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Homemade toolbox (metal)

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sberry

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Jun 18, 2005
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Brethren, Michigan
I got a used file cab the other day, was bought from an office supply probably in the 50's, never used, so well built I hate to use it for paper, ha, would make a heck of tool box.
 

03protege

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Sep 13, 2012
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Louisiana
I love the ones built from salvage or bought at fleas for the basics. Here is my take on building. Boxes can be had for a grand or less, good ones, I don't recall but that HF or General, whatever it is, super nice for the price. If I was considering a scratch build and comparing it to a 8 or 10 grand box off the truck it would push me to build, one guy in one of the threads said,, 12 days or so, ok, 2 or even 3 weeks, even a grand in materials etc, still a couple a grand a week for the effort.

Be well worth taking off work to build it. In reality would likely be looking over the economy line. You could somewhat compete against the hi end doing a build but not against the low.

The first, a box I pay 75 for, is heavy but I am not in the drawers like a madman. The second, storage for tools with occasional use, extra extras, some specialty sets, we can get if needed but out of the way and out of general circulation. 3rd, old boxes, specialty tools, most we built, pullers, specialty tools we cant lose. A 10 grand box wouldn't help any one of these schemes.

I usually think this way, specifically for stuff I don't want to do. It is only costing you a couple grand a week for the effort IF you are neglecting your other jobs. I would much rather be working for $$ and lay the money out for a real box, but that isn't always an option.
 
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Toolhorder

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I still want to do this. I have a rough sketch of what I wanted to make for mine but I need to do a google sketch up or something.
 

neonnblack

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Jun 7, 2010
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Reno, NV
I have been dying to do something like this, but it wont happen for me in the near future. I priced slide from the website posted 340 bucks for jsut the slides!!!
 

neonnblack

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This thread made me do a sketch up of one: 36 inches wide 33.5 inches tall 22 inches deep. full length drawers are 32.5 inches wide by 5 inches tall, the six below that are 9.5 inches wide by 3 inches tall and the bottom two are 9.5 inches wide by 4.75 inches (maybe it was 5 i dont remember) Plus a door in the middle which is just a cabinet with a shelf.
 

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Toolhorder

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This thread made me do a sketch up of one: 36 inches wide 33.5 inches tall 22 inches deep. full length drawers are 32.5 inches wide by 5 inches tall, the six below that are 9.5 inches wide by 3 inches tall and the bottom two are 9.5 inches wide by 4.75 inches (maybe it was 5 i dont remember) Plus a door in the middle which is just a cabinet with a shelf.


that looks cool but has a lack of longer drawers
 
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Toolhorder

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I was thinking of making mine easily movable . I hate moving my setup. I was thinking two double banks or triple banks hinged at the corner so they can fold together drawers facing so the cant open going down the road. They will have a spot in the back to pin in a wheel assembly on each side. The other side will have a hitch assembly that can pin or fold up for storage when the box is stationary.
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neonnblack

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Reno, NV
Why not a regular flatbed trailer with a braced rod a bit further up from the wheel that holds a platform that the box can sit on and swing on. gimme a few, ill do a quick and dirty in sketch up ( i love sketchup)
 
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Nealcrenshaw

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Mar 20, 2008
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Cleveland,OH
I'll be building one soon,i'll make a full write up on it.
The theme will be Aluminum & Rubber Appreciation

I've been engineering it on paper for awhile
now its time

Stay tuned
 
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Grellpuppy

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Nov 5, 2015
Messages
7
Was wondering if any one could post on how to install metal slides with the side mounting technique, when creating a metal tool box?

Not sure if i can mount on square bar or straight onto the side of the external sheet metal and if to use screws, rivets ect.

I have also heard about rails that can be used to just clip on the draw slides, wondering if these are applicable for a multiple draw metal tool box?
 

HandyVan

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Aug 15, 2015
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Portland, OR
I'm wood-butcher, not a tin-bender. I made an oak tool-tote 30 years ago. The wheels are from an old library ladder, and the chromed pipe handle extends to wheel it around the job site like a hand-truck. My son, a finish carpenter, uses it daily now.
 

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JC23

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Here's one that is really homemade for there's some cheating involved.
My friend is a fabricator in NC and does a buttload of NASCAR work. A bunch of years back, he came up with the idea of making a pitbox outta existing toolboxes. Even tho the boxes have Mack stickers on em, they are actually Waterloo products.

The box is on wheels, steers, has a ladder on the other end so you climb on top and the back holds jack stands and a jack. I modified it to hold gas welding tanks (not on there in this pic) and put in a few more boxes with doors.
 

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JC23

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That belongs in the awesome thread JC!!


Sent from my iThingy using Tapatalk

Thanks, nine! It does draw the compliments. And I always know where the tools go. Now, them finding their way back to it is another matter.
 

JC23

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Here's the better shot I couldn't find the other day..
 

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RogueFab

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Jun 27, 2013
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430
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Oregon
WE developed carts for our tubing benders that my company sells. The thinnest metal on them is 14ga, and they are a TON of work to put together. They are more than toolbox, but they do have two drawers.

I can tell you, it would take many hours to do a toolbox.

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