tortron Posted August 13, 2017 Share Posted August 13, 2017 For a few years I've been pondering how to use the very available and cheap filing cabinets as tool chests. Obviously they are too deep to be a good use of space. Possibly the best way to do it would be to get several identical ones and mod the drawers so you have one cabinet with many drawers With this in mind I went and got two not matching ones and set about cutting up a tool chest I already have because it was more work. Paid $2 for this Because I want to replace these useless steel on steel trays So pull a drawer out and strip it down If I had 2 matching cabinets I would have just had offset drawers down one side and some small shelves on the right. I didn't so I decided to do extra work and shorten, narrow, and chop top all the drawers to have 2 equal columns Everything will be riveted except for one long side which is stitch welded back on the base. Double up the steel on the front panel for strength and so I don't have to replicate the bends at the top. (I really should have made a bender first I guess) Perhaps the welds will improve by the last one Again, as the drawers were different I have done extra work so they will like the same. I won't use the original handles, will set the drawers back far enough to clear some handles, which I will make to match the britool top box With them fitting something like this I cut the old centre rails out but the side ones are in there really well. So will have to get some more cutting and grinding disk's. The file rails cut short enough all right and will just need to rethink some stops I plan on 4 equal size drawers on top and then Il rethink the bottom area when I get to it. Either a couple of big deep drawers or just a space to jam some plastic tool boxes 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
azzurro Posted August 13, 2017 Share Posted August 13, 2017 i use filing cabinets (cheap!), but agree they are not the best for not-files and are quite deep. they are good for unwieldy things like power tools etc, i put them in the drawers with one of those shallow plastic stacking bins which holds all the bits and pieces, eg grinder wheels and guards etc, grinders on top. Anyway, nice mod on the old cabinet - are you going to reuse the drawer rollers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tortron Posted August 13, 2017 Author Share Posted August 13, 2017 Yes the drawer rollers will be shortened to suit. The file cabinets are a cheap source of them. I think with the left over bodies of the cabinets I will cut one up to make a door for the other and have a locking cabinet for ???? Something Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felixx Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 Somewhere I have abut 6 new sets of kitchen drawer rails Want them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Vapour Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 I have the spot welder and folder here if you need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tortron Posted August 18, 2017 Author Share Posted August 18, 2017 11 hours ago, felixx said: Somewhere I have abut 6 new sets of kitchen drawer rails Want them? The file cabinet provides all I need 10 hours ago, Mr Vapour said: I have the spot welder and folder here if you need. No need for spot welder because the only weld is on that bottom corner. Originally the bends are perforated so a few tacks are equally as strong. I have some steel here for a bender but I have to clean the shit off my bench to make it..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimjon Posted August 19, 2017 Share Posted August 19, 2017 Those plastic storage bins fit nicely inside. But I just use them for all my bigger stuff, like power/air tools etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tortron Posted August 19, 2017 Author Share Posted August 19, 2017 The second file cabinet I got has full length sides on the drawers, so might keep that as is for the power tools. Have done this so far Took a day for the first one, but now it's figured out it's quick as 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tortron Posted August 20, 2017 Author Share Posted August 20, 2017 Holy crap they all turned out the same 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooters Posted August 20, 2017 Share Posted August 20, 2017 The only thing better than a old tool box is a old tool box bombed out in period correct race and parts stickers. so good. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tortron Posted August 20, 2017 Author Share Posted August 20, 2017 Il swap that box and cabinet on the left for a 3 drawer mid box for the ones I'm working on. The britool box is a little bigger for any I can find Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tortron Posted October 23, 2017 Author Share Posted October 23, 2017 Cut out the old angle iron slides, cut them up and make new mounts, tack the sliders to that 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tortron Posted October 23, 2017 Author Share Posted October 23, 2017 Added some rivets to act as stops for the sliders. One on the slider and one on the drawer side (both sides) Can remove the drawers in the standard lift it up and pull it out way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tortron Posted October 23, 2017 Author Share Posted October 23, 2017 Cool 1, nice Have about 1cm clearance for a handle 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post tortron Posted December 21, 2017 Author Popular Post Share Posted December 21, 2017 MK2 Hotel maids trolley 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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