Toolbox

[MechEng]

Good afternoon all,

I am currently building a toolbox (two of them, actually). I looked at Snap-On, MAC, and Matco, but none had the exact layout that I was looking for. I have a friend who is cutting and bending the drawers. I will TIG weld the seams of all of the drawers, so we are already a step above any of the big three. Additionally we are using 16 ga material throughout, and a square tube frame.

This should be one stout box.

Now, what I'm wondering is how to best accomplish the latch/lock mechanism.

Does anyone have some good ideas or pictures of a roll cab lock mechanism? The flat bar across the front is out...

Thanks

 

[Mickey O]

PICTURES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Then we'll talk lock mechanisms.

 

[MechEng]

We'll get to the pictures. Hope to have some of the drawers on hand this weekend.

I might have some of the drawer pictures on my phone...

 

[MechEng]

This is one half of a top drawer. The 68" wide top drawer is seamed in the middle for rigidity. I will try to get more pictures up as I get the opportunity to take them.

I just wanted to grease the palms of the idea holders for now.

Thanks

 

[thk2c]

wow. that is awesome. post some more pictures when you can....i want to see how this turns out!

 

[rsanter]

dont reinvent the wheel
look at the cman boxes and SO boxes and copy what they do

bob

 

[MechEng]

I hadn't thought of stripping my old Craftsman bottom or intermediate chest of their drawers and having a look. I know the top chest uses a stamped piece, attached to the lid, that catches the back of the drawers.

Do you know if the lowers are similar?

One of the design criteria was to be able to lock the box with a drawer open, then let it latch and lock independently of the rest.

Do SO's use the same type of lock mechanism?

Is there a source of pictures on those?

Thanks again.

 

[retire early]

I've got a mobile Stanley Vidmar Cabinet made from 16 gauge steel. It has a latch for each drawer that locks it in position when all the way open or all the way closed. You hit the latch to unlock it. It also has the external swing bar. I put a magnet on the cabinet to keep the swing bar out of the way when I'm not using it. This thing is extremely heavy and the drawers slide super easy. If you budge the chest with a drawer unlatched, it will annoyingly slide itself all the way open. I've included the stock photo of the drawer latches to give you an idea of how it works.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Wow...I'm looking forward to following this thread!

 

[machinistchest]

I believe that the craftsman as well as others have luver stamped in rear of each drawer where a bar with a series of hooks and cam linkage can engage the luver as the bar is moved up or down . I always notice that if one the drawers isn`t pushed close all the way it dosen`t catch the bar and lock . It just seems to me that there has to be a better way...MC

 

[arkangel06]

Need more pics!!!!!!

 

[MechEng]

I will put up more pictures as they become available. I apologize for starting this thread so early in the build, as I do not have much in the way of pictures right now.

Machinist, I completely agree with the poor design of the current locking mechanisms. My friend and I were thinking something along the lines of a spring loaded catch type of mechanism. That should solve the problem with the odd drawer that refuses to lock with the rest of them. We'll have to see what kind of space we have to work on that one.

 

[emeraldcoupe]

can't wait to see the finished box!

 

[MechEng]

Since I don't have any progress to share on the toolbox...

I present these pictures for your amusement. This is a saw I just built for cutting ice. If it's not painted, it's either stainless or aluminum.

 

[tonydanzah]

looks cool, but why cut ice?

 

[X1 Mike]

looks cool, but why cut ice?

So the fish don't have to?

 

[tonydanzah]

i saw afterwards the blade was attached to the handle that moved up and down.

 

[arkangel06]

Cool saw!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[MechEng]

The saw was built for the girlfriend... for sturgeon spearing. The law allows a 32 square foot hole to be cut. I would rather build a ridiculous hydraulic saw than try to cut a hole that size for her by hand... call me lazy.

The handle mechanism was constructed with an over-center toggle, so that the bar stays locked in the down position. I built a "poor man's" spool valve using two ball valves and a spring return linkage. The spring return provides the added feature of stopping the chain immediately if you let go of the handle.

It was just a really neat and fun fab project. I was told by another engineer that it could not be done, so here it is.

 

[Joe69]

Call me a pessimist, but that hydraulic tank looks a little small. You may need more volume for cooling purposes. Another option could be to add a cooler to the return line.

Joe

 

[MechEng]

Water actually sprays on the "spool valve". At ~34 degrees Fahrenheit, it makes a really neat little oil cooler. Also of particular interest, this thing is used when outdoor temperatures are in the teens and lower. After a solid hour of running the oil temperature is about 100 degrees.

 

[DHS]

Call me a pessimist, but that hydraulic tank looks a little small. You may need more volume for cooling purposes. Another option could be to add a cooler to the return line.

Joe

It sits on a big ice cooler.

 

[boseefus402]

toolbox updates???

 

[MechEng]

Still waiting on the drawers. This has been painfully slow. I'm out of the state for the next two weeks. However, the drawers should all be cut and bent by the time I get back. [fingers crossed]

It seems like any project that requires collaboration takes longer than it should, does it not?

 

[thk2c]

updates? I am interested to see how the box turned out!

 

[arkangel06]

I dont think we are going to get any updates anytime soon.

 

[ironheadtom]

I'll send you guys pics of my drawers if you want

 

[ironheadtom]

Nice saw by the way!

 

[tonydanzah]

updates?


..........

 

[kbs2244]

Any way to use a garage door twist handle lock?