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Between 265 & 485 SQ/FT The 12-Gauge Garage

Workspaces sized between 265 and 485 squarefeet.

admranger

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Re: Lista Cabinets come to the 12-Gauge Garage -- and I've got questions

I like the green paint scheme.

I really like my Lista cabinets (Hi Joe!). Night and day difference from anything else I've ever owned for storing tools (and parts).
 
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W650Mike

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Re: Lista Cabinets come to the 12-Gauge Garage -- and I've got questions

Red and black is my vote. They'll announce themselves and their purpose at a glance.
 

Hoppo32

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Re: Lista Cabinets come to the 12-Gauge Garage -- and I've got questions

I vote green and black, the red just looks out of place to me.

Agreed 100%, if you compare the pics then in the first one my eyes are instantly drawn towards the "red corner" and stay there but in the 2nd pic i find myself just naturally wondering around the whole shop. The green just blends so much better.
 
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Jack Olsen

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Re: Lista Cabinets come to the 12-Gauge Garage -- and I've got questions

Well, some of you are going to be happy and some of you will be disappointed no matter which way I go. In honesty, a lot of it will have to do with what paint I find in the cabinet.

I straightened out the guides so the drawer arrangement is a little less crazy. I added one additional slender door to my plan for the bottom section. It was the one I was thinking about putting under the surface of the work bench where I sit. But I think I might actually have room for a larger (4") one there. In any case, I can juggle them around if that doesn't work out. But as it stands right now, I'll have a 15-drawer cabinet when I'm done.

In these pictures, you can see where I'm going to cut the bottom off of the piece that will end up on top. And then belt-cut out a section to shorten the lower part. The reason for this is that the 1" bench top that sits opposite the cabinet will not allow one drawer to slide all the way out -- unless I have a space filler (the cabinet top of the lower section) eating up a small amount of space. I've got it worked out so that it should fit. Of course, the floor is not flat -- so I've given myself 1/2" of wiggle room.

The lower assembly:

cutlinetwo.jpg


The upper assembly:

cutlineone.jpg


I think they must both be Listas, in spite of the construction differences. The handles are all the same, and the drawers and hardware are interchangeable. (Also, my Equipto and Vidmar cabinets have an interior measurement of 25-1/2" and 25-5/8", an inch and change bigger than the interiors of these green guys.)
 

Steve from Socal

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Re: Lista Cabinets come to the 12-Gauge Garage -- and I've got questions

Jack,

One thing to consider; unless you are very tall drawers at 64~65+ inches are really hard to use.

Steve
 

akdiesel

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Re: Lista Cabinets come to the 12-Gauge Garage -- and I've got questions

Jack,
Call lista and see if you could get a drawer to fit in place of the low profile top drawer to fill the blank space if these are lista, instead of cutting it.
I ordered an extra low pro drawer and the support guides so I could put it in the location I use my stool. This will be used for pins, rollers, paper, what ever and it will tie in the rest of the cabinets on either side as well.
 
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Jack Olsen

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Re: Lista Cabinets come to the 12-Gauge Garage -- and I've got questions

The total height will be right around 62-1/2", Steve. And the top part of that is the frame. So the top part of the highest drawer will be 61" up. I've checked, and I can see and access that -- even as a not-very-tall guy. I'll use the top drawer for stuff I don't need access too the most frequently, though.

akdiesel, the reason for taking out the blank section is to get the bottom assembly shorter. I've got a fabrication table that sits next to where this cabinet is going, and if I have a drawer immediately parallel with the 1" plate it uses as a top, the drawer won't open all the way. So in putting the two cabinets together, I'm essentially shortening the bottom one so that the nearby bench top is even with the 1-1/2" 'frame' that's above the top drawer. That's confusing for even me to read, though. I'll take a picture when the cabinet is in position to show what I mean.

I cut the first cabinet. And since I'm documenting everything, here are some pictures.

First I cut off the 'top.'

capha.jpg


Then I belt cut out a 3" section. (Still another nice use for my floor lift.)

cuttingi.jpg


Here's the steel that got taken out.

beltcut.jpg


And here's the new base cabinet -- now 37-3/8" tall (instead of 40-3/8").

shortyu.jpg


Four more cuts and I can test-position it, then weld, then paint.
 
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bchee

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Re: Lista Cabinets come to the 12-Gauge Garage -- and I've got questions

try something different
 
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abstamaria

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Re: Lista Cabinets come to the 12-Gauge Garage -- and I've got questions

I vote for green, Jack, of the same shade you have in the shop. Green will make the place seem larger and reduce visual clutter dramatically. The fact that they came in green is a sign! They look great.

Good luck!

