Tool box chop up!

[Pid363!]

I’m lucky enough to have a garage at the bottom of my garden but there’s just not enough room. A few years ago I got offered a snap on tool box allways wanted one and this one was cheap but I wanted a few extra draws. So I went in search of a middle box it turns out my snap on box is a rare width. I managed to find a couple but we’re silly money. I had an old roll cab at me mums to tall to narrow.


If any ones interested more to follow!

[jpsmit]

always interested in tool boxes! (toll boxes also )

[Pid363!]

Fair enough il do a bit more thanks.
So as I say I had this old Sealey roll cab sitting doing nothing. I forgot to take a pic before but this is the same.



To tall, to narrow. I’m no mechanic or fabricator but give it a go.



It had two draw sections a top and bottom on raised platforms it measured 26 inch wide my snap on box is 32.5. So I thought I would cut in half to shorten it then use the other and narrow it and stick it on the side.




The shortened box. I removed the castors cut it in half or there abouts and drilled out the spot welds holding the bottom on and moved it up. More to follow.

[Pid363!]

I fixed the base in place.



I worked out that the narrow draws would be very narrow if I left the runners on the raised platforms. The One On the right had to stay but the one on the left I cut the lips off and fitted it flat on what was the out side of the box.





I then started working out how to make the sides and as I say I’m no fabricator . I thought if I made a little frame using angel it would give me some thing to work from so some scrap angel and I started making .

[Pid363!]

I used the frame just to make it easier to form the out side of the extension

[biturbo228]

Neat I love custom-fitted toolboxes. Basically anything that makes really clever use of space is right up my street.

[Pid363!]

So once I made a frame for the top and bottom I started making the new end. I also had to cut down the lower front panel on the main box as the bottom draw would not fit.







One thing I had to get right was the height of the runners each side. First time using my new cleycos ( sorry I’m dyslexic)





The next job was to make and fit the top and bottom sheet metal. Coming together .

[Pid363!]

The metal work is not great as I rushed it a bit. The next step was to narrow the draws. The side bit had three sets of runners
and three draws left to narrow this left me with a gap at the bottom off the narrow section.

[Pid363!]

To make the narrow draws I drilled out the spot welds and removed the fronts. I then measured the width they needed to be I cut them down making the base of one side wider so I could joggle it to fit together. I then cut down the front and stuck them on.

[andyg16v]

Good approach, I would have over complicated it and tried to widen each drawer. Then messed it up and scrapped the whole thing 😂

[Pid363!]

Jun 25, 2020 19:42:19 GMT andyg16v said:

Good approach, I would have over complicated it and tried to widen each drawer. Then messed it up and scrapped the whole thing 😂

I never thought of doing that got me thinking now. The reason I did it the way I did was to match the top box!.

[Pid363!]

Next step was to clean up the metal work I used a skim of filler after my e bay cheap panel beating hammer broke after the first tap I’m not joking!



Next step was to put a lip on the new top edge. I think this bit was originally part the lower front panel.

[bmcnut]

Nice work! I think you took the right approach, As Andy said trying to widen the draws would have meant more work and potential ruin, and probably weakened it somewhat. Ive got dads old snapon topbox sitting on a trolley I rescued from work, the trolley seemed like a good idea but I havnt got any suitable boxes to put on the trollies shelves, and every time I look at bottom boxes prices I shudder. Ive got a fair amount of tool that id like to get in the box and on the trolley, I just need to work out how.

Why did you weld it when you got a couple of magnettes there?





Ill get me coat.....

[Pid363!]

Cookie it’s thanks to you I’ve done this thread practice for doing some car ones! I’m sure we can find you a roll cab for the right money don’t have to be snap off and if it’s beat up you could allways restore it in your dads old racing colours!

[kcchan]

I originally thought that the way you'd done it would be a silly idea and that you'd never fit anything in those narrow draws but now I actually think they're probably the perfect size for files, picks, maybe some screwdrivers or of you put some dividers in you could put drill bits in there. Well done! Looks like you've done a great job of that.

[Pid363!]

Next up was a coat of paint.




Tool station red looked close enough.

[bmcnut]

wow you soon got that finnished. They look like proper handy draws for all the smaller bits and pieces that would usually just rattle around in your other draws.

[Pid363!]

Jun 26, 2020 10:45:13 GMT bmcnut said:

wow you soon got that finnished. They look like proper handy draws for all the smaller bits and pieces that would usually just rattle around in your other draws.

It took me over a week to do it but I’ve only just got round to doing this thread. Last instalment coming soon I’m currently on a training course and doing it in the brakes!

[Pid363!]

When I started I removed the fake chrome strip from the front of the draws and bearing in mind the box must be at least 30 odd years old it was beat up but only one side was dull so I just turned it round The last job was to decide how I was going cover up the the gap at the bottom of the narrow section. This had no runners in this part so I decided to put a small door on it using a piece of left over draw and a piece of Piano hinge and a couple of cheap door Magnette’s!



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In the end I’ve got to admit I’m pretty chuffed with it. Including buying the box ok than was nearly 30 years ago all in with the paint etc it cost me about £60!











However I overlooked one thing the height of it! Luckily I’m 6.4” so I can see in the top but to my defence if you look and the Snap on three boxes mines only a bit taller

[Alpina99]

Absolutely brilliant work,
Got to start on my boxes and trolley's soon,
Nigel