My Vidmar has odd sized drawer pulls

[Experimental Metals]

My Vidmar has odd sized drawer pulls (now with restored pics)

I recently picked up a Vidmar (I think) cabinet of unknown origin through a local CL listing that I'm planning to restore soon. The seller said it was military surplus but that's all he knew. It appears to be a Vidmar to me judging from the latches on the side and the overall dimensions, but the drawer pull lengths don't jive with what Vidmar sells as replacements. In fact, the lady I spoke with over there said they've never sold cabinets with 18" drawer pulls. I'm picking up 15" replacements which are the correct size for this cabinet according to her, but it made me curious...does anyone have a Vidmar cabinet with 18" drawer pulls? Perhaps mine were scavenged from some other brand of cabinet?

 

[pcmeiners]

All 9 of my Vidmar cabinets have pulls which are 22", without end caps. Equipto has cabinets with pulls approx the size you have.

 

[matt_i]

I'm pretty sure those are original pulls.

I'm not 100% sure on the aluminum part but there are definitely two generations of the plastic molded endcaps. The "early" version is simple flat and triangular. The later generation has more of a bevel in the other dimension to help avoid getting snagged when walking by it from the side.

The side latches are related to things where the cabinet can get out of level. Such as in vans, on ships, maybe even airplanes. Its also a caution to never ever put casters on a Vidmar nor tip it when loaded for any reason. If the drawers start rolling out, loaded, it can hold enough weight, in total, to literally kill a person.

 

[Experimental Metals]

All 9 of my Vidmar cabinets have pulls which are 22", without end caps. Equipto has cabinets with pulls approx the size you have.

Your cabinet must be wider, I think my entire cabinet is only 22.5" wide.

 

[Experimental Metals]

I'm pretty sure those are original pulls.

I'm not 100% sure on the aluminum part but there are definitely two generations of the plastic molded endcaps. The "early" version is simple flat and triangular. The later generation has more of a bevel in the other dimension to help avoid getting snagged when walking by it from the side.

The side latches are related to things where the cabinet can get out of level. Such as in vans, on ships, maybe even airplanes. Its also a caution to never ever put casters on a Vidmar nor tip it when loaded for any reason. If the drawers start rolling out, loaded, it can hold enough weight, in total, to literally kill a person.

Interesting...putting casters on my Vidmar is next on my list of things to do after the re-paint.

 

[pcmeiners]

Just finished up putting casters on all my cabinets ( not cheap), I am not to worried about them falling over. Later on I plan on putting steel plate inside, toward the back, to counter weight them, some cabinets I will anchor. Have to admit, when cabinet tips the drawers come out fast.

1000lbs/caster.....
https://apollocaster.com/store/inde...=65513&zenid=7cdc17d6235f8d120873d9c82a405810

"cabinet is only 22.5" wide" Ah,that why they are short.

 

[Blacklisted]

If I remember I will measure mine. I have a very similar vidmar I got back in my NAVY days from one of the shops I worked in.

 

[matt_i]

Interesting...putting casters on my Vidmar is next on my list of things to do after the re-paint.

Personally I would not. They are hogs in a good way, completely eating up a big pile of disorganized stuff into something where you can see everything.

That said, fully packed it will be *very* heavy, in fact a drawer can be nearly packed to a state resembling solid steel (thru offcuts, etc).

Its 30" x 30" x 60" height for the normal versions is not really conducive to rolling it around very effectively. Plus adding an 6-8" dia caster so you can actually roll it when loaded makes for a very tippy package. I'm sure there is a 3" caster claiming 1k capacity but it will be nearly unusable with the flat spot squished on the tire or stop on a pebble of sand if its a cast ferrous wheel.

 

[Trey T]

It looks like a Vidmar but what's wrong with those drawer handles? Can you clean them up and get the latest cap to go along with it?