Andy
 

Outlawmws

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Re: Lista Cabinets come to the 12-Gauge Garage -- and I've got questions

SNIP

If these were built in 1985, then they're 27 years old. Hard to get my head around 1985 being 27 years ago. But then, I'm old. :)

man I saw a sign at a local HS advertising the "Class of 92" 20 year reunion" :wtf: I couldn't wrepmy brain around that too well... :dunno:

SNIP

[/QUOTE]On the color choice, I did a quick Photoshop of the old box in green to give some idea of what a green/black option would look like there.

colorchoicex.jpg


I look at it and think, 'too green.' What do you guys think?

[/QUOTE]

No, I see the red, and I think "Target" when the door is open, esp at night. the green looks good and isn't noticed by passers by... :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

If you want accent colors, do the vise, and other power tool in some contrasting color.
 
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ed_v

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Re: Lista Cabinets come to the 12-Gauge Garage -- and I've got questions

I think green too Jack. It's your signature color.


Ed
 

akdiesel

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Re: Lista Cabinets come to the 12-Gauge Garage -- and I've got questions

It is difficult to understand not being there and seeing the total configuration, but i can understand the need for a usable height.
Some build shops around their equipment while others build their equipment around their shop. Either wa, it comes out the way YOU want it.
The cuts look great. What are you using to cut it?
 

zer01

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Michigan
Re: Lista Cabinets come to the 12-Gauge Garage -- and I've got questions

For what its worth I think the tool box would look great all black. It would still break up the green you have there already, and it would match the car. However that might mean the desk would need to match the tool box.
 
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Jack Olsen

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Re: Lista Cabinets come to the 12-Gauge Garage -- and I've got questions

Thanks for the input, guys.

Outlawms, it's funny you should mention that. I was in Chicago last weekend for my 30th high school reunion. I'm still trying to figure out what happened to all of that time.

One correction: it was three more cuts, not four. akdiesel, I'm using an ordinary circular saw with a Freud Diablo metal cutting blade. It's amazing how easy it makes something like this.

Here's the piece that is now ready for the scrap pile.

gonebabygone.jpg


And here's still another way the lift comes in handy. Without the drawers and its bottom half, the cabinet was a lot less than its original 480 pounds. But it's still heavier than you'd expect. Unwieldy, too. I don't think I could lift it up to the height it's going to without help.

anotheruse.jpg


And here's a quick test to see the overall fit before I weld anything. It looks tall here, because it's on the lift cart -- but it's right where I wanted it.

fittest.jpg


And here's the part that was maybe confusing. If you look at this picture, you can see that if the toolbox came out as far as the cabinets under the bench to the left, then opening whatever drawer was the same height as that big piece of steel would be stopped when it came to the edge of that steel.

MBench2-H.jpg


Now if you look at the assembled picture of the new green cabinet one photograph back, you'll see the section with the hole cut out for the old lock. That section is now right at the level of the steel bench top. So the drawer below it can open all the way and go just under the steel bench, and the drawer above it will open all the way just above the steel plate.

At least, that's the theory. It's possible that I'll never need to open that particular drawer that far. In that case, the blank section still adds strength to the cabinet.
 
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Squankum

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Re: Lista Cabinets come to the 12-Gauge Garage -- and I've got questions

Hre's a look at the decal with the contrast turned up on what looks like maybe an 'inspected by' decal. You can definitely see a T and an A there, which would be on center if you added the L, I and S. So the 24" measurement and the partial name both point to Lista. But again: if they aren't, then I can call and try to negotiate the price down -- so let me know if they aren't.

contrasta.jpg





Let's not get too hasty here... the last owner was a machine shop in the aerospace industry. But before that, these may have been in a pita bakery.
 
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Jack Olsen

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Re: Lista Cabinets come to the 12-Gauge Garage -- and I've got questions

I ran out of time. But here's where it stands.

Here's the thing I meant about having a space for the steel plate bench.

theissue.jpg


And here's the thing in place -- not welded or painted. I think I can get it about 3/4" farther back. Not sure if I want to make it shorter, still.

And of course I'm still up in the air on the paint.

testwx.jpg


And here's the reason I ran out of time. (She's worth it.)

babytoo.jpg
 

NUTTSGT

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Re: Lista Cabinets come to the 12-Gauge Garage -- and I've got questions


Good God, don't get your fingers caught between that drawer and steel plate top.


And here's the reason I ran out of time. (She's worth it.)

babytoo.jpg
Holy cow, Jack, I think she has your eyes but thankfully she looks like her mother. :beer:


BTW, I think the cabinet will look fine in your shade of green.
 

ChargedUp!

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Re: Lista Cabinets come to the 12-Gauge Garage -- and I've got questions

Looks nice stacked together. Are you going to weld all the way around or just stitch it?
 
