map chest or ???

[arbarnhart]

I am reorganizing my small shop and my wife mentioned to me that she saw a map chest at a local thrift store that I should get. I didn't know what one was and I googled a bit and found out. That would be awesome - but it was gone when I got over there. Now I really want one! I am still scouring the local craigslist and thrift stores, but they seem to be rare enough that I may have to plunk down around $250 or more to get a decent one like this:



The drawers are each a little over 15" x 17" - I think I could fit a few tools in there.

So, what else is similar that I might look for? I didn't know about map chests; I figure there is probably some other similar piece of furniture I am not aware of.

[ejnelson]

With the resources around NC, I'll bet you could make one much nicer than you could buy. You could even add some carving detail to it!!!

[scooter]

I got something similar to this at Ikea.

[arbarnhart]

Originally Posted by scooter

I got something similar to this at Ikea.

I looked there (online) and the closest I found was this:

IKEA | Storage furniture | Drawer units | HELMER | Drawer unit on casters

which has a very attractive price, but the drawers are deeper and smaller and because of the depth there are less of them.

My other cheap idea is a couple of these:

Scrapbook Storage - 5 Drawer - Wood Finish

Again, substantially smaller, but at least less of a shoebox shape.

This place has that same one with better pictures, more info, companion products but the prices aren't as good.
Organized A to Z - Organizing products and solutions at a great price and used by professional organizers and their clients.


I really like the look of that well made oak map chest, though.

EDIT - Another unit that is a "maybe"; a reasonable compromise of quality and price, good size/shape drawers that are only a little deep:
Studio Designs Sonoma 5 Drawer Taboret - at NetShops

[Dundee]

Also look around for flat files like SMI Unfinished Birch Flat File Taborets - BLICK art materials I currently use a auto style tool chest (kobalt #274222 for $125). The drawers are long enough to hold full size Pfiel gouges (30mm largest) and pull all the way out. And they are lined with anti rust rubber mats. I have 40 gouges in the 2 middle drawers alone. They are right next to each other though. Putting in some kind of dividers would be nice. Three drawers on the top have files, knives and other assorted things.

Chris

[arbarnhart]

I did see the SMI cabinet. If you do the math, each drawer is ever so slightly smaller than the map chest and the 8 drawer model costs about $100 more than the 9 drawer map chest. I just realized that is the one link I didn't provide:

Standard 9-Drawer Map Chest - Map Chests - Home Office Furniture - Furniture | HomeDecorators.com

Metal is a fall back option, but I really want wood.

[arbarnhart]

A last follow up...

I decided to go with the wooden 5 drawer scrapbook paper storage. I got 2 of them for about $90 delivered. The drawers are slightly over 12" x 12" (diagonal about 17"), which is smaller than I might have hoped for some possible uses, but will be plenty for most tools.

Part of what drove my decision was receiving a cast iron bar height table base that I am going to use for a carving bench. That is going to eat some of my limited floor space, but also makes it okay to have something like these cubes on top of another bench most of the time, if that makes any sense.