Flat files as tool boxes?

[Borrego]

Recently picked up several flat files measuring 40" x 28" x 17". Purchased them with the intent of using them as tool boxes. Drawers are shallow, but have great depth. Single drawers are nice and wide. Files can be stacked, but should be elevated off the floor somewhat.
Drawbacks include no casters, locks or handles. Cost can be prohibitive as well, unless you pick them up used for pennies on the dollar.
Was wondering if anyone has pondering using them as tool boxes.

 

[alex71]

you can use them as tool boxes, but be careful how you load them up. They were designed to hold paper or film, neither of which are anywhere near the weight of steel.

They usually have friction slides, and the drawers are not full extention, but will only slide out 2/3 of the way, which will make accessing items way in the back a pain.

But yeah, people use them for toolboxes.

 

[ibedayank]

yeah why not it will hold tools. I personaly wouldnt load them full or use them for tools i use multiple times a day but for seldom used or prized tools should work great... I use i fullsiz 4 drawer thats older than me to hold manuals and powertools.

 

[redneckprofessor]

I'd love to have one or two of those for electrical stuff-- wire cutters, wire strippers, crimpers, and all the other various things needed for electrical (automotive) work. Not as heavy as wrenches and sockets and such.

I just got two file cabinets, ones that hold small cards, and I am going to use them for my files, to keep the aluminum, steel, and wood separate from each other. What is it they call it, "repurposing"|?

 

[DocsMachine]

Oh sure. Last fall I picked up a kind of beat-up set of Cole map drawers. As noted, they're not full-extension, and were almost a foot deeper than my workbench was wide.

I ended up removing the individual drawers from the outer cabinet (which was damaged anyway) and cutting them down with the plaz. I had the local metal shop shear me some strips of 20-ga and welded them on the cut end, to make full drawers again.

Then I made my own frame to screw under the workbench, that held ball-bearing drawer slides from Home Despot:

Loaded weight hasn't been a problem. I have one drawer chock full of my measuring tools and indicators, and I doubt I'm anywhere near the capacity of either the slides or floor of the drawer.

You might start stressing a full-size drawer (remember, mine were narrowed somewhat) if, say, you stacked it full of loose sockets, or piled it deep with three layers of wrenches. But if you load it like a lot of people do their Snap-On drawers (like those foam inserts that keep the tools separated) I doubt you'd have any problem at all.

I've been hoping to find a second set, hopefully matching, to run the drawers all the way to the floor. They're very handy, and often even more useful than a conventional toolbox drawer.

Doc.

 

[alex71]

Doc.,

handy, but not as handy as the Vidmar next to your bench I bet.

 

[Packard V8]

FWIW, most commercial map and document files have ball-bearing slides and an incredible weight loading. Paper stacked flat is heavy, heavy, heavy.

I'd love to pick up a couple of those units for wrenches, punches, chisels, and other heavy but flat tools.

jack vines

 

[alex71]

FWIW, most commercial map and document files have ball-bearing slides and an incredible weight loading. Paper stacked flat is heavy, heavy, heavy.

I'd love to pick up a couple of those units for wrenches, punches, chisels, and other heavy but flat tools.

jack vines

New ones do, yes. Old ones don't, and that's what you're likely to find for sale. I speak from experience here, having worked in printing for 20 years now.

 

[sonnyboy]

We have one like the OP showed at work. Two of the drawers are full of brass and steel pipe and hydraulic fittings, one full of assorted screws and nuts, the other two have misc hardware. Not quite full extension, leaves about 3-4 in. that are harder to see. Ball bearing slides, and works quite well. Not quite as heavy duty as our Lista cabinet drawers, but MUCH better than the Craftsman friction slides.

 

[Packard V8]

New ones do, yes. Old ones don't, and that's what you're likely to find for sale. I speak from experience here, having worked in printing for 20 years now.

Guess it depends upon the circumstances. I managed a print shop in 1975-76 and all the files for negatives, plates and special printing papers were ball bearing.

jack vines

 

[Harvey Melvin Richards]

I've been using one for a while. It's great for large , relatively flat items, like 18" calipers.

Another great toolbox is old card files.

I also have (4) old 4 drawer file cabinets that make great tool storage. I store all my nail guns in one of them.