Rolling multi-drawer tool cabinet: Any suggestions?

[Dominick Giarraputo]

I am wanting to build a rolling tool cabinet with multiple drawers and was hoping I could get some suggestions on where to start. I'm not going for the "work of art" thing, Pine & particle board would work just fine. (I hope I didn't just commit a sin by saying that PB word! ) I just need something functional. Any links you can send me to would be great too!

Thanks

[Lee DeRaud]

I am wanting to build a rolling tool cabinet with multiple drawers and was hoping I could get some suggestions on where to start. I'm not going for the "work of art" thing, Pine & particle board would work just fine. (I hope I didn't just commit a sin by saying that PB word! ) I just need something functional. Any links you can send me to would be great too!

I've had pretty good luck with the MillsPride closet/garage stuff from Home Depot.

Here's a link to a catalog: http://images.millspride.com/media/p...rodcatalog.pdf

For a 24"x24" counter-height module, the base cabinet (C3) gives you one drawer and a door. Top it with a countertop piece (A53) and replace the door with two 10" drawers (AD21). The door can then be used to close off the back. A couple of blocks under the base give you mounting points for the casters of your choice or use one of Rockler's mobile bases.

Or bolt two of them together as part of a workbench base.

[Jim Becker]

I think that ShopNotes and/or Woodsmith have featured some very nice tool cabinetry from time to time that might fit the bill. They use baltic birch plywood and nice techniques...and even dress things up a little with some easily-sourced aluminum stock.

[Frank Hagan]

I think that ShopNotes and/or Woodsmith have featured some very nice tool cabinetry from time to time that might fit the bill. They use baltic birch plywood and nice techniques...and even dress things up a little with some easily-sourced aluminum stock.

The ShopNotes and Woodsmith plans are on their PlansNow.com site, and are pretty reasonable in price. They are basically reformatted reprints of the articles, sometimes with two or more articles combined. If you can't find the original magazine articles, the PlansNow.com site is pretty handy.

[Dominick Giarraputo]

HOLY COW! I fell like a kid in a candy store! What great suggestions. With all this help I should be able to build a tool chest that could blast off into outer space! Brad, you took the words out of my mouth with doubling it as an outfeed table. I have to share my shop (garage) with wife's car so space is at a premium ... and the advise on tilting the slides back so the drawers won't all open and only using the rollers on the large lower drawers are excellent thoughts too, thanks Bill & Paul. I'm going to try to work something up this weekend, I'll post some pics for approval.

Thanks again everyone.

[Dennis Peacock]

Dominick,

Don't be afraid of the installation of the full extension drawer slides. I can help with that to make it fairly easy when you get ready, so just PM me when you are there and I'll help all I can to make it an easier installation.

[Ian Barley]

Like Brad I used removable plastic trays in my units. Bacause I tend to use this staorage for service tools for my machines I give each major machine its own drawer and when I need the tools I just take the whole draw to the machine. Works well for me and deals with my compulsive inability to put things back where they belong.

[scott bonder]

Dominick,
It is not like your last name is Smith or Brown. Any relatives in Atlanta? My psuedo-nanny (see below) is from New Orleans, just graduated from Agnes Scott college and now lives in my carriage house, right above the shop.

Just thought it was an interesting coincedence.


* psuedo-nanny = 18 hours a week or so of help with kids and house in exchange for rent.

[Dominick Giarraputo]

Scott, no relatives in that area that I know of but that's not to say that we're not from that same clan from the old country. I'm from Brooklyn, 2nd gen American as is all of my family. My grandfather came over on the boat in the early 1900's from Palermo Sicily.

Tell nanny I said hello and that's nice to know that I'm not the only "G" out there!

[Bob Marino]

Scott, no relatives in that area that I know of but that's not to say that we're not from that same clan from the old country. I'm from Brooklyn, 2nd gen American as is all of my family. My grandfather came over on the boat in the early 1900's from Palermo Sicily.

Tell nanny I said hello and that's nice to know that I'm not the only "G" out there!

Hi Dominick,

Welcome to the Creek.

Where in Brooklyn are you from? - it's a huige town. I was born in Bensonhurst, but we moved to Marine Park soon thereafter.

Bob

[scott bonder]

Dom, I'll let her know. i do know she has an unlce and cousins that own resturants in NYC.

I grew up in Queens myself.

[Dominick Giarraputo]

Scott & Bob, I guess we were nieghbors, I'm a Greenpoint boy! Boy it's a small world, huh! I only lived there until I was 8 then we moved to Missouri but I've been back plenty. It's stays in your blood. Nice to meet you both.

Anyway, here's what I cooked up so far on my tool cabinet. Pocket hole technology is so cool! I'm still puzzled about the correct way to install the drawer slides and what would be the best material to make the boxes out of.

[Ron Fritz]

Plans Now had a free plan for a rolling tool cabinet.
http://plansnow.com/cmpdn001.html

[Bill Fields]

I like the idea of plastic trays--good and simple.

Another tip:

Buy the Rockler/Kreg tool for placing long slides--uses magnets and saves many an error--I Know!

I have installed maybe 50-60 sliding drawers/pull-outs at my home --and this tool makes it EASIER--not easy.

Another tip--for beginners like me:

Build the carcase first--install the cabinet side slides and the drawer side slides----and FINALLY measure for your drawer widths inside those dimentions..

THE inside dimentions of the installed complete slide shoud be equal to your future drawer widths. I would subtract a 1/8--1/16 " for tolerance.

Godd luck and patience!

BIll Fields

[Paul Canaris]

Pictures of cabinets I finshed up a few months ago. The bottom drawers ride on bearing glides. The upper drawers are all different sizes. I made four of these out of common BORG materials.