Craftsman Toolbox Plans?

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Has anyone thought about/attempted to make their own toolbox?  I cannot stomach spending $500 - $1000 just for something to keep my tools in at home.  Although I admit it would work better than the cardboard boxes and plastic toolboxes I currently have my home tools in.I looked around at knockoffs of Craftsman/Matco toolboxes.  Even the cheapest knockoffs (Grizzly, Husky) are still pretty expensive.Wanted to see if anyone has attempted, and what level of success they had.PS - Feel free to write back and let me know what a cheap *** I am.
Reply:With all the metal and time it would take, just buy one!Owner of Welding Wiki,The free wiki based resource for weldor's around the world.http://www.weldingwiki.comWe have cookies!
Reply:I feel your pain having wanted/needed a central storage solution for my misc tools.    I have a nifty work bench, but it's covered with small craftsman tool boxes.   I'm in the process now of building a 17 drawer, 15 cubic foot rolling tool chest out of aluminum.   Where I work, I have near unlimited access to aluminum extrusion and occasional access to 1/8" sheet.    All my drawers are made from 1/8" sheet.   The frame is made from 2"x2"x1/8" wall box tube.   I've allways had difficulty setting drawer slides level and accurate, so I cut out a section of the tube and welded in a T-slot extrusion.    The fabrication has slowed a bit due to other household needs, but I hope to have it done by year end.   I've added a gas strut mechanism to raise the tool chest lid to provide access to a 3" deep tray beneath.   The drawer slides are all 200lb rated and cost me less than $5 per pair ordered online.   I've scavanged the caster and most of the hardware bits and with what I've had to buy in terms of Argon, I'll have less than $200 into it when it's done.  Sure I'll also have more than 100 hours, but thats the fun of it.   I plan to start a thread in the projects section with more pictures as i get closer to finished. Attached ImagesThere are no small projects
Reply:Nicely done Imagineer,Be sure to keep posting pictures as you move forward.
Reply:I know what you mean. When I built my work shop, I looked at all kinds of toolboxes and didn't see myself paying $1000 for them. I finally built one out of wood, more like a dresser, that's 12' wide, 3' deep and 4 1/2' high. The top is made with 2 x 8" and can be used as a worktable. Very cheap to make, very sturdy and can handle ALL the tools you can put in there! Probably cost me around $250 to make. I used a lot of materials from second-hand construction supplies stores.
Reply:As luck would have it, I was in the right place at the right time. While working as a contractor at Anthem I got to know some of the guys on the facilities crew. One day Tim came to me and said, hey we're throwing out a buch of micro film cabinets. They look alot like tool boxes, would you be intresed? I jumped at the chance to check them out, and am I gladd. I was given five cabinets 36"w 16"L 4"D. 11 drawers tall. I don't say this to brag, just to say I'd hit up some used office supply shops and see how much they go for. Most around here sell file cabinets for about 100.00 so I would think these would be similar in price.
Reply:Originally Posted by imagineerI feel your pain having wanted/needed a central storage solution for my misc tools.    I have a nifty work bench, but it's covered with small craftsman tool boxes.   I'm in the process now of building a 17 drawer, 15 cubic foot rolling tool chest out of aluminum.   Where I work, I have near unlimited access to aluminum extrusion and occasional access to 1/8" sheet.    All my drawers are made from 1/8" sheet.   The frame is made from 2"x2"x1/8" wall box tube.   I've allways had difficulty setting drawer slides level and accurate, so I cut out a section of the tube and welded in a T-slot extrusion.    The fabrication has slowed a bit due to other household needs, but I hope to have it done by year end.   I've added a gas strut mechanism to raise the tool chest lid to provide access to a 3" deep tray beneath.   The drawer slides are all 200lb rated and cost me less than $5 per pair ordered online.   I've scavanged the caster and most of the hardware bits and with what I've had to buy in terms of Argon, I'll have less than $200 into it when it's done.  Sure I'll also have more than 100 hours, but thats the fun of it.   I plan to start a thread in the projects section with more pictures as i get closer to finished.
