New tool cabinet deep drawer expansion idea?

[TonyG109]

Not sure if this is a new idea or not but here goes.

I just "upgraded" a 44" rolling tool box to a 56" box with a 15" end drawer hang on unit. Somehow, I seem to barely be able to fit everything from the 44" into the new setup! Now, the new setup is much neater and organized but the real issue is all the deep drawers. While I can utilize some of the deep space, much is wasted.

Hotel pans to the rescue! If you've ever been to a buffet, you've seen these before. They're the stainless steel pans that hold the food on the steam serving tables. They come in a wide variety of sizes and depths (1 1/4" to 6" deep) and are relatively inexpensive. I've used them for holding small parts, containing messy stuff/small projects etc. in the past but then it struck me - why not use them for a second layer on the deep drawers to utilize the wasted space?

Once I discovered that they sell adapter bars the solution was a snap. While needing to be slightly modified, they can fit the drawers and support the pans. A couple snips and strokes of a file and they fit like a charm and bridge the drawer front to back. But then I found that some of pans fit my drawers without modification! They just fit perfectly! Turned one way and they fit the narrow drawers on the 56" U. S. General cabinet, turned the other way and they fit the drawers on the 15" end unit!! It's the small things in life...

I bought the pans and adapter bars from TheRestaurantStore.com but others sell them. I happen to (barely) be within driving distance of three of their 12 locations in the Washington, DC to Philadelphia, PA corridor so I can pick them up in person.

They also make perforated pans but they are pricey and seem to only be available in limited sizes.

Edit: I forgot, you can also purchase lids.

Does anyone else have cool or unusually ways to make better use of, or organize drawer space?? Please share!


Here I've used two adapter bars to support some pans in the middle of a drawer. I'm not really using this configuration but just demonstrating it.




Here's one adapter bar used to support some pans utilizing the side of the drawer.



Here's a pan that fits two different drawers perfectly! I just need to get some deeper ones!



Here's another pan that fits like a glove!




Here's a shot of several different size pans and an adapter bar.

 

[Tynee]

Pretty slick. A little cork in the bottom would keep things where you put them.

 

[NUTTSGT]

What exactly are the adapter bars and where did you get them ?


I've bought a few plastic bins from Menards and cut them down to fit in the drawers... basically knock off of Akro-bins.

 

[TonyG109]

What exactly are the adapter bars and where did you get them ?

The adapter bars are made specifically for the hotel pans and are simply bent sheet metal . They're available from the same folks that sell the pans. They could be fastened with a rivet/screw or maybe a spot of double face tape to make them a bit more permanent if desired.

I also have a bunch of plastic bins that I use for anything and everything. They're great for organizing stuff but I just love stainless steel. It's rugged, easy to clean and can handle a bath in the the parts cleaner!

 

[crewchief888]

thats a great idea, thanks for sharing

 

[Grimpala]

I'll be stealing this one

 

[TonyG109]

I'll be stealing this one

It's free for the taking! Please post pics!

I also use a bunch of these little plastic bins that my son turned me onto from Schaller Corporation. They're great for organizing small stuff.

 

[cruzer75]

I was wondering about this while looking at newer tool boxes at Harbor Frieght.

My old craftsman box's are all pretty shallow, which is definitely one reason I'm looking to change. But was concerned about all the lost vertical space. This is a great idea.

 

[Iron Horse]

I absolutely despise the drawer design of newer boxes. I haven't upgraded because of it. My box is a MAC from the mid 90's. Top, middle, bottom, and side boxes. I like how the drawers start with a few shallower drawers and progressively get deeper as you go down. Each section does that. I fit a **** ton of tools laid out in surgical precision with that configuration. Nothing on top of anything. I just wish the box was wider. I look at new boxes and I can't figure out if it wants to be a tool box or storage locker. I need to upgrade, but I'll never be able to keep my system in these newer boxes.

