Most of dream of having a fully-stocked shop with all of the tools needed to build our projects, at least if we don’t already have such a shop. In the meantime, a lot of us are hacking together our own tools and working on whatever bench space might be available to us. While [Emiel] aka [The Practical Engineer] has an envious shop to work from, his latest project goes to show how repurposing some aircraft-grade equipment can result in a high-quality toolbox for himself, without shelling out for any consumer-level solution. (Video, embedded below.)
The core of his workshop cart build is actually a recycled food service cart from an airline. While the original probably only housed some soft drinks and ice, this one has been kitted out to be much more functional. Since [Emiel] is using this to wheel around his machine shop, he used a CNC machine to cut out slots in black MDF sheets which would hold his drill bits, taps, and other tools. Working with MDF on a CNC machine turned out to not be as simple as he thought, since the MDF would separate and break away unless the CNC tool heads were operated in a specific way.
The build also includes several buckets for other tools, and a custom enclosure for the top of the cart specifically built for his machine tools’ tools to sit while he is working. It’s certainly a more cost-effective solution to a wheeled shop toolbox than buying something off-the-shelf, and a clever repurposing of something which would have otherwise ended up in a landfill. [Emiel] is no stranger to building any tools that he might need, including this custom belt sander built completely from the ground up.
I believe Laura Kampf was first to present such project.
Adam Savage had a airline service cart toolbox video 2 years prior to Laura’s. As they have collaborated maybe she was inspired by his.
Here’s mine:
https://makeme.blog/2019/04/03/making-the-maker-cart/
And the build album w more pictures:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/zYbG7AgvbXJJ9xaY9
These things are still not cheap. You definitely have to have some sort of hook to pick one of these up for less than the cost of building from scratch yourself.
Delta often has a supply of them during suplus sales at the Delta Museum in Atlanta for sub-$100, but you have to keep an eye out on their surplus announcements ahead of time because not every monthly event will have carts. Cash and carry, naturally.
“Most of [us] dream of having a fully-stocked shop with all of the tools needed to build our projects, at least if we don’t already have such a shop.” <— This isn't hacking, it's just working – in much the same way that running a Formula One team isn't shade-tree mechanicing, and piloting your fully-crewed luxury yacht isn't single-handed sailing.
"In the meantime, a lot of us are hacking together our own tools and working on whatever bench space might be available to us." <– This is hacking.
Stuff like this is what lets Jeff Bezos and father-financed Elon Musk pretend to be plucky upstarts.
Is it really worth it to tinker around with the wrong tools if the right ones get so there so much faster, safer and more reliable?
With your logic soldering with a soldering iron wouldnt be hacking, one would have to use a stone or open fire.
Hacking is about getting functionality out of stuff that did not intend to do such things. How you get there is everyones own business.
Is there no pride in language any more? No proofreading? “Envious” is used to describe a person – I feel the writer meant to use the word “enviable” which is generally used to describe a thing, an object. Like a shop for example. Unless, of course, the shop has a personality. And a body.
Watch out, the grammar police is here.
It’s important. The difference between ‘raise the flaps’ and ‘lower the flap’ is a grammar error.
I did something similar, but I used a rolling shoe display that is usually used in retail stores. I 3D printed some holders for my sockets and wrenches. still need to make more 3D printed holders for my other tools.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4406370
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4758943
“…if the right ones…” [are available to you]. There, I fixed it for you.
By your logic, no one would hack at all until every possible “right” tool is available, by which we mean only the wealthy and well-appointed will tinker.
It’s hard to be impressed by someone who succeeds mostly by the application of (relative) wealth.