Saga of flat file install

[C-Bag]

I posted here because you have to have someplace as a tool junkie to store and accumulate tools. I’ve outgrown my tool boxes and discovered by accident flat files as Vidmars around here are made of gold. For those that are not familiar it’s what engineers, artists and map makers used to store their paper outputs. They can be all different sizes with most locally being up to 56”w 36”d and usually 5 drawers. My very specific space for it needed to be 40” or less w and ideally 30” or so deep. Oh, and cheap as flat files were $2-3k new and most want $300+ for them used. It seemed like an impossible set of parameters so it became part of my CL long range radar search. Low and behold a year or two later up popped the perfect one. 40”w 30”d and $25!

I had several sticks of rusty 2.5 thin wall square tube that I wasn’t sure what to do with but worked for legs on the flat file. Since it was going to be very heavy and I don’t have a super sturdy table this would be it. I decided on bolt feet and using my lift table if I need move it. So it has leg braces only three side so to have easy access for the lift table. Prepped the tubing with rust converter inside then welded together with 1/4” plates in the base tapped for 5/8” bolts for adjustable feet. On the floor is solid as a rock. Best table I’ve ever built.

 

[Aukai]

 

[C-Bag]

View attachment 413265

??. For what it’s worth I think the problem had to do some iOS update. Did that and now back in biz. Yay.

 

[woodchucker]

I posted here because you have to have someplace as a tool junkie to store and accumulate tools. I’ve outgrown my tool boxes and discovered by accident flat files as Vidmars around here are made of gold. For those that are not familiar it’s what engineers, artists and map makers used to store their paper outputs. They can be all different sizes with most locally being up to 56”w 36”d and usually 5 drawers. My very specific space for it needed to be 40” or less w and ideally 30” or so deep. Oh, and cheap as flat files were $2-3k new and most want $300+ for them used. It seemed like an impossible set of parameters so it became part of my CL long range radar search. Low and behold a year or two later up popped the perfect one. 40”w 30”d and $25!

I had several sticks of rusty 2.5 thin wall square tube that I wasn’t sure what to do with but worked for legs on the flat file. Since it was going to be very heavy and I don’t have a super sturdy table this would be it. I decided on bolt feet and using my lift table if I need move it. So it has leg braces only three side so to have easy access for the lift table. Prepped the tubing with rust converter inside then welded together with 1/4” plates in the base tapped for 5/8” bolts for adjustable feet. On the floor is solid as a rock. Best table I’ve ever built.

I don't see any rust converter, just rust... oh you mean you added rust.

 

[C-Bag]

As usual here in the Tetris garage change begets change. There were things that were stored in that area that you can see under the original setup (above) that were on my HD cart that made it too high to store everything needed and still have easy access. I remembered I’d dealt with this before as I had this cubbyhole I wanted to slide stuff into. It was one of my bakers racks that had a spare rack. I attached these to the bottom of the rack. Almost zero clearance. That whole setup got deleted and the rack was sitting. So reoriented the rolls to slide sideways, cut down/rewelded the rack to fit under the table and viola!

 

[C-Bag]

I don't see any rust converter, just rust... oh you mean you added rust.

Yup, it was on the left leg, not the right. The first pic was the test fit. Only 1” from the old compressor and 1” from the lathe bench. End of the day of fab and was making sure it was going to fit.

 

[Ulma Doctor]

looking good!

 

[C-Bag]

looking good!

Thanks Doc!

 

[C-Bag]

I went through trying to figure out what to line the drawers with and went with indoor outdoor carpet that like short plastic grass. I’ve had several different types of liners and wanted something kinda stiff so it doesn’t wrinkle up from when the drawer stops during closure. Unloaded my packed HF faux Gerstner and it only filled one drawer. So I took stuff out of other overflow drawers and started transferring to the flat file. What a change from digging through little drawers till I find what I want to just pulling one open and there is everything. Ended up giving the machinist box to my neighbor as he’d given me a really nice small router that he had never used.

 

[mickri]

Thanks for this thread Tony. I have been trying to figure out a better storage set up for my stuff. I have now started to look for one of these. Will probably have to make one because I have even less space than you do. A 12' x 20' garage doesn't hold much with my 66 MG Midget taking up a big portion of the garage.