Reorganizing the machine shop.

[astroracer]

My "machine shop" is 8' x 24'. I built and finished it in '92 when I purchased a Smithy Lathe/Mill combo for turning aluminum model car parts. The lathe has been sitting on this stand I built for 22 years. The little tool cart has been there for that lenghth of time also.
here are some pics of it's current disarray.

Seeing all of the roller tool chests you guys are using for lathe benches got me motivated to do a mini-makeover on my shop.
The lathe will get moved to this US General 44" roller with 13 drawers.

I also picked up an add-on cabinet with 7 drawers. I picked these up last nite and got them uncrated today. This set-up is 58" long, has 20 drawers and was 120 bucks cheaper then a 56" cabinet with only 11 drawers.
Should be PLENTY of storage for all of my lathe tools and paraphenalia.
Problem is, I was setting up the cabinets and locked the keys in the add-on... That was the last straw in my day... Shut up the shop and drank coffee until I calmed down. Anyone have a similar cabinet? Care to share lock cylinder codes?
I have an email out to HF about it. I hope they can help me out...
Mark

 

[Roysinthebarn]

I have the 44 inch cart I picked up on black friday I will check the code in the morning when I go to the barn.

 

[astroracer]

Thanks but the keys are in the smaller add-on cabinet. The big roller is safe with the keys hanging on a hook.
Mark

 

[rockwithjason]

Have you tried your other keys in the lock? I have two of those and the keys are all the same

 

[astroracer]

The keys for the add on are different then for the cabinet. The cabinet has round keys and the add on are just a blade. All of my Craftsman stuff is not comparible either...
If I don't get any response from HF I will just drill it out...
Mark

 

[yhprum]

check u tube for lockpicking!

 

[astroracer]

I ended up drilling out the lock cylinder. Harbor Freight can't get individual keys. I can by a new lock cylinder w/ keys for 7.99. Probably won't bother.
Mark

 

[astroracer]

Picking away at the cleaning/reorg job. I got the Smithy cleaned up and I cut a piece of birch plywood I had left over from another project to make a top for the lathe to set on. It is in process with a 2nd coat of spar varnish drying on it.
The Smithy all cleaned up.

Here is the top.

I'll get it sanded one more time tonight and a 3rd coat put on. I'll stick some heat lamps on it after that so it should be good to go to get the lathe moved tomorrow nite.

I have already loaded a few of the drawers so the new cabinet is ready after the top is done.
This is the top drawer with all of the tool posts loaded on the right side.

The left side holds my expanding collets, boring bars, slitting saws and arbors and other pieces I use the most.

The add on holds all of my endmills, reamers, and lathe tools. Each with it's own drawer.

The bottom drawer of the big cabinet carries my vises and rotary table.

 

[zmotorsports]

Lookin' good.

Mike.

 

[astroracer]

Thanks! This is going to be nice. I got the mill moved to the new cabinet tonight and got the light rewired. Next up is cleaning up the "materials" pile in the corner and getting the heaters out of here.
Here's the cabinet with the plywood top installed.

The new cabinet is about an inch taller then the old table. I used a piece of 2 1/2" aluminum tubing to roll the machine over to the cabinet.

Then put another chunk under it to roll it up on the cabinet.

Worked pretty slick and made for an easy move.

I really like this. Very clean and organized now.

I'll work on the mess in the corner and get that cleaned up the next couple of nights.
Mark