toolbox build

[DiStOrTiOn]

Hey guys, I wanted to know where you have sourced toolbox drawer slides in the past. I'm building a toolbox (or cart, depending on how much time I've got) for my sculpture class, and I'll need drawer slides. Currently I'm planning on using 55-gallon drums, 2 on end as the base, and one on it's side as the top. I'm thinking of cutting out the drawer fronts from the drum with a plasma cutter, but I don't know if that will take off too much material, and I should source the drawer fronts as well. I could cut them out using a different method if you know of one that's better. The material is a bit weird, I know, but it's for sculpture, so it has to be somewhat artsy. I would also need casters, preferably 4 swivel, I'm not such a fan of the locked ones. Any suggestions would be welcome! Thanks a lot in advance.
-Chris

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Hey guys, I wanted to know where you have sourced toolbox drawer slides in the past. I'm building a toolbox (or cart, depending on how much time I've got) for my sculpture class, and I'll need drawer slides. Currently I'm planning on using 55-gallon drums, 2 on end as the base, and one on it's side as the top. I'm thinking of cutting out the drawer fronts from the drum with a plasma cutter, but I don't know if that will take off too much material, and I should source the drawer fronts as well. I could cut them out using a different method if you know of one that's better. The material is a bit weird, I know, but it's for sculpture, so it has to be somewhat artsy. I would also need casters, preferably 4 swivel, I'm not such a fan of the locked ones. Any suggestions would be welcome! Thanks a lot in advance.
-Chris

I'm sure you could buy slides from Craftsman, Mac, or Snap On. I've ordered the clips that are on the friction slides from Craftsman in the past. Actually, probably a lot cheaper to just buy a used toolbox in crappy condition, and use those drawer slides. As for castors, maybe Harbor Freight? I'm assuming you're on a light budget...

 

[HarveyM]

Lee Valley carries Drawer slides rated at 100 and 400 lbs.
While I haven’t used these products, Lee Valley is a local company (for me) and I can highly recommend them. They have a no questions asked 90 day return policy. They’re family owned with fantastic respect for both their employees and customers.

http://www.leevalley.com/hardware/page.aspx?c=2&p=52491&cat=3,43614,43616&ap=1

http://www.leevalley.com/hardware/page.aspx?c=2&p=50505&cat=3,43614,43616&ap=1




Regards
Harvey

 

[rsanter]

I have some accuride 24" ball bearing full extension heavy duty drawer glides I could sell
$10 per pair or $80 for a case of 10 pairs

I also have some 16" medium duty ones I could sell for $40 for a case of 10 sets

plus shipping

bob

 

[senlow]

That is an interesting idea. A coworker had a similar idea when he was in school for industrial design.

Go with Accuride ball bearing slides if you are looking for quality. Friction slides may be difficult to source. They consist of three major components. One is typically spot welded to the drawer. Another is typically spot welded to the box, and the third component slides between the first two. I expect the welded on components may be difficult to source. Most general sheet metal shops will not be equipped to make those parts. It's my understanding that Kennedy has a modular drawer system on some of their boxes that allows the buyer to choose between friction or ball bearing slides. I have not seen these boxes, so I can't tell you exactly how they are designed. The slide component that is usually spot welded to the box and/or the one usually spot welded to the drawer probably bolts on, instead of being welded.

Any method you use for cutting out the drawer fronts will most likely be imperfect. I suggest getting a spare barrel or two. You can then cut slightly oversize drawer fronts from them, and then trim to size. Just be sure that you are combining identical barrels. Otherwise the ribs may not match up.

Please post reports on your progress. I would be especially interested in seeing renderings of your design, and photos of the build and the final product.

 

[Nealcrenshaw]

www.cshardware.com

 

[DiStOrTiOn]

Here's my initial sketch. I've got mixed feelings about the speakers, a bit gimmicky to me, but my sculpture professor really likes the idea, and were not technically supposed to build furniture type things, so they'll help fudge it a bit. I figure I'll just slam them on with some sheet metal or drywall screws so I can take them off later if I don't like them. I was also thinking maybe build custom boxes to fit them on the inside of the top lid, they're 3-way 6x9 pioneers from my last car, so they're just sitting taking up space anyway. I've got access to a welder of the mig, tig, and arc varietys in the sculpture shop, I'll probably go with mig since I've already used it before, and I'm still new to welding. Even though it'll cost more, I'm going to only buy parts made in the US, that way I can truly say 100% made in USA! With my own hands, at that. Feel free to comment and suggest, thanks for all the helpful links and offers for drawer slides.

P.S. if you haven't figured it out, drawing is not one of my most developed abilities.

 

[grawil]

Personally, if I were building a box, it would look like a Hazet box (http://www.hazet.de/uploads/tx_d3mlinkedsources/kap02_e_01.pdf). Not sure it would qualify as sculpture though.

