Garage Cabinet Search

[GShelton]

OK, I am now spinning out of control, well figuratively anyway. At first my plan was to build some cabinets like Scott (Mxtras) made. They are awesome. But I have a few issues. First, it will take longer than I want to make all I need. And after reading Cebby’s article (on toolandfab.com), I would not be saving much money.

I looked at Lista, Lyons, Moduline, Baldhead, etc… I just can not justify it. Even if my wife was OK with it, I could not see myself spending $25,000 in cabinets alone! (Keep in mind I am covering about 40 linear feet.)

So then I went out and found cabinets that I thought would be the end all. They are made of MDF and are covered in a thermo-fused melamine laminate. They are nice looking, have great hardware and are affordable.

So I wrote to the company (http://www.ebladez.com/ultimate/Ultimate/home.html) and asked about a local reseller as well as information on becoming a distributor.

I was sent some info, but no leads on local resellers. Well I happened to be in Sears the other day and they carry them. I was pumped. I finally got to see them in person. Well, I am now on a quest to find another cabinet company. I was really disappointed.

To start with, the cabinets are only 21 inches deep. This I had known, but when you finally see it, you realize how small that is. Then the drawers are not full extension. It is almost like they used an 18 inch slide on a 21 inch drawer. There was quite a bit of drawer still inside the cabinet.

They do look nice, but they are not going to work.

So I am looking for cabinet advice without spending the entire family fortune (LOL! Like my family has that kind of fortune.)

I want some drawer space. I want overheads. I want the “wardrobe” style tall cabinets. I would like them to look cool and not like kitchen cabinets.

I have a regular roll around tool chest (and am about to buy a 56 incher) so my regular tools are covered. I just need a place to store specialty tools, spools of automotive wire, quarts of oil, cleaners, etc..

I hope someone has some ideas. There is a home show here in Orlando next weekend. I went last year and they had quite a few companies that were selling garage cabinets. I hope this year is the same.

 

[Rrumbler]

The last shop I worked in had cabinets made from 3/4 inch birch plywood. They were almost identical in construction to the garden variety kitchen cabinets, but with some better detail in joinery; all fixed joints were dadoed, or rabbeted, obviously glued and screwed. The adjustable and additional shelf units and drawers used good quality hardware. The doors and drawer fronts were of the full coverage style, and the hardware was simple and utilitarian. I don't know if they were custom made, but they were extremely durable, and looked really good. I think those cabinets would be overkill in a hobby garage, but in my searches for stuff like this, I've found some pretty good "you assemble" items, that with a few added mods or upgrades, could likely fill this particular use quite well. I haven't made any decisions in my work space as yet, so I can't offer any "as built" results.

 

[bmwpower]

If you don't want to spend the cash to purchase cabinets or make your own out of metal, maybe you could make them out of wood like Rrumbler said. 40 feet is a lot of cabinets.

What is your budget?

 

[GShelton]

Budget is a fair question and one not easy to answer. I mean in theory, there is no cap to the budget. But mentally, I do not want to spend much more than about $10K.

I am leaning back toward the Mxtras cabinets.

 

[Rrumbler]

MXtra's cabinets are "Cadillacs", if you ask me. If you can work it, they are t-ts.

 

[GShelton]

Well the wife and I had a nice chat today and she told me once the house is built that I can spend anything I want on the garage. (I still can not justify $25K plus for moduline, lista, etc...)

So I have decided that I can buy some tools (box brake, sheet metal shear, new welder, plasma cutter, plama CNC table, etc..) and build the Mxtras cabinets and still come out ahead. So that is the route I have decided to take at this time.

 

[boiler7904]

Well the wife and I had a nice chat today and she told me once the house is built that I can spend anything I want on the garage. (I still can not justify $25K plus for moduline, lista, etc...)

So I have decided that I can buy some tools (box brake, sheet metal shear, new welder, plasma cutter, plama CNC table, etc..) and build the Mxtras cabinets and still come out ahead. So that is the route I have decided to take at this time.

