MobileToolTrolley (MTT)

This is my last post, for the conceivable future at least, covering tool storage and organising, as I'm done with this saga that seemed never ending.

The reason I conceived the idea of using a trolley was what to do with all my boxes of drill bits? I would be using them in the drill presses, one of which is in the Carport, and lathe.

As in my previous workshop, all the drill boxes where just piled one on top of another, requiring a search for the right one.

Not having the necessary space to spread the drill cases out and not fancying the footwork to get and replace drills as needed when working in the Carport, a trolley of some sort seemed to be the answer.

I think I read somewhere about securing the lids of drill bit boxes to a vertical surface, making them easy to open and held in one place thus easy to find, so a vertical surface was needed.

Much head scratching followed with numerous designs, but priority was that it had to be easy to move around, and fit through the side door I made in the Up&Over garage door that I hinged.

Off I went getting the boxes of drills into a suitable order on the workbench, split Ferrous & Non-Ferrous. I had learned my lesson by now that cutting non-ferrous material needed some dedicated tooling such as drill bits, files and hacksaw. Bitter experience of files and hacksaw previously used on steel, just skating across brasses taught me a lesson.

As it was mobile, I wasn't going to make the same mistake I had done in the past of having the castor wheel tracks within the trolley frame base, but outboard, so preventing easy tipping.

A top and sliding shelve/s where included for the tools in regularly and/or use on the day.

There was also space at the rear to mount the 5 multi-drawer units that where getting in the way in the Garage and Carport.

Have added a new Album, 'MobileToolTrolley (MTT)' with annotations I hope are adequate.

I did these this morning whilst recovering from yesterday's day out with two & a half year old GD and her first time on a bouncy castle, which she thoroughly enjoyed.

Geoff - Tap leak can wait till tomorrow.

Geoff,

Noticed your files all lined up neatly and waiting to knock each other!

I have found that, with a little shopping about, you can get cable conduit (the sort that goes in a wall) the right size for files up to 10 inch to fit. Chop it into lengths and then drill a screw hole with a stepped, multi-size drill bit and you get a hole for a no. 8 screw with a bigger hole on the first side to take the head. A single no. 8 c/sk screw will then attach it and there is no chance of the files clanking together. Don't screw them under the bench vise though (even if that bit is the easy bit to get at). I was in such a hurry to try my new idea out common sense failed to point out that all the crud would end up over the handles.....

Mark

Hello Mark,

Great idea using conduit.

Haven't yet had any files bang against each other that I've noticed, but time will tell, then your suggestion will come to the rescue.

Edit: Having had another look, I think your suggestion will be used sooner than I anticipated, as the MTT is going to be used more often from now on. Saver of files!

I've seen mobile vices, mounted on steel plates welded on poles welded to wheels, with tools on hooks underneath, so the same problem of crud falling onto them. I've been thinking of doing something similar with my big vice, or mount it onto one of the Carport steel frames. Decisions decisions etc. Only one way to find out, so Carport frame first, it being the easiest and quickest.

Geoff - I really REALLY need to stop thinking up more bleep projects!

Edited By OuBallie on 04/06/2014 08:47:24

MTT has an addition in the form of a 30" Mighty Mini Bender.

Its first use will be in making a replacement for the bottom part of the Austin Seven's B-post that has rusted away, then well and truly bodged and the 'best' I've ever seen.

Geoff - Trying to cool down