Instrument cabinets: features, types and their characteristics

Tool cabinets are an indispensable piece of furniture for all those who are engaged in plumbing repair of various equipment, both in production and independently. This is industrial type furniture, which has a number of its own characteristics. The material in this article will help the reader understand the main nuances, varieties of this product, as well as its characteristics.

The tool cabinet is a convenient closed-type chest of drawers in which you can store tools and various accessories. Depending on the type of product, they may provide for the use of the tabletop as a hand workbench. This pedestal allows you to optimize the workflow.

Structurally, the tool cabinet can have a number of its own differences. For example, a product may have drawers of different sizes. Their number, the color of the case and the fronts of the boxes can also vary. Pedestals differ in size, shape and type - they are stationary or mobile. The latter have wheels and are able to move around the workshop, workshop, that is, directly to the place of work. The product can have not only drawers with a pull-out mechanism, but also compartments for storing dimensional repair tools.

In order to prevent rust, the metal is coated with a special paint. The products have metal tabletops covered with rubberized material and supplemented with sides and mounts for hand tools.

Tool cabinets with drawers are also versatile in terms of areas of application. For example, in addition to manufacturing workshops and laboratories, they are indispensable in car workshops, standard garages, as well as in metalworking enterprises. At the same time, the tool cabinet can be of a standard or rotary type. It can look like a table, have sliding and hinged doors.

Such pedestals can be classified according to several criteria. For example, in the direction of opening drawers, they are divided into two classes: TU and TI. One series differs from another in the width and depth of the drawers. For modifications of the TU class, the boxes are wide, but shallow. The TI variants are distinguished by greater depth and smaller width. Of these, TU varieties are considered more functional products.

According to the installation method, the tool cabinets can be divided into two categories: stationary and mobile. The first options do not provide for movement from place to place. Such furniture is located near the machine in order to provide quick access to the necessary tools.

By the type of material, products are not only metal, but also wooden. For example, when making such a cabinet at home, someone uses plywood, choosing sheets of 4, 8, 10 and 12 mm. For assembly, use special glue and nails. Varnishing is performed with yacht varnish and a brush.

The basic characteristics of tool locksmith pedestals are material of manufacture, external dimensions, weight, number of drawers, type of lock. They are different depending on the features of a particular model. For example, some modifications may have a perforated screen in the form of tiny square holes with a pitch of 35 mm. In addition, the models can be collapsible and welded.

The case is painted in production with powder paint, and its color may be different for the screen itself and drawers. Let's say the base of a box might be gray, and the boxes might be blue, and the tray might be black. The thickness of the metal can vary from 0.8 to 2 mm. Depending on the modification, the level of the maximum permissible load on one drawer can be from 20 to 40 kg. In some versions, one box is designed for 80 kg of weight.

As for the lock, it can differ in the degree of reliability, providing for up to two thousand combinations. The tray can be completed with a rubber mat. Due to oil and petrol resistant mats of the bottom of the boxes, the service life of the products is increased. In addition, depending on the type of model, its screen can provide for the installation of hanging shelves, tool holders, hooks and plastic boxes.

The average weight of the products is 57–70 kg. The height is selected based on the convenience of users. The height of the boxes is from 45 cm. Universal models are designed for storing tools, accessories, and materials. The product can have a central lock and drawers on roller guides. Structurally, the models are designed in such a way as to provide quick access to a specific tool and reduce wasted working time. Due to the spaciousness, tool locksmith cabinets save the usable area of ​​the room in which they are located. In most cases, they come with a long-term guarantee and a long service life.

When choosing a product, you need to proceed from its purpose and the amount of available tools. For example, a model for a professional workshop is usually larger and more functional. A compact cabinet is enough for a home.

As for the distribution load, this factor will determine what exactly on the pedestal can be repaired and how many tools can be put in each box. For example, if a production unit needs a large cabinet with a distribution load of up to 80 kg per box, then an option with an indicator of 20 kg will go for the house.

Roller guides are an important selection factor. In addition to the fact that you can put tools with a total weight of 100 to 500 kg in a locksmith's cabinet, it is important to understand the following: if all drawers are open, the weight of the tools may cause the cabinet to tip over. A mobile cabinet is good for storing a small amount of tools, and a stationary one is immediately installed on the workplace.

As for the lock and the number of code combinations for opening it, this factor is important when the curbstone is located in a garage or production workshop. The fact is that a good locksmith tool from specialists is worth its weight in gold. Often they perform individual devices on their own, and therefore the loss of such equipment can cost the master of downtime and, consequently, loss of money, because they will have to buy a new set.

It is important to pay attention to the coating of the case. The good thing about powder paint is that it ensures the resistance of products to the appearance and spread of rust. In addition, it protects it from minor household damage. When buying, you need to ask the seller, Does the model provide for the installation of additional accessories (for example, is it possible to install a hanging box on it). And also in priority metal models with a rubberized surface of the table top.

When ordering online, you need to take into account: the external dimensions of the locksmith's cabinet (length, width and height) do not include the parameters of the protruding parts of the fittings. To verify the quality and durability of the product, you can ask the seller for accompanying documentation. As a rule, it comes with a warranty, which can range from 12 to 36 months. In order not to get trapped, before buying, you can read customer reviews about a particular model... This will allow you to understand how easy it is to use.

If the product is bought personally, it is important to pay attention to the absence of visible defects and the smooth movement of the drawer extension mechanism. There should not be any jamming and difficult move - this is a marriage. If the seller talks about a discount or a promotion, you should think about what exactly they are trying to sell to you. A good product also has a good price, there are rarely discounts here. The price range is extensive: there are products on sale with a cost of 5 to 24 thousand rubles.

One of the important criteria is the load on the countertop. In laconic models for locksmith work with a metal case, equipped with a compartment with two shelves, the tabletop is able to withstand about 300 kg of weight. At the same time, it itself is made of plywood with a thickness of 24 mm and covered with galvanized metal with a thickness of 1 mm. The greater the distribution load, the heavier parts the master will be able to repair on the pedestal table. The larger the table area, the more convenient it is to use it.

For information on how to make a do-it-yourself plywood tool cabinet, see the next video.