Be glad your wife has that attitude. My fiance (wife in less than 3 weeks) has the same attitude. She doesn't even bother asking questions about whether or not I need a tool when I pick something up any more. Unfortunately, I don't have the means to buy all the stuff you're about to.

Good luck with the cabinet project. Post pics as you build them.

 

[GShelton]

Congrats on the marriage Boiler. My wife and I are 3 weeks away from the birth of my son.

And for the record, after the house is done, I may not have the means to buy all the stuff either. LOL!

 

[Cebby]

Congrats on the marriage Boiler. My wife and I are 3 weeks away from the birth of my son.

And for the record, after the house is done, I may not have the means to buy all the stuff either. LOL!

Don't underestimate the cost of diapers either... Congrats on the upcoming young'un.

 

[JMURiz]

******, I just got some of those cabinets from Costco...got this setup (got a real good price though):

Ah well, I guess they'll just be for my junk and cleaning products anyway, plan on getting a nice large craftsman ball-bearing tool chest for my tools.

Let us know what you find that is good.

 

[boiler7904]

Congrats on the marriage Boiler. My wife and I are 3 weeks away from the birth of my son.

And for the record, after the house is done, I may not have the means to buy all the stuff either. LOL!

Thanks. Congrats on the baby.

I know how it goes with a new house. It has to be done first. I don't know why but every woman thinks so.

 

[Inetmonkey]

Congrats on the marriage Boiler. My wife and I are 3 weeks away from the birth of my son.

Ditto! And congrats to you as well Glenn!

I've seen some mention of MDF cabinets here. Has anyone checked out IKEA's kitchen cabinets? I was thinking of going that route for several reasons:
1) They're cheap. I can cover my storage needs for less than $3000 (about 25', tops & bottoms)
2) They're configurable. I can choose if I want doors, drawers, or combinations of both. They also come in some cool colors like black, red, and grey. I think you can even order with a stainless top, but it might just be silver colored.
3) They deliver. I'm without a truck right now, so they'll deliver all the cabinets right to my driveway and I can assemble at my leisure. It's cheap too, since they're close.

My only real concern is with the thin drawer bottoms, but I figure most of the heavy stuff will be going into the toolbox anyways. As long as I don't overload them, they should do fine. Any other thoughts on going with MDF cabinets?

 

[SteveL]

Well the wife and I had a nice chat today and she told me once the house is built that I can spend anything I want on the garage. (I still can not justify $25K plus for moduline, lista, etc...)

So I have decided that I can buy some tools (box brake, sheet metal shear, new welder, plasma cutter, plama CNC table, etc..) and build the Mxtras cabinets and still come out ahead. So that is the route I have decided to take at this time.

My wife said the same thing, BUT, by the time the house was finished there was nothing left!!! Now my new garage sits empty waiting to hit the Loto. My suggestion is to get some of it up front before it's all gone.

 

[boiler7904]

Ditto! And congrats to you as well Glenn!

I've seen some mention of MDF cabinets here. Has anyone checked out IKEA's kitchen cabinets? I was thinking of going that route for several reasons:
1) They're cheap. I can cover my storage needs for less than $3000 (about 25', tops & bottoms)
2) They're configurable. I can choose if I want doors, drawers, or combinations of both. They also come in some cool colors like black, red, and grey. I think you can even order with a stainless top, but it might just be silver colored.
3) They deliver. I'm without a truck right now, so they'll deliver all the cabinets right to my driveway and I can assemble at my leisure. It's cheap too, since they're close.

My only real concern is with the thin drawer bottoms, but I figure most of the heavy stuff will be going into the toolbox anyways. As long as I don't overload them, they should do fine. Any other thoughts on going with MDF cabinets?

Thanks.

I'd avoid going that route unless you absolutely have to. IKEA cabinets are pretty light weight and not meant for garage duty. I don't remember what the hardware was like when I saw them in the store. I want to say it was pretty lightweight too.

My future father in law has a garage full of particle board cabinets - maybe 10 or 12 years old. All of the drawer fronts feel like they want to fall off since the joints are starting to open up. In a garage setting, I would think that MDF cabinets would do the same.

