Making a shallow tool cabinet from a deep cabinet

[jives]

Hi folks:
Looking for advice on how to tackle this project, or acknowledgement that it is a stupid idea. In a nutshell, I want to turn the first pic into the second pic. The main obstacle is that that cabinet is 18" deep and needs to be 6" deep. I have a 36" wide x 42" tall x 18" deep two door metal cabinet, like the one in the pic below. It is old, but in solid working condition. Shelves are removable. I want to turn it into a wall mount tool storage cabinet, first by decreasing the depth to about 6". After that I will line the back and the doors with pegboard. See the next pic.

I am a capable woodworker, but don't even have any dedicated sheet metal tools. Really not sure how the structural integrity will be affected. Yes, I could build a tool cabinet from wood (plan B), but I like trying to re-purpose things.

I've got some ideas, but would like to hear from those that have been there.

 

[The Cobbler]

an angle grinder with a cut off wheel .
cut off the back portion and screw cleats to the inside . fasten peg board to that

 

[OccupantRJ]

an angle grinder with a cut off wheel .
cut off the back portion and screw cleats to the inside . fasten peg board to that

Exactly what I was going to suggest.

 

[jives]

an angle grinder with a cut off wheel .
cut off the back portion and screw cleats to the inside . fasten peg board to that

That does seem to be the simple solution, and the first thing I thought of, though with a full inside frame to attach to the wall and to attach the pegboard. I'm worried about flimsiness of the sheet metal.

I think I can make a straighter cut with a metal cutting blade on my cordless circular saw.

 

[mda2000]

Cut it 7.5" deep and make a 2x4 frame that fits inside the cabinet and set the the 2x4's flat against the wall. Screw the cabinet to the 2x4's and use them to also mount the pegboard. This way your cabinet regains a structural integrity and you have a place to mount pegboard.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

 

[LXCam]

How about saving yourself some grief and get one of these. I have one over my lathe.

https://m.harborfreight.com/hanging-tool-cabinet-39213.html

But if you're dead set on modifying that one. I get a stick of 6"w X 1/8" aluminum bar stock. Cut out your 6" section leaving all the sides intact to both the front and rear panel, sleeve the entire interior perimeter and pop rivet it together.

 

[DFB]

Hi folks:
Looking for advice on how to tackle this project, or acknowledgement that it is a stupid idea. In a nutshell, I want to turn the first pic into the second pic. The main obstacle is that that cabinet is 18" deep and needs to be 6" deep. I have a 36" wide x 42" tall x 18" deep two door metal cabinet, like the one in the pic below. It is old, but in solid working condition. Shelves are removable. I want to turn it into a wall mount tool storage cabinet, first by decreasing the depth to about 6". After that I will line the back and the doors with pegboard. See the next pic.

I am a capable woodworker, but don't even have any dedicated sheet metal tools. Really not sure how the structural integrity will be affected. Yes, I could build a tool cabinet from wood (plan B), but I like trying to re-purpose things.

I've got some ideas, but would like to hear from those that have been there.

Sure be a nice woodworking project just my 2 cents.

How about saving yourself some grief and get one of these. I have one over my lathe.

https://m.harborfreight.com/hanging-tool-cabinet-39213.html

But if you're dead set on modifying that one. I get a stick of 6"w X 1/8" aluminum bar stock. Cut out your 6" section leaving all the sides intact to both the front and rear panel, sleeve the entire interior perimeter and pop rivet it together.

Cool never knew they even had something like that

 

[DFB]

Hi folks:
Looking for advice on how to tackle this project, or acknowledgement that it is a stupid idea. In a nutshell, I want to turn the first pic into the second pic. The main obstacle is that that cabinet is 18" deep and needs to be 6" deep. I have a 36" wide x 42" tall x 18" deep two door metal cabinet, like the one in the pic below. It is old, but in solid working condition. Shelves are removable. I want to turn it into a wall mount tool storage cabinet, first by decreasing the depth to about 6". After that I will line the back and the doors with pegboard. See the next pic.

I am a capable woodworker, but don't even have any dedicated sheet metal tools. Really not sure how the structural integrity will be affected. Yes, I could build a tool cabinet from wood (plan B), but I like trying to re-purpose things.

I've got some ideas, but would like to hear from those that have been there.

Sure be a nice woodworking project just my 2 cents.

How about saving yourself some grief and get one of these. I have one over my lathe.

https://m.harborfreight.com/hanging-tool-cabinet-39213.html

But if you're dead set on modifying that one. I get a stick of 6"w X 1/8" aluminum bar stock. Cut out your 6" section leaving all the sides intact to both the front and rear panel, sleeve the entire interior perimeter and pop rivet it together.

Cool never knew they even had something like that

 

[matt_i]

Its likely that the top cabinet is spot welded together. Find those, drill enough out and it should fall apart in some bent pieces.

I would try to use that to see if I could remove the backplane and cut down the depth.

Then if your can source some thin (junior/bar-size) angle iron and rivet the sides and back together like LXCam suggested you'd have a decent reformation of the cabinet.

From what I see though, it doesn't seem like the doors would be up to carrying much load.

 

[jives]

The Harbor Freight cabinet I almost already pulled the trigger on a while back, but then I was not sure how capable the doors would be modified with pegboard and holding tools. It is still an option, and would make a good fit for the intended space.

And, yes, a tool cabinet would make a nice woodworking project. In fact, I've already got the lumber (sort of) for it. Priced out the lumber (~$60 for maple and pegboard and piano hinges), then bought on Public Surplus an ugly and worn out bookcase made with 4/4 oak for $10 that will donate its lumber.