 

[TonyG109]

I was wondering about this while looking at newer tool boxes at Harbor Frieght.

My old craftsman box's are all pretty shallow, which is definitely one reason I'm looking to change. But was concerned about all the lost vertical space. This is a great idea.

The small boxes seem to have mostly shallow drawers which make for some very dense storage, but won't accommodate larger items. As soon as you step up to a bigger box, they seem to go overboard with the extra deep drawers. There doesn't seem to be much middle ground! Part of my solution was to add the 15" end cabinet but even that has a bunch of deep drawers. So, the simple solution was to buy ANOTHER unit. This time it was a 27" top chest which is all shallow drawers. Now I just need a step stool so I can see into the top compartment...

 

[TonyG109]

I absolutely despise the drawer design of newer boxes. I haven't upgraded because of it. My box is a MAC from the mid 90's. Top, middle, bottom, and side boxes. I like how the drawers start with a few shallower drawers and progressively get deeper as you go down. Each section does that. I fit a **** ton of tools laid out in surgical precision with that configuration. Nothing on top of anything. I just wish the box was wider. I look at new boxes and I can't figure out if it wants to be a tool box or storage locker. I need to upgrade, but I'll never be able to keep my system in these newer boxes.

I feel your pain! I actually considered getting several smaller roller units instead of one large, but I needed wanted wider drawers. Thus the search for ways to utilize vertical drawer space. My first thought was to create a shallow 1/2 or 1/3 width drawer that fit in the deep drawer and slid left and right on drawer slides or rollers. It seems to me that there is a simple way to make it a drop in unit that can be installed/uninstalled and moved from drawer to drawer. I may still explore that option just for fun.

 

[Carl B]

I absolutely despise the drawer design of newer boxes. I haven't upgraded because of it. My box is a MAC from the mid 90's. Top, middle, bottom, and side boxes. I like how the drawers start with a few shallower drawers and progressively get deeper as you go down. Each section does that. I fit a **** ton of tools laid out in surgical precision with that configuration. Nothing on top of anything. I just wish the box was wider. I look at new boxes and I can't figure out if it wants to be a tool box or storage locker. I need to upgrade, but I'll never be able to keep my system in these newer boxes.

I have two US General 44”? roll cabinets. I bought about 10 years ago. I wanted more shallow drawers. So I just ordered more shallow drawers. Swapped out one deep drawer for two shallow drawers. The deep drawers have two slides on each side, the shallow drawers only need one. So if you are swapping out deep drawers for shallow, you already have the needed slides. The additional drawers and sliders were very inexpensive.

You could also order additional shelves for the end cabinets from Harbor Freight. I haven't checked recently if they still offer replacement parts for their tool boxes..

 

[TonyG109]

So I just ordered more shallow drawers. Swapped out one deep drawer for two shallow drawers. The deep drawers have two slides on each side, the shallow drawers only need one. So if you are swapping out deep drawers for shallow, you already have the needed slides.

This is simply brilliant - replace the deep drawers. Sometime the obvious escapes us! I may have to look into this.

I like having some deep storage, I just can't seem to use an entire deep drawer all at once and I hate to waste the rest of the drawer.

Any other ideas out there? This is a no judgement zone!

 

[Tynee]

Pretty slick. A little cork in the bottom would keep things where you put them.

Just realized this sounded critical. It wasn't meant to be. "Pretty slick" was meant to mean, nice idea. I like it. The cork thing was just a suggestion.

 

[acer66]

Great idea, thank you for sharing.

 

[TonyG109]

Just realized this sounded critical. It wasn't meant to be. "Pretty slick" was meant to mean, nice idea. I like it. The cork thing was just a suggestion.

No offense taken at all! I read it just the way you meant it. Funny, I didn't even see it as possibly being critical until you pointed it out!!

 

[TonyG109]

Just thought I'd post some pictures of deeper pans in a drawer on the 56" U.S. General unit.