Tool cart Mod (Horrible freight) US General.
In need of a cart/tool box to server my laser.. So again I combed the net for solutions. and decided the horrible freight tool cart is as good as its going to get. the only real down fall to this cabinet in my opinion is the lid… while it looks cool and works great. Its one biggest flaw? you can’t use the surface to work on. and still access the inside tools. the lid it self has a mechanism that will not allow the drawers to open unless the lid it self is open! WTF?!.
Time to mod the hell out of the lid. 1st step. “Remove all the mechanisms regarding the lid locking the drawers”. Okay now the drawers can be opened with no respect to the lid. 2nd step. mod the lid to be a work surface. and still be able to get inside the cabinet. “drawer slides”!!!!.
Pics below.
if horrible, why modify????
The cart isn’t horrible it just had some attributes that did not suit me. so I modded them hence the mod and explination.
The term Horrible freight wasn’t directed at this specific product. its a general term like Dons lounge. while they have many great deals.
they also have some horrible products. IMO. (the cart is not one of them).
I’m curious how useful that sliding work surface is actually going to be. I mean, as I imagine what I typically use work surfaces for, its banging on something or otherwise using it as a solid imoveable object. But unless that tool cart is laden with every tool I own by some trick of cosmic space, or here’s lead weights epoxied underneath, it’s going to tip over as soon as a fingertip of weight is placed on the outter half of that surface. Hence the mechanism, I’m guessing.
So how’d that work out?
John,
Not defending the default/Stock HF cart in any way. But for me and to name a few. 1: I changed out the stock casters and used urethane casters. which in turn makes the work surface a little less “slide’e?”(is that even a word?)
Also, I didnt build it to bang on specifically. It was to be a multipurpose table. 2: Like moving things like from the bed of my truck to the ground. (which has allowed me to unload things like a full size refrigerator by my self. 3: As a flat jig/clamping surface for welding. All these things have met my expectation. I reserve my vice and anvil and other surfaces for the hammering! If it were stock though? it would most certainly slide around. And the stock table/surface is some thin sheet metal. -Sam
This is awesome! I completely agree with you about the lid being the carts downside!
Slick. I dig it
Thanks! -S