Reply:Originally Posted by imagineerI feel your pain having wanted/needed a central storage solution for my misc tools.    I have a nifty work bench, but it's covered with small craftsman tool boxes.   I'm in the process now of building a 17 drawer, 15 cubic foot rolling tool chest out of aluminum.   Where I work, I have near unlimited access to aluminum extrusion and occasional access to 1/8" sheet.    All my drawers are made from 1/8" sheet.   The frame is made from 2"x2"x1/8" wall box tube.   I've allways had difficulty setting drawer slides level and accurate, so I cut out a section of the tube and welded in a T-slot extrusion.    The fabrication has slowed a bit due to other household needs, but I hope to have it done by year end.   I've added a gas strut mechanism to raise the tool chest lid to provide access to a 3" deep tray beneath.   The drawer slides are all 200lb rated and cost me less than $5 per pair ordered online.   I've scavanged the caster and most of the hardware bits and with what I've had to buy in terms of Argon, I'll have less than $200 into it when it's done.  Sure I'll also have more than 100 hours, but thats the fun of it.   I plan to start a thread in the projects section with more pictures as i get closer to finished.
Reply:The part of the drawer slide that attaches to the drawer has metal extensions that are pinched slightly.   The main body of the drawer slide has a rubber bumper attached to it.  When the drawer slide is closed, the extensions slide over the rubber bumper and hold the drawer closed.    If it turns out that the drawers won't stay closed, or if the rubber bumpers wear out, I've got an idea to make non-contact magnet catches using powerful magnets salvaged from old computer hard drives.    I'm also playing around with a single key lock idea to lock all 17 drawers and the lid too.   The attached picture is a rendering of the cad file.  It doesn't't show the drawers or casters, but it shows the idea I'm working toward.   BTW, the side panels as shown are actually done now.    They're 1/8" sheet, bent on a sheet brake, welded in and ground smooth.   My goal is to have the frame look as if it was all machined from a huge block of billet. Attached ImagesThere are no small projects
Reply:Very nice!  You better not put that thing on wheels.  I might be tempted to drive it home.Funny that you mention hard drive magnets.  I salvage those things also.  You can hold a thick stack of papers on a refrigerator with those things.  No need for filing cabnets.  They are super strong.  You almost cant get them off what you stick them to without a prybar.  I just wish they were in more usable shapes.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:Pretty cool there!  What program did you use for the rendering?
Reply:Autodesk Inventor 10.   All the intial design and drawings were done using AutoCAD 2004, but I recently went through a 3 day training in Inventor.    So rather than put my new found  3D CAD skills to use for the company, I modeled my tool chest.   The "rendering" I attached is a printscreen snapshot that I cropped down to size.There are no small projects
Reply:Finally got back on the all aluminum tool chest project.   It’s near complete.   Installing the lid on the lifting arms was a little like wrestling an octopus, using only your feet and blindfolded.     Left to do is fabricate a foot pedal to lift the top evenly and enough for the gas struts to take over.     I also have to relocate the middle cross support at the top of the frame so I can take advantage of all the storage area under the lid.   Installing and aligning drawers will be easy with the T-slots built into the frame.   Once all the drawer slides are located, I plan to remove all the drawers and shoot a coat of black Herculiner in them.   Once that’s all done, it will be weeks of filing, grinding and sanding to get to the brushed finish I’m looking for. Attached ImagesThere are no small projects
Reply:Every well equiped shop should have a couple of these babies.....http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/tools...e=snapon-store   Attached ImagesHobbiest hack
Reply:imagineer,That box you are creating is really great.Like the old wooden chests that our grandpappy's used to make...hand-built and one-of-a-kind....I believe your tool box is destined to become a family heirloom.Excellent work!
Reply:Yes, that is gonna be sweet!
Reply:Once you are done and have worked out the kinks, I think it is safe to say that you could post your final plans on the internet.  Most of us would be happy to spend $10 - $15 for the plans.  Just in case you are in need of any additional income...By the way, your profile says you live in Wayne County, OH.  I lived there for 6 years and worked a couple of summers at the Lowe's north of the college.  Where are do you live in Wayne County?
