Retrofit Drawers

[Gunny]

Made this beast of a cabinet 27 years ago when I bought the house.  Needed a large cabinet to put my rapidly expanding tool set.  It is NOT pretty, and yes it is made of a quilt-work of materials, OSB, plywood, Particleboard shelving, MDF, and cheap #2 pine.  Measures 8 feet long, 25 inches deep and 32 inches tall.  Heavy, YES, why?  It seemed like a good idea at the time.  Even put the beast on wheels thinking I would pull it out and clean regularly.  Never happened, ever.  I have plans drawn up for this to be replaced, but that may or may not happen.  In the meantime, inspired by @Gerald  recent work on his miter station and additional cabinets, I decided to get started. 

 

So having sold the unused benchtop joiner I had kept in the drawer I now have room for other plumbing supplies I keep in stock.  This helps because I need the drawers those are in for my expanding machine screw and stainless steel screw collection.

 

This is where we start:

 

 

Used scraps from previous projects and kept with the theme of use whatever we have on hand.  Took 7/16 OSB and edge banded the upper side, less splinters this way.  Did the same with some scrap 3/4 plywood for the front and backs.  The bottoms are the old backsplash from the sink project.  Most of it was okay looking and so it gets used up.  Took me a night to wait for glue to dry but had these done in short order the next night and gave them a few quick coats of poly to seal the wood somewhat.

 

 

Once that was done I spent the afternoon installing these three.  reused the drawer front from the original drawer and cut it down to fit all 3, got lucky here but I will take it.

 

 

Drawers are installed now I need to make inserts for the PVC, CPVC, copper and some steel fittings I have.

 

Have to get back to you on that, this was as far as I got today.  Glued up a few pieces for tomorrows work.

 

 

 

[Gerald]

You do work fast

[Cal]

That was quick, I would still be thinking about it!

[HandyDan]

Storage space is always a plus.  I like it.

[BillyJack]

good fast work. i have a drawer full of electrical and plumbing. hate that drawer as its always full...

[Gunny]

55 minutes ago, BillyJack said:

i have a drawer full of electrical and plumbing. hate that drawer as its always full...

I hear ya, plumbing is not my favorite work but I hate to have to go out for a single fitting so I try to keep some stock.  So now where to put it?  Already moved that drawer twice in past few years.  

 

 

Electrical supplied, OMG this stuff must mate like rabbits at night or something.

Edited April 5, 2020 by Woodbutcherbynight

[Gunny]

Been busy today.  Created what I call eggcrate dividers for each drawer.  By the end of the day all  three are done, and I moved stuff in.  Making room in other spots for more stuff which I also moved in.

 

  

 

  

 

Front view once all loaded up and labeled.

 

 

 

[FlGatorwood]

With all that stock, you just need an engine with a set of wheels.  I just don't keep the stuff anymore.  Lowe's and a local hardware is close by and I can still turn off the water valve until opening time.  And, I like to order on line and just walk in and pick it up.  Really good job of those drawers.  

[Gunny]

57 minutes ago, FlGatorwood said:

With all that stock, you just need an engine with a set of wheels. 

My friend refers to the shop as Mini HD.    Calls me first to see if I have a item before he goes out.  And as a bonus I get ALOT of screws and other goodies from where he works.  I do okay.  

[Gunny]

10 hours ago, FlGatorwood said:

With all that stock, you just need an engine with a set of wheels.  I just don't keep the stuff anymore.  Lowe's and a local hardware is close by and I can still turn off the water valve until opening time.  And, I like to order on line and just walk in and pick it up.  Really good job of those drawers.  

I have two friends that work in construction. They bring me extras in buckets all the time.  Rarely have need for much. But storing in buckets is for the birds.

[Gunny]

Moving on from the plumbing section I am busy with converting a drawer to a hand plane til.  Since I only have 3, and one spokeshave in my collection this drawer will suit okay for the moment.  Having been warned by @steven newman if I put the hand planes together they will breed I am hoping for the best. 

 

Meanwhile it is a work in progress.  The til itself is completed and just about finished.  Back half of the drawer is a work in progress.  Counted tonight and so far I have 38 pieces making their way through some finish work to be able to install and load those drawers up.  Never mind the drawer fronts I plan to paint to coordinate plumbing, sanding supplies, hand plane til etc etc.  This is pretty much how all the other cabinets started.  A existing cabinet went through several modifications and got used for a time.  Then a proper cabinet eventually gets built.  This beast was my first shop cabinet.  The mistakes and just plain doing it wrong issues are apparent every time I get in it and fix or upgrade.  My Grandfather is laughing, I know it, I hear it over my shoulder some nights.  

 

  

 

 

[Gerald]

Don't know why y'all want to spend so much extra time storing planes when there is a easier way. Just make the drawer and use Kaizen foam inserts, make the cut outs and done,

[Gunny]

7 minutes ago, Gerald said:

Don't know why y'all want to spend so much extra time storing planes when there is a easier way. Just make the drawer and use Kaizen foam inserts, make the cut outs and done,

Good point and I have some of this foam.  Tried several layouts and this set up gave me the best bang for my buck so to speak.  Drawer is only 11 1/4 inches wide of inside usable space.    Don't ask why, I am sure at the time 28 years ago it SEEMED like a good idea.    One thing I have learned from this is that the next cabinet will have wider drawers.  I had wanted to use file folders to hang sandpaper sheets and label them.  Won't fit.   So I just made the insert and gave myself one extra hole.  Expecting to have to revisit this sometime, but not in next year at least.

 

After this shuffle without labels I would be lost trying to find anything in this cabinet.

 

For those wondering where did all this stock come from.  For about 7 years I have been cleaning out vans for a guy that takes them and resells.  Plumber vans, HVAC, carpentry vans, you name it I have cleaned them out.  While I get paid pretty good to do this part of our deal is I get to keep everything I find.  Junk is my problem to get rid of.  Now if the van has the metal cabinets and drawers, those stay.   

 

 

[Gunny]

Plane til drawer complete. Moving on to other drawers.

 

[Artie]

WHAT? No built in led rope lights? I’d say up to your usual standards.

[Gunny]

2 hours ago, Artie said:

No built in led rope lights?

You have to finish building it all, THEN the lights.  

[Cal]

Looks mighty good there Gunny

[Gunny]

Just a FYI.  Being organized and setting up organized drawers EATS TIME.

 

That being said, another drawer completed.  This one has two trays for 5 inch ROS disc and a center tray for sandpaper blocks and such.  One of several in the group, BUT I get a break the others require no inserts and no further finishing.  Moving on the next set of drawers.  Will take some more time.  For this set of boxes I edged banded some 7/16 OSB.  Used some pin nails and glue.  A bonus is the scrap I have of 7/16 OSB is slowly being used for something.

 

 

 

[Larry Buskirk]

16 minutes ago, Woodbutcherbynight said:

Just a FYI.  Being organized and setting up organized drawers EATS TIME.

...That's probably why I have most of my...

On 4/6/2020 at 7:49 AM, Woodbutcherbynight said:

extras in buckets all the time.

[Gerald]

15 minutes ago, Larry Buskirk said:

...That's probably why I have most of my...

But the payback is after this and knowing where to go. Of coarse there is that learning "now where did I put that thing?".