'New' Tool Cabinet

[MAYOR28]

Been reading around the forum for the last week, great tips and pics in here. I love it so far, really gives me a lot more ideas than I would have on my own. Here is my first serious project of organization:

So, not really new, but new to me.

I saved this from the dumpster at work, one of my better dumpster finds so far...
I am in the process of painting it gloss black with hammered silver drawer fronts. Here are some other pics of the mess I have in the garage right now.

I am in the very early stages of begining my work space and tool collection. I am only living in this space till July, so I am hoping I can get all of my tools in the cabinet, and onto the two shelves in the pics.

And can anyone guess what is under here?

 

[Hiball]

Looks like a 280-300Z Maybe?

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Corvette or Jag?

Nice dumpster save!

 

[DavidB]

C3 Corvette

 

[Evogun]

Vette I bet! Looks like 70's!

 

[Hiball]

Corvette or Jag?

Nice dumpster save!

AFter researching the pics a little further im gonna agree its a vette.

 

[MAYOR28]

You guys are good.

Graduation present to myself:

'76 Vette

I will try to get a better pic later.

 

[Hiball]

You guys are good.

Graduation present to myself:

'76 Vette

I will try to get a better pic later.

I cheated, I seen the vette book in the box on the shelves. These other guys had it dead to rights.

 

[quneur]

The flare front fenders gave it away.

I also say its sliver with a hood scoop.

 

[MAYOR28]

Here is what my tools get to work on:

Got it in November, needs dfferent paint and new interior, engine is completely rebuilt.

 

[loj]

I've been lurking on GJ for a while and waiting until I could really contribute for my first post, and I think this may be that moment.

Don't change the paint on that car. The stripe is fantastic. It's period correct for the car, especially considering it's a '76 model. It's reminiscent of Evel Knievel's graphic scheme. If I changed it at all it would be to put Cragars on it, maybe a KISS decal on the rear window.

What was the cabinet originally used for?

 

[Elroy]

Corvette or Jag?

Can't say Elroy has seen very many Jaguars with Chevy wheels

 

[MAYOR28]

LOJ-
I am pretty sure the cabinet was a library card catalogue at some point, but I got it out of a machine shop that had hardware stored in it. Also, can't put a sticker in the back window because the window is removable, and I never had it in.

Here is what I was thinking for the cabinet drawers(not really in any order, except I think the catch all drawer will be the top one), let me know what you think:

1. Screw Drivers + Driver Bits
2. Hammers + Chisels (maybe files too)
3. Sockets
4. Drilling (bits, etc....)
5. Cutting (dremel, angle grinder, random saw blades)
6. Catch All (multimeter, pens, tapes, measuring, etc..)
7. Wrenches
8. Pliers
9. (hardware? I am not sure about the last 2)
10. ?

The bottom drawer is annoying to get to, so I will probably put whatever I use the least in there.

 

[Elroy]

For a tool and parts storage they work fine. Something like this

 

[mdbeck1]

...What was the cabinet originally used for?

We still have a few of those at work. Used to have a bunch. We used them for microfiche (aperature cards). The cards look like the old computer punch cards and have a part number punched into them for mechanical sorting. There is a spot cut out to glue in a piece of microfiche film.

They are very common in the aircraft industry.

 

[mdbeck1]

For a tool and parts storage they work fine. Something like this

Get some old oil cans and cut them off so that they fit in the drawers. Then you can sort nuts and bolts into them and just label the drawer. Works like a champ. For the longer nut/bolts you can either get antifreeze bottles or cut the oil cans off sideways.

 

[mdbeck1]

What was the cabinet originally used for?

They also work REAL well to store CD's in. Just the right height.

 

[selohssa]

Welcome and good luck with the organization. I like the vette. There are not many nice ones in Alberta any more. The ones up here always have the frame and A pillers rotted out.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Can't say Elroy has seen very many Jaguars with Chevy wheels

I saw a vette with a trailer hitch last week!

 

[MAYOR28]

So I got the first coat of rustoleum on the cabinet yesterday. I was hoping to start the drawers today, but decided to play 27 holes of golf instead (pretty tired now). But here are some pics of the cabinet:

You can actually see a reflection of the Vette in the paint, pretty sweet!

 

[Scout Driver]

Don't change the paint on that car. The stripe is fantastic. It's period correct for the car, especially considering it's a '76 model. It's reminiscent of Evel Knievel's graphic scheme. If I changed it at all it would be to put Cragars on it, maybe a KISS decal on the rear window.

