Hybrid tool box/cart idea

[JKennedy]

Wanted to bounce this idea off some of y'all:
So I've been searching for a tool cart for some time and I haven't found a good deal like I've wanted so I thought about customizing one for my needs in the shop. So my idea is to get a decent quality rolling cab (26") and just having the bottom with one of the side handles on it. On the top put a wood block like the precut ones. And maybe add a sheet of 18g steel to cover it and then fasten to the block which them would fasten to the cab. I also thought adding a small vise in one of the corners. Then the final addition would be a lockable pry bar holder to mount on the side.

Feel free to add to this brainstorm and give advice or suggestions! Thanks

 

[zkling]

Unless you need to store bulk fluid bottles I think it is a much better all around solution than the typical tool cart, especially the fip tops. I use a large 26" bottom box with side shelf and wood top for my driveway cart. Only suggestion I have is to make sure it has good casters.

 

[Fedwrench]

Make sure your top drawer is deep enough to stand 1/2 drive deep sockets upright in. I used a similar platform for awhile but, the deep top till with flip up lid is what I like most about my cornwell cart.

The deep till provides storage for pry bar handles without having to remove them to close the lid. The lid itself has magnetic holders for sockets and wrenches on the underside.

 

[JKennedy]

Make sure your top drawer is deep enough to stand 1/2 drive deep sockets upright in. I used a similar platform for awhile but, the deep top till with flip up lid is what I like most about my cornwell cart.

The deep till provides storage for pry bar handles without having to remove them to close the lid. The lid itself has magnetic holders for sockets and wrenches on the underside.

For some reason I always have my screwdrivers/other drivers in my most top drawer so I like the slender ones!

 

[JKennedy]

Unless you need to store bulk fluid bottles I think it is a much better all around solution than the typical tool cart, especially the fip tops. I use a large 26" bottom box with side shelf and wood top for my driveway cart. Only suggestion I have is to make sure it has good casters.

Can you get side shelves anywhere?

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Can you get side shelves anywhere?

Sunex makes an awesome folding shelf and prybar/screwdriver holder. I put both on my Harbor Freight cart, and they are awesome. Shelf is Sunex # 8009.

 

[zkling]

Can you get side shelves anywhere?

Many of the tool box makers produce them. Mine was salvaged off an old piece of office equipment. Craftsman (waterloo), sunex, snap on, mac, matco, homak, kennedy all make a side shelf.

 

[justme-]

My work box is a 26" bottom with a Sunnex driver/prybar holder on the left and a Matco (70's) locker side box on the right. A little too big for a cart, but similar in description. My top drawers are shallow and half width. I've also got a Snap-on side shelf from Fleebay incase I need it. Thinking about making a top for this over the winter.

 

[PCO6]

I use a Beach B27 roller cabinet. I've added 6" lockable nylon casters to it, a Husky folding side tray and a bamboo top. Works great.

 

[JKennedy]

Has anyone put a small vise (under 4") on top of a 26" cab?
What's the stability like?

 

[zkling]

Has anyone put a small vise (under 4") on top of a 26" cab?
What's the stability like?

The problem is what you can bolt it to. The best would be to bolt a thick metal plate or piece of wood butcher block style. Bolt the vise to that and then bolt that to the actual box so the force is distributed. The top panels on most boxes will distort pretty easily if you bolt just to the thin shell.

 

[justme-]

I'll be adding a panavise to mine for little things and chainsaw work. Wouldn't go much heavier do to thin sheetmetal top and stability concerns - a 4" mechanics vice can be convinced to hold some unweildy things better suited for a bench vice and I personally don't wanna be the one who tipped over his toolbox.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

I'll be adding a panavise to mine for little things and chainsaw work. Wouldn't go much heavier do to thin sheetmetal top and stability concerns - a 4" mechanics vice can be convinced to hold some unweildy things better suited for a bench vice and I personally don't wanna be the one who tipped over his toolbox.

Thinking of the used KR657PA roller cabinet I bought used a couple years ago; I agree with your theory... Someone had cut a 1/2" piece of plywood to fit the top, mounted about a 4"?? vice to the plywood with carriage bolts, then fastened the plywood to the top of the roller cabinet with recessed screws. With a beveled edge on the plywood, and a good coat of paint, it was a nice looking unit... I am sure it was handy, because it appeared to be well used.... On the corner that held the vise, I removed the caster and did some serious pulling with a slide hammer to straighten out the metalwork so all four casters would touch the floor at the same time.... If I was going to mount a vise in this manner; I would also add a plywood plate between the bottom of the chest, and the castors.. The plywood is easy to work with, and doesn't add much weight to the box.. I would also center the vise on the side of the top, over the fixed casters.

 

[JKennedy]

Stability may not be a concern. I figure once I have about 100lbs+ of tools through out the box it just be pretty sturdy. If all else fails I can remove the bottom drawer and put a piece of steel plate maybe 1/8 or 3/16 thick to add some extra weight to the bottom... also considered reinforcing the base of the cab with steel angle (most likely 1x1x3/6) to add some rigidity.

Just what I've been brainstorming about at work

 

[justme-]

Think about the dimensions of your average 26" roll around - 26"x18"x whatever tall makes is wide and shallow. That's why one is not supposed to open multiple drawers at the same time...shallow. Clamping anything in a vice on top and adding leverage to that anything in the shallow direction could make things dicey, especially with a drawer or two open. a 4" vice can hold all manner of heavy things - 1 ton truck full length tie rods for example - which will easily top 70 lbs and hung over the edge topple said toolbox easily.

Now righting the tipped box with the hundred lbs plus (which is 2 drawers worth in most boxes) of tools that all of a sudden need to be reorganized is not going to be fun, especially if it lands drawers down so nothing can be taken out to lighten it.
If that sudden stop the box dealt with wasn't onto reasonably flat and level ground expect slide problems from the drawers or worse from the case.

Check into a Panavise - might do everything you actually need in the context of what you're thinking about.