I have a thing for repurposing materials. I find it very satisfying to turn one obsolete object into something useful. As for the cabinet, I need more floor space and have wall space.

 

[DFB]

The Harbor Freight cabinet I almost already pulled the trigger on a while back, but then I was not sure how capable the doors would be modified with pegboard and holding tools. It is still an option, and would make a good fit for the intended space.

And, yes, a tool cabinet would make a nice woodworking project. In fact, I've already got the lumber (sort of) for it. Priced out the lumber (~$60 for maple and pegboard and piano hinges), then bought on Public Surplus an ugly and worn out bookcase made with 4/4 oak for $10 that will donate its lumber.

I have a thing for repurposing materials. I find it very satisfying to turn one obsolete object into something useful. As for the cabinet, I need more floor space and have wall space.

Ya I keep looking at the design, I have held on to an old plan that incorporates similar features for top along with a lower shelf storage that the front lifts up on hinges to make a portable work bench, that's kinda neat. wood list was just pine and plywood

I need to do something on a wall above a workbench my original thoughts have just open pegboard, and in fact a couple years ago a few of us got rooked on a posted deal here on TGJ for some metal pegboard sold on Amazon turned out the price was good to be true and was scam.

But hey its winter now and I got a lot of time on my hands. Plus I don't like having my tools on an open display (prying eyes and fast fingers come to mind)


Curious to the want for the hardwood...personal preference? Seems pine and plywood scraps would suffice for me because first off I have lots of it from jobs I do like to get rid of it here and there in a useful way and it probably be painted anyhow. But also thinking maybe even some poplar be nice and not too expensive if I bought new and wanted a more natural look.

I do have several pieces of 8 ft long leftover 1 x red oak in various ripped widths 4-6" left over from a job more than I want to work with

 

[EdT]

There may a a reason that this wont work, but I think I'd put a wood panel inside the cabinet where you want the new back to be and screw the panel in through the sides, top and bottom of the cabinet. The metal is thin enough that flat head screws would probably pull down flush. Then cut the back off using an implement of destruction of your choice. By doing it this way, the whole thing doesn't become a floppy mess when the back is cut off and you have a convenient guide for making the cut.

 

[jives]

Curious to the want for the hardwood...personal preference? Seems pine and plywood scraps would suffice for me because first off I have lots of it from jobs I do like to get rid of it here and there in a useful way and it probably be painted anyhow. But also thinking maybe even some poplar be nice and not too expensive if I bought new and wanted a more natural look.

I do have several pieces of 8 ft long leftover 1 x red oak in various ripped widths 4-6" left over from a job more than I want to work with

I figure if I going to build it out of wood I might as well make it fancy, and again, I got the 4/4 oak for a song.

One way another I'll cut up the cabinet to make a wall mount tool cabinet. Sounds like fun project (until I slice my hands on newly cut sheet metal. . . )

 

[jagwinn]

O.K., weld the doors closed on the top side and bottom BUT not where they meet in front.
Chalk a line halfway between front and back around the circumference of the cabinet.
Cut the panel on right and left side, and weld piano hinge joining the front to back.
Cut the top and bottom panel on the chalk line, and then cut perpendicular to the chalk line on top panel to the front panel and separate the doors from the top.
Do the same on the bottom panel to free the doors.

 

[kbs2244]

Can it be done?
Yes, anything can be done.

Is there a better way?
Yes.
Sell this cabinet and buy a shallow one.

 

[racingtadpole]

^This

I cut and shut a 6’ steel cupboard about 5yrs ago, and was never really happy with the results. I cut it around the perimeter and left a small section of the sides etc attached to the back. I put a stepped flange into the perimeter section still attached to the back. Punched holes for rosette welds into the flange and the perimeter of the rest of it. I then proceeded to spend what felt like an eternity welding the rosettes with a TIG and buzzing the ones on the outside off to flush. Once it had paint on it you couldn’t see that it had been cut but the way I did the flange meant that the transition from side to back didn’t have that folded appearance that was there from factory so to me it looked unfinished.

 

[bad_idea]

A circular saw loaded with a steel cutting blade is exceptional for cutting nice straight lines in sheet metal. Clamp a straight edge to the steel and run the saw along it. Cuts like butter. I have cut upwards of 1/4" with one. Makes a hell of a racket though.

 

[jives]

Can it be done?
Yes, anything can be done.

Is there a better way?
Yes.
Sell this cabinet and buy a shallow one.

Yea, possibly, but the cabinets I would want are either European or Aussie (Sidchrome, Kinchrome, etc.) or Snap-On. Very pricey. Been looking for an old Craftsman or similar, but none have come up in my area. I would still need to modify the classic HF 3-drawer wall mount cabinet, so i figured I'd give the one I had a shot. My cabinet was part of an auction lot of school furniture that I got very cheap, and bid on mostly for the very large storage cabinets that were in the lot. One of the other small cabinets I did sell for about $25, and a couple of others I gave away as incentives with some other stuff I sold (snowblower, Wheel Horse parts).

Sell, maybe, but not much cash in it.

[edit] I was pulling the cabinet out from underneath a pile of stuff, and had the bright idea of climbing on top of it to grad something up high. All was well until I needed to climb down, when my painful knee gave way causing me to step in the wrong spot, crushing the top "header" of the cabinet. Oh well. . . that project just bit the dust. . .

Probably just saved myself a bunch of grief.