Managing my stuff has always been hard for me.

My spouse asked me about how I want to organize my bike tools. We came up with an idea together. The two of us are in a large apartment which is in a converted warehouse building. Our interior is mostly wood and brick. I like to work on my bike in the living room, but she doesn't like the industrial look of steel cabinets, and I don't blame her. I wanted a rolling workbench whose top surface I could use. We did some web searching and found that some roller cabinets have wood exteriors. We found a vendor not too far away that had a reduced price for things in stock. I called and paid over the phone to reserve the item and arranged that I would pick up in a week.

As luck had it, the Penn Tool Company is in Maplewood, NJ where we lived several years ago. I had barely even noticed the business even though I passed it many times.

The item is about 100 pounds (45 kg). I found a local person whom I could hire upon arrival at home to help me lift the package out of the car and into the building. I used to be willing to do crazy things like that myself, but I'm weaker and smarter nowadays.

The cabinet cost a little over $1,000, and that thought hurt since I was so used to years of underemployment. But I have a full time job now (yay!) and I might as well pony up the grownup money for something I'll really use. It fits right in the living room, and visitors don't even notice it's for tools etc. No regrets, and I'm very happy.

Mine is a lighter shade of oak than this picture.



Gerstner International Dark Oak 5-Drawer Roller Cabinet

Nice find that!

So much better looking than a black, steel (Insert Brand Name) tool thing.

I love it.

"Who's your decorator??"

"Snap-on."

Ah, dedicated storage. Compartmentalized with fitted felt liners. Mmmm. You're gonna need a Dymo label maker, too. This will never end now.

I have a Brother P-Touch label maker and use it quite a lot.




And here is our cabinet in its habitat:

Key is wife happy also? (i hear this is important but am told I have not learned this skill at a high level yet)

My grandmother worked for Kennedy Kit for 25 years, so I am biased toward their products, but that one looks much better for your situation.

It's got wheels! That thing is probably faster than some of the C&V bikes we ride.

A solid investment for sure. I have several vintage wooden machinist tool boxes but have yet to acquire a Gerstner. They still make and sell parts to restore their vintage boxes.

Very Nice!!!!

For audio enthusiasts, there’s WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor) related to how much audio gear you can have in the living room. WAF is especially critical with large speakers.

Ah-Ha! The screwdriver in every room!
Is that a vessel JIS screwdriver? I was looking at them last night and I am hovering on buying a set. I particularly like the stubby driver built into the handle. If it is, do you rate it?

I don't know. I'll check, though I'm not sure I will be able to identify it.

I had not heard of Gerstner before. I'm glad it's respected, and I can see why.

The wheels do look industrial, but it doesn't bother my spouse. And yes, she was involved in the process, so yes, she approves. I am grateful for the theme she set up. I notice that minimizing the amount of plastic on display makes things look nice.

If you ever buy a vintage Gerstner top box with the diamond mirror, look behind the mirror. It used to be a "safe place" to leave the receipt, messages and/or emergency money. They are nice boxes, and have never been cheap because they are well made. I appreciate them still making them out wood and not plastic. Nothing else would have looked right in the front room, good choice!

I used to do a lot of hobby woodwork so if you like wood tool boxes check out Christopher Schwarz a really interesting craftsman.
https://blog.lostartpress.com/2014/0...-cutting-list/

And if your opinion is at odds with Christopher's (and he holds many), you're probably wrong :-)

[He's definitely in the pantheon of living woodworkers]

Rug looks bent.

The tool chest looks good. But what do you do about the bike stand?

A tip I picked up a long time ago and use while we are talking wood toolboxes!
A really good thing about wood tool boxes compared to metal toolboxes (if left in unheated storage) is less condensation on the tools especially if you put camphor tablets inside. Camphor produces fumes that form a coating on the tools that prevents rust. Keep the camphor in small pill bottles. Drill a number of small holes in the bottle lids to permit the fumes to escape and protect the contents of the drawer. It really does work, and keeps insects away too.

it has some competition at $800.

https://www.grizzly.com/products/gri...5_XvpxtFDdK5ax

Ooh, that one is nice! I looked at a few similar ones, and I can't remember why I didn't choose this one. Maybe I didn't see it.

It never occurred to me to have a cabinet for my rollers.

Seriously, looking at the Gerstner cabinets in the Garrett-Wade tool catalog for years, did not think of sticking bike tools in one.

Gerstner has an excellent reputation among machinists and similar people who would be in the market for tool boxes. In the used market they still demand high prices. It looks good as far as I'm concerned and the oak finish is the traditional finish for wooden machinist tool chests.

Damm! Christmas has just gone! Could have put a chain-ring as a star on the top! Now that's an idea.........lol.

Nice.

I recently made a cabinet of drawers. No wheels though.