Tooling Storage Idea

[RayG]

This is just a dumb storage idea for storing lathe and mill tooling and bit and pieces.

I already had a rolling tool cabinet for storing sockets sets, screw drivers, spanners and such, but it always seemed to be in the way, and started to fill up with lathe and mill tooling. So it was easy enough to just get another one and shuffle things around.

Basically it's just a cantilevered table, with a shelf above for the toolboxes, no legs, the cabinets can be rolled out if I really want to move them around, and the top becomes a handy work surface half way between the lathe and the mill.

Just above the lathe is one of the Kingchrome $50 reject Machinist chests, mounted on french cleats.

http://www.backsaw.net/pics/ToolStorage01.JPG
http://www.backsaw.net/pics/ToolStorage02.JPG

I'll see how well it works in practice, but so far I'ts a disaster, I can't find anything! When I start to remember what drawer the various things are in maybe it will get better....

I'm interested in seeing what others have done for storing tooling.

Regards
Ray

[eskimo]

but so far I'ts a disaster, I can't find anything!

I'm interested in seeing what others have done for storing tooling.



well you had a go...I'll give you $5.00 for mobile cabinets now...thats for the pair..lol

[bollie7]

I've got 3 sets of ex bank cheque drawers, 2 just sit on the floor. Of these 1 is about 1500mm high and the other about 1200h . The drawers are mostly about 120high except for the bottom one. The other cab I have made a chassis from 25mm RHS with casters and a couple of decent handles on the side of the cab. Thats for the lathe and mill tooling.

Once you get used to these sorts of cabinets you wonder how you got by without them.

bollie7

[Jekyll and Hyde]

I'll see how well it works in practice, but so far I'ts a disaster, I can't find anything! When I start to remember what drawer the various things are in maybe it will get better....

I'm interested in seeing what others have done for storing tooling.

Regards
Ray

Yup, that's always the issue when you get organised! Spend hours opening every single drawer, then realising you actually put it on the shelf over there...

Aside from that, you've done exactly what I intend to do when I find a rollcab nice and cheap at a time when funds are spare. Currently all my milling stuff is in a couple of plastic storage boxes under the bench on the other side of the workshop, would be great to be able to wheel up the rollcab to have all the tooling right at hand. The top should also make a good spot to put my spanking new 10" rotary table on when its not being used!

[RayG]

I wrote that original post a bit tongue in cheek, I am really happy with the way these cabinets are working out. I can put the 4 jaw chuck and faceplate in a drawer, and no problems with dust and crap.. the heavy duty slides handle the weight no problems.


Hi Bollie,

I did consider fabricating a rolling cabinet, but the cost of the extension slides was too high, put it out of consideration. I think the best bet is to watch out for specials and surplus stock.



well you had a go...I'll give you $5.00 for mobile cabinets now...thats for the pair..lol

Very generous ... I might consider selling a picture of a rolling tool cabinet for that, if I can email it to you... :D for $10 I can email you two pictures...

Regards
Ray

[eskimo]

for $10 I can email you two pictures...




what!... for 10 bucks your gunna send the same pic twice!!!...you pirate..lol

[bollie7]

Hi Bollie,

I did consider fabricating a rolling cabinet, but the cost of the extension slides was too high, put it out of consideration.

Same here. We bought a new Boscotek drawer unit for work. Super heavy duty, I think its about 900wide X 1200 h x 700 deep, with about 8 drawers in it and that was about $2500 a couple of years ago.

I was also thinking about using filing cab runners/slides but I managed to buy the old bank check drawers before that project started. I'll see if I have a pic of them.

bollie7