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BooCrewProduction

New member
Joined
Mar 20, 2009
Messages
3
Location
Sandusky, Ohio
I am a carpenter with close to 30 years of experience. I was at a home show recently and come up with the idea of building cabinets that are specifically made for us garage guys. The construction would be similar to kitchen cabinets, but with the storage of tools and equipment in mind.

What are your thoughts on such an endeavor?
 
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ptgb

Well-known member
Joined
May 5, 2011
Messages
142
Location
Youngstown, OH
I might be interested depending on look and price. I am near Youngstown, so could come out and pick some up.

Looking for about 10 feet of bases (doors and drawers) and 12 to 24 of wall cabinets.

I want to look of laboratory cabinets such as these, taken from another thread:

Lab Cabinets

PM me about them.
 

KPSquared

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 18, 2010
Messages
2,750
Location
Wetaskiwin, Alberta, Canada
your idea has been done by 1000 companies and private guys.

You'd have to come up witb something either very unique or very affordable.

Its all been done before. . .
 

Gary S

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Joined
Dec 27, 2008
Messages
2,972
Location
Bismarck, ND
I agree. Build for local people who want custom fit cabinets for their garage. The one-size-fits-all cabinets are available everywhere. Many people want cabinets to fit their garage and needs exactly. I'd suggest going after that market.
 
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BooCrewProduction

New member
Joined
Mar 20, 2009
Messages
3
Location
Sandusky, Ohio
The cabinets I have in mind would resemble the steel tool boxes, but built out of cabinet materials. They would be much less abusive to your pocket. They would also be much more durable. MDF or MDO faces painted with an L shaped handle on the tops of the drawers and along the edge of the doors,
 

darkk

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Dec 24, 2009
Messages
3,361
Location
Willimantic, Ct.
Too bad I'm so far away. I've been thinking of building exactly the same thing using MDF to mimc steel cabinets. But isn't 3/4" MDF a bit heavy to build say a 30h x 48w x 16 deep cabinet and hang it on the wall?
 
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bdamico

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May 8, 2012
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2,303
I am a carpenter with close to 30 years of experience. I was at a home show recently and come up with the idea of building cabinets that are specifically made for us garage guys. The construction would be similar to kitchen cabinets, but with the storage of tools and equipment in mind.

What are your thoughts on such an endeavor?

This has/is being done all over the place. I searched up and down all the garage cabinets. There are several places selling mdf/wood/plywood/powdercoated mdf cabinets for garage use.

I think it will be hard to gain any traction in the market for shippable cabinets (maybe knockdown) so I would focus on whether you (1) have anything unique that will make yours better than any others and whether you can convince people of that fact that you're better and (2) you can market locally overcoming the fact that there are many franchises already doing what you propose to do and which are advertising heavily.

Google garage cabinets and read all the pages. That's your competition and it's everywhere.
 

Kevin54

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Joined
Jan 12, 2005
Messages
29,341
Location
Urbana, Ohio
First off, if you want to market something like that, then the price will have to be fairly reasonable for most, unless all you want to do is high end installs. Next thing, they have to be built sturdy enough that a drawer full of tools won't bow the drawer and the bottom drop out. They will have to be way better built than the box store cabinets. Just like the cabinet build that Steevo did with the HF rollers. Can you build something sturdier than that for about the same price or less? If not, then most people will buy tool chest or rollers, remove the wheels, and add a top to it.

If you try to attract the higher end garages, you will still have to compete with the ones that will buy a half a dozen HF roller bases, or you will have to compete with the other garage cabinet guys that are already out there with the shiny, glossy cabinets in the color of your choice.

I'd really venture to say that it's not a very good market to get into if you plan on making a lot of money. If it were me, I'd spend some money on advertising. Advertise home interior cabinets like kitchen and bath, and throw it in there somewhere that you also do custom garage builds. But in doing so, you'll have to showcase a few places that you have already done to draw a persons interest. Then you will also have to factor in the one or two big questions......how strong are they and what about moisture problems? And don't tell someone that the cabinets that are already out there are MDF and yours is no different than theirs. That will just force a person to go buy one from Lowes or HD if your is just the same.
 

cgv69

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Joined
Jan 11, 2012
Messages
1,033
Location
Boone Co., KY
I think you would be targeting a very small market.

How many people do you think there are (especially in this economy) that are willing to spend a large amount of money on custom wooden cabinets for their shop but don't have the time or tools to make them themselves?

In my experience, guys who work with wood prefer wooden cabinets but they also tend to make their own. Most other garage types (mechanics, fabricators, welders, etc.) prefer metal cabinets (especially if they are buying them).

Don't get me wrong, I sure some people would be interested. Some might even buy some if they are done well? I just don't think you would get enough customers to make a steady business out of it?
 

Zeke

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Joined
Aug 13, 2009
Messages
17,176
Location
Long Beach CA, the sewer by the sea.
Basic boxes are available custom for not much money. One high end cabinet shop around here focuses on the doors and other millwork. They job out the boxes because there is no money in it.

So, with that theory in mind, someone with a good eye for design can layout an installation and provide a theme personal to the buyer. There are some really cool high pressure laminates already mounted that can be made into custom doors. With some trick edge banding and Euro hinge templates, one could make a garage Ferrari red or Viper yellow easily. Hook up with a sign shop for graphics.

It's all in the design presentation and ability to sell a product or concept. Guys who already know what they want can be an easy sale or a tough one. Depends on the person. Being in the door and window business for years was fortunate for me becaus most men don't know much about windows and if they did, the wife is going to choose them anyway.

I just walked away from engineer types that wanted to redesign an already good product. Now, I suspect the percentage of that type is higher here on a garage forum.

That's my reason for never bothering with garage makeover work. I'd rather deal with a housewife. ;):D
 

Randy in Maine

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Joined
Nov 21, 2010
Messages
2,176
Location
The Beach
I have built most of my shop cabinents out of MDF and Doug fir from plans I get from Shopnotes. Pretty reasonable moneywise, really strong and heavy, and they hold up well.
 
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