Projects Shop organization-Tool storage

I have an addiction to organizing stuff. My shop generally looks like a grenade went off, but in my head, everything should be organized. I have started collecting the best kept tool storage secret....I now own 12 to be exact. A lot of guys never even know about them, because they are used in an office setting and most of us are blue collar guys.

These are called lateral file cabinets. They range from 2-5 drawer and the widths are usually either 36" or 42". I have 8 of the 2 drawer versions in my shop, because I like the height and the fit under my windows. This weekend I bought 4 more. 2 ea. of the 5 drawer for the paint shop, which will be used to house my sandpaper, DA's blocking boards, filler etc. along with my paint. I know it's not a flammable cabinet, but I doubt many actually own one of those.

They have 2 different versions. One has a flip top front that recesses back into the cabinet allowing the drawer to be pulled out for full view and the other is a regular drawer, like a tool box drawer.
They hold some heavy stuff, because once loaded down with files, that adds up. They have roller bearings.

I really dig these things. They are the cheapest form of storage you will find. They are always for sale on FB marketplace for under $100. I paid $100 for the 5 drawer and 80 for the 4 drawer, the 2 drawers are usually about 50-60 bucks.

I hide my big stuff in them, like circular saws, sawsalls, all of my boxed automotive stuff that come in plastic cases, cam bearing drivers etc.

Anyway, just thought some of you might like this idea.

 

I bought 4 cabinets like the top ones you posted about 6 years ago from my nephew when he was cleaning out a warehouse. They are ideal for storing corded tools, like drills,grinders and jigsaws.

They actually hold so much stuff one is still empty. HRP

 

You need more stuff.

 

Ha,ha, not really, the reference you made about a grenade going off, I just need to spend more time organizing. you know I can't see the top of my work bench and it's 8 foot long. HRP

 

Hello,

We have used those lateral file drawers before. They are very handy, but require some room in front of the stack. unless you got all lift up doors. Also, now you can select smaller clear plastic shoe boxes for each open sliding drawer. That clear plastic allows you to only put in each type of tool per clear box. The shoe boxes usually come with tops and that also keeps the tools or stuff clean. Then you can stack them if there is enough room.

For others who used the same tools, you might want to put nice labels on them for identification. And not hear..."Where are those longer screwdrivers?" through the garage door to the house when your wife or child is out there searching.

You just have to not be a gorilla when pulling out the sliding base platforms, since you have or will have stacked clear boxes inside. Those steel cabinets are nice and give plenty of options. The color goes with most walls and should stay clean without stickers.

Back in our 20 something days, we sprayed several steel file cabinets to give off a palette of colors to a drab apartment/garage. I felt like painting different designs on them, but the solid colors did their intended job, without plastering them with posters or stickers. A clean look made the whole room/garage look nice. No cluttering stuff on them other than a nice color.

Jnaki

Anything with magnets will need a layer of protection, like a wooden sheet to keep them away from the metal surfaces.

One note: If your lateral file cabinets are near your hot rods or build areas, you might want to put in some earthquake straps. Those files do get heavy when pulled out, open individually or several at once. No need to see your lateral file leaning against your hot rod door... Definitely find a wall stud and not just a spreading wing nut in a normal drywall. YRMV

 

I tend to do that (organizing) when I get a case of analysis paralysis

 

Don’t pull all the drawers at once……

 

Several years ago I bought five military surplus regular file cabinets for $20 and made room for them in my shop. I labeled most drawers and started putting things in them. Wow! What a difference! I could actually find stuff now! Just yesterday I needed my vacuum pump, looked in the attached garage, no luck, looked in the my shop, no luck! Shit! Then the light bulb in my head went off…look in the file cabinet drawer marked A/C! There it was! Organization is not one of my strong points, but I’m working on it!

Edit: My storage cabinet in my attached garage!




Bones

 

A toolbox without stickers? Those are like UFOs. Some people claim to have seen them, but I think they're lying.

 

I have several flat files and lateral cabinets. Architectural/engineering firm was moving and didn’t need so many paper files. I took as many as I could, but tons got hauled to the crusher. They work great for me.

 

You can never have too much storage space.... Nice score!

Re-tasked office storage is a great way to get storage space on the cheap. Cut down the height on the file cabinets and they can make good workbench bases. Also look for discarded kitchen counter bases and shelving. Solid-core doors make good bench tops. I've never seen the lateral style file cabinet before, those are a very nice feature.

Sometimes this stuff is a good taking-off point....



