Tool cabinets? Which ones

[Bennylava]

I have some larger tools I need to store, and I'd like to get them off my shelves and into some type of cabinets. Things such as the large craftsman electric angle grinder, a Sawzall, a belt sander, a DA sander, a fairly large buffer, a heat gun, the list goes on. I've got all these big tools and they don't fit in the tool box.

But I'm a something of a noob to garage/shop outfitting. It doesn't seem like I should be going with one of those tool boxes that has a lot of cabinet drawers for this. At the same time, I'm not sure I want those tall locker looking things either. What type of cabinet/s should I go with?

 

[astroracer]

This a Craftsman Power Box bolted to the top of a horizontal filing cabinet.

The filing cabinets have tons of storage and they are cheap on CL or garage sales. I paid 10 bucks for this one.

Now, granted, they aren't as heavy duty as the high cost tool boxes but all they have to do is store some tools and they are definitly cheaper.
Mark

 

[jeepinerdeep]

Those file cabinets would be good and cheap to find.

I got this CM Pro cabinet a few years ago, looks like they don't carry any longer. I really thought it was well made and use the heck out of the in door storage for rattle cans. Holds a pretty fair amount of stuff.

http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-professional-36inch-wide-floor-cabinet-platinum/p-00959126000P

Maybe there are some floating around on CL????

 

[peterblock]

I like the idea of something like this: http://www.harborfreight.com/tool-storage/all-other-storage/hanging-tool-cabinet-39213.html

I am moving into a really small shop and was thinking of building something like those but without locks and using pegboard inside. The problem I see with those is that they are all keyed and if you lock them and keep the key in the cylinder, then have the key fall out, you are going to have to ruin something to get into your cabinet.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I put doors on the front of my workbench, out of sight, out of mind.

 

[four.cycle]

you can find filing cabinets free or way cheap on CL - who uses files anymore?

 

[JonnyMac]

I quite like the full height 2 door cabinet for items like you mention. Heavy duty all metal versions are what you should be looking for. I cant remember a brand currently but i seem to recall that in jack olsens awsome set up he has one of the most desirable brands and got them on Craigslist...

 

[Bennylava]

Well I don't really mind the lockers (i think that type is what you are referring to) but I'm trying to save space.

I might have to do like one member said and put some drawers on the underside of the work bench. But it occurs to me that making a recommendation is going to be difficult without pics of the building itself. So here are a few pics, its just a standalone metal building. Keep in mind the whole thing is a big work in progress. Its currently very far from its final state.

The building is 26'x26' and that shelving at the back, and along the top, was all there when I bought the place. I'll probably be leaving the stuff at the top, cause its pretty good storage. But those shelves at the back might go... I'm not sure. As you can see, they are fine for storage, but they look pretty bad with all my stuff sitting on them. I'd like to have things looking a lot more tidy. And I'll be getting a storage building later on, for the stuff you see that doesn't really go in a garage. So hopefully this description helps with recommendations.

 

[MushCreek]

I'm planning to build custom cabinets, more like kitchen cabinets than shop cabinets. They will mostly be drawers, so there should be tons of storage. I just finished building the cabinets in our kitchen, and our small-ish kitchen has 33 drawers! You really don't sit all that often at a bench. and you don't need a number of places to sit; just one or two. All of the rest of that space under the benches is wasted.

 

[astroracer]

Besides the horizontal filing cabinets keep an eye out for old kitchen and bath cabinets. I have a number of these in the shop that I have put on casters. With a piece of steel on top they make excellant grinding and welding stations and, with the casters, they pretty much roll to where ever you need to work. Everything related to their purpose stores in the cabinets and drawers.

This one was trash picked and rebuilt. It did NOT look like this when I picked up by the side of the road...

Really, all you need to do is keep your mind open.
Mark

 

[NUTTSGT]

Well I don't really mind the lockers (i think that type is what you are referring to) but I'm trying to save space.

I might have to do like one member said and put some drawers on the underside of the work bench. But it occurs to me that making a recommendation is going to be difficult without pics of the building itself. So here are a few pics, its just a standalone metal building. Keep in mind the whole thing is a big work in progress. Its currently very far from its final state.

The building is 26'x26' and that shelving at the back, and along the top, was all there when I bought the place. I'll probably be leaving the stuff at the top, cause its pretty good storage. But those shelves at the back might go... I'm not sure. As you can see, they are fine for storage, but they look pretty bad with all my stuff sitting on them. I'd like to have things looking a lot more tidy. And I'll be getting a storage building later on, for the stuff you see that doesn't really go in a garage. So hopefully this description helps with recommendations.

I think what you need to do is a clean up and organize what you have. Once you get that done, make some doors for the long wood shelving unit. Buy some plywood or OSB, some hinges, knobs, magnet latches and some paint. For probably less that $100 bucks you should be able to do that shelving unit and workbench.

 

[Scout Driver]

I've been using these: http://www.sears.com/craftsman-32inch-wide-floor-cabinet-red-black/p-00910134000P

And these: http://www.sears.com/craftsman-28inch-wide-wall-cabinet-red-black/p-00910131000P

Easy to order online and have delivered to a local Sears store. Mine have been excellent for me. Keep an eye on the online sales and you can do even better than the current sale prices.

Another option would be to find some kitchen cabinets that are being removed from a remodeled kitchen.

Scott

 

[TAMPAGT07]

I'd check with Haugy... I'm not sure which ones he has, but from what I hear they can take alot of abuse...

 

[matt_i]

+1 for building some doors on what you have there. Even if simple, painted OSB. Figure out a design for 1 or 2 and then keep duplicating it over and over. Once you get the system down it should go pretty fast.

 

[Bennylava]

I think what you need to do is a clean up and organize what you have. Once you get that done, make some doors for the long wood shelving unit. Buy some plywood or OSB, some hinges, knobs, magnet latches and some paint. For probably less that $100 bucks you should be able to do that shelving unit and workbench.

Well that's the problem I'm running into. It does need to be cleaned up, as I just finished up a car I had in there. But as for reorganizing, I've done it a couple of times already, enough to know I need some cabinets. It might not look like it but I've got it all fairly separated out into categories. Probably hard to tell from pics, but you get the idea. As for the way the pegboard looks, I do have plans to buy more pegboard and rearrange all of that.

I've been using these:
And these: http://www.sears.com/craftsman-28inch-wide-wall-cabinet-red-black/p-00910131000P
Scott

I really like the look of that. Might have to get a couple. Thanks for the help all. I also like the idea of old junk kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Didn't think of that. I'll check craigslist.

I'd like to add some drawers to the underside of my homemade workbench. That also sounds like a good idea. I'm afraid I'm not much of a carpenter. What all is involved in adding drawers to an existing wood bench like that?

 

[zkling]

Add more shelves as needed to what you have, enclose if you want to. File cabinets are great for bulky items, power tools, fluids.

 

[Bennylava]

You guys think there is a classy way to enclose that big shelf at the back? Well, nice looking for a garage anyway. To me it looks like any doors I might make would be... unusually large looking.

 

[Scout Driver]

You guys think there is a classy way to enclose that big shelf at the back? Well, nice looking for a garage anyway. To me it looks like any doors I might make would be... unusually large looking.

Could you make two doors for each individual section? It would be more work, but it would make for smaller doors.

As for your previous question about building drawers......they are pretty simple to build. You can google any number of ways to construct them, but just building a simple box with a face is as easy as can be. Don't get caught up in thinking you need complicated joints or advanced skills to build a drawer.

Scott