 

[pcmeiners]

"Its 30" x 30" x 60" height for the normal versions is not really conducive to rolling it around very effectively. Plus adding an 6-8" dia caster so you can actually roll it when loaded makes for a very tippy package. I'm sure there is a 3" caster claiming 1k capacity but it will be nearly unusable with the flat spot squished on the tire or stop on a pebble of sand if its a cast ferrous wheel."

Not for nothing but you obviously do not have Vidmars on casters, or casters of the type mentioned, nor did you look at the 3" casters mentioned, so your not adding anything. Yes, the cabinets can be dangerous, even without casters, we all know that.

 

[Blacklisted]

I was able to measure the pulls on mine and they are 18" without the caps. Here is a pic of mine. I put steel casters on it also and haven't had any problem with it tipping. Not that I move it around much but it makes it nice to be able to move it around if the need arises. And it made it easier to move when we bought our house.

 

[Richard Cranium]

I agree I think it is an equipto brand

 

[McLean]

Heeeey buddy. Thought I recognized that cabinet. and username.

My perspective is totally thrown off now, I definitely thought that was a 30"x30" Vidmar. How tall is it?

There is no problem adding casters to one of these with locking drawers as long as you don't try to use it as a soapbox derby car. Hell, I even have casters on mine w/ non-locking. It doesn't get moved often, but when it does, it's very slow and careful.

Back to the topic at hand, why not just cut the handles down to the width you want?

-Chris

 

[Experimental Metals]

Hey Chris!

Don't be ridiculous...the plasma table (on casters) is my soapbox derby vehicle of choice.

My cabinet is 22.5" wide, 27.75" deep, and 42" tall. I'm actually fine with the handle width, it just bothered me that Vidmar told me they didn't sell cabinets with 18" drawer pulls. Started to make me wonder if the cabinet was acutally a Vidmar. The cabinet dimensions and lock mechanism tells me it is. Doesn't matter really, just like to know what I have.

I could even re-use the existing handles, but since I'm going through the trouble of grinding all that paint off to restore it, I want it to look nice when I'm done. I have problems, I think...

As for the casters, I'm now leaning toward fabbing up a pallet-jack friendly base instead. I don't need the cabinet to be mobile within the garage, but I'm renting and have a bad habit of moving every couple of years. I'm doing the same thing with the mill stand and welding table I'm fabbing up.

 

[Experimental Metals]

Re: My Vidmar has odd sized drawer pulls (now with restored pics)

I still don't know what to think about the odd sized drawer pulls, but everything else tells me it's a Vidmar. The new Vidmar tumbler I ordered fits and uses the same type of key the old lock did, the new lock mechanisms are the same, and the new drawer latches are the same. Therefore I'm calling it a Vidmar.

Thought I'd post a quick update now that I've got it fully restored. I know it's just a toolbox, but I still wanted it to look good and match the rest of my setup. The way my brain is wired, I had no option but to paint it to match my plasma table and electronics cart.

I didn't realize how much those drawer dividers are, holy ****. I think I have as much into dividers and casters as I do the original purchase price of the cabinet. Anyhow, I'm happy with it and will likely be doing another one soon if I can find another one locally with 10-12 drawers.

 

[pcmeiners]

Looks really good. If I had a color choice it would be red. I have 3 blue, 2 gray; have (5) mixed color 33" h units. I am color blind when the thought of doing them over comes to mind, besides they are new units with a couple tiny blemishes each.

" I think I have as much into dividers and casters as I do the original purchase price of the cabinet."
I know I have metal/plastic bins and casters costing more then what I paid for my units. I figure $50-60 in plastic bins per draw, caster ran me with tax/shipping about $110; bit painful when you have (5) 12-14 drawer units ... worth every penny though.

Stanley makes the vinyl shields for 18" pulls, so at some point they sold 18" pulls.

http://quickship.stanleyvidmar.com/...sion-drawer-pull-paper-label-and-vinyl-shield

 

[nine4gmc]

That came out great EM!!

 

[Richard Cranium]

Wow that turned out nice, I am sure you will enjoy it...