Reply:Hey!  How's that toolbox coming???  Any new pics?  Are you a signman too??  I have all those tools!
Reply:Originally Posted by huntindogHey!  How's that toolbox coming???  Any new pics?  Are you a signman too??  I have all those tools!
Reply:THAT is something to be really proud of. I love it. I love the FORM and FUNCTION being built in at the same time. I always make it work and then figure out how to make it look good. I never seem to nail them both at the same time. You should get some KILLER photos when it is done....just in case someone steals it.
Reply:Originally Posted by d38710Once you are done and have worked out the kinks, I think it is safe to say that you could post your final plans on the internet.  Most of us would be happy to spend $10 - $15 for the plans.  Just in case you are in need of any additional income...By the way, your profile says you live in Wayne County, OH.  I lived there for 6 years and worked a couple of summers at the Lowe's north of the college.  Where are do you live in Wayne County?
Reply:Quick update.    Since the welding table is now finished, I'm back on the toolchest project.   The next phase, improving the lid lifting action, required me to do some more welding.   I put the toolchest frame onto my new, nifty (and flat) welding table and...it rocked like a quickly built baby cradle.   Despite all my planning, measuring and clamping, the frame is (was, read on below) out of square by about an inch!!!I brought it into work today and clamped it onto a 3" thick acorn table.   I put 1" spacers under the low corners and clamped down on the high corners and . . . one loud click.   The necessary welds broke somewhat cleanly.  Now I'll be able to clamp it to the welding table at home and re-weld it flat and square.Just goes to show that the one of the 1st projects for a novice welder (like I am somewhat), should be a welding table.There are no small projects
Reply:your signature says it all  ...zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Nice box, I really like it, but what about a top box?  You know you'll fill it up sooner than you think, right?HH 180 HF O/AHF Plastic Welder HF 14" CutoffHF 4 1/2" GrinderMiller big window elite Dewalt 18 Volt Cordless 4 1/2" GrinderGNB 48 volt 500 AH battery (At 5 - 8 hour rate)Mostly Things that start with H
Reply:Originally Posted by H2SO4_guyNice box, I really like it, but what about a top box?  You know you'll fill it up sooner than you think, right?Every well equiped shop should have a couple of these babies.....http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/tools...e=snapon-store  Attached Images  There are a few of those boxes up a Roush Industries were I use to workWill   Supports Autism Awareness                            My ToysBobCat 225 PLusMillermatic 130Miller Spectrum 300 CutmateEverlast Power Tig 185 Micro April is Autism Month .
Reply:My dad made his own toolbox out of an old refrigerator someone was giving away. He gutted it all out, added tracks and drawers and slapped on some swivel casters to roll it around.
Reply:Here's the side locker I built for my box at work.Clark toolbox from TSC (The best box I ever bought)Flames I cut out with the plasma, it's offset from the box 1/4"DewayneDixieland WeldingMM350PLincoln 100Some torchesOther misc. tools
Reply:thats cool fuzz. what does the inside look like? I would like to build something like that for mine as well
Reply:I didn't add anything on the inside, I wanted it open to put big stuff in that wouldn't fit in my box.  It's made of 10ga., I know that's way overkill but that's what I had to work with.  It has a piece of UHMW on the top, it makes a good dry erase board.DewayneDixieland WeldingMM350PLincoln 100Some torchesOther misc. tools
Reply:good looking box littlefuzz I made a side box for mine as well not as fancy as yours heres a few pics  Attached ImagesCreative metal Creative metal Facebook
Reply:it's always better to make it yourself, I think.  Is it aluminum? Looks good.DewayneDixieland WeldingMM350PLincoln 100Some torchesOther misc. tools
Reply:yeah it is aluminum I needed some where to safely store my miller helmet when I brought it they cost to much over here Creative metal Creative metal Facebook
Reply:its not a flash toolbox but heres one I made out of aluminum about 14 yrs ago  Attached ImagesCreative metal Creative metal Facebook
Reply:good thread
Reply:That's nice too wello.  Are the drawers on bearings?DewayneDixieland WeldingMM350PLincoln 100Some torchesOther misc. tools
