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Compressor/Bench tool/Misc crap Cabinet

Project by Estley posted 643 days ago 1655 views 19 times favorited 19 comments Add to Favorites Watch

As many of us I have really limited shop space, so it sort of makes sense to have as much stuff on wheels as possible. With that in mind I built this contraption. I had read in Shopnotes and the other magazines about these roll around shop carts, and while the general idea was great, the particulars didn’t work for me. So I took bits and pieces and came up with this. It has two main uses, it holds my compressor, nail guns, a lot of screws nails etc, and glues and stuff in the back shelves. So when I’m assembling something I have all the stuff I need in one place (except for clamps of course, but I don’t think I’ll be able to fit those in this unit). That was the original idea, and the idea was to build more of these for the bench tools, miter saw, drill press, grinder, etc. But again, I figured it made no sense to have one cabinet per tool if part of the goal is to save space. So I installed the t-track, and for the moment since I have no real shop and my tool inventory is almost nil, the only tool that uses it is my miter saw. Eventually all the aforementioned tools will have a similar platform for when they are in use, and some sort of storage cabinet to keep them out of the way. At first it only had the air hose wrap around thing, a few weeks ago I added the one for the electrical cord on the opposite side. I think this one is pretty much done, unless someone has any suggestions.


19 comments so far

View JasonK's profile

JasonK

49 posts in 689 days


posted 643 days ago

This is a great little cart. I’ve been pondering something like this myself. Thought I’d put a door on mine to cut down on a bit of the noise. Just an idea!

-- Measure once; Cut Twice, Three Times, Four Times...

View Teri's profile

Teri

87 posts in 656 days


posted 643 days ago

Your timing is perfect! I was just getting to build a similar cart for my compressor, but I like your’s better. I love the functionality!

-- Teri, Kokomo, IN

View GaryK's profile

GaryK

9521 posts in 882 days


posted 643 days ago

Very nice. Looks like a very useful little cart.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

View chamoruboy's profile

chamoruboy

128 posts in 902 days


posted 643 days ago

The cart is Awesome. I wish I had seen your cart before I built mine, although, the way my shop is set up, I created mine to suit my particular needs, meaning that I only needed minimal “extra space” on the cart. I still like your a lot better though.

-- Greatness is not found in possessions, power, position, or prestige. It is discovered in goodness, humility, service, and love.

View mgradwohl's profile

mgradwohl

190 posts in 707 days


posted 643 days ago

Funny cause I blogged yesterday about wanting to build something like this. I think mine will be similar to yours, I may enclose the air compressor like the wood whisperer did. I definately want all my nail guns and their nails on the cart. I had never seen the shallow shelves on the back, but I like that idea.

View ChrisN's profile

ChrisN

155 posts in 667 days


posted 643 days ago

Wow, Great Cart!! I’ve been pondering building a cart for my planer and this would be perfect!!!

How did you attach the top?

-- Chris N, Westford, MA - "If you won't eat something from your fridge that turned green...why would you eat something that started out that way?"

View CharlieM1958's profile

CharlieM1958

7623 posts in 1112 days


posted 643 days ago

I really like the design with the drawers on one side and the rack on the other. Great use of space!

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

View Estley's profile

Estley

20 posts in 678 days


posted 643 days ago

Thanks for all the great comments!! we’re going to be moving pretty soon, and a few weeks ago I sold my bench top table saw, which I had built a similar cabinet for. Since the saw cabinet was the first one I made it wasn’t as functional as this one. I was contemplating selling this one too, but I really like how it has worked for me. Since I would’ve probably ended up making another one like it I thought I might as well keep this one.

The top is a double layer of 3/4 birch plywood + 1/4 hardy board. The hardy board is attached with carpet tape for easy replacement.

Funny you should mention about a planer cart, a lot of the design for this one came from a magazine version of a planer cabinet. I think that the one thing this would be missing for that purpose is a flip down outfeed support.

