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over-the-bench cabinets

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freeskier

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hi guys, new here but have been goin over threds here for a long time. im really trying to get my act togather in my shop and add some storage on a budget. i have a bench that i just build and i really like it, i would just like to add some cabinets above it to hold odds and ends. any suggestions? pictures of what you guys use? thanks
 
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Jack Olsen

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If you can get free or cheap kitchen cabinets, they're great for storing stuff. The only problem is that we'll generally put up with more intrusion working in a kitchen than is ideal in a garage -- so kitchen cabinets that are below your eye level might interfere with what you're working on.

In my garage, I went a little overboard with home-made cabinets up high. But they don't start until about 73" from the floor. Below that I've got 37" work surfaces -- sometimes with storage below that. For areas where I don't have work surfaces, I just have cabinets (second-hand steel ones) going all the way up to the undersides of the high, soffit-type cabinets. One other thing: the higher up a cabinet is, the deeper you can make it without it actually reducing your floorspace. Just make sure it's taller than you are.

alternativeangle1.jpg


But like I said, I went overboard:

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freeskier

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jack, i agree. im hunting for steel cabinets to book end my bench to creat a kind of lit cubby effect. old kitchen cabinets look like a great idea or ill make my own. i have seen some on HF, in black, but im not really willing to spend money until i have explored the free option. thanks again for your help
 
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Scout Driver

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Like Jack says, cheap or free kitchen cabinets are great. If you build them yourself though, I'd maybe stay no more than 12 inches deep so they don't poke too far over your bench.

Scott
 
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freeskier

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i wont go more than 12-15" out. my bench sits high, like a bar with higher stools so im less likely to hit my head. craigslist would be the best place to look for these free cabinets, am i correct?
 
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Scout Driver

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A good source for free or cheap cabinets would be to visit with some local contractors. Many times after a kitchen remodel, the old cabinets end up 'homeless'. Craigslist would be a good source too.

Scott
 
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JC23

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You can also check with a Habitat for Humanity ReSale store. You can buy both used and sometimes new stuff there. It's a hit or miss deal so you'll need to stop by often. They will have a bunch of stuff you can use in your shop - even tools.

And welcome aboard!
 
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freeskier

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ill keep the serch goin, cheap is good. im not sure we have habitat stores in my area but saint vincents probably has somthing.
 
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28HopUp

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I scored free kitchen cabinets after a buddy's brother remodeled his kitchen.

View media item 5604

They were dark cherry, so I used oil-based Zinser Killz primer before latex. New hardware was added, and I keep lotsa stuff in them. Plus it allowed me to move the extra refridgerator to a more accessible location. The blocks under the fridge allow me to push it back a couple of extra inches over the sill plate.
 
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1Garageman

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28HopUp said:
I scored free kitchen cabinets after a buddy's brother remodeled his kitchen.

View media item 5604

They were dark cherry, so I used oil-based Zinser Killz primer before latex. New hardware was added, and I keep lotsa stuff in them. Plus it allowed me to move the extra refridgerator to a more accessible location. The blocks under the fridge allow me to push it back a couple of extra inches over the sill plate.
Click to expand...

Those look really nice!
Great job:thumbup:
 
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KENLUDE97

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I used the old Kitchen Cabinets out of my kitchen when i renovated it.

I'm currently on the hunt for more cabinets for the new garage. Its amazing what a coat of paint can do.

GL
 
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1Garageman

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I am either going to hunt down some kitchen cabinets on craigslist or make some myself for my garage. They are just so damn handy!
 
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freeskier

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bill, you have 6 cabinets there correct? i really like how those came out. what kind of lights did you mount up under them?
 
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KENLUDE97

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NICE JOB! A+

However i'm not looking for another project to get in the way of my real project. I would rather just slap them up on the wall and load them up.
 
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rickairmedic

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I put an add on my local craigslist in the wanted section and specificaly said I was looking for old " Metal " kitchen cabinets . I waited about 3 weeks before I got a response . I ended up having one guy call me qwho had more cabinets than I needed but I got them all. I cleaned and sanded them all and painted them with Tractor and implement paint from Tractor supply ( around $30.00 a gallon ) in Ford Blue :D. I need to update my pictures as these are mid cleanup of the garage although it still isnt " Jack Olsen " clean :D. I still have cabinets I havent painted yet . I got all the cabinets for FREE by the way and it took 3 trips in an extended Chevy astro van to get them all.