 

[sjsfire]

I finally decided to just build my cabinets. The metal ones are OK but when I work in my garage I get a little wild sometimes. I'd hate to get expensive metal cabinets and dent them up. The wooden ones (if thats what you want to call them) from the BORGs are nothing more than press wood that will probably swell in the humidity. I can get a sheet of 3/4 BC plywood at my local Menards for around $23 and some change. I'll figure my cuts to get as much as possible without waste and they can be painted the color I choose. The BC plywood is good on one side so with a good paint job they should look nice. I've got a 10 foot ceiling so custom sizes will be a must. This will be my fall project. I plan on a 6 ft. unit above my work bench and I got 24 ft of wall for more cabinets. Plus the wife wanted a tall cabinet to keep her mop and broom in , nope I never cracked a smile when she mentioned her broom.......

 

[Inetmonkey]

I'd avoid going that route unless you absolutely have to. IKEA cabinets are pretty light weight and not meant for garage duty. I don't remember what the hardware was like when I saw them in the store. I want to say it was pretty lightweight too.

Hrm. That's good to know. I haven't actually gone to the store to look at them yet. I'm not exactly hard on my furniture but it is a garage after all.

<Edit>

I just came across this site and it looks like a fairly cool system. Garage Envy

 

[MGUY]

******, I just got some of those cabinets from Costco...got this setup (got a real good price though):

Ah well, I guess they'll just be for my junk and cleaning products anyway, plan on getting a nice large craftsman ball-bearing tool chest for my tools.

Let us know what you find that is good.

How much were the Costco cabinets ? they look real nice.

 

[SCOOTER]

My wife said the same thing, BUT, by the time the house was finished there was nothing left!!! Now my new garage sits empty waiting to hit the Loto. My suggestion is to get some of it up front before it's all gone.

This is why I'm doing the garage first ..then the house....

 

[JMURiz]

How much were the Costco cabinets ? they look real nice.

I think I got them for $650, for the whole thing, when they were on-sale. I think they are ~$800 for the set now. They are heavy as lead, that MDF is heavy stuff. Hopefully they'll hold up for my use...I also have an old steel government issue desk I can use for really beating on something.

 

[GShelton]

Don't get me wrong, the Ultimate cabinets were just not what I need. I did not like that was not full extension slides, etc... I just need something better.

My wife said the same thing, BUT, by the time the house was finished there was nothing left!!! Now my new garage sits empty waiting to hit the Loto. My suggestion is to get some of it up front before it's all gone.

Should not be an issue. I am the one doing the building so I know what is being spent. LOL!

 

[neblinc]

I finally decided to just build my cabinets. The metal ones are OK but when I work in my garage I get a little wild sometimes. I'd hate to get expensive metal cabinets and dent them up. The wooden ones (if thats what you want to call them) from the BORGs are nothing more than press wood that will probably swell in the humidity. I can get a sheet of 3/4 BC plywood at my local Menards for around $23 and some change. I'll figure my cuts to get as much as possible without waste and they can be painted the color I choose. The BC plywood is good on one side so with a good paint job they should look nice. I've got a 10 foot ceiling so custom sizes will be a must. This will be my fall project. I plan on a 6 ft. unit above my work bench and I got 24 ft of wall for more cabinets. Plus the wife wanted a tall cabinet to keep her mop and broom in , nope I never cracked a smile when she mentioned her broom.......

Did you ever get your cabinets built? Pics? I am to the point of building cabinets and want full height all the way to the 10' ceiling. Called local hospitals for used, but no luck.

Randy

 

[PHXCUSTOMS]

Have you checked out Baldhead Cabinets new limited line. I just bought their cabinets (the custom ones) but the rep quoted me on both. I limited turned out to be about $5000 less in cost for the same area but it didnt offer me the options I wanted. I guess thats why they call them limited. I hope this helps you out.

 

[sharpe427]

Hmmm. I lost this somewhere!?!?! Check these out from Sears;

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/search_10153_12605?keyword=viper&gobutton.x=32&gobutton.y=16