I used three metal desks as donators for my lathe and mill stands (bought all three for $30 at Boeing surplus). Due to the weight of these, I built a stout steel framework out of angle and square tube and used the desk drawers/skin to help complete them. Being imports, both machines came with cheesy stands with little storage and worse yet, too low for my 6' height so I raised the machines up about 5".

I worked commercial construction for 30 years and always had my eye out for discarded materials, particularly if it was a remodel. Hauled home all sorts of things over the years. Light fixtures, large pieces of plywood or studs, any sort of usable metal. My two best scores were 9 bench bases (some with drawers, some not) and 2 under-counter multi drawer units from a dental lab. These were stout metal units (14 gauge steel). The other was about 40 lineal feet of heavy-duty shelving (same as what the big box stores use for their pallets) that will hold more than I can get on them. Even built an entire chickenhouse out of pallets used to deliver a 10 meter satellite dish, although disassembling the pallets was a drag.

I've been retired for fourteen years, finally running out of 'stock'.... LOL

 

Never saw any with doors like that, neat! I’ll have to look for one of those. I’ve got an old double door fridge , one side I keep my welding stuff, rods, wire, hoods, etc, the other side I keep spray paint, cleaning stuff, spare gaskets and other stuff in. Also makes a good place to keep my Motors and Chiltons manuals together and dry.

 

Having worked my career at Architectural/Engineering firms, all this old cabinets and plan racks became obsolete. My former employer in Michigan cleared out a lot of that about 2006. A lot of those flat file cabinets went to the dumpster. I knew one guy who was an artist (& hamber at the time) know and helped load up a number of them. Plan racks were 1” square tube (.125 wall), I took pickup loads of those home and cut them up for various projects.

 

I have a high density parts storage cabinet that was being thrown out at work made by Lyon/Stanley which I use for all of my hand tools. It's built way better than anything off of a tool truck. You can only open one drawer at a time so there is no risk of it tipping over. They are very pricey when new but I still find them cheap or free in used condition.

 

The beautiful thing is that you don't have to rummage through stuff to see what you have. I label stuff on the lids (paint) so I can just slide out the tray and grab what I need.

 

My biggest improvement in organization in my shop thus far has been a couple sets of pallet racks. My company replaced them because forklifts had bent the base of the legs a tiny bit. Anyway, for $75 a set with all the 2x12’s for the shelves seemed like a steal and they have sure been handy for storing even really heavy stuff up off the floor. I keep meaning to get organized but rarely have time for that. Instead, I just spend all my time searching for things I can’t find because I am not organized. We did just sell off some really nice bolt bin drawers just this week. But, that would just require more work on my part...

 

I've never thought of using the file cabinets for tools. Now I gotta keep and eye out for some.

 

Just make sure you aren't sitting just in front of the developer when someone uses it and manages to let all the ammonia leak out under your drafting table. With a high enough concentration, you end up passed out on the floor in the puddle.

Would love to get a set of those drawing files. And the library card files for small stuff.

 

Another place to look is under "Free stuff" on Craigslist. I have seen many ads with offices closing down
or going smaller, and giving away file cabinets, chairs, desks, etc. Great idea you shared.

 

This one works good for small parts. I found these plastic bens that fit good in it.

 

I like organization

 

I have 2 of these cabinets that the OP has shown, got them for free from my ex-wife's office with the keys. My suggestion would be to seal the bottom of the cabinet with a piece of sheet metal or wood. When you level them with the attached feet, there is a gap large enough for mice to get into the drawers and nest. Don't ask me how I know.

 

Local government auctions usually have loads of that kind of stuff, that's where I got mine.

 

Have a kodak film cabinet big drawers ,and lots of room ,doesn't make my organization any better but sure hides it LOL .Also another office type cabinet lots of drawers and also hides my disorganization LOL

 

It looks more organized than it is, I got the yellow parts cabinets years ago for a buck each best 2 bucks I have ever sent

 

And what a great way to bring your work and tools inside your house without having to explain it
to anyone. "Why are you all of a sudden spending so much time in your office now...?"

 

I like the "idea" of an orderly well organized shop but in truth I would be denying the true me! Half of the fun of working on old cars for me is the Magical Mystery Tour I get when hunting down my tools. I'm always happy to find stuff I had forgotten about and pleased that I bought it in the first place..

But seriously I need to get better. I hauled six or seven filing cabinets from my school and they promptly stored my magazine collection. now I need more or more to the point I need more real estate. one standup cabinet from my classroom I took when I retired to store my body supplies, paper, guns, etc. I guess I just have too much stuff!

Filing cabinets, if free or at least cheap, are a good source for patch panel metal...