I agree . Keep the Evel Knievel stripe!

Scott

 

[Yojinbo]

Nice looking box, I need something like that for all the nuts and bolts I have in baby food jars and soup cans...

 

[MAYOR28]

So here is the finished look for the outside of the box:

Going to line the drawers with the mesh non slip stuff that is laying on top.

Here is what the inside of the drawers look like right now:

I am going to drill out the spot rivets that hold in that middle divider in most of the drawers so that I have more area to work with.

Anyone have any idea for something to do with the 'liners' that came with the cabinet? They were originally so that you could take the entire record of microfilm out of the cabinet. I have no idea what to do with them, I am going to keep 4 or 6 of them, but probably scrap the rest unless I come up with something.

Thanks,
Matt

 

[Scout Driver]

Looks great

Scott

 

[selohssa]

Loookin Gooood!

 

[MAYOR28]

Anyone know what I could do with the trays?????

 

[z28snksknr]

I spotted the Vette from the wheels. Nice car - I'm not a fan of that era Vette, but that one has character.

Anyway, awesome job on the cabinet. What was your paint method? Rattle Cans or spray gun (or "other")?

 

[holland_patrick]

Keep the paint on the vette.... it's classic..

 

[gabeancounter]

Get a piece of 1/2 ply and cut to height two pieces for each side of tray. Take the sides and cut 1/2 dados every two inches. Then make a few pieces for center dividers. They would be adjustable and you could easly pick up the tray to search through the parts. The trays seem to be full depth of each drawer instead of slightly shorter?

It would seem to be much nicer being able to carry the full parts over to what your working on? Just a thought. Could even build a plywood shelving unit for just the trays. I would not dump them, but I am a cheap a$$

 

[Crash913]

Great job on the cabinet! And the C3's nice too...

 

[MAYOR28]

I spotted the Vette from the wheels. Nice car - I'm not a fan of that era Vette, but that one has character.

Anyway, awesome job on the cabinet. What was your paint method? Rattle Cans or spray gun (or "other")?

The drawer fronts were done with Rustoleum Hammered Paint (spray can)
And the cabinet was brushed (edges first) and then rolled with a small diameter foam roller.
Handles were foam brushed.

gabeancounter- I am cheap as well (obviously, I am refurbing a non-toolbox into a toolbox).


So, I will try to keep the trays (space is an issue). I have a bunch of small and medium industrial parts bins (see my first post pic, on one of the shelves); these fit inside the cabinet drawers nicely. That will be what I use in the cabinet, if I decide to put hardware in the cabinet. I think I want to keep it just tools right now so I can get everything I own into one location.

 

[arkangel06]

Man that looks decent, nice job!

 

[MAYOR28]

Thanks for the comments and help.

Here is what the drawer looks like when I cut the spacer out:

Here are some pics of some organization idea:

Some pics of the black bins I was talking about:

 

[poprockcrusher]

that vette is awesome
do not change a thing [unless it involves a big block ]

 

[mdbeck1]

Anyone have any idea for something to do with the 'liners' that came with the cabinet?

The cabinet looks nice.

I'd take the 'liners' and make a shelving unit to fit them. You can use them to store larger parts or to sort smaller parts. It's always good to re-use stuff. That way the landfills don't get so full.

 

[MAYOR28]

I am also making my own wrench holders, may proove to be too difficult to be worth it.....

 

[mdbeck1]

I think I have a few plastic ones I'd make you a deal on.

 

[66 GMC Truckin]

Cabinet turned out awesome! Worthy addition to any shop! I'd take the drawer liners and make a shelving unit to fit or keep your eyes open for a nice cabinet with doors on the front. You'd just have to have extra shelves and you instantly have a great way to sort parts and pieces into smaller containers. Make them work for something and don't just throw them away. I use a bit larger trays and filled an entire cabinet with them and store everything from casters, springs, truck/car/motorcycle parts and other things. Storage is always a good thing as long as it is organized. Keep up the good work and you'll soon have great tool/part storage for cheap!

 

[mdbeck1]

I also cut the sides off of antifreeze bottles and use those to sort nut/bolts in. They are fairly large and cheap. It's fairly easy to pour nuts/bolts back into my smaller containers from them. Also I don't mind throwing them away when when they get damaged since they were basically free.

 

[MAYOR28]

I bought some more craftsman wrenches today at a flea market (3/4, 7/8, 1").

Any good ideas to polish the chrome?

Thanks

-Matt