Used Vidmar cabinet fake?

[Home_brew_machinist]

Hello, Im looking at buying a used vidmar cabinet but something seems a bit off to me about it. I was wondering if anyone with more knowledge on these cabinets could tell me if they think its real. Would hate to buy a knock off. The Vidmar decal just looks a bit off to me and they don't list that color on their website as one of the standard colors. Also it appears to be on casters which it wouldnt have had from the factory in this model. Dimensions of the cabinet are 30" wide, 46" tall and 27.5" deep. Unsure if the height dimension accounts for casters or not.

Anyways thanks for your help! they are asking $950 for the cabinet and it does seem to be in very good shape.

 

[dr_clyde]

It certainly looks real to me, but I only have an older cabinet to compare to. The real question is, would you be happy with that cabinet for $950, vidmar or not?

Just judging from what I know about industrial cabinetry, I would say it is worth what they are asking, vidmar or not.

Industrial cabinetry sells consistently on the used market for $100/drawer and that one looks to be damn near new. It is also not unheard of to have these re-painted or ordered in custom colors. I wouldn't pay too much attention to the color.

 

[humpty]

Looks real to me as well, drawer pulls are spot on. The badge appears to be correct. They have changed them often enough it is hard to keep up. $950 seems very fair.

In my time in maintenance I have bought many Vidmar cabinets, they are my favorite.

humpty

 

[FMB4]

Ya, my search on Vidmar cab images indicates that you are, very most likely, looking at the real deal. Found many variances in styles, but several images look exactly like what you're looking at (except for the color).

 

[tjansson]

If it's not a Vidmar what is it? A Lista or Rosseau? Not many cabinets out there in that form factor - do knock offs even exist? If it has carriage/roller bearing slides and it's heavy you're probably good.

 

[JWStout]

This seems a bit expensive to me. Unless you really like the color or it's really close, I wouldn't pay more than $700. My guess is that this is a legitimate Vidmar cabinet that has been repainted. Not sure of your exact location but if you're patient I see better deals than these quite frequently in the SoCal area.

Here's a repainted 6 drawer lista cabinet for $550: https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/tls/d/westminster-lista-toolbox/7401836117.html

Here's a double 6 drawer lista cabinet for $1100: https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/tls/d/westminster-lista-tool-cabinet/7402113786.html

Here's a mint Lista 7 drawer cabinet for $630 (albeit in NY): https://www.ebay.com/itm/324860561925

 

[dr_clyde]

This seems a bit expensive to me. Unless you really like the color or it's really close, I wouldn't pay more than $700. My guess is that this is a legitimate Vidmar cabinet that has been repainted. Not sure of your exact location but if you're patient I see better deals than these quite frequently in the SoCal area.

Here's a repainted 6 drawer lista cabinet for $550: https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/tls/d/westminster-lista-toolbox/7401836117.html

Here's a double 6 drawer lista cabinet for $1100: https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/tls/d/westminster-lista-tool-cabinet/7402113786.html

Here's a mint Lista 7 drawer cabinet for $630 (albeit in NY): https://www.ebay.com/itm/324860561925

The cabinets you linked all follow the $100/drawer rule, plus or minus $50 or so. OP's cabinet is a 9 drawer unit, and in MINT shape.

This is pretty much an industry standard, and all the used machinery dealers I have ever dealt with use this pricing scheme.

Unless you are getting deals at poorly attended auctions, I find that this pricing strategy pretty well holds true.

 

[Zewnten]

looks legit and a good price. why would someone knock off a lista?

 

[LXCam]

Looks just like my vidmar. And in that condition I wouldn’t hesitate.

 

[Jayman17]

Looks real to me as well.

Jay

 

[Firebrick43]

It has the right handles, and that color was common at the cat plant for certain years.

Maybe its they don't offer that color now but they did at one time?

That is one of the cleanest cabinets I have seen

 

[bob15]

Can be a custom color and whoever currently owns it could have put casters on it. I have and installed casters on a Vidmar cabinet, so it isn't that unusual.

 

[wkndwarrior29]

I have one in that color. It's as real as real can be. Also, the newer style logo/badge means that it comes with the redesigned drawers that are easier to remove and rated for 440lbs. You can put casters on any vidmar, just make sure they are rated for what you put in it so you don't end up tipping it over.

 

[dnschmidt]

What's the saying: "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth." I think this applies here. Looks mint and in the extremely unlikely possibility that it's fake who cares if it's that good of a fake.

 

[pcmeiners]

Not a great buy but, but fair; I have 10 Vidmars. It is a Vidmar, with a custom color and a wheel option. Not a repaint unless it is the best repaint I have ever seen.

 

[Higgins]

It has the right handles, and that color was common at the cat plant for certain years.

Maybe its they don't offer that color now but they did at one time?

That is one of the cleanest cabinets I have seen

If it was CAT, it probably was a "Custom" as it not uncommon for MFGs to mimic their brand colors!!

 

[Firebrick43]

If it was CAT, it probably was a "Custom" as it not uncommon for MFGs to mimic their brand colors!!

Well, that is more of an allis HD dozer color than cat yellow.

 

[humpty]

When I was at Eaton we bought a bulk order of Vidmars and they were all in our Eaton blue. Order enough and they'll paint them any color you want.

The funniest part is I tried telling the plant manager that Vidmar blue is close enough that no one will really notice but he had to have them Eaton blue. When they were put in place they backed up next to the old Vidmar blue cabinets and they were so close. Such a waste of money.

humpty

 

[1982fxr]

It's a mint condition Vidmar with casters.

 

[tarbellb]

Should be judged by sheet metal thickness and slides.

Test it out by standing inside one of the drawers, if it holds, who cares what name is on it.

 

[AirBornOne]

Late to the party as usual but one thing I've not heard mentioned is the interior details.
First of all the drawers will 'feel' heavy for the size. Then there's the slider carraige, sturdy-not flimsy with ball bearing wheels.
Finally the rails that screw to the cabinet & hold the sliders.Amazing how beefy this simple design can be.And totally interchangable within the cabinet line.
Yeah, this looks legit & priced right.
I made my 1st Vidmar purchase recently & may have been slightly on the high side of the market but I feel I got every pennies worth.
I'll be bolting this bad boy to the floor & stocking with machine shop tooling & supplies.Finally realized the Tanker desk & various other
bins, filers, & storage devices are just not going to cut it with the weight I'll be stashing (And All In The Same Place! That's gold baby )
Later
J
P.S. I would have loved to take advantage of the better priced units in my area but received no response from other sellers.
So decided I'd rather own a Vidmar than dream of a Vidmar. Dealer has done me right though, we traded drawers & hardware to
convert a 9 draw to a 13 ! Yeah baby!