So... vertical drawers (REALLY vertical)?

[Davo3]

I'm figuring out how to build both a work area and some long-term food storage into the garage in the new 30x30 house my wife and I are having built in the hills. I've seen some great storage solutions, including vertical drawers that slide out horizontally...

I have received some cabinets from an office renovation that are in like-new shape, but I realize that they're a bit deep for a workbench. What I'd like to do is have a 4" frame against the block wall, with vertical pegboard shelves that would be raised from behind the counters (trimmed to an appropriate depth), and descend from behind the overheads.

The Mrs. hates, HATES clutter, and I was thinking that the last few inches of the cabinets is rarely taken advantage of anyway, why not keep the pegboard out of sight when not needed? It would hold typical homeowner/diy stuff, nothing special (hammers, screwdrivers, pliers, etc.).

I'm thinking about having cables and pullies with counterweights, like the old windows, to make raising and lowering the tools easier; probably some locking pin to keep them in place, too. A frame of 4" and some quarter round to keep the pegboard 1/2" off the back of the 4" depth, maybe. I can't imagine I'd put anything more than 3" thick/deep on the pegboard.

So... has anyone tried this before? What am I overlooking? Why aren't there a zillion threads on how people do this all the time?

Thanks for your feedback.

 

[Packard V8]

a 4" frame against the block wall, vertical pegboard shelves raised from behind the counters and descend from behind the overheads. . . cables and pullies with counterweights, . . probably some locking pin to keep them in place, . .
Why aren't there a zillion threads on how people do this all the time?

Since you asked, maybe because it is an insanely complicated, expensive, difficult to fabricate and unhandy solution to a problem most think doesn't exist? And how's this better than keeping typical homeowner/diy stuff, nothing special (hammers, screwdrivers, pliers, in the drawers where they are easy to get to when needed?

Your opinions may vary.

jack vines

 

[Stuart in MN]

Interesting idea, but getting the counterweights right may be tricky - every time you add or remove a tool, the weight will change. Is there room to have the boards slide out from the side of the workbench? It could be mounted on rails or even a couple drawer slides. That may not be as convenient for tools used regularly but you could put infrequently accessed tools there instead.

 

[bl00]

An easier way to hide it would be to make a fold open cabinet that has the pegboard on the inside.

But, I like your idea better. It's more complex, but I'm not doing it you are. Once you get the counterweights or springs set up you could add a motor on a switch to raise/lower the pegboard.

 

[Steevo]

Use a "TV lift" mechanism to raise and lower your frame with pegboard inside it.
http://www.firgelliauto.com/default.php?cPath=108

You could also do something like this pretty easily with two mondo ball-bearing drawer slides and two linear actuators, or one actuator with pulley/cable system.