My turn for rear storage

[Ruadhrigh]

I am going to have a go at making my own rear storage system. I am an apprentice and currently touring a sheet metal shop. At the end of my tour I get to make my own project. I had my wife, an awesome drafter, help me out Here are some of the drawings of what my drawers will look like. Any critique, or suggestions will be greatly appreciated. (The bottom plate with the mounting holes hasn't been drawn up yet, but that will be next.)

 

[Grench]

Hard to tell from the drawings... are you doing this out of sheet metal then?

I've thought about going this way with angle iron reinforcement and carpeted top. It should weigh a lot less than the wood versions.

 

[Ruadhrigh]

yeah, sorry, details omitted. ;p
I plan to use 1/8 5052 aluminum. For the frame and drawers, and wood for the top. According to the model the whole unit will weigh 145 lbs.

 

[NorCal Cruiser]

How much are people's wooden boxes weighing?

 

[Creeker]

Wow, very nice design. Looks like you'll have some serious coin invested in 1/8" aluminum tho. Are you going to weld or rivet or what?

Kudos to the draftsperson too!!!!!

 

[Grench]

If he were to mass produce those at <150 lbs as disassembled pre-cut/drilled kits collapsed down Wallymart furniture style...

Don't call it a drawer project, call it a prototype design exercise.

 

[Elijah]

My wooden storage system weighs about 80-90 lbs. All 3/4 plywood and 3/8 plywood for the bottom.

 

[Ruadhrigh]

[Creeker] Wow, very nice design. Looks like you'll have some serious coin invested in 1/8" aluminum tho. Are you going to weld or rivet or what?

Kudos to the draftsperson too!!!!![/quote]



Luckily, I will only have to buy the wood. Benefits of being an apprentice I guess. My mentor says weld the whole thing, but I think it will be a little of both. And I got very lucky that the old lady is in between projects.

 

[GXO]

mine is about 90 pounds...all wood.

 

[Grench]

Have you considered using 20ga stock for the sheet work with 8ga reinforcing angles? That would shed the weight in a big flash.