machine_punk
Well-known member
Whew...I finally have some tool storage. I've been a nomad for many years--moving around with the Air Force to Texas, Japan, Korea and England.
I've been buying tools on Ebay and CL lately...getting used air tools and cleaning them up. The tools are really stacking up and getting in the way of getting any work done.
I've got big plans for my shop (will end up being one half of a two-car garage, with the car parked in the other side.) I'm going for a steam punk theme. I'll be painting most of the equipment, stationary tools, and tool containers brown and yellow (think the 50's shades...fudgecicle brown and a faded yellow). I plan to eventually build a lot of my tool storage and shop fixtures, but right now, I just need a place to put my tools. I've had them in tool boxes (the small boxes with a handle on top), in tool bag, and just stacked somewhere. I've got a little bit of parts storage now, for the rivets and other fasteners I use. I got the shelf on CL and bought the bins new from Uline (yep...they cost a pretty penny...especially shipping).
With a place to store parts, now I wanted a place to store tools. For now, it's nothing special, just the HF 5-drawer rolling cart. I put a few tools in it to take pictures. I'm sure I will change the drawers around until I find what really works for me. (If you aren't into HF, I really don't want to hear it...I'm pleased you like your shop brand and this is what works for me.) I'll eventually repaint it in the brown/yellow.
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The owner's manual recommended installing both the locking casters on one of the 'short' sides. I use a lot of similar metal carts at work (I work in a very large emergency room. We use a lot of metal carts with drawers for emergency equipment). I have found that I prefer the locking casters on the 'working' side of the cart...the side you stand on and open drawers. So, I put both of the locking casters on the drawer side of the cart.
The manual also showed the gas struts with the black cylinder at the top and the shiny piston at the bottom. I just prefer the look of the shiny piston on top.
I found that using my air ratchet wrench made this a MUCH easier build. There were a few spots it just wouldn't reach, but for most of the fasteners, it was quick.
I also do not like big logos in general (I always take the dealer stickers off of cars, etc.) So, I took the General logo off the front of the box. I'll eventually rivet my own logo on the box, using the two holes that were covered up by the General logo.
I also removed the plastic 'chrome' trim pieces from the drawer handles. They just looked too cheesy for me.
Really pleased so far. Now, I can move ahead with the rest of my garage build and stop fighting to find my tools.
Kev
I've been buying tools on Ebay and CL lately...getting used air tools and cleaning them up. The tools are really stacking up and getting in the way of getting any work done.
I've got big plans for my shop (will end up being one half of a two-car garage, with the car parked in the other side.) I'm going for a steam punk theme. I'll be painting most of the equipment, stationary tools, and tool containers brown and yellow (think the 50's shades...fudgecicle brown and a faded yellow). I plan to eventually build a lot of my tool storage and shop fixtures, but right now, I just need a place to put my tools. I've had them in tool boxes (the small boxes with a handle on top), in tool bag, and just stacked somewhere. I've got a little bit of parts storage now, for the rivets and other fasteners I use. I got the shelf on CL and bought the bins new from Uline (yep...they cost a pretty penny...especially shipping).
With a place to store parts, now I wanted a place to store tools. For now, it's nothing special, just the HF 5-drawer rolling cart. I put a few tools in it to take pictures. I'm sure I will change the drawers around until I find what really works for me. (If you aren't into HF, I really don't want to hear it...I'm pleased you like your shop brand and this is what works for me.) I'll eventually repaint it in the brown/yellow.
View media item 11208
View media item 11209
View media item 11206
View media item 11212
View media item 11214
View media item 11215
View media item 11216
View media item 11217
The owner's manual recommended installing both the locking casters on one of the 'short' sides. I use a lot of similar metal carts at work (I work in a very large emergency room. We use a lot of metal carts with drawers for emergency equipment). I have found that I prefer the locking casters on the 'working' side of the cart...the side you stand on and open drawers. So, I put both of the locking casters on the drawer side of the cart.
The manual also showed the gas struts with the black cylinder at the top and the shiny piston at the bottom. I just prefer the look of the shiny piston on top.
I found that using my air ratchet wrench made this a MUCH easier build. There were a few spots it just wouldn't reach, but for most of the fasteners, it was quick.
I also do not like big logos in general (I always take the dealer stickers off of cars, etc.) So, I took the General logo off the front of the box. I'll eventually rivet my own logo on the box, using the two holes that were covered up by the General logo.
I also removed the plastic 'chrome' trim pieces from the drawer handles. They just looked too cheesy for me.
Really pleased so far. Now, I can move ahead with the rest of my garage build and stop fighting to find my tools.
Kev