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Metal Cabinet search fatigue

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netbrad

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Joined
Mar 3, 2011
Messages
355
I'm desperately trying to find a cabinet that isn't flimsy steel and doesn't cost a fortune. Most options are $700 and up for (allegedly) 20 gauge like this Husky:

Husky Welded 20 gauge

Gladiator has some welded cabinets but they are also expensive. I did find some Gladiator on sale but from what I've read the ready to assemble are bad quality, although I might be willing to take a chance at this price:

Gladiator Ready to Assemble

The Husky branded cabinets are paper thin and don't seem like they would hold up well at all at 24 gauge.

Husky Ready to Assemble

Husky Welded

I did try FB marketplace, Craigslist, etc. looking for used cabinets but there are none available and haven't been for a while. None of the office surplus stores have them either. Amazon is a flood of cheap Chinese garbage with made up names. Am I out of luck and just have to spend $800 for a decent cabinet? For those of you that have recently purchased cabinets what did you order?
 
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PoorUB

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Mar 29, 2021
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11,666
Location
Fargo, ND
I am always on the look out for used office cabinets. I use 42" tall cabinets meant to be a floor cabinet at counter top height and screw them on the wall. I have four of them. One I picked out of a construction dumpster, two I bought at the same time, but one was damaged. Fortunately I worked at a sheet metal shop and made a new panel. Another one I bought while on vacation, 900 miles away. I have about $65 invested in all four, but it has been twenty years from the first to the last!

I have a buddy that got a new garage and he looked for a couple years and ended up buying some knocked down cabinets from Amazon. I don't know which ones he bought.

I agree, good cabinets are hard to find unless you want to pay through the nose for them!
 
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Fixr

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Joined
Dec 23, 2012
Messages
9,708
Location
SW VA
netbrad said:
I'm desperately trying to find a cabinet that isn't flimsy steel and doesn't cost a fortune. Most options are $700 and up for (allegedly) 20 gauge like this Husky:

Husky Welded 20 gauge

Gladiator has some welded cabinets but they are also expensive. I did find some Gladiator on sale but from what I've read the ready to assemble are bad quality, although I might be willing to take a chance at this price:

Gladiator Ready to Assemble

The Husky branded cabinets are paper thin and don't seem like they would hold up well at all at 24 gauge.

Husky Ready to Assemble

Husky Welded

I did try FB marketplace, Craigslist, etc. looking for used cabinets but there are none available and haven't been for a while. None of the office surplus stores have them either. Amazon is a flood of cheap Chinese garbage with made up names. Am I out of luck and just have to spend $800 for a decent cabinet? For those of you that have recently purchased cabinets what did you order?
Click to expand...
Where are you located? Around here the state surplus auctions are usually loaded with metal cabinets including some nice heavy ones.
 
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netbrad

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Joined
Mar 3, 2011
Messages
355
no704 said:
Get used horizontal file cabinets.
Click to expand...
It won't fit in the space and they don't have adjustable feet. I have a sloped garage floor.
Fixr said:
Where are you located? Around here the state surplus auctions are usually loaded with metal cabinets including some nice heavy ones.
Click to expand...
I'm in NC and I've looked. They never have any cabinets locally. Usually its just wooden bookshelves.
 
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Dig Doug

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Joined
Apr 16, 2018
Messages
1,117
A buddy bought these for his garage. They are clean and don’t break the bank. Purchased at Sam’s Club and got a Great deal on them
Similar to the Gladiator style.

www.sevilleclassics.com

UltraHD® Storage Cabinets

Seville Classics
www.sevilleclassics.com www.sevilleclassics.com


IMG_1928.jpegIMG_1929.jpegIMG_1930.jpeg
 
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netbrad

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Joined
Mar 3, 2011
Messages
355
Delayed reply but I appreciate the feedback. Basically I'm replacing one of those vented plastic shelves that bend over time. It had all kinds of stuff like gardening stuff, coolers, metal water jugs, etc. It was sort of a catch-all for everything but it wasn't very tall.

