Re-purposed Science Classroom Cabinet

[Innov8tive1]

This cabinet came from my old High School. Not sure when it was built but I found a few notes inside from 1972. Even recognized some of the names on them. The building has been partially torn down and the new owner has been re-building portions of what's left for multiple tenants to suit their needs. Was kind of cool going in there when I picked this thing up and seeing what used to be the old wood shop, now just used for storage. I didn't take any before pics but here it is after a clean up, a couple new end panels put on and a paint job. All that's left is to do something with the top. It's made from 5 layers of 1/4" hardboard from what I can determine. 10' long and about 2' deep. I think I'm going to knock the rounded edge off, put some trim around the edge to accept a layer of 1/4" hardboard which can be removed and replaced when it gets beat up.
The paint is Armor Coat (made by Tremclad from what I'm told), Court Grey. The red was a rattle can of Rustoleum.

 

[Richard Cranium]

nice old cabinet.
Great to see them get saved.

 

[Joshua_Russo]

Love this type project, we'll done, too!

Sent from my VS988 using Tapatalk

 

[cheechi]

I like it. Always was fond of those lab tables and cabinets. Wish my wife would let me do my kitchen that way.

 

[Innov8tive1]

Thanks for the positive comments. I am really happy with the way it turned out. Can't wait to utilize all that storage space. I'm slowly replacing all the poorly designed and waste of space work benches built by the previous owner. He had no concept of comfortable working height or efficient use of space. Almost everything he did in the shop is being re-done bit by bit......only been there 10 years now and I'm not even half done everything I'd like to do.

 

[LXCam]

That turned out right nice.

 

[lowbucktruck]

Very nice! Like the fresh paint job.

 

[Innov8tive1]

Thanks. It's actually a rust paint, it'll probably take it a few weeks to fully harden. But then it'll be a pretty tough coating.

 

[NWOhioChevyGuy]

Nice, I have two cabinets out of the HS I attended (that was torn down) our family bought the Home Economics room. 3 complete kitchens worth of birch plywood cabinets.

When my garage gets built it will have them installed for a "Summer / Canning" kitchen so the better half keeps that heat in the garage not the house.

 

[lilredex]

Really nice job on repurposing those cabinets, I love those kinds of projects.

Did something similar with some class room workstations that were thrown out by a local school a few years back after a flooding incident. Took enough of them to make up 5 double decker cabinets, used through out our basement.

The tops are scrounged pine boards that were glued up and cut to size. Was also lucky enough to find almost enough doors and handles for all of them. My paint was all the Tremclad left overs that needed a new home.

 

[Innov8tive1]

Really nice job on repurposing those cabinets, I love those kinds of projects.

Did something similar with some class room workstations that were thrown out by a local school a few years back after a flooding incident. Took enough of them to make up 5 double decker cabinets, used through out our basement.

The tops are scrounged pine boards that were glued up and cut to size. Was also lucky enough to find almost enough doors and handles for all of them. My paint was all the Tremclad left overs that needed a new home.

Pretty much same sort of construction, beautifully simple and sturdy! Nice job.

 

[firebirdparts]

I like those lab countertops. Good sturdy stuff.

 

[Innov8tive1]

I like those lab countertops. Good sturdy stuff.

5 layers of 1/4" hardboard compressed together from what I can determine with a very tough coating on 'em. Was a wee bit top heavy! Still nice and straight though after all those years.

 

[madison069]

Here are what I suspect are chemistry lab cabinets and base section also, the top on the base cabinets are actually 10' doors and they weigh alot.

Still working on my setup but I'm liking them also.

 

[Innov8tive1]

Nice!! The lowers look pretty much like what I had before I painted them, same color and shade. I love those uppers, everything can be put away but you'll still be able to see what's inside. I'm planning to build a wall behind where my cabinet sits and another one 90° from it towards the back wall so I can make a room more or less sealed off from the "dirty" parts of the garage. I work on some electronics and small, delicate things. Would be nice to have a room where things don't get dusty. It will end up being 8x10. Not huge but it doesn't have to be. I'm also looking at options for a curtain to divide the garage in half so I can do woodwork on one side and metal/mechanical/welding work the other. I find grease and wood don't mix. That or I need to un-diversify my hobbies!

 

[madison069]

I hear ya, that's why I have a 11'x17' room for wood projects, and a 11'x10' room for wood stock storage!