making a mobile work island from toolboxes

[rsanter]

so at work we needed a mobile work island for the area we do equipment testing.
it needs to hold a few basic tools, sensors, leads, extension cords, CTs and that type of stuff. nothing too heavy.
your basic toolbox was not deep enough to provide the worktop space we wanted and the deep toolboxes are too much money and too much box for what we need.
someone here posted the dewalt toolboxes on sale, bottom boces for $199.
so I ran down and bought 2 of them with the idea of mounting them back to back.
View media item 45737they were held together at the bottom with a couple pieces of unistrut attached to where the casters would have gone
View media item 45965and then I removed the upper drawers to drill a couple of holes and install bolts that tied the back to back as well.
I wanted a single top surface to I took some stainless 16ga and bent up a top for it. we are not allowed to hot work at work so I took the top to my shop and TIG welded the corners.
to make it look nicer I did an engine turned finish on the top using a right angle die grinder and a scotch brite type pad on it and just did it by hand. took about 5 min
View media item 45966
finished unit
View media item 45964View media item 45967
at under $500 total cost it was much cheaper than anything we could have bought ready made. total time invested is about a couple of hours

bob

 

[raddksn]

Nice!!!

 

[SunnyBeach]

I like it. Just needs some stickers

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

That is pretty slick!

 

[johndeereman]

Great idea and very nice workmanship just might have to steal this one.

 

[Ohmthis]

Bob, I see some homemade taco carts in our future! I really like the low tech quick engine turning. I put that idea in my head for later.

 

[PT Doc]

Great looking final finish.

 

[RAYJAY]

Bob, I see some homemade taco carts in our future! I really like the low tech quick engine turning. I put that idea in my head for later.

home made taco carts

 

[akdiesel]

rsanter

Great build. The stance gives it a nice work area as well as stability, lots of storage too.

 

[e30bradley]

looks great. If it was mine I would probably paint it. Yellow is one of my least favorite colors.. How did you make the bends on the top?

 

[killahog]

Thats very nice work however I would be walking in circles all day looking for tools because both sides look identical.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Simple and cheap, I like it.

 

[Carves]

so at work we needed a mobile work island for the area we do equipment testing.................

Works well if you have the access space ..

Thats very nice work however I would be walking in circles all day looking for tools because both sides look identical.

That problem is easy fixed.

Do what I did,
... and buy, two, no name chinese boxes ... of the same colour.

Upon unwrapping them ... I found they had provided them in two different shades of red .. ..

 

[Tronyadorable]

Fantastic ! See if you can get swivel casters from Dewalt to add to the middle.
That thing will get heavy....especially with a pair of heads or a transmission up top.
Send them a link to this forum and they may send them for free.

 

[rsanter]

Fantastic ! See if you can get swivel casters from Dewalt to add to the middle.
That thing will get heavy....especially with a pair of heads or a transmission up top.
Send them a link to this forum and they may send them for free.

I still have the left over casters from the second box that are not being used.
I was originally planning to do that but at this point do not feel it is needed.
This box will hold electrical cords, sensors, and a few tools. This is an equipment testing area for commercial kitchen equipment being tested for energy efficiency. If this box was going to be used heavy like for automotive I would have just ordered a large snap on box, but in this case that was not needed.

This is a 4800 sq ft building to be used to setup, and then test large kitchen equipment, we have the room to move the box around and what is getting tested in there will be changing all the time

Bob

 

[willymakeit]

That's nice . Now add a couple of flip up table extensions for when you need a larger top.

 

[Gasgt1]

Nicely done

 

[rsanter]

looks great. If it was mine I would probably paint it. Yellow is one of my least favorite colors.. How did you make the bends on the top?

I hate the yellow too, but it the companies box not mine and for work we really don't care about the color. If anything we can call it safety yellow so nobody runs into it with the fork lift.
I used the shear and brake at a friends shop and paid him for the material and a little time. Did the welding myself so we can save a little money.
I can be a cheap **** and don't want to spend money doing something I can do even if it is the companies money

Bob

 

[mrvm]

Great job on making a double-wide rolling cart + work station. Got similar plans for a single Dewalt rolling cart to be used at home. IMO as a rolling tool cart/work space, the high-vis yellow ain't that bad

 

[saceone]

I like it. well done!

 

[tarbellb]

It looks great! Job well done on a economical, and useful toolbox island.

Question though? How wide/deep is it? It seems like it wont fit through a standard 36" door. You wont be able to retire to your home shop

 

[rsanter]

The stainless top was made to be 36.5x36.5 so there is a little overhang over the drawers so any dirt, oil, or water we get on the top can't run down along the drawer handles or into the drawers.
Yes it likly will not go in and out of a standard 36" door but that building has double doors on one end and a big roll up door on the other so that is a non issue.
I will never be taking it home as it is owned by the company and if we ever don't need it for where it will be used now it will just get re tasked to another spot or building.
Where I work we have 6 building on site and all have double doors and roll up doors so in and out of the building will never be a problem

Bob

 

[Beemer533]

Looks good, pretty useful.. Where did you find them for $199?

 

[mrvm]

Marked down to $225 at HD but maybe someone used a Lowes 10% to get closer to 199

 

[Beemer533]

Ahh, thanks. I'll have to check them out tomorrow...