It's not a SORTIMO, but check out my parts cabinet I made!

Like a lot of people I'm sure, I recently watched the episode of Tested where Adam Savage showed off his Sortimo parts cabinets.


I loved the idea but knew I could not afford that quality or brand of system. I then decided to search about making my own. I ran across this website here:

http://davewirth.blogspot.com/2014/07/organize-parts-storage-stacking-cases.html

After thinking about making a cabinet from scratch, I thought of something that I use daily in my work that would almost fit the bill.

http://www.webstaurantstore.com/reg...-unassembled-20-pan-capacity/600PR20316K.html

I knew to use one of these bun pan racks that they would need to be modified. There are several styles that range from bolt together, welded & even riveted. The easiest to modify was going to be a bolt together. After a quick craigslist search, I found a local used restaurant supply place and went to pick one out. $65 later and I had this back at my house:

<a href="http://s239.photobucket.com/user/ybnormal70/media/PartsCabinetStage11.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff215/ybnormal70/PartsCabinetStage11.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo PartsCabinetStage11.jpg"/></a>

The cart was very wobbly but the depth was perfect and only the width needed to be shortened. I remove all 6 of the cross bars and found that they were all held together with a bolt and a wedge nut that was inside the tubing. I cut off both ends of the tubing to remove these and get the desired width I needed. To connect everything back together I picked up 2 6' pieces of 5/16” all thread. I cut them to my desired width and bolted everything back together with lock nuts and washers. It is now very very sturdy.

I based all of my measurements on the Harbor Freight Portable Parts Storage Cases:

http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=portable+parts+storage+case+bin

The larger of the 3 bins will only fit 2 on the very top shelf due to it's height. I can fit up to 38 of the 20 bin cases. I can also fit 4 of the smaller ones per shelf if I install a bottom on a rack. I do plan to do this to at least 2 shelves just to have a little variety. That will leave me with 2 large, 34 medium and 8 small parts cases. That is a lot of storage.

After assembly of the cart and putting in a few cases, I realized that I would need to have a shelf/table to set it on to look for my required items. I then thought of a folding shelf on one side so I ordered these:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006FKP40/?tag=atomicindus08-20

This led to me installing a small folding shelf on one side. I then put a little bit of trim around the edge so that I could keep small parts and the case from sliding off. The shelf has 3 locking positions (1 I think will make a great laptop table for shop use):

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-...CHkVc/w808-h606-no/20140802_183630-MOTION.gif

<a href="http://s239.photobucket.com/user/ybnormal70/media/PartsCabinetStage31.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff215/ybnormal70/PartsCabinetStage31.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo PartsCabinetStage31.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s239.photobucket.com/user/ybnormal70/media/PartsCabinetStage32.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff215/ybnormal70/PartsCabinetStage32.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo PartsCabinetStage32.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s239.photobucket.com/user/ybnormal70/media/PartsCabinetStage33.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff215/ybnormal70/PartsCabinetStage33.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo PartsCabinetStage33.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s239.photobucket.com/user/ybnormal70/media/PartsCabinetStage34.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff215/ybnormal70/PartsCabinetStage34.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo PartsCabinetStage34.jpg"/></a>

Then I had the idea to install pegboard on the sides to give me even more storage for smaller items:

<a href="http://s239.photobucket.com/user/ybnormal70/media/PartsCabinetStage42.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff215/ybnormal70/PartsCabinetStage42.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo PartsCabinetStage42.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s239.photobucket.com/user/ybnormal70/media/PartsCabinetStage43.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff215/ybnormal70/PartsCabinetStage43.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo PartsCabinetStage43.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s239.photobucket.com/user/ybnormal70/media/PartsCabinetStage48.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff215/ybnormal70/PartsCabinetStage48.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo PartsCabinetStage48.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s239.photobucket.com/user/ybnormal70/media/PartsCabinetStage49.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff215/ybnormal70/PartsCabinetStage49.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo PartsCabinetStage49.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s239.photobucket.com/user/ybnormal70/media/PartsCabinetStage412.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff215/ybnormal70/PartsCabinetStage412.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo PartsCabinetStage412.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s239.photobucket.com/user/ybnormal70/media/PartsCabinetStage413.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff215/ybnormal70/PartsCabinetStage413.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo PartsCabinetStage413.jpg"/></a>


All in all, I am very happy with this cabinet. I can store a very very large assorments of items, it is mobile and can be configured in a number of different ways. The approximate price breakdown is as follows:

Bun rack $60
5/16” all thread $12
Folding shelf brackets $41
Wood for shelf $10
2 Large Parts Bins $28
8 Small Parts Bins $32
38 Medium Parts Bins $270
1 sheet of pegboard $18
Various fasteners $10

Total $481

I think for a little over $500 give or take it was well worth it. If you waited for a harbor freight 20% off $100 or more you could really save on the parts bins, almost $60 savings vs sale price. All in all, I am very happy with it.

All pics can be seen here:

http://s239.photobucket.com/user/ybnormal70/library/?sort=2&page=1

What do you all think? Anything you would change or recommend? Lets hear your opinions.

Kevin

Very nice.

Nice work!

Well thought out. I like it.

Wouldn't change a thing. Very well thought out. Where did you source the parts sorting tray?

John Minton

The little yellow one in the pic came from Harbor Freight also.

Kevin

I like it!

Brilliant!

That is a great solution and custom made to suit your needs, well done!

How are those HF bins as far as things getting mixed up when you pick them up by the handle?

Very well thought out - great job!

I'm sure if I carried them around a lot by the handle they could possibly have very small items move around some. I have not had it happen and I have moved them around by the handle a decent bit. They are not perfect by any means, but for $7 a piece for the mid size, they are fit my needs excellent.

Thanks,

Kevin

Freakin sweet! May be stealing that idea!

Great idea! Now I have to start looking for a bun rack. Hope you don't mind if I steal your ideas?

I like that! The colors are even perfect for my shop

I was hoping others would like this idea well enough to use it themselves. I've learned a lot from this site and the members here. I was hoping this is something I could give back a little bit.

Thanks for all the great compliments everyone!!!!

Kevin

This storage system belongs in The Thread of Awesome!

ybnormal70 said:

I'm sure if I carried them around a lot by the handle they could possibly have very small items move around some. I have not had it happen and I have moved them around by the handle a decent bit. They are not perfect by any means, but for $7 a piece for the mid size, they are fit my needs excellent.

Thanks,

Kevin

Click to expand...

Thanks, at a tiny fraction the cost of SORTIMO I was worried they may be complete junk, I'll have to check them out and maybe steal your idea like everyone else.

Impressive! Always wanted the sortimo system but now have a realistic option!

Great job. Patent it and sell it.

That is a great set up! Looks like a lot of storage in a small footprint. Great work man!

Exactly what I am planning on doing, love these nice lil bins, I have about 20 filled already..

great job..

I would have reinforced it with something more stout than pegboard. Also I would have reinforced it at the base, top, and mid section where the cross piece is located, probably with sheet metal. Once you start to fill up those parts bins you will be putting a lot of weight on just a few pieces of tubing.

I used to have one of these catering carts, but with solid aluminum sides, back, top and bottom, and with a solid hinged front door. So, basically, way more stout than yours. I used the stainless steel baking sheets that are meant to slide into these things. It did hold a good bit of stuff, but it was quite precarious and awkward moving it around because of its height and small foot print. You have made yours even narrower.

I ended up getting rid of mine after I got proper cabinets. I do hope you end up enjoying this, though. If I were you I would only roll it front to back, not sideways, and very slowly. And watch out for anything you left on the floor that will want to bring your cabinet to an immediate halt. I have found that no matter how clean you think your floor is, these kinds of cabinets are extremely adept at finding the small bits you missed. Good luck!

It is narrow but I do plan to keep the heaviest items on the bottom to help lower the center of gravity. The cart is very stout as it is. These are made to hold quite a bit of weight as 40 stainless or aluminum sheet pans filled with bread dough is pretty heavy. I have thought of making a little bit wider/lower base with better casters with locks if it becomes a problem.

Thanks again for all the compliments everyone!!!

Kevin

http://www.webstaurantstore.com/bun...tic-with-3-zippers-7-9-mils/962SRC583ZIP.html

For $20 they even make a zippered cover that would keep dust and dirt off of them if needed.

Kevin

I love the utility of this, but I have the same fear as miner. I have one of the harbor freight one sided bin cabinets on casters. It is thin, tall and holds bunches of weight. I only pull it in and out of its own cabinet and I can feel how unstable it is only doing this. I suspect yours will be amplified, after all it's meant to carry buns!

You got nice bracing north/south, but realistically have next to nothing east/west. I minimally would get some X-bracing thru the middle between the boxes. Also I would sacrifice the small footprint and add some outriggers.

Of course, you have your hands on the great project. It might feel perfectly fine!

Good job.

Cut away some of the rails and you can fit the bigger, heavier boxes on the bottom rather than at the very top.

Beautiful!!

Awesome job!

Very nicely done. I made something similar a while back using plywood (prior to ever seeing the Sortimo setup that Adam has) , mine only holds somewhere around 16 cases though. When I run out of space or move into another house, I'll probably remake it to resemble yours/the sortimo version.

That does look awesome, great ingenuity !!

I do see a problem however...
it is NOT in my Garage ( LOL )

Great job. I'm impressed. Need to be on the lookout for one of those trayholders myself.

Thsi is great. Awesome idea

Like.

I love seeing stuff repurposed like this. Awesome job!

Good job thinking outside the box.

take some round rod, drill and tap each end, and fasten it through the holes of the pegboard to make some bin stops. That way when you slide them back in they will be all lined up.

Awesome! I want one!