Tool Cart Upgrade

[TheMadMech]

Started a job at a new location a few months back, I'm an Industrial Mechanic. This is the first place I've been where pushing a tool cart around is the preferred way to work. I repurposed a spare US General 5-Drawer I had already and it's been good but I'd like more storage.

I figured going to the small US General roller cabinet was going to be the solution but when I was looking at the sight I couldn't believe what I was seeing. It says that it actually offers less storage than my 5-drawer.

Is that correct?

I thought it was basically the same frame as the 5-drawer but with drawers all the way down but it seems I'm wrong.

I'm not wanting to spend a ton of $ on this as it's a convince upgrade not a necessity. Any thoughts?

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[GeoBruin]

Maybe the space below the drawers and above the bottom shelf is considered in the storage volume for the 5 drawer cart? It's definitely wider but not quite as deep as the 26" box. Also consider the top space under the lid of the 5 drawer cart is pretty big and unencumbered by drawer slides.

Have you considered getting the 14" side drawer cabinet and hanging it on the side of your cart? That's a popular addition for many "ultimate tool cart" builds.

 

[Al Borland]

Go to HF and take a look in person, they should be about six feet apart in the store.
Most of their ad copy appears to be written by people who don't use tools, drink heavily, or hate the english language.

 

[Renegade1LI]

I have both the box and cart, way more storage in the box, they count the lower storage area which is ok if you have big stuff. The box has more organization with the smaller tool drawers, I guess it depends what you need. I also have the side cabinet on the cart but the box with a work top seems more convenient and no lid to open.

 

[Zewnten]

If you have a menards close buy i liked using the 36x24 bottom cab for my "cart". They're on sale for $500 right now

 

[shawhite]

Why not look at something like a sunex or other full drawer service cart. I like having that top storage for commonly used items like ratchet sockets, screw drivers, pry bars. I even have a few magnetic strips that I attach random commonly used stuff like wrenches, t handle torx or Allen etc

 

[M635_Guy]

I have both the box and cart, way more storage in the box, they count the lower storage area which is ok if you have big stuff. The box has more organization with the smaller tool drawers, I guess it depends what you need. I also have the side cabinet on the cart but the box with a work top seems more convenient and no lid to open.

I also have both, and agree.

Maybe the space below the drawers and above the bottom shelf is considered in the storage volume for the 5 drawer cart? It's definitely wider but not quite as deep as the 26" box. Also consider the top space under the lid of the 5 drawer cart is pretty big and unencumbered by drawer slides.

Have you considered getting the 14" side drawer cabinet and hanging it on the side of your cart? That's a popular addition for many "ultimate tool cart" builds.

That's kinda pricey considering the cost of the cart itself, but tempting. Is it a bolt-on add or is there a hack of some kind involved?

 

[Renegade1LI]

It just hangs on the lip you can bolt it and some guys have added a couple of wheels under the cabinet, it can be a little tippy and the cart is light, if you add the wheels I would bolt it. The nice part is lots of drawers.

 

[GeoBruin]

I also have both, and agree.







That's kinda pricey considering the cost of the cart itself, but tempting. Is it a bolt-on add or is there a hack of some kind involved?

It is a hack but not a particularly difficult one. The side box has a lip intended to hang on to the side of a bottom box but because the cart is not quite as deep as the box, it sticks out slightly in front (or behind, your choice) of the cart. So you have to cut a small notch in the lip of the side box. Many will also bolt the box to the cart and/or add casters for stability. Neither are probably necessary but if you plan to really load down the box it probably couldn't hurt.

I agree it's a relatively expensive option if you're starting from scratch but if you already have a cart, it's not that much more to add quite a bit of storage. Plus in the future, if you do decide to upgrade to a box, the side drawers will hang on that. And if you do put casters on the size box, it can separate from your cart and roll around by itself.