 

[JCByrd24]

Lowes and HD both carry ball bearing, full extension slides rated at 100lbs.

 

[DiStOrTiOn]

Hey everybody! Just wanted to post an update to the thread. I've gotten started building the box, so far I've cut out a door in the bulk storage cabinet using a plasma cutter, and ground the edges down with an angle grinder. Today I cut some drawer fronts out using a cutting wheel on my angle grinder. Unfortunately, I was unaware how quickly the cutting wheels disappear (and I bought the made in USA Hilti), so I wasn't able to finish all the drawer fronts today. The slides will be ordered tomorrow, as will the hinges and hardware, slides from CS Hardware, and hinges and hardware from McMaster Carr. I didn't have a camera with me the first day, but I brought it today and shot some pictures. Enjoy!

First cut made with the cutting wheel. Never used one before.

First drawer marked out in soapstone.

Bulk storage door cut-out from last week with the plasma torch.

Close-up of the plasma cut, it rained last week, so the exposed metal got a little rusty.

Inside of one of the drums.

My grinder with cutting wheel attached.

Hilti cutting wheels: Made in USA

1st drawer and top of second cut out.

First and Second drawers cut out.

Close-up of cut.

What will be the first two drawer fronts.

5 drawers cut out so far.

Those cutting wheels sure go fast!

 

[LoneGunman]

http://www.surpluscenter.com/sort.asp?UID=2008120122283266&catname=misc&keyword=XD11

Very affordable

 

[DiStOrTiOn]

I saw those when I did a search. I'm getting the 22 inchers, the ones from CS are only 7.43 for 100# slides. I think I'm going to double check my measurements before I order the slides though, I'm starting to remember measuring the diameter, not where I want the slides to go. Maybe those will be cheaper..

 

[justinmc]

Looks like a good start! Can't wait to see the finished product! Very industrious! Yet another home grown use for 55 gal drums

 

[kartracer55]

Thats pretty damn cool!

 

[Garage_Mahal]

How did this turn out?

 

[DiStOrTiOn]

Actually, I'm almost done with it, I've got to plasma cut and weld a new top on the chest tomorrow. I've got some pictures to upload once them onto my computer from my camera. I will have an update with photos in a few days, hopefully in my garage instead of the sculpture studio at school.

 

[rsanter]

I have a bunch of accuride 24" full extension drawer glides if you need some.
I also have some of the 16" ones as well

bob

 

[DiStOrTiOn]

Hey guys, as promised, some pictures of the finished product! Now, when looking at these, keep in mind this box was a learning process for me, I had never used quite a few of the tools used to make it before. All in all, a good estimate of time put in is around 100 hours. I learned to weld, how to use a brake, a metal roller, a bender, shears, and a plasma cutter. I learned how to make drawers from sheet metal, how to align drawer slides (painstakingly), that rivets are better than sheet metal screws in thin metal, that welding thin metal is actually harder than thicker metal, the frustration of having to do a task over again when the end result ***** the first time, and to persevere in order to finish the damn thing! As it is, I only had enough time to finish one of the drums, but that was also due to a lack of funds, and I think it turned out well enough that it's okay. So, without further ado, some pictures:

The drawer frame with drawers in it.

Start of the checkerboard around the bottom. It's 1.5" square pieces of sheet, I hit them with an angle grinder to give them a pattern, and riveted them on with one rivet through the middle.

Bottom few drawers (there are 8 total), as seen in my garage.

Top few drawers.

This is the top, I finished it the same way as the squares on the checkerboard, it took forever, it was scrap steel that I cut and then had to grind rust and **** off of. It was raining today when I picked it up, so it got some rust, I'm going to take it off tomorrow with some wd-40 and steel wool. The thing on the right is a screwdriver holder I made from an extra tv part I got when I was working.

The right side of the chest.

Left side.

Close-up of checkerboard, that goes all the way around the bottom.

Some power tool stuff in the top drawer!

Pliers and some other extra stuff.

Bottom drawer pull, I made it out of sheet and some rivets.

7th drawer pull, made of scrap rebar.

6th drawer pull, rebar again.

5th drawer pull, scrap from the barrel.

4th drawer pull, piece of scrap sheet I heated up with a blowtorch and worked with a ball peen hammer.

3rd drawer pull, made of sheet, hit it with the grinder, its actually 2 pieces riveted together.

2nd drawer pull, made from a piece of copper tubing that was extra after I wrapped it around the barrel. Again, heated up and worked with a ball peen hammer on an anvil.

Top drawer pull, made from more scrap rebar.

So, what do you guys think?

 

[Garage_Mahal]

Too much fun!

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

I think you've got a unique toolbox there, and the skills and practice you got building it will serve you well in the future!