DSCI0007.jpg




Rick
 
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freeskier

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rick, those look perfect, i would like to go metal if possible. how deep are those? ive never had luck wih the wanted section of craigslist in my area.
 
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rickairmedic

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Freeskier the cabinets are standard kitchen depth 12" for the uppers and 24" for the lowers . I was kind of worried about the wanted section but it paid off in the end . One other place to look is cabinet companies . Quite often when they take out an old kitchen and put a new one in they bring the old cabinets back to the shop and toss them in the dumpster . Go and talk to a few companies and let them know what you are looking for you might get lucky that way as well.


Rick
 
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1Garageman

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rickairmedic said:
I put an add on my local craigslist in the wanted section and specificaly said I was looking for old " Metal " kitchen cabinets . I waited about 3 weeks before I got a response . I ended up having one guy call me qwho had more cabinets than I needed but I got them all. I cleaned and sanded them all and painted them with Tractor and implement paint from Tractor supply ( around $30.00 a gallon ) in Ford Blue :D. I need to update my pictures as these are mid cleanup of the garage although it still isnt " Jack Olsen " clean :D. I still have cabinets I havent painted yet . I got all the cabinets for FREE by the way and it took 3 trips in an extended Chevy astro van to get them all.


DSCI0007.jpg


Rick
Click to expand...

That is freak'en awesome, plus it was free:thumbup:
 
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ratdoggy

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rickairmedic said:
I put an add on my local craigslist in the wanted section and specificaly said I was looking for old " Metal " kitchen cabinets . I waited about 3 weeks before I got a response . I ended up having one guy call me qwho had more cabinets than I needed but I got them all. I cleaned and sanded them all and painted them with Tractor and implement paint from Tractor supply ( around $30.00 a gallon ) in Ford Blue :D. I need to update my pictures as these are mid cleanup of the garage although it still isnt " Jack Olsen " clean :D. I still have cabinets I havent painted yet . I got all the cabinets for FREE by the way and it took 3 trips in an extended Chevy astro van to get them all.


DSCI0007.jpg




Rick
Click to expand...

I scored some old metal cabinets from work. I work in a scrapyard :). When my brother visited we spent the day bonding over beer and the installation
 

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rickairmedic

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These as well as the earlier one were from my garage redo several years ago . Honestly after a fire last Feb the garage doesnt look any better now than it did then but all of the cabinets including this big wood one were free . This one was at one time inside a retail store and is STOUT AS HELL :D.

DSCI0008.jpg


DSCI0006.jpg


Like I said earlier I still have a small pile of cabinets to paint and put up :D. I painted all of them with a touchup gun and Ford Blue tractor and implement paint.


Rick
 
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gmhill33

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freeskier

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rick, you sprayed the tractor paint out of a gun? im going to go the tractor and impliment paint, im just not sure which color yet.
 
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rickairmedic

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Yes I got it in Gallon cans at Tractor supply and used the Naptha and Hardener for the paint and sprayed everything with a small detail gun just like this one . I premixed enough paint to refill the cup 3-4 times at a time . I would bet you could use one of HF's Purple HVLP guns as well . I have picked up several of them for $10.00 or less.


http://www.harborfreight.com/air-tools/paint/touch-up-air-spray-gun-66871.html


Heres what I used only in Ford Blue.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/agricu...ss Enamel, International Harvester Red, 1 gal.


Rick
 
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Kevin54

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I'll have to dig up the pics, but when I made my overheads, I made them from 1x12 pine shelving boards and 1x3 stiles. Stained them and they turned out great. The doors were picked up from places that sells second on doors that might have minor flaws. Misdrilled hinge locations, grain not up to par. I paid $5.00 or less for a finished door that was stained and poly'd.
 

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freeskier

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sharkin, where did those come from? alsoo, i have gotten a few hits on my ebay wanted add so far so things are lookin good.
 
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Jeff

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freeskier said:
sharkin, where did those come from? alsoo, i have gotten a few hits on my ebay wanted add so far so things are lookin good.
Click to expand...

Those are Seville HD cabinets. It's the brand sold by Sam's Club. I got them for $58 each w/ free shipping.
 
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