Score on a craftman bench cabinet

[BSAschields]

So I salvaged this out of my mothers basement before it rusted away. Looks like my stepdad barely used it but for a craftsman the quality just seems OK . But I plan to make a new top out of 2 x 4 s , sorta butcher block style and clean up the cabinet too. Two drawers are off of their tracks but dont appear to be broken . I just have figure out how they snap back in place. Maybe Ill paint the whole thing red too? Not sure. It was free so whatever I do will be an improvement I guess.

 

[Farmall450]

hmm...I think my dad has that one in his garage. Nice enough.

 

[jeffmoss26]

old school!

 

[Super Sport]

My mom has one similar in her garage. They really aren't very good quality, but they aren't terrible either.

 

[shocksandstrutz]

great score and cant beat free, gotta love it, plus whatever personnal impovements you make to it will make it even better. great find, have fun and build something on it. i like the butcherblock idea

 

[crewchief888]

free is always good!!

 

[djjsr]

I've got another version of that bench. I'm using it as a countertop base for my sink.

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[BSAschields]

Great idea djjsr

 

[greaneto]

free is always good!

 

[2oolhound]

If it's like mine it is held together with sheet metal screws and when they get loose the whole thing sways sideways and causes the drawers to bind. You have to push it back to square and tighten it down again. After doing this to mine I added a 16 Ga. sheet metal back and similar ga angle iron frames top and bottom. The bottom frame also got caster wheels. I then capped it with a heavy sheet metal top. It's solid now and all the material I used was scrap I had around. The minimal fix for these would be an "X" brace going from corner to corner on the back to stop the swaying action.

 

[BSAschields]

If it's like mine it is held together with sheet metal screws and when they get loose the whole thing sways sideways and causes the drawers to bind. You have to push it back to square and tighten it down again. After doing this to mine I added a 16 Ga. sheet metal back and similar ga angle iron frames top and bottom. The bottom frame also got caster wheels. I then capped it with a heavy sheet metal top. It's solid now and all the material I used was scrap I had around. The minimal fix for these would be an "X" brace going from corner to corner on the back to stop the swaying action.

Thats what I needed THANKS. I was thinking about a back for it so now I have a game plan and knowing the structural issues helps too.

 

[Outlawmws]

Even a thin sheet of ply (1/4" or less) on the back will stiffen it right up once square.

It it has only sheet metal screws, drill the holes out and replace with nuts and bolts where you have access.