Under-bench tool storage

[AntonLargiader]

I'll be moving and rearranging my repair shop so I have a chance to change how I organize some things. Right now, in my 'bench work' area I keep relevant tools and some parts in a KRL1001B in back of where I normally stand. Works well, holds more than enough stuff but I'm considering the idea that two low, wide drawer units under the workbench would free up floor space. There are pros and cons to this idea.

The problem at this point is that there are few options to consider for such a unit. Lista seems to be able to provide this sort of configuration in a shelf cabinet, maybe in a drawer cabinet but I can't see it on their site. What I envision is basically like a KRL top box, sitting on a plinth, but just drawers... not a fold-up top. The basic layout of my 1001 is great; it's just way too tall. I suppose a standard-height (7 series) unit with the casters removed would get barely low enough but the bottom drawer wouldn't allow any toe room. I'm hoping for more of a ready-made solution along the quality level that I have in the KRL.

Any ideas? I'd love to see pix of any similar setups.

 

[Teenager with old tools]

I did opposite. I got a desk for storage and built a bench to fit over it.


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[AntonLargiader]

I don't think that's opposite. It's a storage unit under a benchtop, just like I want. I have an existing benchtop support (steel frame supporting a steel plate top) but the top can sit on the storage chest instead.

The desk sounds like a good idea. I want larger and sturdier drawers than desks tend to have, but some of those old WW2-era steel military desks are plenty beefy for home use. Post a pic if you can.

 

[Teenager with old tools]

Not a bad desk. The top was sagging and bad. But the drawers are good one draw has three dewalt drills a circular saw reciprocating saw and two corded drills.


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[astroracer]

Look at file cabinets. Cheap at yard sales and they can be configured to hold a lot of stuff...
I have a few of the big horizontal units I use for power tool and hardware storage.
Mark

 

[AntonLargiader]

I'm really looking to stay with the approximate quality of the KRL and I haven't seen office furniture that approaches that. This is a repair shop and the cabinets are used constantly every day by several people.

The Lista stuff seems closest but honestly they have sort of killed the used market by changing the slide design and not supporting older units. So buying Lista means either buying new or buying used and being ready to pay for a fairly expensive retrofit when the sliders start to go. And most of the used Lista stuff I see looks very old, and little of it has the wide drawers that I want.

 

[AntonLargiader]

A few updates for anyone who cares:

Lista does show configurations like I want in their gallery. This page shows many examples of wide drawers under a workbench:
http://www.listaintl.com/cabinets-storage/storage-cabinets/gallery/cabinet-tops

In the Craftsman world, what they call a Mid-box or middle box is closest to what I want (being a basic drawer-only unit), but they are too small.

Snap-On has large drawer units in Epiq ($6000+) and small ones in Heritage ($1000-ish). Nothing in Masters, but a 7x cab is 41" tall so taking casters off it (which drops it by up to 8") I could use that and still have a roll cab if I change my mind. A used 722 or 761 should be under $2000.

Matco makes drawer units, like the MB7520DB but I want a wide top drawer.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I'm really looking to stay with the approximate quality of the KRL and I haven't seen office furniture that approaches that. This is a repair shop and the cabinets are used constantly every day by several people.

The Lista stuff seems closest but honestly they have sort of killed the used market by changing the slide design and not supporting older units. So buying Lista means either buying new or buying used and being ready to pay for a fairly expensive retrofit when the sliders start to go. And most of the used Lista stuff I see looks very old, and little of it has the wide drawers that I want.

You might want to PM Jennie, she has taken over the account from Linda. She has helped other members with Lista issues.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/member.php?u=81479

 

[454ragtop]

Might see if you can find one of these KR670 boxes, just picked this one up to go on top of my KRL1001B. It's a sad ******* though, pic looks a lot nicer than it is, will need a full resto, has a really piss poor repaint over the OEM red.

 

[AntonLargiader]

Thanks. That looks like the same basic format as the current KRA drawer units. The thing is, my existing 1001B layout has a tall (like 12") drawer that I'm reluctant to part with and the other medium deep ones. If you have the same box, you know what I mean. I prefer to keep a wrench&socket drawer, deep side drawer, and so forth. That said, I could go with something like you have and then have a different unit for the deeper drawers. I can see that working.

One problem that I see now looking at some links is that the wide drawer is at the bottom. Makes sense for a mid box but doesn't for an under-table unit. Hmm. Bummer, because the price on those KR670s is right.

 

[murph331]

there is a company in my town called Valley Craft. they make a whole slew of material handling equipment and storage solutions. they are really good quality. they make garage storage and tool carts/boxes that can be customized

here is the main website
https://valleycraft.com/

and here is the sister site for the garage storage
https://www.cegarage.com/

and the pricing is quite reasonable.

might be worth a look

 

[notlob]

Not quite the quality level you're looking for, but a whole heck of a lot cheaper.

Two threads by GJ members about using HF toolboxes for under-bench storage:

Steevo's build
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=126086

Blasto9000's build
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=158342&highlight=workbench

 

[mdnelson86]

I don't have a picture right now, but I had a pair of drawer units built to do exactly that same job this past winter.

built by Stor-loc. They're about an hour away from me. Excellent experience working with them. And they built a superior quality product (as good or better than Lista I would say)

I picked the width and depth of cabinet I was looking for, then picked drawer sizes to add up to my total available height. They've got all kinds of drawer dividers and organizers as well.

www.storloc.com/