Cadflat Workshop Tool Cabinet Restoration.

[Oddbod]

While my lathe is waiting to be put in its permanent workshop location, I scored this tool trolley/bench from the side of the road.
Somebody decided that it was past its service date.
Side of the road shopping has always been good to me.

I intended to clean it up and see if I could restore it back to a serviceable condition.

Currently, I have had a makeshift island type cabinet/stand in my shop that has been really helpful but not mobile and looked really rough.
Somebody before me slapped it together on the cheap but it worked.

Anyway, an opportuntiy has presented itself so I will make use of this acquisition.
This not a big deal so it will only take a few posts and I dont intend to go into much detail...

[Oddbod]

This old cabinet has seen better days.
It was a bit ricketty, no wheels, no top, drawers needed attention.

I have started on it now and my plan is to add wheels on a frame that will become the new bottom shelf and raise the existing shelf up about half way, plus reinforce it as it is just folded sheet metal.
Then, I will add a back to the cabinet and a nice new top.

I tried some car polish on the paint and it came up pretty good so that was promising.
First step is to fix the drawers, replace a couple of missing screws/bolts and install a hidden frame work in it, that will connect the wheel frame/shelf directly to the new top so any weight will be better supported, as once in a while I do put heavy stuff on my bench to observe or work on.
The most recent on my old stand was a Jaguar IRS center, now that was pretty darn heavy...

[Oddbod]

I am making progress on my cabinet and will post again soon.
Just been helping a friend move house and of course waiting for paint to dry on my project.
This waiting for paint to dry in winter is a bit like watching grass grow...

[Oddbod]

Well folks, I dont want to make a meal out of this simple little project, so it is pretty much done now.
The waiting for drying paint etc is over.

This is how it has turned out and I could not be happier.
It looks way better than when I found it, it is on wheels and has functional shelves and drawers.

With the non existant top, I got a piece of form ply, cut it to oversize past the perimeter of the cabinet, rounded the corners and then used a router to put a small round arris along the top edge.
This was to allow a flush fit with the internal shape of the angle iron.

This allowed me to use a piece of 25 x 25 x 3mm angle iron as a hard edge around the form play.
I rounded the corners of the angle iron and made it a snug fit over the form play sheet.

I then sourced an off cut sheet of 2mm thick zinc alum sheet metal and cut it to a very close inside fit over the ply sheet and inside the angle edge.

I glued it to the form ply and screwed the whole thing to the cabinet from the under side.
Hence the saying, one mans trash is another mans treasure...

[Esteban]

Turned out really good and functional!!

Congratulations!

[RiverPatrol]

Looks like it will serve you well.

[Oddbod]

Thanks for your kind words.
Its been a good little project and will serve me well for many years to come I hope.
I'm sure the cabinet will out last me.

I did a similar project a few years back with one of those electric height adjustable computer desks from the 1990's or even earlier.
Purchased it for $20, removed the table top as it was a bit too heavy and large is size.
Added castor wheels, used an old door slightly cut down and put an off the side of the road Ikea metal cabinet underneath for some storage space.

It has been a great assest especially working with a variety of things I get involved with.
The height adjustment is great for my back, especially for welding and assembling.
I added a double power point to it, so when I'm plugged into the power for height adjustment, I also had power for electric tools etc...

[Esteban]

Excellent!

I need neighbors like you!