Reply:no the draws slide on a aluminum C section over aluminum angle Creative metal Creative metal Facebook
Reply:Here's some great cabinets one of our members made.  Complete with CAD plans for download...Mxtras Custom ToolboxesTOOLandFAB.com See our Articles and Member Writeups and Tool Review Sections
Reply:Well…there it is.   Two years, about $140 in hardware and consumables and a bunch of scrap aluminum.   Except for the casters, drawer slides and gas shocks (to raise the lid), every component was scratch built from aluminum.Some added features:There’s a single key lock mounted in the lid that will lock the lid and all 17 drawers.There’s a hidden button under the front top frame rail to the left of the center post that extends the spring loaded foot lever at the bottom.   Step on the foot lever and the lid opens about 4” where the gas shocks take over and raise it the rest of the way.The inside of the drawers and the tray under the lid have been painted with a thick coat of Duplicolor Truck Bed Liner.Still to do…The entire exterior of the case will be ground smooth and sanded up to 220 grit paper.  Then everything will be vertically brushed with a stainless steel “shoe brush” to give the exterior a consistent finish (the drawer fronts have already been done). Attached ImagesThere are no small projects
Reply:wow great looking box. you know if you were to give me that box you would get the fun of building another one. just trying to help ya out, after all wouldnt want you to be bored. LOL so all the aluminum came from work as freebee scraps, wow that must have saved you a bundle. summer is here, plant a tree for mother earth. if you dont have time or space, sponcer some one else to plant one for you.feel free to shoot me a PM or e-mail me at [email][email protected] i got lots of time.
Reply:oh, if ya dont mind i think i would rather have a polished finish on it so hit it with some 440grit and then buff it out befor ya ship it out to me OK. thanks. 8^)) summer is here, plant a tree for mother earth. if you dont have time or space, sponcer some one else to plant one for you.feel free to shoot me a PM or e-mail me at [email][email protected] i got lots of time.
Reply:Sweet box
Reply:looks great are you taking orders??? lol
Reply:Imagineer thats looks great. As much as I would love to have the time to build something like that myself I dont. I also dont really belive in paying tons of money for them. For stuff like toolboxes that really dont ever go bad Im a firm beliver in buying used. Check craigslist.com ebay.com local newspapers, ect. If you have the paitence 300 bucks will go much further if you buy used.
Reply:Wow! You really have to be one proud fabricator when you see that box.  A midsize box like that from one of the majors go for like 3k and up.Hope in the time it took to build you didn't acquire more tools so you need to start making another.  LOL
Reply:GDAthat would be a good thing not a bad one. more tools is always good and an excuse to make another box like that must not be hard to come up with. 8^)) summer is here, plant a tree for mother earth. if you dont have time or space, sponcer some one else to plant one for you.feel free to shoot me a PM or e-mail me at [email][email protected] i got lots of time.
Reply:WOW IMAGINEER!!!  Very fine craftsmanship!!  Well thought out project!!  One of the finest I've ever seen on this site!!  Great job!!
Reply:No, but i painted my upright single door freezer to look just like a huge red & black Craftsman toolbox complete with chrome molding to represent drawer handles and real Craftsman logos and key slots, You outa see the reaction when I send someone over to get me a tool,,,,
Reply:awesome work imagineer, your attention to detail is incredible.  Brian MoyerMoyer Welding & Fabrication       LaSalle MI
Reply:VERY cool undertaking.  I privately despise my brother whos got the Snap On XXL (a $14,000 system).  Hate to post this, but I just bought a $560Craftsman toolchest from Sears for $240.  Funny thing is that I filled it and STILL have tools laying about!  Guess I needed more storage than I thought.Too bad the sale is over, and I dont have another coupon for ya.  The key is to keep looking from time to time.http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...TOOL&ihtoken=1ThermalArc 185MillerMatic 180 w/ AutosetVictor Cutskill Oxy/AcetyleneThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 38and spite!