Thanks Again!!

View cajunpen's profile

cajunpen

5968 posts in 960 days


posted 643 days ago

Nice looking, functional cart. I am in the process of building similar carts for my equipment now, I think I will use your design for my pancake compressor. Looks like you used some aluminum bar for the drawer pulls – good idea.

-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/

View ND2ELK's profile

ND2ELK

6176 posts in 668 days


posted 643 days ago

What a great cart you came up with. I to will be doing something similar in the new shop. Thanks for the ideas and a job will done.

-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa

View Rymann's profile

Rymann

11 posts in 672 days


posted 643 days ago

Wow. Very cool. Guess I need to invest in a compressor now. The compact, efficient design, and the added mobility are just what I need.

Will you add a door to enclose the compressor or just leave it open?

Great project!

View Bill's profile

Bill

2561 posts in 1055 days


posted 643 days ago

I like the design, since I have the same type of compressor. It looks like it fits your needs and does a nice job of storing what you need.

I guess once you move you will have to build yourself a clamp rack that can roll around as well.

-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com

View Scott Bryan's profile

Scott Bryan

20629 posts in 716 days


posted 643 days ago

This is a nice looking cart. This is going to come in real handy if for nothing else to get the compressor off the floor. Mine always seems to be in the way and I am constantly moving it around the shop. I like the addition of the drawers as well. You can’t have too much storage in the shop and this just adds more storage.

This is a real handy project. I will have to put one of these on my to do list.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

View RobH's profile

RobH

460 posts in 943 days


posted 643 days ago

What a great idea. I have been looking for ideas for my air compressor. It always seems like it is in the way. I have been hesitating to hang it on the wall due to maintenance issues (like I ever remember to drain the thing).

Keep up the great work! Enjoy that air compressor.

-- -- Rob Hix, King George, VA

View DaveBaker's profile

DaveBaker

21 posts in 645 days


posted 643 days ago

Great little cart. I have the same compressor and keep it shoved under the table extension on my table saw. I hadn’t thought of a cart for it, but it makes total sense.

I have very little shop space also, so it is all premium. The one thing I have been contemplating is a “modular” cart that would double as a section of bench and also be a workstation for miter saw, possible router table insert, mini late insert, etc. Has anyone else gone this route?

Dave

-- Upstate New York -- Do what you love and never work a day in your life.

View Dano's profile

Dano

217 posts in 926 days


posted 643 days ago

Well I might as well join in, Yes, I too am getting ready to build such a cart. Actually probably 2 maybe 3. One for the same compressor as yours, one for the planer which may do double duty because I have plans to buy one of the Rigid oscillating sanders and if space permits one for the miter saw.

Great post, timely and provides a seed for thought!

-- Dan in Central Oklahoma, Able to turn good wood into saw dust in the blink of an eye!

View clieb91's profile

clieb91

681 posts in 829 days


posted 643 days ago

Thanks for the post. I will admit I to am going to favorite this one for ideas for a tool cart in my small shop. It looks great and provides plenty of extra space.

CtL

-- Chris L. "Don't Dream it, Be it."

View John Gray's profile

John Gray

1753 posts in 779 days


posted 640 days ago

Very nice thanks for the ideas.

-- Only the Shadow knows....................

View Freddo's profile

Freddo

57 posts in 591 days


posted 588 days ago

Great cart! When I was building my planer cart/cabinet, before the planer actually ended up being mounted on top of it, I enjoyed the top of it while I was building the drawers as a place to hold the need-in-a-moment stuff. I still need a place for my pancake compressor too. It gets a lot of use when building my shop furniture (and house pojects). I really like that your drawers appear to be on full extension (or over-travel) drawer slides but that you have the face set “inside” the cabinet sides avoiding false fronts. NICE! Thanks for sharing!

-- God bless! Freddo (Northern - NJ) Our Creator designed us to create - so use WOOD!

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