I had been looking at those Sam's club cabinets for a while but they didn't have one with the adjustable feet. You can buy a kit but it wasn't worth the hassle.

I ended up getting 2 Gladiator cabinets since they were immediately available. For $250 each I thought it was worth it. Definitely not worth $429 each. One of the cabinets had a bent shelf and they are sending a replacement.
 
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mikedodge

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Joined
Jun 27, 2017
Messages
2,817
PoorUB said:
I am always on the look out for used office cabinets. I use 42" tall cabinets meant to be a floor cabinet at counter top height and screw them on the wall. I have four of them. One I picked out of a construction dumpster, two I bought at the same time, but one was damaged. Fortunately I worked at a sheet metal shop and made a new panel. Another one I bought while on vacation, 900 miles away. I have about $65 invested in all four, but it has been twenty years from the first to the last!

I have a buddy that got a new garage and he looked for a couple years and ended up buying some knocked down cabinets from Amazon. I don't know which ones he bought.

I agree, good cabinets are hard to find unless you want to pay through the nose for them!
Click to expand...

I typically try to find old office cabinets too. Anything automotive related is over priced even the flimsy stuff. Unfortunately a lot of the good used stuff ends up getting scrapped because it's too awkward to move store and sell.
 
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mm08822

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Joined
Jan 13, 2012
Messages
6,004
Location
NJ
I have 2 of these........Bought ~15 yrs ago with my company's discount. Durham Product.

Made my own wooden bases out of 2x4 lumber, shaved to mate up with sloppy concrete screeding/leveling next to wall.

I would buy again, but afraid to see the $$ today.
1749354001870.png
 
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pancholasvegas

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Nov 6, 2017
Messages
253
I've bought several metal "Wardrobes," from garage sales or marketplace. Added my own shelves and feet as necessary. Painted them to match. 1749422376632.png
 
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OccupantRJ

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Joined
May 15, 2009
Messages
11,167
Location
Eastern North Carolina
netbrad said:
It won't fit in the space and they don't have adjustable feet. I have a sloped garage floor.

I'm in NC and I've looked. They never have any cabinets locally. Usually its just wooden bookshelves.
Click to expand...
I am in eastern NC and see them all the time in the $125 range. Have you tried a used office furniture business?
 
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rocksnstumps

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Joined
Mar 20, 2024
Messages
157
zimman said:
$30 Thrift Shop.
Zim
IMG_2751.jpg
Click to expand...
An oldie but goodie. Luv the rounded corners on that one.

I find mine at industrial and small business closeout auctions. Nothing really matches in size or shape after you aquire several but ok with that and look for the heavier gauge ones. Sometimes the nicer ones go for big bucks, I just wait for the next auction.

The first few I bought new were Sandusky Lee cabinets but they are 3x the price from 15+ yrs ago now. Still a decent cabinet.
 
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OccupantRJ

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May 15, 2009
Messages
11,167
Location
Eastern North Carolina
A piece of solid surface countertop material worked well under one of my cabinets for a leveling shim. Cabinet top shops have a lot of sink cutout pieces that usually do not get used. Some are listed for sale on FB marketplace. I also used two pieces of it as a top on a 42” cabinet in my machining area to store my rotary table on.
 
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pancholasvegas

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Nov 6, 2017
Messages
253
Here’s a picture of one of my metal “wardrobes” in the stable. Osb shelves with bolted on brackets. Been holding up just fine.
IMG_3332.jpeg

IMG_3331.jpeg
 
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PWC Repair

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Joined
Dec 27, 2012
Messages
3,186
Location
Arkansas
Try searching for a classroom or office storage cabinet. You can get one new for 350-550 that will hold over 140# per shelf. Mine came from the local counseling place for $35.
 
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Kail

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Joined
Sep 2, 2007
Messages
86
Location
Middle Of Texas
The good heavy duty cabinets are spendy, I find good deals at auctions. I have had the best luck with following school auctions preferably universities with a science campus.
I have one heavy duty cabinet I use for tools. I got it used for a steal.

But I also got some cheap ones on Amazon, I use two of these for cleaner, solvents, oils things like that and they have been great for the price.
 
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