Metal Cabinets from Northern Tool

[bhays]

I am looking for a couple of durable metal cabinets for the garage and don't really want or need the gladiator/craftsman/lista type fanciness...just some good metal cabinets...I will probably paint them and put some casters on to match the rest of the stuff in the garage.

I was looking at these cabinets on Northern Tool and they look pretty nice for about $100 less than a comparable gladiator cabinet and a little larger. However, you can't really determine the quality without seeing them in person...has anyone purchased any of these or seen them up close and personal?

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/...=mode+matchallpartial&Dx=mode+matchallpartial

 

[bhays]

^^bump

Anyone have one of these?

 

[AndrewHR]

Your link only points to the 'cabinet' page. Which ones do you mean?

 

[bhays]

Your link only points to the 'cabinet' page. Which ones do you mean?

I was wondering about the 'Jumbo Steel Storage Cabinet' http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200318325_200318325 and the 'Janitor/Wardrobe Cabinet' http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200318431_200318431

I have looked at some metal cabinets that look like they are made with about 24 gauge metal and dent up if you look at them the wrong way...wish they would just mention the metal used or something to give you an idea what you are buying.

 

[wythors]

Sears currently has this and this on the Craftsman Club sale for less than the Northern Tool stuff and you don't have to pay shipping. I've got the second one and can tell you that, even with it's "fanciness", it's a great cabinent that can swallow a ton of stuff. In fact, I just picked up a matching wall cabinet on Thursday at the sale.

 

[JRW]

I bought 2 of the Maximum Garage Cabinets (36 X 80)from Costco online.
They are similar in price to the cabinets you are looking at Northern Tool.
The Costco cabinets are black melamine with gray MDF doors. These cabinets have 4 inch metal legs, so you can sweep under them. They are a step above the white melamine cabinets sold at HD or Lowes. I do not think they are sturdy enough for mounting on casters, I think the carcase would flex / rack if you were pulling or twisting on them. I am happy with the product, not comparable to Lista, Baldhead etc.

 

[krooser]

I am looking for a couple of durable metal cabinets for the garage and don't really want or need the gladiator/craftsman/lista type fanciness...just some good metal cabinets...I will probably paint them and put some casters on to match the rest of the stuff in the garage.

I was looking at these cabinets on Northern Tool and they look pretty nice for about $100 less than a comparable gladiator cabinet and a little larger. However, you can't really determine the quality without seeing them in person...has anyone purchased any of these or seen them up close and personal?

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/...=mode+matchallpartial&Dx=mode+matchallpartial

Those cabinets are pretty fragile...thin sheet metal that looks like it wouldn't hold up to damage or large loads.

The Gladiator's are made in Chicago and are a little better built....

 

[bhays]

I broke down and bought a cabinet at Sam's Club yesterday for $149...it's got about the same metal in it as a Yugo, but I am going to reinforce it a bit, add casters, etc... I think it will work out.

 

[Grim Reaper]

I broke down and bought a cabinet at Sam's Club yesterday for $149...it's got about the same metal in it as a Yugo, but I am going to reinforce it a bit, add casters, etc... I think it will work out.

I have not seen any cabinet like that this side of $400 that is much more then a tin can. You are going to have to do a LOT of reinforcing to get them to take being on casters. I would put a piece of 3/4 ply on the bottom and half way up the back to keep them from racking and a couple braces to keep it all square.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Take a look at the Global Industrial website, at http://www.globalindustrial.com. They have some pretty decent looking cabinets, along with all kinds of other neat stuff like hoists, benches, etc.

 

[Ramblur]

I broke down and bought a cabinet at Sam's Club yesterday for $149...it's got about the same metal in it as a Yugo, but I am going to reinforce it a bit, add casters, etc... I think it will work out.

Wheels are good. Since I'm a one man show most of the time almost
everything in the shop is on wheels of some sort. FWIW I regularly buy
the $15 furniture dollies at HF add plywood on top and use as bases to
roll stuff around with. Only failure I've had was one dolly under 4 engine
blocks,3cranks and a half dozen heads. I just added another dolly under
the base to spread the load.

 

[shammatt]

I have purchased a half dozen different steel cabinets from used office furniture and office equipment dealers. Lateral files (6' high) make perfect tool storage, etc. Much better deals generally $ vs. quality.

 

[bhays]

I would put a piece of 3/4 ply on the bottom and half way up the back to keep them from racking and a couple braces to keep it all square.

You read my mind..