[Shop-talk] tool boxes and storage thoughts

[Paul Mele]

Our local PTA often has nice  ball bearing file cabinets of several styles.

The less-common "lateral file" (drawer is wider than deep) make a nice place
for longer/ heavy tools.  I pay an average of $8 each.
The 2 drawer/ "half height" cabinets make a nice base for a 42 to 48" square
work bench with a half sheet of plywood on top; roll around base frame helps
if you like to rearrange the furniture often.  Of course, these are the
deeper, ball-bearing versions.  I bought 16 of them when the local dept
store relocated; they were the company office file cabinets, and again the
ball-bearing high-dollar variety.  I keep tools in these as well.  They were
$20 each.

I also second/ third the kitchen cabinet recycle ideas.

Lastly, I was lucky a few years back when Duke University went from the
(3x5) card catalog system for the library, to computerized indexing.  I got
some of the nicely made/ dovetail/ oak card catalogs with about 300 drawers
that are 3 x 5 x 17 deep.  They house most of my small parts. Ended the
collection of plastic drawer/ bins that I'd started.

I am also happy with the Sears ball bearing stuff that I've bought on sale
over the years; the cheaper friction block/ slide job that was my first tool
cabinet is now for the "uncommon" tools, since they're not as good as the BB
jobs.

HTH

PM


<A few years ago I found a whole slew of cabinets that were just about to
enter the dumpster from a neighbors' remodel.>