Tool cabinet project

[W_KY]

Here is another item I was able to pick up for free. It wasn't designed to be a tool cabinet but it should work just fine for me. It appears to be heavy built and the drawers have plenty of room. My brothers and I made a rolling cart for it already. Anyone have any idea of its original use? As you'll see in one of the pics, it has a thermometer on the top. My plans are to:

1. Knock out the dents the best I can
2. wire brush it
3. primer it
4. paint it (thinking that kind of Army green since the drawers are that color already)
5. lubricate the drawer slides (what would work best for this)
6. line the drawers and divide them up (you can see some of the dividers that came with it)
7. See how the tools fit and then label the drawers.

Anyone have any other suggestions?

http://picasaweb.google.com/west.kentucky.pics/ToolCabinet?authkey=RIcFWKY86-M&feat=directlink

 

[Kevin54]

It looks like a cabinet that they used to keep the round charts in for maybe humidity chambers or something. Never seen a file drawer that has four tags per drawer on the outside. Has a cool factor though. Nice find. But don't paint it army green. Go for a red, maroon, orange, or something different. Greens, grays, etc, just has too much of an old industrial feel and looks to it.

 

[PurdueSD]

that is awesome, I like vintage looking things so i say army green would kick A$$!

 

[terabyte]

maybe punch cards from the early computer days?

 

[bomber]

with the thermometer, I'd guess some sort of lab equipment -- perhaps a drug store storage cabinet --

extremely cool, though!

 

[rocketman]

Museum or lab archival storage cabinet. For "specimens" of some variety I'd bet.

 

[adpostel]

I did the same thing with a upright 5 drawer file cabinet, I sanded it down a little, then I bought a quart of gloss black rustoleum paint from the hardware store, poured it straight into my HVLP gun and sprayed it inside and out. It came out absolutely fabulous, matches my tool box now, its a great way to add some cheap good looking storage to the garage.

 

[e-tek]

Tool chest would be a natural use, but it would also be great to store parts of something you are rebuilding - like engine parts! Cool find!

 

[66 GMC Truckin]

I bet it was used for autopsy's. The brain goes at the top and all the organs go all the way down from left to right. Makes sense to remember what goes where and keep it cool at the same time!

Cool toolbox. I think that Bright Blue like the Newer Toyota Tundra's would be cool. Maybe some matte ghost flames on it from the bottom up?

 

[DynoDave]

maybe punch cards from the early computer days?

I'd agree with that. A great piece to reuse for any sort of storage.

 

[iamhistory]

I did the same exact thing a few summers ago. In my cabinet's top drawer, I keep a file of my RECEIPTS of tools I have purchased that have a warranty, lifetime guarantee, etc. just in case the store happens to be one of those picky gotta have your receipt types of places.

I also keep my shop manuals for my tractors and my owner's manuals for my tractors and atv's. That's all in the top drawer. In the other drawers I keep some cleaning supplies, garbage bags, and various other items I don't or can't have sitting out on my benches or on valuable storage shelves.

I love my cabinet and since it sits fairly close to one of my benches, I keep things like my work gloves, etc. on top...........they kind of just gravitate there but it does end up being convenient nonetheless.

 

[mmg440]

I don't think it is for punch cards. From what I saw they were stores in steel removable units/trays so one could take out a set (all the lines of code for a program that they were going to run) and run them threw the card reader into the system then put the complete set(program) back until next time it was to be ran or entered. They would NOT need the temp gauge. With the perforated bottoms it must have been used for something more sensitive to the conditions. Is there any holes or jacks in the bottom for maybe a vent or heater plug in maybe it was to treat or dry something?


I have currently 4 file cabinets with wheels. Some made a steel cradle with wheel others I just took a 3/4 inch piece of plywood and screwed to the bottom for extra support the screwed in some sturdy casters. They work great for all the "case tools" the dial indicators, Cyl leakage tester, coolant pressure testers, and so on all those tools that come in the injection molded plastic cases. Just label the side and put them in sideways. All the plastic transmission lip seal sizers I put in two drawers and so on. They are sturdy enough to even hold welding rod. The first one I did I Installed a lock that fit a old Matco box I once had but since then I have them at home and I haven't worried about keying them again.

 

[ddawg16]

Cool find.......

I'm glad to see guys restoring the old stuff......I'm no tree hugger but there is so much used stuff out there that only needs a little bit of TLC to return it to usable use......yea...it rates up there on the cool factor.....

 

[W_KY]

Thanks for all the comments.

No telling what its intended use was but I'm gonna agree with the person that said storing "specimens" of some sort. The main reason I say that is because of the temp gauge.

I'm torn between maroon and Army green for the color. I like the retro look of the Army green but I saw someone's maroon toolbox on here and really liked it. Army green will be easier I think (since its the drawer color already) so thats probably what I'll go with. The color won't affect the usefullness of it so I'm not gonna get hung up on that.

I was looking online at some foam to shadow the tools. I'll have lots of room now and few tools. Anyone have suggestions for affordable foam shadowing besides online ( I've seen www.toolfoam.com and it looked pretty good). I plan on cutting the foam myself with an Exacto knife. I've seen where people suggest using insulation but that sounds messy. As you an tell, I'll have several drawers to do so something affordable would be preferred.

 

[kbs2244]

It 's not a punch card cabinet.
I spent too many years with them.
They came 30 and 60 inch high.
The drawers were actualy 8 inch wide trays that you could pull out of the cabinet to take over to the "Tab Machine."
I am on the lookout for one though.
It would make a great tool box.

 

[willysman]

Hey! I'd have to run out to the garage and take a pix of it, but I've been using a similar built device as a toolbox for 10 years. I got it in a bankruptcy buyout - it was a file cabinet for checks for a medical billing company. Unlike regular height file cabinet drawers, the 6" high drawers make perfect trays, and they roll great.

I have a unique filing system that I'll share, the drawers are labeled as such, by function instead of by name:

Gadgets and tapes - for tapes and things that defy description

Hear, see, write, measure - for eye protection, ear protection, markers, calipers, gloves etc.

Things that screw and unscrew - for screwdrivers

Wrenchworld - duh.

Persuaders - all hammers, wrecking bars, other leverage

BFP - er, um... large pliers, channelocks, waterpump pliers,

etc. etc.

You'd be amazed how well a function-driven labeling system works when the teenage neighbor kids come over to work.

Love the box idea. Run with it. Makes for great stories. Our shops are nothing without the stories that reside in them...

 

[Coach James]

Excellent cabinet! And I'm partial to Olive Drab or army green. Reminds me of all the years I spent with my dad on base growing up.

Coach

 

[W_KY]

I have pulled all the drawers out of the cabinet and wire brushed the main part of the cabinet down to bare metal. I now want to paint the cabinet and plan on using spray cans (as I don't have a air compressor). Any suggestions on a particular brand?....Also, as this is my first time painting something like this, any advice you can give is appreciated. Also, I'm assuming I need to spray it with a primer first. Is that correct? I'm pretty much a novice so any help is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Kevin54]

I have pulled all the drawers out of the cabinet and wire brushed the main part of the cabinet down to bare metal. I now want to paint the cabinet and plan on using spray cans (as I don't have a air compressor). Any suggestions on a particular brand?....Also, as this is my first time painting something like this, any advice you can give is appreciated. Also, I'm assuming I need to spray it with a primer first. Is that correct? I'm pretty much a novice so any help is appreciated. Thanks.

If you use rattle cans, shoot it with some Hammertone paint. If IIRC, one of the members redid a SUN cabinet in Hammertone and it looked sweet.