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Conor

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Re: Lista Cabinets come to the 12-Gauge Garage -- and I've got questions

looks great, you keep finding ways to improve the already awesome workspace u have.
 

Dan in Pasadena

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Re: Lista Cabinets come to the 12-Gauge Garage -- and I've got questions

Jack,
I couldn't understand how I missed this thread until I went back and saw it went to a Page 2 in less than 24 hours!

I vote for red with black drawers. To me there is such a thing as too much of a good thing(green) BUT in looking closely at where the cabinets will abut, I realize the height of the red portions below the bottom drawers will not match and (in my opinion) will stick out like a sore thumb.

The fix; since you're already cutting/welding of course, is to add a strip of the steel off that piece going to the scrap bin and make the overall cabinet slightly taller.

BUT you could just mask that bottom drawer off differently and no one (but you) would EVER know it was partially red and partially black!!

I also think you need to point the "Jack-magic" at a whizbang idea to utilize that flat left side of the new drawer stack.
 
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Omphaloskeptic

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Re: Lista Cabinets come to the 12-Gauge Garage -- and I've got questions

Well, I was all set to join the Red/Black camp. In fact, I was going to suggest painting the entire workbench wall area black, including the vertical surface of the cabinet face adjacent to the left side of the workbench, and too, all of the perf board. Red for all the trim faces, just like the cabinets beneath the work bench. The black would swallow light, but the hanging tools would look good on the black background.

I'm switching my vote to J.O.Green after looking at that interior shot taken from the driveway. I'd paint it all J.O.G. for uniformity's sake; walls, bench cabinets, perf board, tool cabinet stack - everything except the drawer pulls. J.O.G. would reflect light onto the work bench area and tie the entire back wall together nicely.
 

Trucklet

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Re: Lista Cabinets come to the 12-Gauge Garage -- and I've got questions

The green is good, especially if it's going into a corner. the red of the workbench stands out well enough to set it apart but also doesn't stick out from afar because it's so low.
 
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Jack Olsen

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Re: Lista Cabinets come to the 12-Gauge Garage -- and I've got questions

Thanks, guys. I just did a little PhotoShopping to try the two color paths. (Of course, I could also make the cabinet all green. But I didn't PhotoShop that option.)

A or B? It's hard to tell with the bench only partially reassembled, but what do you think? I'd paint the handles to match the ones on the bench next to it.

greenblacka.jpg


redblackb.jpg
 

akdiesel

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Re: Lista Cabinets come to the 12-Gauge Garage -- and I've got questions

"Scrap pile"? No way. You will find some use for that piece somewhere.

Agreed. If you can store it for later it may come in handy if you find another bench as we both discussed the need for a drawer under the bench or else where and this scrap piece will aid in aligning up the guides.
 

tolken4

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Re: Lista Cabinets come to the 12-Gauge Garage -- and I've got questions

Green equals retro, cool.

Green with red equals Christmas.

Stay green, I could see some cool gray or black mixed in if you need some contrast.
 
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Re: Lista Cabinets come to the 12-Gauge Garage -- and I've got questions

FYI, if you do a Google images search for "Lista logo" you'll see some that show the S in LISTA being larger than the other letters, which is exactly how it looks on that label.
 

Outlawmws

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Re: Lista Cabinets come to the 12-Gauge Garage -- and I've got questions

A :pimpflash

Photo shop the work bench units green w/black also, and see if I'm not right... :evil:
 

James E

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Re: Lista Cabinets come to the 12-Gauge Garage -- and I've got questions

If you're worried about over-greening, you jumped that shark a long time ago (I used that writing term just for you).

That being said, I have always loved the retro, 50's hospital chic green that you've used. I say go all the way and paint it all green.
 

abstamaria

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Re: Lista Cabinets come to the 12-Gauge Garage -- and I've got questions

I don't see any choice but A.

And, yes, the red cabinent frame under the workbench should be green as well.

But it's your choice, Jack!

Andy
 

Thruxton

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Re: Lista Cabinets come to the 12-Gauge Garage -- and I've got questions

New cabs green, everything else the way it is. Any way you do it it will be good. Did you show the photoshopped images to your daughter? She might help out!
 

SRX

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Re: Lista Cabinets come to the 12-Gauge Garage -- and I've got questions

For what it is worth, I like the green cabinet with black drawer fronts. But, you could also paint them grey (the color of your band saw/scroll saw) which would compliment the rest of the green in the garage as well.

Really great job! I have a new saw blade to purchase now.....the file cabinet options just opened up for me. Thanks for the ideas!
 

PT Doc

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Re: Lista Cabinets come to the 12-Gauge Garage -- and I've got questions

Green.
 
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