DIY 52" Rolling Tool Cabinet under $60

**nine4gmc** · Mar 22, 2012, 04:00 AM

With more time than money, I can get pretty creative for cheap. I am building this 52" rolling tool cabinet and just about have it ready to finalize. It started life as a Datamation Cart and a Steelcase Lateral File Cabinet that I picked up at auction for $40 and $15 respectively.

I started out by drilling the spot welds from the inner supports on the file cabinet that hold the drawer slides in place. Then I removed all the shelving from the data cart and cut the slide supports to fit inside. The file cabinet had 12" high drawers, I used one 12" for the bottom, then cut one in half for a 6" drawer. Next, I cut three drawers down to 4" to fill in the rest. After finishing the drawers, I cut the doors to fit them, excuse the hammer dings, I had to hammer and dolly all the edges since I do not have a box brake and I got lazy on the last few. Lastly, I cut the remaining door to fit the right side as an extra storage compartment. I plan to add at least one shelf in the right side before I finish.

This is where I am at now, I still have to weld everything in place, get a wheel(1 was damaged), finish the body work and paint it, then add the wood top I have for it. Drawer Dimensions: (1) 12"x 40"x 18" (1) 6"x 40"x 18" and (3) 4"x 40"x 18", side cabinet 8"x 18"x 30"h. The drawers are rated at 150lbs spread evenly and have some sweet heavy duty ball bearing sliders.

**Old Fool** · Mar 22, 2012, 01:36 PM

Originally Posted by nine4gmc

With more time than money, I can get pretty creative for cheap. I am building this 52" rolling tool cabinet and just about have it ready to finalize. It started life as a Datamation Cart and a Steelcase Lateral File Cabinet that I picked up at auction for $40 and $15 respectively.

I started out by drilling the spot welds from the inner supports on the file cabinet that hold the drawer slides in place. Then I removed all the shelving from the data cart and cut the slide supports to fit inside. The file cabinet had 12" high drawers, I used one 12" for the bottom, then cut one in half for a 6" drawer. Next, I cut three drawers down to 4" to fill in the rest. After finishing the drawers, I cut the doors to fit them, excuse the hammer dings, I had to hammer and dolly all the edges since I do not have a box brake and I got lazy on the last few. Lastly, I cut the remaining door to fit the right side as an extra storage compartment. I plan to add at least one shelf in the right side before I finish.

This is where I am at now, I still have to weld everything in place, get a wheel(1 was damaged), finish the body work and paint it, then add the wood top I have for it. Drawer Dimensions: (1) 12"x 40"x 18" (1) 6"x 40"x 18" and (3) 4"x 40"x 18", side cabinet 8"x 18"x 30"h. The drawers are rated at 150lbs spread evenly and have some sweet heavy duty ball bearing sliders.

Very Nice !