely well...
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=335578

 

[bczygan]

I use a bunch of vertical and lateral file cabinets.

Bill

 

[Technologyteacher]

I have both Vertical and Lateral files. Vertical is good for manuals, sandpaper, etc Lateral I use like tool boxes for bulky tools and supplies

 

[scarrylarry]

Thanks for the replies so far fellas ! Seems like they make for a good option !
scarrylarry

 

[carbon]

I too use a lateral file cabinet to store tools, safety equipment, abrasives, and misc. I have a four-drawer high one. Bought it for $25 and put casters on it. Can’t complain, probably the highest % savings vs. real world cost I have in my shop.

 

[Fcvapor05]

I use a 5-drawer lateral file for bulk storage- chemicals, consumables, etc etc. I'm a big fan. Remember that they are designed to be loaded completely full with paper, meaning the drawers can handle a LOT of weight without issue; taller ones will also almost always have a drawer opening lockout system, meaning you can only slide one drawer open at a time. This makes them very safe if you have kids around, and is a feature that almost all commercial tool boxes do not have.

 

[Sine Swept]

I picked one up curbside not ten minutes from home. I had to get a few ball bearings to get it rolling like new, was only a few bucks. I keep all my routers, jigsaws, skill saws, random corded tools, tools in cases and anything else that will fit in there too.

If you took it away from me I wouldn't know what to do.

To the above post with the yellow lateral contraption, looks like a beast that won't be leaving any time soon. Very personalized.

 

[dalehsc]

I have a 4 drawer lateral cabinet in my barn for larger item storage,works great. I think I paid $50 for it. The unique thing I use at work is a drawer unit that came from an office desk. It has a shallow drawer I have bearing races & steel plates in,a second deeper drawer for my surface preparation tool,small parts bins,and the bottom deeper drawer for aerosol cans & 1L/Quart bottles. Handy storage...it needs a top for it, the top of the desk was it's top. My son bought an old 4x4 GMC & it was on the back of it.

 

[Tenex]

The great thing about file cabinets is that they can be had for cheap. I paid a guy $12 for a 4-drawer unit from the 60s and it's been great for storing my large tools that come in blow molded cases. I'll probably buy another for corded electrical tools.

 

[PFSard]

I have five in my garage. Four under my workbench for storing large and/or hardly used items. One on wheels under my drill press for storing sanding belts, sanding discs, wire wheels, etc

 

[lowbucktruck]

I have some filing cabinets in my garage, lateral file and two with doors and roll-out drawers that I used for the base of a workbench build. For the reasonable price, the file cabinets have been very useful storage. I use mine to store power tools.

I would suggest looking for either used lateral file cabinets or those "medical file" cabinets with the roll-out drawers (most are ball-bearing glides). Can't beat the price for what you get.

 

[markhm]

I got half a dozen of the file cabinets from the 1950's and 1960's that were used for computer punch cards. Each is 10 drawers high by 2 drawers across. Standard file cabinet depth. Drawers are easily removable from their support trays. Supports a lot of weight. Unfortunately all drawers have a finger slot that runs their entire length along the bottom for removing punch cards but its easily covered with a piece of metal. They are fantastic for organizing tools and parts and can easily be transported to project.

 

[scarrylarry]

Thanks Fellas ! Some really good ideas here I'm thinking I will put some under a workbench that I will be building !
scarrylarry

 

[dalehsc]

My setup at work

 

[jeffmoss26]

I have a 4 drawer cabinet that I use for paint/brushes/sandpaper, various sprays and rags, misc wire that takes up too much other space, toolbelts/bags etc.

 

[Parrothead]

I have a horizontal file cabinet and those are the best for a small garage since they’re not deep like regular file cabinets. I use them to store my air tools and other power tools. As has been pointed out, they hold a good deal of weight as they’re designed to be full of paper. One of the best deals going off of craigslist.

 

[Mr Ratchet]

Yep they work well. Having worked at Meridian (Herman Miller) I have all kinds of file cabinets. The nice thing about the Meridian files is that they are modular. That means you can take them apart and re-configure them or make two small ones into on bigger one. There are the lateral files that have both inset and out set types of drawers. You can get half drawers which is two thinner drawers instead of one deeper one in each wrapper (module). Then there are flipper fronts and and pull out shelves as some of the others hear said they have on their files. Vertical files are usually three to six wrappers high. Peds are like verticals but have a single taller 30" high module. Plus there are all kinds of interior options that make organizing easier.
I have a storage unit (2 door cabinet) in the garage that holds a small tool box, oil, and other fluids plus anything else I don't want sitting in the open. I have a 4 hi lateral (3 full & 2 half drawers) file next to my Matco box that has more home type tools, clamps, and extension cords/air hoses. It has casters so I can roll it around. A short vertical with 2 quarter drawers and a 1/2 drawer that hold tape, zip ties, and other misc shop supplies. A ped with casters that my arc welder is attached with 2 half drawers and a full drawer that holds welding rods, chipping hammer, wire brush, work cables, leathers and helmets. Plus other peds that I have in my hunting/shooting room for storage.

 

[Plombob]

I had 4. One was a regular legal size. It held all kinds of bulky things, like battery charger, paint tools and wire. I had a card file that held hardware and small parts.
Another was a fireproof letter size I stored flammables in. Last was a business check file which held tools and metal stock. One of our GJ pals picked that one up at my estate sale.