Thread: A quick vertical sliding spanner cupboard

From someone who is re-fitting out a space that will be my new workshop, I wanted to post my thanks for sharing this idea rather than just clicking a "thanks" button.

It's a brilliant idea, and you've given me inspiration just at the right time!

Thank you

Nice implementation.

Vertical sliding cupboards are really useful way of generating compact storage.

We had them installed 25 years ago in the kitchen under the stairs for SWMBO cookbooks.
The smallest triangular fronted cupboard is our medicine cupboard.
It was my idea which SWMBO really likes.
Verticalupboards.jpg

The photo below shows them under my workbench.
The Photo was taken 13 years ago when I first quickly knock them up for some badly needed storage.
Of course they are now a lot fuller (and dirtier).

BobsBench3.jpg

Yes, occasionally I need a tool and a workpiece in the vice blocks cupboard access .

Originally Posted by Midnight Man

From someone who is re-fitting out a space that will be my new workshop, I wanted to post my thanks for sharing this idea rather than just clicking a "thanks" button.

It's a brilliant idea, and you've given me inspiration just at the right time!

Thank you

i 2nd this, i'm starting to look at better ways of storing tools and this verticle style of thinner cabinet will be perfect.

I made a top guide from a couple of bits of MDF and a melamine offcut. The idea is that the melamine rib acts both to prevent the cupboard falling sideways left (i.e. as a stop), should the saw cupboard (left) be removed, and also to prevent the back of the plywood rubbing against the plywood of the saw cupboard - so it will slide easily.

The top guide underside to the top of the cupboard clearance is 3mm. The guide also acts to prevent the cupboard falling forward when at full extension.


sliding_cupboard_mon_1.jpg

I packed the bottom surface to the height of the larger bench surface, again with melamine for easy sliding.

sliding_cupboard_mon_2.jpg

I cut a back stile from the leftover bit of plywood door, and made a top guide rail with a bit of melamine. This one is positioned right of the topmost bracket rail, and set for a 1mm gap (packed out with those yellow plastic packers, then screwed in place...). Plenty.
sliding_cupboard_mon_3.jpg

Up in place

sliding_cupboard_mon_4.jpg

I added a small stop block at the bottom front , inset just enough to allow full closure, and thin enough to allow the vertical drawer to slide forward until the back stile of the drawer hits the stop block.

The melamine is plenty slippery enough, especially given the fairly light total weight, that drawer runners aren't required. I will use runners though for the 4 drawer unit I am planning. Intend to hang the vertical drawers from the runners, rather than support the vertical drawers on runners underneath. My engineering mate convinced me this was the preferable way to go.


I thought to make some spanner size labels with punches on some brass sheet (plan A) Overkill but a bit speccy I thought. Eyesight ain't wot it used to be. Did't make mush impression on the brass, I need a bigger hammer or harder surface to bash on. Plan B resorted to impressioning bits of ply, then pencil/pen in the resultant indentations. I have to find some missing numbers...

sliding_cupboard_mon_6.jpg

So now the gap is quite good.

sliding_cupboard_mon_7.jpg



I also cut down the hanging mount for my Festool guide rails. Re-did it with 12mm instead of 18mm ply, more leftover from the cut-up door. I'll make another post about this cos I think it is quite a compact approach. Basically 210mm wide by 220mm dip, it easily fits 4 rails, and is really easy to mount the rails up.

sliding_cupboard_mon_5.jpg


Thanks for the positive comments. Glad it is potentially useful to people.