HF Toolboxes Workbench - Phase 3

[Outlawmws]

I haven't done it, but take the all the drawers out before you slide them in. That will make a huge difference on weight.

I would look for some thin plastic/poly strips to act as runners and do it from the font, then slide the runners out...

 

[Duker]

I haven't done it, but take the all the drawers out before you slide hem in. that will make a huge difference on weight.

I would look for some thin plastic/poly strips to act as runners and do it from the font, then slide the runners out...

^^^^ This.... I dropped in the 56” cabinets into the frames with an engine hoist. There are bolt holes underneath the top mats that make it easy to attach a chain or strap.


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[grtpumpkin]

What are you guys using for the leveling feet? Thread size? Rubber or solid? weight capacity?
There are many options & price gets up there when you need 12 or so.

 

[heisler3030]

What are you guys using for the leveling feet? Thread size? Rubber or solid? weight capacity?
There are many options & price gets up there when you need 12 or so.

I ordered from JWWinco as Steevo originally suggested. Specific part numbers were 8TPTD inserts (2.0 x 1.81 @ 1/2X13 thread) and 8T3WP5 feet (3.15 diam @ 1/2X13 thread in 3" length)

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I haven't done it, but take the all the drawers out before you slide them in. That will make a huge difference on weight.

I would look for some thin plastic/poly strips to act as runners and do it from the font, then slide the runners out...

This was a good call! Here's a few tips for the next guy:

• Use a bunch of moving blankets on the ground to protect the frame and boxes
• Prop the frame up on a dolly or something so you can get your fingers under to lift
• Tape the sliders so they don't get in the way as you move it into place
• Put a moving blanket across the front/top rail to slide the box in
• Eat a healthy serving of spinach before the power squat to lift it up
• Once you have the front rail about 2 feet into your lift it gets much easier as the weight balance shifts.

View media item 75699View media item 75696View media item 75698
Thank you Steevo and everyone else who inspired me to give this a go and surprise myself with my ability to build something so professional-grade!

 

[grtpumpkin]

I ordered my leveling feet from Mcmaster Car. Should be in tomorrow. One thing I noticed is that nobody has put the bottom cross angle iron pieces in such a way that it doesn't cradle the front of the box. Like flip it so it's an upside down L. I don't think the bottom of the box will creep forward & if it did you could always add a stop screw or pin. This way I think you could more easily slide the box in from the front. I'm building mine as steevo but my bottom angle iron will be flush with the bottom of the side supports. Still won't have enough room to slide in from the front in this configuration though. Picture that lower cross piece lowered to flush with bottom of the verticals. I want to mount the box as low as possible to try to utilize the top surface of the toolboxes. I think I can do it & end up with about 5/8 of an inch space to accommodate storing flat items such as sandpaper sheets & small flat sheet metal pieces. Ideally I would like to see a 2+" area above the box but I'm limited by the final height I want my bench at. I'm planning on a final height of 39 inches. The only floor clearance I'll have will be provided by the leveling feet. So boxes will be pretty close to the floor. I'm in the cutting stages of the cross pieces right now. I have the end supports all welded together now. I'll post some pics once I make some decent progress. I went with 1.5" square tubing and 1.75" angle iron.

 

[grtpumpkin]

Made some progress. I decided to make the top front & back angle iron pieces a bolt on item. This way I won't have to hoist them up very high at all to mount them. The top rails are tacked in place & the holes are drilled. Once bolted, I will cut the tack welds. Almost ready for prime & paint. once completed it will be almost identical to heisler3030's rendition of the Steevo model.

 

[andrewordrew]

Looks like great progress grtpumpkin - keep up the good work!


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[navin]

Has anyone built a "Steve-o" bench with the HF 56" toolbox + maybe the side cabinet? Looking for some inspiration

 

[Duker]

Has anyone built a "Steve-o" bench with the HF 56" toolbox + maybe the side cabinet? Looking for some inspiration

I used the 56” boxes. I like a tall workbench so it works fine but you might want to mock up the height to see if you like the size. You can see some details in this thread. I also built a hutch using the 72” cabinet. Hopefully this will give you a few ideas. https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=259777

 

[grtpumpkin]

Finished it up this weekend. I took a 3 day weekend just to make sure it got done. All that's left now is to make a top work surface. Still deciding on that.

 

[Scott H in Wheaton]

I went a bit more simple with mine. No fancy welded frame, I just unbolted the casters and made a frame of 2x4 laid on side, then put all three boxes together.

Bench top is two pieces of 8’ butcher block that I still need to trim down to size

Ends up at standard counter height

 

[Scott H in Wheaton]

 

[born2glf]

great looking bench, very well done

 

[Ck1]

I ordered from JWWinco as Steevo originally suggested. Specific part numbers were 8TPTD inserts (2.0 x 1.81 @ 1/2X13 thread) and 8T3WP5 feet (3.15 diam @ 1/2X13 thread in 3" length)

View media item 75701


This was a good call! Here's a few tips for the next guy:

• Use a bunch of moving blankets on the ground to protect the frame and boxes
• Prop the frame up on a dolly or something so you can get your fingers under to lift
• Tape the sliders so they don't get in the way as you move it into place
• Put a moving blanket across the front/top rail to slide the box in
• Eat a healthy serving of spinach before the power squat to lift it up
• Once you have the front rail about 2 feet into your lift it gets much easier as the weight balance shifts.

View media item 75699View media item 75696View media item 75698
Thank you Steevo and everyone else who inspired me to give this a go and surprise myself with my ability to build something so professional-grade!

