Building a workbench - cross-stack plastic tubs for drawers

[300UGUY]

Cat????

That's what I was thinking. My cats are death on anything that moves. I had a 15 year old cat leaped down 2 flights of stairs to catch a june bug that came in the front door one night. Cat was ok, not sure how.

 

[300UGUY]

Haha yeah that would be a LOT of outlets. I hardly ever plug in a 120v tool anymore, since battery powered tools have come so far. I've been blessed by freedom from cords by DeWalt, - it's been 10 years now. Of course the chopsaw etc and the welder, have their plug-ins.

Fingers crossed no mouse turds. But you raise an interesting point I hadn't thought of. This place has been empty since mar 2016 and there was NO mouse turds in the cabinets I took out. NONE. That's really odd. You've got me wondering if someone poisoned the entire place. That's not normal, there should be some mouse turds, right? I wonder how you can find out if it's safe.

I've never had a kind thought toward rodents but like a canary in a coal mine, when they're gone you gotta wonder why. :shocked::shocked::shocked: I have plenty of years left in this world, wonderful kids, and grandkids (in my sights :thumbsup: ). I don't like being around poisons or cancer. Cancer tends to cut things short. We lost the best grandpa in the world 6 years ago. GONE. Forever. Final. And far too soon; I expected 15 more years with my father-in-law.

The tubs are thick plastic and rated for 100 lbs. You're probably thinking of these plastic tubs View attachment 501746
which are engineered to shatter after a few short years; quicker if you ever move them around. You have to be pretty careful with these tubs, don't knock them together. Or if they fall off a shelf they shatter. Good WalMart product to take your money - then plug up the landfills. Rubbermaid (to me) means the product will time-out in a few short years.

I'm using these type, which U-Line shows holding much heavier stuff than I will ever put in my workbench. I suppose they are engineered to last longer, but not sure how much longer. If they time-out in 10 years (and if no longer available) that's a problem. Buying spares now doesn't really solve the time-out problem.

Uline has some pretty nice stuff. More expensive, but better. Really nice job there, you have some pretty good welding skills.

 

[bcp]

That's what I was thinking. My cats are death on anything that moves. I had a 15 year old cat leaped down 2 flights of stairs to catch a june bug that came in the front door one night. Cat was ok, not sure how.

Our cat plays with mice, very gently. He appears to be petting them.



Bruce

 

[EddieWalker]

Great idea. I've done something similar with laundry rooms for clients. Big shelves that a laundry basket can slide into. Your method is more industrial, and a lot stronger. I also like the idea of having stuff organized into each bucket. I have toolboxes for each thing that I do. Copper, PVC, Sanding, Electrical, Caulking, Screw storage, router bits, drill bits, PEX, and sink drains. My wife is starting her own collection of tool boxes to take care of the animals. One for Goats, one for Dogs, and one for Chickens. We put them all on a big shelve and write on the sides of the tool boxes with a magic marker whats inside each one. Makes it easy to stay organized and find what you are looking for.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

Great idea. I've done something similar with laundry rooms for clients. Big shelves that a laundry basket can slide into. Your method is more industrial, and a lot stronger. I also like the idea of having stuff organized into each bucket. I have toolboxes for each thing that I do. Copper, PVC, Sanding, Electrical, Caulking, Screw storage, router bits, drill bits, PEX, and sink drains. My wife is starting her own collection of tool boxes to take care of the animals. One for Goats, one for Dogs, and one for Chickens. We put them all on a big shelve and write on the sides of the tool boxes with a magic marker whats inside each one. Makes it easy to stay organized and find what you are looking for.

Good idea Eddie. I've tried to do the same thing with the toolboxes, but here's where it falls apart for me: what do you do with common tools like a hammer, screwdriver, pliers and drill? Do you keep them in their own box, which means you have to take two boxes to each job? Or do you move them from box to box? I find that way I can never find them when I need them. Simple tools like a hammer I just buy one for each box, they're three bucks at HF.

I find the easiest shape to carry is a five gallon pail, my plumbing box gets pretty heavy and it's a pain to carry. The pail also has the advantage that if you need to carry something longer like a level or bolt cutters they can just stick out of the top. But the pails don't store well and don't organize as well as a box.

 

[EddieWalker]

Good idea Eddie. I've tried to do the same thing with the toolboxes, but here's where it falls apart for me: what do you do with common tools like a hammer, screwdriver, pliers and drill? Do you keep them in their own box, which means you have to take two boxes to each job? Or do you move them from box to box? I find that way I can never find them when I need them. Simple tools like a hammer I just buy one for each box, they're three bucks at HF.

I find the easiest shape to carry is a five gallon pail, my plumbing box gets pretty heavy and it's a pain to carry. The pail also has the advantage that if you need to carry something longer like a level or bolt cutters they can just stick out of the top. But the pails don't store well and don't organize as well as a box.

I have an extra cab F150 truck. Behind my drivers seat are two tool boxes with basically the same tools in them. Wrenches, screwdrivers and stuff like that. I'll usually leave one at the job I'm working on, and use the other for quicky jobs that I do in the morning or evening. The labeled tool boxes get loaded when I need them, and stay at the job until I'm done with them, or if I need them at home for something. Hauling stuff around is always a challenge, even with an 8 foot bed. What works out so well is that I can glance at each tool box and know whats in there. On the job, I can stack them up in a corner, out of the way.

I've found that the Stack-On yellow 23 inch tool boxes are the best. They are water proof from the rain with a solid handle, metal latches and metal through the hinges. I've gone through a lot of tool boxes, nothing compares to these in this price range.

Stack-On PY-23 23-Inch Pro Tool Box, Black/Yellow - Toolboxes - Amazon.com

 

[Sodo]

Finally got some time to work on my shop again

I found that TWO of the 11 X 18 x 7 tote size fit sideways on the drawer-slides set for the 17x24x7 size. This is good!!!

Added a support for the vise.

I can pull out all the bottom totes/drawers and broom the floor.
28" wide birch plywood top with 20" backsplash. May put a long shelf above it. I intend to cover part of the worktop with steel sheet, maybe formica on the rest (later if it gets beatup).

.
I decided the pegboard was gonna be trouble, and unattractive too and covered it over with drywall.

 

[dragoneggs]

jeez Sodo... good to hear this project is back rolling! Looking good. Is this the mountain shop? What is your finish plan for the metal structure?

I am looking at mounting a decent sized bench vise on my resurrected welding table bought online. Thinking of some kind of quick attach method so I can quickly go flat to function well as an outfield table. Your cantilevering plates give me an idea.

 

[Big Barn]

Looking good, Sodo!

Good call on the drywall. I'm not a fan of pegboard.

Terry

 

[Sodo]

This is for my 'new' home we're moving into now (in the city). I guess Im not gonna paint the steel structure, it looked like too much work. Hope it doesn't rust....:shocked: