My HF 13 Drawer Creation - Poor Boy Lista/Mr. Big

mike4605 · Mar 20, 2011

Yesterday, I worked on phase 2 of my garage redo. After seriously considering buying some Lista cabinets, I couldn't get over the value of the HF 13 Drawer cabinets. I already had the roll cab, sides and top chest, so I decided to buy 2 more 13 Drawer HF cabinets and do a 13+ foot solid unit along one wall of my garage. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get the last two of my roll cabs with the 20% off coupon like I did all of the other stuff.

All components of the unit have been secured together and a butcher block work top installed. It turned out a lot better than I expected, so I'm very happy, especially considering the whole thing cost me less than 1 of the Lista cabinets I was looking at.

Not trying to create a HF vs. Lista thread here given I know there is no comparison. However, as a homeowner non-tech, this setup should work well.

Attached are a couple of photos how it turned out.

Regards,

Mike

mcdtommy23 · Mar 20, 2011

Looks great!! Costs less than a KRA too. LOL.

csmitty · Mar 20, 2011

Can't go wrong with that. I like it. I need to add the 7 drawer to mine. I've got a bunch of Vidmar shelve units I need to add drawers to. Which even the drawers themselves are over the cost of one or two of the US Generals. But will hold alot of smaller stuff better. And more configurable.

Wingnut65 · Mar 20, 2011

Sweet. Nice setup.

Ryan · Mar 20, 2011

Right on. What method did you use to attach the units together and then attach the top?

Looks great.

rsanter · Mar 20, 2011

I am confused by the wheels
it looks like you attached the whole works togeether but with the wheels where they are I suspect it cannot be moved.
if this is the case then why did you not remove the wheels?

looks great and looks like good value for the money, but I am confised about the wheel thing

bob

dodge610 · Mar 20, 2011

That is one nice set up you have there. I was thinkin of doing something like that now that i see how nice it looks might have to pull the trigger and do it.Once again very nice.

mike4605 · Mar 20, 2011

Thanks for the comments.

Regarding the wheels, I thought about taking them off and building a base or putting on short legs. The wheels give me about 6" of lift that put my finished work top at about the height I wanted. Both the base and leg alternatives equated to more $, time and effort. I didn't really care to do a base, because I like having access underneath the boxes for toe relief. The other factor is that I will have to move in 5 years or less. This way, I can undo a few bolts and I have 3 sections that I can wheel into a moving truck.

I have a slight slope in my garage, so I cut 1/2" plywood pieces (painted black) to go under each wheel along the front of the unit. That leveled it perfectly.

As far as putting them together (from left to right), the side cab is mounted to the first 13 drawer in the typical fashion, then a 7 drawer side cabinet is used to join the first and second 13 drawer together (the lip over the top on both sides as well as the screws in the bottom). To join the 2nd and 3rd 13 drawers, I built small brackets out of steel that attach to two of the outer bolts holding the casters in place. The bracket mounts to the caster bolt on one unit, drops down to go under the side of the cabinets, and then bends back up to meet up with another caster bolt on the other roll cab. At the top, I used the two alighment holes normally used to mount the handles and used a 1/4" bolt, fender washers and a nut.

With all of it together, it doesn't roll. I tried to pull it over and couldn't. Just too much weight to really move (I don't want it to move). I also plan to make another bracket that goes from the normal mounting hold on the lower side of the last roll cabinet that ties the whole unit to the stairs in my garage. That will guarantee I get no movement.

The top is a craftsman 1 1/2" butcher block top that I bought on sale for $115. It is mounted to the wall using a ledger and then will be screwed from the underside using the holes in the top of the roll cabs, but I haven't put in these screws yet. I cut 1/2" plywood spacers to lay on top of the roll cabs so that the weight wasn't resting on the sides and back of the roll cabs.

Mike

mike4605 · Mar 20, 2011

Here is a picture of the bracket I referred to above that I used to join the 2nd and 3rd roll cabinets together.

musgofasta · Mar 20, 2011

That looks amazing.

I have 2 lower cabs - you're my hero!

eightyninecamaro · Mar 20, 2011

Looks amazing. I've got my own plans to build something similar out of wood but this looks great.

Jack Olsen · Mar 20, 2011

That looks great.

I'll agree that, ulitmately, it's not the same as a Lista. But you can do a wall like that for what, the cost of one Lista? Less?

For 98% of what you do, a drawer is a drawer -- and as consumer-level boxes go, the HF units are very well put together. (I just wish they were deeper.)

Steevo · Mar 20, 2011

I really like that look, and for those of us that aren't able to spend ten thousand dollars on Lista cabinets, it works just fine!

I am planning to do a very similar setup in my shop, with multiple HF roller cabs under the workbenches, joined with side boxes of both the drawer and cabinet types.

ptschram · Mar 20, 2011

Who can afford Lista for their home shop?

If I were to go into a shop with Lista cabinets, I'd wonder how they were able to afford them as I couldn't afford the labor rate of a shop with such expensive cabinets.

