[Project] Over-Engineered Workshop drawers

if i read this right you are going to buy a welder to learn to weld to make a hoist to move one lathe. a hoist you most likely will hardly ever use.i hardly ever used my hoist when i was repairing cars its just a waste of space now. i would recommend renting one.

Rooossone, accepting your comment about over-engineering, you may be aware that gratnell trays are generally supported on thin steel runners (about 1.1mm including paint), bent to an L shape, with tabs that locate in slots in the square steel tube. I can vouch that these thin supports can carry a significant load. If you could cope with bending thin gauge steel, you would still get plenty of welding practice.

Unfortunately, these only provide a side view, so the detaiils are not available.The 'joggled' tabs project sideways from the image:

Gratnell tray steel runners

This video shows the square U-shaped section that the tray slide in, the metal ones operate in the same way.

Plastic runners

Bill

Interesting Bill, I'd not actually seen the trays before but that is how I suggested they be supported in the first reply. Even if the OP's frame were not slotted the runner material could be screwed on which would allow for some easy adjustment of spacing if a row of holes were drilled in the uprights.

Even if all welding the "open" front that the side runners give means that each end and divider could be welded up on a flat surface making it a lot easier to keep things true and then you only need to weld on the two top and bottom rains that run full width. Bit of bracing at the back and the job is done.

The trays and frame design are remarkably similar to the ones in my workshop. My set is an ex primary school set of draws for the childen, given to me by my daughter when her school was being refitted. The cabinet is basically a wooden box with wood rails each side which support the trays under the top lip, quite strong as I kept a 4 jaw chuck in it, before I had sell of my machines.