Would you like to build the perfect mobile workshop? If so, keep on reading.
Shopping list
old filing cabinet
600 grit sandpaper
mineral turpentine
multipurpose primer
Duco spray paint
we used fire engine red
450mm X 600mm X 19mm Supawood (base for the castors)
1000mm X 600mm X 19mm Supawood (for the work surface)
2 X 1000mm X 100mm and 1 X 400mm X 100mm X 19mm Supawood (supports for work surface)
600mm X 100mm X 19mm Supawood (brace for hinges)
2 X 1800mm X 44mm X 22mm pine planks (for the fold away legs)
16mm, 35mm and 50mm chipboard screws
4 X 100mm castors
appropriate bolts and nuts
stainless steel handles
4 X hinges
Equipment
cordless drill
electric drill
3mm wood drill bit, steel drill bit (for bolts)
soft cloth
sanding block
marker
Get started
1 Scrape off all old price labels and stickers with a putty knife.
2 Remove the glue residue and any other greasiness with mineral turpentine and a soft cloth.
3 Lightly sand the cabinet and drawer fronts to create a slightly rougher surface for the paint to bond to. Dust the cabinet with a soft cloth and use an old paintbrush to get into nooks and corners.
4 Remove all hardware such as locks or handles and carefully cover all those pieces that cannot be removed, with masking tape.
5 Paint the cabinets and drawers with a thin layer of multipurpose primer and leave it to dry thoroughly. If the inside of the cabinets and drawers, especially the drawer runners, are still in good condition, leave them unpainted. It might get difficult to open and close the drawers once the paint has penetrated the mechanical system of the runners.
6 Once the primer has dried, coat the cabinet in the colour of your choice. We used fire engine red spray paint.
7 Fit the new handles to the drawers, drilling new holes for the screws, if necessary. `
8 Fix the castors to 450mm X 600mm X 19mm Supawood base using the cordless drill and 16mm chipboard screws.
9 Use 35mm chipboard screws and the cordless drill to fix the 2 X 1000mm X 100mm and 2 X 400mm X 100mm X 19mm Supawood sections to the underside of 1000mm X 600mm X 19mm Supawood section (this will create additional support for the work surface).
10 Using the appropriate bolts and nuts fix the 600mm X 100mm X 19mm Supawood brace for hinges to the side of the cabinet. Now fix the hinges to the underside of the work surface and then attach it to the brace.
11 Use the 2 X 1800mm X 44mm X 22mm pine planks and 50mm chipboard screws to construct the framework for the fold away legs. The legs need to be longer than the length of the work surface (1000mm), but their ultimate length will depend on the height you decide to position your work surface. Remember to take the height of the castors into account.
TIP
The deep drawers are ideal for storing paint tins and power tool cases. Some cabinets have a locking mechanism, which makes them ideal for storing valuable tools but also for keeping hazardous chemicals out of the reach of children.
Fold the work surface away for compact storage.