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First official project on the new tool box happened yesterday, a new garage power supply. My old one, built in 2013, died 2 years ago. The new one is along the same lines, but with a few useful changes.
Used ATX power supply, with all of the excess wiring removed. Green wire to Ground turns it on.
Handy 110v connection light, acts like a "Wait To Start" light on a diesel. When it goes out, you can safely remove the cover.
Binding posts/jacks for 12v (top red), 5v (bottom red) and 2 grounds (black), plus 10A fuses on both outputs and a voltmeter tapped into the 12v line.
Yes, I did leave one IDE drive power connector still attached in case I need to wake up an old optical drive as found in the computer that donated this power supply. Also, there wasn't room to stuff a 12v shunt in the case to use the ammeter. Not a big deal though, 10A is plenty for most diagnostic purposes, testing out lights, etc.
Total Cost: $0 because everything is recycled parts. And it fits in the tool box, right next to the battery charger.
That brand is not the best out there especially for use as a tool box. The better brands will be costly but looking in office furniture liquidators and those who buy, sell and trade such fixtures would be great places to begin searching. Such cabinets are also not really intended to hold tools even though the weight they support when full of paper is amazing. Sadly weight handling capability alone doesn't make for a great tool box.
I certainly don't want to bash the OP's project nor completed box but seems like a ton of work for something that could have been purchased and served the same purpose. I will say while Snap On and other well known automotive service oriented boxes are often vilified due their cost I've rarely come across any other tool storage item that's built to take the heavy use of a workshop. I will say OP's results are very nice, I applaud his creativeness and diligence completing this project.
When looking for truck mounted tool storage I looked at many, many different brands across the spectrum of offerings and finally came to the conclusion I'd not do better than Snap On stuff. I did discover once its taken out of service the prices fall to about 50% or less of the retail cost, sometimes upwards of 75% off. And again for that kind of money they're fantastic shop tool storage
I have a couple of those and couple of the lower 3 door. They attract stuff you should throw out in some cases..... But otherwise work well, especially if the price is right.
I'll add something and hopefully not detract from OP's great finished project here---Icon toolboxes from Harbor Freight. I had occasion to visit a Harbor Freight store looking for inexpensive pry bars, ones I could custom grind to fit a very few applications. Normally I'd buy 100% American but for less than $22 I had two 30+ inch long bars what will do this job maybe 10-12 times a year.
Looking over their Icon boxes I was relatively impressed by their construction, design and seemingly heavier duty nature than most anything else at the prices offered even for the largest versions available. There were few if any ball bearing drawer slides which are much more common on Snap On and similar "high end" tool boxes. For the money and numerous steep discounts they're work at least looking into if a brand new tool box is in your future.
There is speculation though the line is not selling well which questions their longevity and availability here in the USA. If they become extinct where might replacement parts be found. Several years ago I needed replacement drawers for an older Snap On box, maybe 15+ years old? I was able to order them with a known lead time of 6+ weeks BUT not at a premium price--they support their boxes that well.
Do keep in mind I've NEVER bought a brand new off-the-truck tool box---thank you Craig's List and eBay.
Beautiful tool cabinets! I love wood working, I love the colors of various woods under clear gloss polyurethanes. A coat of polyurethane once cured and sanded can be painted then too, hides grain, looks like metal then. White or near white plastic laminates make for a good work top, easy to dee small parts, It still amazes me how much strength is added to lag bolted or nailed joints with some white glue added. Johnson's paste wax really helps with slides. Just thin luan plywood adds huge stregth to resist racking.
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.