In the end, one needs a place to put their tools. A shoe box would work!

Jack Olsen · Mar 20, 2011

One of the moderators on this board can, and I have to admit that they look great.

Plus, it's an honest-to-nuts working shop.

But I can't afford them.

Except sometimes a deal comes up for second-hand units -- I got two Vidmars that way. They're definitely much sturdier than my Harbor Freight box. But the HF box is plenty sturdy (much better than my Craftsman). And like you say, at the end of the day any box at all will hold a tool.

rsanter · Mar 20, 2011

well you did a hell of a job. sounds like leaving the wheels is the way to go.

I have thought about getting several of them to build in but I really need things to be mobile

bob

ptschram · Mar 20, 2011

I should probably be careful with what I say. I used to own a testing laboratory and had some beautiful cabinetry that got away from me in one way or another, but I do have a beautiful table in my machine shop with a 36X 96 stainless top and shelf above. I lost the base cabinets-long story.

I'd love nice cabinets but if I had Listas, I'd probably sell them and make a mortgage payment

nissan_crawler · Mar 20, 2011

Looks great. I doubt you'll exceed the service life of them, in all reality. The price is right, too. I unfortunately have little floor space and had to go up with mine, instead. That looks like a great option if the space is available.

Boosted1 · Mar 20, 2011

That looks really good. I have one of the HF Bottom cabinets and like Jack O said, my only complaint is they are a little short (Front to rear).

THEFIX · Mar 20, 2011

Excellent job!! That should hold a lot of tools.

Nealcrenshaw · Mar 20, 2011

That is impressive!!!

Aspen RT · Mar 20, 2011

Very cool......Now you got me thinking about another set of HF's. :drool:

bursty · Mar 20, 2011

nice work. any pics of how you secured the butcher block?

bradleykd · Mar 21, 2011

that looks awesome man. nice work!

BajaBound · Mar 21, 2011

I just purchased the 56" on fri and I love it but what's funny is my friend and I where thinking about something like that for him as he owns the 13 drawer.

lowbucktruck · Mar 21, 2011

Geez that looks great. And you did it on a budget! Sometimes the best solution is the one you can afford, and it gets the job done... in the space you have to work with.

Dan Metzler · Mar 22, 2011

I really like this.....job well done and on a budget!

dirttracker18 · Mar 22, 2011

Looks great. I guess you have a lot of tools to fill that massive box!

A thought on the wheels, how about changing all the wheels exepct one end to casters? Then you coud move the entire thing if need be and still move it into a moving truck when taken apart? At leats you could swing it out to get behind and onder it if need be for cleaning etc.

I would think you can get the caster at a good price at HF.

Just a thought

mrstang69 · Mar 22, 2011

Nice looking box! What was the final total $ if you dont mind me asking. I'm figuring about $1300?

MyKingdom · Mar 22, 2011

Good JOB !!! :thumbup:

mike4605 · Mar 22, 2011

mrstang69 said:
Nice looking box! What was the final total $ if you dont mind me asking. I'm figuring about $1300?

I think I'm into this for more than $1,300. I bought the first roll cab, top chest, locker and side cabinet over the course of 2 years back when you could use 20% off coupons. The locker and side cabinets were returned items, so I bought them for something like $110 each after some negotiation with the manager. Accordingly, I think I had about $800 in the original setup. Then I bought 2 more roll cabs using a $349 coupon, so that puts me at about $1,500 for the cabinets. The top was $115.

I guess it adds up quicker than I thought, but it was still a pretty cheap option for that length of setup. About $120 per foot?

I will try to get some pics of how I mounted the top over the weekend.

Mike

Jack Olsen · Mar 22, 2011

So $1,650...

...which would buy you this much Lista:

archirelic · Mar 22, 2011

@ Jack!

And that really is an amazing setup on a budget! I'm wishing I had the room in my garage to accommodate something of that size...oh, and wishing I had that many tools as well!

bobemmerich · Mar 22, 2011

Nicely done! I'm doing the same thing with 2 C-man lower boxes to put my 52" top box on. Now that I see your set up, it gives me some more ideas :thumbup:

. Hope you don't mind if I "steal" some of your design... :thumbup:

kfainf · Mar 22, 2011

Great looking setup with plenty storage. I am a very budget minded person myself and you did good with your investment.

472scout · Mar 23, 2011

I wouldn't mind having that setup myself, but with a steel top and fixed base.

Layspeed · Mar 23, 2011

Very nice setup! I'd do that if I ever get a garage of my own again. Also, I've never even heard of Lista stuff until I joined this forum...man that blue is soo nice!

Allstar · Mar 23, 2011

Really nice setup!! Here is what I did...

Call me the Breeze · Mar 23, 2011

Very nice set up! ( yours too allstar)

Matt M PA · Mar 23, 2011

Very nice indeed! I feel in some ways fortunate to not have any wall space left for such an endeavor....(cause I'd be spending funds that are tight now)...and also disappointed 'cause I'd love to do that!

My HF 13 Drawer Creation - Poor Boy Lista/Mr. Big

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