Salvaged cupboards and drawers for workshop

[Lons]

These were just a few I salvaged a number of years ago from a local college who "cleared out" science labs.

I managed to get 9 units (5 sets double and 1 single drawers plus 1 double and 2 single cupboards), out of the 30 or so thrown outside into the rain to rot :shock:

I've had most of them stored but decided to make use until I can find time to clean them up and reorganise my workshop (just a dream at the minute).

I spent a few minutes cleaning up a drawer as shown and they'll come up nicely. Drawer fronts and frames are 5/8" oak with veneered blockboard carcase. Drawers softwood and ply with dovetail joints.
Solid brass handles and most with brass locks (no keys of course).

What sacrilage and bloody waste though - make me furious that such valuable resources can be discarded so easily - :evil: - even though it's my gain.

Bob

 

[goldeneyedmonkey]

That drawers come up lovely, good save Bob, yeah they do chuck some good stuff out.
I imagine they don't know where to go to get some money for them, if they did I doubt they'd be thrown.

Cheers _Dan

 

[AndyT]

You have the potential to be really well organised there - or at least, to spend a lot of time opening and closing drawers looking for the right one!

I have a single chest of drawers of similar quality in my workshop that I bought when a nurses' home was being demolished - but I had to pay for it - about £2 iirc. Ideal for hiding extra planes in.

At least we get a good feeling from giving this stuff a longer life than it might have had.

 

[shipbadger]

I can tell you from personal experience that the old cabinets can go on more or less forever. The school I teach in was 'refurbished' as part of a government scheme a few years ago. The first replacement cupboard had the door off it's hinges within three weeks and so many are now broken that they are locked out of use. We'd all have been happy to continue with the original which at 40 years old are still going strong in assorted sheds, workshops and garages in the locality. I don't think they'll be a rush to take the new ones home when they are cleared out. Remember; politicians always make the right decisions in education :-(

Tony Comber

 

[tekno.mage]

Nice workshop furniture. That old school (and office) stuff was made to last. I have an old ex-MOD oak desk I paid £1 for at a surplus store in the 1980s I also have a huge mahogany shelving unit that my partner saved from being thrown in a skip when the offices next door to where he worked was re-furbished. Although slightly battered, it is really strong and has a system of adjustable shelves - and luckily it's a perfect size for my vast collection of vinyl LPs and 12" singles. The top polished up really nicely too. Some people just don't realise what they are throwing away.

 

[Lons]

Just counted up that it's a total of 15 double drawers, 18 singles, 1 double cupboard and 2 singles - yeeha \/

Now, filling them isn't a problem - organising is :roll:

just had a thought, I shouldn't have "eased" the drawers 'cos my wife wouldn't be able to peek inside if they were still sticking #-o :lol:

can't help but regret the other 20 which went to waste - disgusting. I used to run a plastics distribution centre located next door to a major signmaker / shop fitter who had contracts with banks and building societies. the quantity of mahogany, oak and ash they threw in their skips had to be seen to be believed.

Bob

 

[jimi43]

Get some of those antique square brass card holders for the front of each and label each drawer with what's in it and you will always put stuff back in the right drawer AND know where it is the next time.

And they look the bees knees too!

Jim

 

[eoinsgaff]

They would be wonderful along a wall with a bench top for assembly or power tool work. In the dream workshop where you would have a separate cabinet makers bench for hand tools of course.

I got my self an office desk that was originally made for Ford in Cork. The thing is bullet proof and made from QS oak for the top, riff sawn oak for the frame and beautifully finished popular drawer bases and dividers for stationary, letters and so forth. the damn thing weights a ton as it is a double desk; ie two people sit at it facing each other.

Eoin

 

[Lons]

Get some of those antique square brass card holders for the front of each and label each drawer with what's in it and you will always put stuff back in the right drawer AND know where it is the next time.

And they look the bees knees too!

Jim

Where would I get those from Jim? I like the idea.

They would be wonderful along a wall with a bench top for assembly or power tool work. In the dream workshop where you would have a separate cabinet makers bench for hand tools of course.

Eoin

I have three of them doing just that along with a couple of old kitchen units and it was always my intention but heaven knows when I've had them for years.

I've just finished building an extension and my original plans were for a workshop 4.0 x 4.5m and a 4.5 x 2.5m office/kitchen but somehow got changed into a new dining room and utility :roll: They were earmarked for there but will have to reorganise my existing setup instead.

Bob

 

[Peter Sefton]

I picked up the most fantastic Teak lab worktops from the local college when they moved, I had to buy them - a £ each from memory. They cleaned up beautifully and we had one of them on the island unit in the old house when I made the Kitchen.

 

[Lons]

I picked up the most fantastic Teak lab worktops from the local college when they moved, I had to buy them - a £ each from memory. They cleaned up beautifully and we had one of them on the island unit in the old house when I made the Kitchen.

Looks fantastic Peter =D>

I've got a load of that as well, gleaned for free from a high school when they changed science labs into "craft rooms". were throwing it from 1st floor into huge skips :shock:

It's 30mm thick, made up of wide t&g boards though there is a question whether teak or mahogany (it's bloody heavy). I wanted to make some furniture then a wood floor but wifie didn't want it so just waiting for the right projects and enough time :lol:

BTW - :-k I don't go around searching skips - would if I had time :lol: :lol:

cheers

Bob

 

[jimi43]

Hi Bob

There are currently TWO ON FLEABAY but I am sure you can get these from most specialist hardware suppliers...someone here will know....

Edit UPDATE: New ones here...with integrated pull handles

Jim

 

[Lons]

Hi Bob

There are currently TWO ON FLEABAY but I am sure you can get these from most specialist hardware suppliers...someone here will know....

Edit UPDATE: New ones here...with integrated pull handles

Jim

Thanks Jim

1st ones would be the type as I wouldn't want handles. the existing handles are simple solid brass and will polish up beautifully.

No hurry, so Ill keep an eye open - would need 22 of the little blighters

Bob

 

[AndyT]

Screwfix have them at £8.25 for ten. Not sure of the quality - they'd be good enough for my workshop, but possibly not for yours once you've refurbished all that furniture!

http://www.screwfix.com/p/card-frame-75mm-x-38mm-polished-brass-pack-of-10/38432

 

[filthyphil]

These were just a few I salvaged a number of years ago from a local college who "cleared out" science labs.

I managed to get 9 units (5 sets double and 1 single drawers plus 1 double and 2 single cupboards), out of the 30 or so thrown outside into the rain to rot :shock:

I've had most of them stored but decided to make use until I can find time to clean them up and reorganise my workshop (just a dream at the minute).

I spent a few minutes cleaning up a drawer as shown and they'll come up nicely. Drawer fronts and frames are 5/8" oak with veneered blockboard carcase. Drawers softwood and ply with dovetail joints.
Solid brass handles and most with brass locks (no keys of course).

What sacrilage and bloody waste though - make me furious that such valuable resources can be discarded so easily - :evil: - even though it's my gain.

Hi, I'm a newbie [2nd post] awesome find and totally agree with you they say they need money but waste so much good resources it's criminal. bet your workshop will look awesome after you've finished . Wish I had the space.