Lista Roll Around Tool Cabinet & Work Bench

[Bib Overalls]

Couple of months ago I scored a small Lista cabinet off of Craigslist. It was mangy when I got it; rattle can blue with several large pieces of Velcro attached with construction adhesive.

I disassembled the cabinet and took it and the drawers to friend Ben at MMS Sandblasting and Powder Coating. He finished up with a nice coat of RED. I am very pleased with the result. I put it on some casters and thought I was done. But then I looked around my shop and an idea formed.

The plan has always called for red powder coat on my other Craigslist Lista cabinets. One is the same height and depth as the new red cabinet. What would I get if I bolted the two together, added a good set of casters and topped it all off with a couple thicknesses of plywood and a sheet of stainless steel? Answer: A very nice Lista roll around tool cabinet.

So, tomorrow I am going to start taking my blue cabinet apart for powder coat. At some near point I will have to figure out the nuances of securing the two cabinets together. At the top and bottom of the sides there is a doubled up area and that is where I plan to drill the sides for bolts. The Lista cases are very well made but I don't know if they can handle the weight without sagging. The plywood top will help some but the strain is at the bottom.

So, after this wall of words we get to the question. Would you attach the casters to the bottom of the Lista cabinets or would you fabricate a base that would support the bottom. If you opt for the fabricated base what material would you recommend? 2 inch square steel tubing?

I'd really like to avoid using a base if I can because it will raise the work table to an awkward height.

 

[Z2V]

I like the idea of a base. That is the approach I would take. You are worried about the work height if you go with a 2" tube base? You could use a 1" x 2" or 1"x 3" tube and go with a low profile caster to keep the height comfortable maybe? You could also recess the casters in the tube base to minimize the height.
That will be a really nice bench/ box when your done.
My .02

 

[JC23]

You also have a certain amount of clear space inside the cabinet for a framework and the wheels/casters can bolt on from the outside.

Now, you have four cents worth.

 

[yhprum]

How about making the base from some angle, so that the boxes sit inside?

 

[t100]

angle iron frame with some good quality casters, 6" or bigger.

Not all the Lista/Vidmar cabs are made the same way. Some are for floor standing, some as rollers. the bottom is different and also the locking mechanism.

 

[taumac]

I agree with using angle iron and if worry about sagging you could make it a 6 caster base with middle caster spanning the joint where the 2 cabinet join.

 

[ZRX61]

Something like this...

https://scontent-lax3-1.**.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/11923255_10206254543995294_3583049896620346754_n.jpg?oh=16429cfb3dec4065b3e07f8de0639274&oe=59894107

 

[LXCam]

Wow that cabinet you had PC'd turned out like new, nice job. Are these cabinets the ones that are 28.5" tall? If so I'll have to post s picture later of the base I built for two of those I use for my table top mill. That might give ya an idea.

 

[cbacres]

I'd use 2" x3/16 or 1/4" thick angle with the cabinet sitting inside, make base plates for the casters and weld to corners of angle frame.
You could tap threads in the base plate or weld studs for the casters and you wouldn't have to worry about bolts interfering with the boxes.i did this with my small Listas

The angle base will only add about 1/2" of height.

I'd recommend going with a 5" or 6" hard caster, it'll roll easy with that weight on it.
Look forward to your build.

 

[Bib Overalls]

Wow that cabinet you had PC'd turned out like new, nice job. Are these cabinets the ones that are 28.5" tall? If so I'll have to post s picture later of the base I built for two of those I use for my table top mill. That might give ya an idea.

Yes, 28.5".

I am going to look at some heavy duty 1.5" square tubing that a friend has offered. The angle iron option is another possible. Once I have it figured out I will post up my solution.

Thanks guys!

 

[1wook]

You'll want a base. I put casters directly onto the bottom of a floor standing vidmar and the bottom of the cabinet didn't hold up.

I used some 11 gauge 1"X3" tube to make a base and attached the cabinet with some self tapping screws from the inside. I used the tubing because I had it, but if I had to do it again I'd use angle iron. Look at the link in LXcam's post for some inspiration!

+1 on the large castor's, it's amazing how much weight even a partially loaded cabinet is!

 

[cbacres]

Here's the bases I made for my Lista, 1/4"x 6" flat bar running the depth of the box and on each edge.


True, it's a single box, I thought I'd share to show the studs welded to flat bar for casters to bolt up. I didn't build a frame as the box is plenty strong enough to support itself. All my Vidmars and another Lista have fork tubes in the same location of the bases I made. Most of the load is on the sides of these cabs.

With casters.


This cab rolls very easy with the casters on there.