We are inside, finishing up all the built-in and trim work, and my pard is saying we would be better organized if we had a tiered-shelf cart on which to keep the smaller tools and all the fastener and hardware stuff we’re using.
Anybody have any ideas?
Replies
Hey, I have done a ton, ton, ton of finish work and a very large part of it premilling, sizing, beveling, routing for hinges, installing doors, and then installing hardware and such on them. A rolling cart is a God send if you want to save a lot of leg work when you move to a new location, even if only down one doorway or so. The ability to store all the parts of and boxes of hardware is great, with less bending over, too, that alone you will love. And if you use two or more router set-ups and boring jigs with a few different drills in the running and the different bits handy on one shelf ready to grab at a glance, it's great....real great. The best I've seen is a Rubbermaid type.......like you see in all the schools. Very durable, and the wheels roll very well, that's important, and it's nearly all thick fiberglass plastic so it's light yet very tough as well. The only problem I've ever encountered is putting it into a tool packed truck without disassembly, that would be an ideal to have it all, but the most important is sturdy and ease of rolling, the larger the wheels the better. ~Zorro~
PS Even a small burro saw horse with a lower shelf built-in is great for sitting on and just reaching below for whatever you can fit below while you are fitting or routing and such.......Good Luck!
Edited 1/15/2006 4:59 pm ET by zorrosdens
carts all the time... have 2 ex motel laundry carts wheels on the corners and all, trash cans on each end... 2" lipped try top... (all metal) i punched a bunch of holes in to hold tools... think i gave $5 each for em at the motel salvage place
also have 4-5 shopping carts gave $5ea for em at a store closing... my plumber loves em for fitings ect... any of em make a 3 trip job into a 1 trip job
p
did a trim/punch list job on a commercial site once ... the maintenence dept had a coupla of those rubbermaid carts. They were great to work out of ... just load up and roll from task to task ...
strap a small garbage can and shop vac and clean as ya go.
best part ... this was in an 8 or 10 story building and I had the key for the delivery elevator.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
I use the Rubber Maid one too. I used to bungee everything onto a two-wheel cart. Was a real pain when it was time to move. Now this one keeps everything off the floor and is very mobile. Saves the knees and back. The only disadvantages are: Takes up a lot of space in the van and has trouble rolling over cords and scraps and rough terrain.
This is true of wheeled Knack boxes and anything you want to roll over any cords and hoses......6 in. wheels are a must in this dept........at least you have a chance of getting over obstacles without as much trouble.
Bigger is better!
Edited 1/21/2006 12:25 am ET by zorrosdens
I have made 4-5 of these over the years, for the very reason you mention.
But I gave up on them. Even though I went to great lengths to make them as light as possible, they were still too heavy to move in and out of the truck when loaded.
I got a Veto XL for all my hand tools, and 4 large size milk crates for any power tools I want to take with me, and move it all with one of those collasible two wheelers.
I am still looking for a better way.......................
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"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=6650
They have a two tier one for $22.99.
I have one of the wire ones that I got at Sam's, only used it on a couple of jobs as anything with a flat space gets covered up asap. I have one of the green wagons that I put bags and boxes on if I am going to be on a big site for a while. My 37" contico boxes fir great on it. can move them around and then set them off and haul various materials with it.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=38137
Mine was only $39. I believe Lowes or HD has a yellow one that has fold down/removable sides.
Us intelligent 'lectricians sometimes get to use carts. They are indeed very handy for moving all the boxes of little parts from room to room. It is handy to have a safe place to store it overnight like a closet.
I have a Harbor Freight model which I have modified. I put the top tray on upside down. Then I fastened a 28" by 38" piece of 0.750 plywood to the top to serve as a workbench. I replaced the casters with 10" pneumatic tires [HF: $10 each] but they tend to loose air over time. By drilling appropriate holes, I can mount a vise [even though I know vices are not allowed of job sites], benchtop drill press, grinder or whatever to the top.
Also I installed one of those 6 outlet thingies, a couple of big hooks to hold extinction cords and a couple of brackets on the side of the legs to hold an elevation enhancement device. Still to come is some type of device to hold the yellow, green and blue conduit benders.
~Peter
Why didn't anyone warn anyone in advance about the Seattle-Tacoma earthquake?
CARTS
Very handy. Question is - what kind? Question: how to you carry it to and from the job - and up to the second floor?
A well-fitted out cart won't fit my van. Probably a dedicated job trailer with cart riding in the aisle - strapped down.
For jobs with flat level floors or pavement I use a combination cart from Costco. It can be a hand truck or a 4whl platform wagon. Last year it was so handy as a wagon that I bolted it in that position. It carries four 18" milk cartes of tools and has a work top that fits across the top two crates.
This thing would not get in the front gate of the average tract before overturning. You need a 4x4. I had a hand truck with 6" tires. One job later I had one from Hbr Freight with 13" tires. The tools and gear come in 20g Brute trash cans. One has my bags and bucket. One has my saw, cords, etc., etc.
The ToolBear
"Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.
I bought a rolling cart that most trades loved! It is made by Werner. It has removable shelves and disassembles very well. It has wheels. I don't have it anymore--a tradesperson willingly transported it to his/her truck/van. I bought it at Cosco for about $70.00. I went back to buy more--since other tradespeople I deal with wanted it--only to find out the item was out of stock.