Using a Top Toolchest without the bottom component?

[jkpq45]

I just lucked into a stainless finish Craftsman 40" Griplatch 5-drawer top cabinet.

My existing tower consists of the 26" (black) ball-bearing top- and bottom-halves, also from Craftsman.

Short of spending $736 on the matching bottom cabinet, does anyone have any clever ideas for utilizing this new top chest?

I thought about getting a scissor-style transmission jack from Harbor Freight a-la-Adam Savage (inspiration picture below.) Paint job will be required to prevent stainless-on-red induced seizures (who knows, might look great?).

Also thought about waiting around for another ~$360 deal on the HF/USGeneral 44" bottom cabinet. Painting this dude might be a bit more daunting--again, something tells me that stainless-on-red might not look so hot, but I'm probably wrong.

Other ideas include building a wooden frame for the underneath and using it to store tools in their factory-supplied blowmolded boxes (like my random orbit sander) or my wire-feed welder.

Any ideas and brainstorming is appreciated.

Thanks!
jkpq45

 

[countryroad82]

For years I had a 26" Popular Mechanics box sitting on a wooden spool. Then I found a metal rolling cabinet that it fit on, I've always been a function over form kinda guy so I never did anything to make them pretty lol. Maybe build a cart that it will fit on. Just make sure it is sturdy enough to hold the box and tools.

 

[isucyclone]

Hey, new guy here. Here is what I did with my top box that I picked up at a garage sale for cheap. I built a a rack for it that hangs on my french cleat system. Seems to work well for my purposes.

 

[mrvm]

My existing tower consists of the 26" (black) ball-bearing top- and bottom-halves, also from Craftsman.

Short of spending $736 on the matching bottom cabinet, does anyone have any clever ideas for utilizing this new top chest?

Put the 40" top chest on a work bench until another deal comes around. The HF 44 (42") will be perfect size-wise except for the color clash which you have to ignore for awhile. Bolt two inexpensive CL CM 26" together? Just tossing around some ideas...

 

[HotwheelsYJ]

You sell it to me so I can put it on the matching bottom chest! I've been looking for a top box ever since Sears closed them out

 

[Balor]

I made a rolling frame, similar to a cart, out of angle iron for my 40" craftsman top box. RNGR1

 

[sberry]

Great for storage, too difficult to work from a stacked chest and I want to toss a few of the tools I am really using on the top of it and be able to look down on it. I want a HF44 to replace one of my crates.

 

[Hpozzuoli]

Throw it on top of your work bench or in the back of your truck if you have one.

 

[motoretro]

When I was much younger I had a no-name tool box on top of a old chest of drawers..........That said , you could use a HF metal cart to add your new purchase to and create a really nice mobile tool center for rolling out in the D/W to work on a non-runner or perhaps a project you're fabricating. It saves you making runs back and forth into the garage. With a nice box like that you could embellish things by painting the cart with something flashy which compliments your stainless box and have a friend pin strip it. Add some other basics underneath on lower shelf like jack stands, small compressor, etc. Take some pics when you're done.

 

[Jawn]

I used cinder blocks and 2x10s to hold up a 42" top box at one point in time.

 

[Danver]

I thought about getting a scissor-style transmission jack from Harbor Freight a-la-Adam Savage (inspiration picture below.) Paint job will be required to prevent stainless-on-red induced seizures (who knows, might look great?).

That's kind of neat. I have an old government issue toolbox that opens up like that. I should come up with something similar to make use of it--maybe for my home garage.

 

[Southernbuild]

I've found them to be pretty convent sitting on the back of a workbench to hold often used small tools. I've also got a 28ish inch box sitting on a shelving unit, you just have to be willing to lose some extra head space, if you want to be able to use the top lid section.

 

[MillerMav]

I would build a nice wooden bottom box. Maybe just a couple big drawers or something. Stainless and stained hardwood always look good together!

 

[jkpq45]

Stainless and stained hardwood always look good together!

Agreed, MillerMav.

I'm considering a wooden lateral file cabinet; some are 41" wide or so and have two full-length drawers. Seems perfect for storing large, boxed power tools, etc.

Although, the allure of building a frame to support keg fridge/freezer underneath the top box (so the fridge/freezer doesn't see any load on top) is pretty neat.

 

[Badger 13]

My first tool chest was from Sears, Craftsman, in the mid 60's and it sat on a tool bench for years prior to getting a bottom cabinet.

 

[Orange65]

Put the 40" top chest on a work bench until another deal comes around. The HF 44 (42") will be perfect size-wise except for the color clash which you have to ignore for awhile. Bolt two inexpensive CL CM 26" together? Just tossing around some ideas...

Exactly what I did. Bought a 40" top chest from a tech that quit at work and set it on my work bench (Paid $100 for a practically new Craftsman with ball bearing slides- nice). About 12 years later, bought a HF 44" bottom box. I like the combo.

 

[Rag Roc]

I think the cart idea for the box is the best idea.
I've seen manufactured ones with the top shelf installed upside down to allow the bottom drawer(s) to open freely.
You could also build a wood or steel one depending on your skills to fit your space.
Back in the day I had an oversize 2" angle cart I fabricated, and added a 2 X 4 wood riser for the box to allow the bottom drawer to open with tools / parts on the shelf. It served me well for years.

 

[Farmall H]

Set on a barrel beside my lathe & I'll fill it, colors are not really an issue here.

 

[TK LP]

 

[stage20]

I doont think a hf red bottom would look bad at all. The drawer strips should go with the stainless top.