What upper cabinets are those? Your setup looks great

 

[6daze]

Version 2.0. Added seating


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[heisler3030]

What upper cabinets are those? Your setup looks great

They are the NewAge Pro series - I picked up a combo set through Costco for $2K:

https://www.costco.com/NewAge-Products-Pro-3.0-Series,-10-piece-Set.product.100247306.html

The rest of it is out of frame but as you can see the finish is a pretty nice match for the HF cabinets, though they won't pass for the same.

Since the last pic was taken I've added a receiver at the end so I can mount a removable bench grinder, an 11g steel top, and my wilton 1750 resto is underway...

View media item 77134

 

[grtpumpkin]

Was thinking of cutting the front angle iron just above each box in order to have more room to fit my hands in order to store flat items on the top of the boxes below the top surface. Right now as it sits I have 3/4" clearance below the angle iron. The angle iron is 1 3/4" I fear it will make the top springy if I cut too much out. Any opinions or experience with this.?

 

[Ck1]

Anyone built a bench with these yet? https://www.harborfreight.com/46-in-mobile-workbench-with-solid-wood-top-64012.html

 

[cheechi]

that's the same dimensions as the Husky 46" box, and yes someone has built a steevo bench out of those. I don't remember who or when, go back a few pages or check the 'lets see your workbench' thread.

 

[Swingpress]

I just wanted to comment so I can find this later. This is a great thread!!

 

[couch]

May have been mentioned before in this thread but the US General badges come right off with a heat gun. I'm not a huge fan of the silver drawer pull covers either, those slide right off the side easily. Makes the boxes look way cleaner without the badges or covers. Otherwise I love all my boxes from there. Can't complain.

Love what you guys are doing with these bases!

 

[BERCOMAN]

My version of the Steevo bench build... with a Craigslist repurpossed 44" lateral file cabinet and 2 HF boxes

 

[BERCOMAN]

some pics

 

[Outlawmws]

Where did you find a lateral file with semi-shallow drawers? Awesome!

 

[cfaas416]

Great thread!

Are you planning on sticking with red or painting them at some point? I'd like to paint all mine black but I'm worried I'd just screw them up and look like my 2 year old colored them....which might be better than my painting skills now that I think about it.

 

[BERCOMAN]

Just happened to see it on Craigslist and grabbed it...$45! Was tan, painted to match the red theme....

 

[My Old Tools]

May have been mentioned before in this thread but the US General badges come right off with a heat gun. I'm not a huge fan of the silver drawer pull covers either, those slide right off the side easily. Makes the boxes look way cleaner without the badges or covers. Otherwise I love all my boxes from there. Can't complain.

Love what you guys are doing with these bases!

I could use one of the drawer pull covers if you are so inclined...

 

[gtsgarage]

Great work and awesome thread! I was torn between this and the Newage Pro which while more expensive are ready to go and install.

 

[RossOlsen]

Great idea. Thanks

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[swharris]

Yep, that little Clark lift comes in mighty handy. The price was right, too. My brother in law got it for me free from a customer that was going to scrap it. I had to buy a charger for $150, but that's a small price to pay for the convenience of a forklift.

That looks just like what I need. What model Clark lift is that? How high does it max out at? I think I will need a forklift, but a full riding one would be overkill for my shop. I'll be keeping an eye out for a good deal on one.

Thanks.

 

[eyeball]

Great work and awesome thread! I was torn between this and the Newage Pro which while more expensive are ready to go and install.

I was thinking the same thing. However, i was not able to find a Newage cabinet that looked like it was geared toward the efficient storage of tools.


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[Steevo]

That looks just like what I need. What model Clark lift is that? How high does it max out at? I think I will need a forklift, but a full riding one would be overkill for my shop. I'll be keeping an eye out for a good deal on one.

Thanks.

That is an obsolete model of walk-behind Clark-Lift. I am fortunate that it is still working to this day (02/04/2018), lifting stuff as needed and accepting a charge when needed.
Any day now, I expect to have to call a scrapper to haul it away when it fails to move any longer.
But, I have had six or seven good years of service from it so far.

 

[Outlawmws]

Steevo, are the parts that much unobtainiunm?

 

[swharris]

That is an obsolete model of walk-behind Clark-Lift. I am fortunate that it is still working to this day (02/04/2018), lifting stuff as needed and accepting a charge when needed.
Any day now, I expect to have to call a scrapper to haul it away when it fails to move any longer.
But, I have had six or seven good years of service from it so far.

What will you replace it with? I'm trying to find something small and of course used/cheap. Not sure that is a good idea, but really the only option at this point.

 

[1melemans]

I like the plier rack! Where did you get it?

 

[RebelAlliance]

Thanks for the inspiration!!

 

[Muggzy]

Thanks for the inspiration!!

Looks good. Are those the Huskies from HD or something else? What size?

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[RebelAlliance]

Looks good. Are those the Huskies from HD or something else? What size?

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They are International brand 42" wide I believe.

 

[Muggzy]

They are International brand 42" wide I believe.

I like that drawer configuration. Can I ask where you got them?

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[RebelAlliance]

I like that drawer configuration. Can I ask where you got them?

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Not sure where they are available in the States, but here in Canada they are available through stores like Home Depot and Costco among others. I ordered mine through HD online when they had a huge sale on them a few years back. They have several levels of toolboxes and mine are more on the entry level side. Probably equivalent to the Husky boxes I would think.. not the best but couldn't beat the price.