U.S. General 27 In. Roller Cabinets – Harbor Freight Tools

4/13/26 Web Log

I printed a grid test at home last night, using PLA and my home printer (Artillery Sidewinder X2), sized for my kobalt mini toolchest, since my print bed isn’t big enough to be very size efficient for the shop toolchests. Print went well, but had some issues with gapping at the z seam. Did a little googling, updated my slicer settings (using Cura) to turn off retraction and combing to see if that helps. Second test is printing now.

Next steps, in no order:

• Buy PETG to print test at home (maybe not necessary, but PLA is more hydroscopic so may not be the best since my filament has been open for a few months now)
• Take more specific measurements of shop toolchest and tools (apparently not locked, just latched, so I’ll need to figure that out)
• Practice printing with Prusa XL to familiarize with settings and software (do any computers print directly to the machines, or are they all through a drive?)
• Work through Fusion tutorials for gridfinity
• Design tool container to test process and fit

Update a few hours later:

I measured the toolchest drawers, however they are basically empty. Stephen said to discuss with Nate tomorrow what tools should be going in the toolchests for the mills. I might develop suggestions for this as well, as I start working on my milling training All measurements were just done with a tape, which is not the best tool for the job, but close enough. Each drawer loses functional space due to overhangs at the front and back, rolled edges on the sides, and rivets/slider hooks impinging on the internal space on each side. So the precise measurements should be used for the border of the grid, but the grid itself should only use the functional dimensions, or else we risk tool bins/shadowboxes not sitting properly or tools being annoying to get out.

The “precise” measurements include the ‘true’ internal dimensions of the drawers (edge to edge, disregarding hardware attachments and lips) for width and depth, but only go to the edge of the rollover of the top of the drawers for the height measurement. The height is not relevant for building the grid itself, but it will be for planning the tool organization, so I’m considering the height of the rolled edge a necessary buffer to make sure the drawers can close.

There are 7 total drawers (numbered from the top down) plus the top shelf which I have clustered into 4 types:

A

• Includes drawers 2, 3, 4, and 5.
• Nominal internal measurements are: 57cm W, 49cm D, 6cm H
• Precise internal measurements: 56.9cm W, 49.5cm D, 5.3cm H
• Functional internal measurements: 56cm W, 48cm D, 5.3cm H
• Shallowest drawer type–tools should be organized in a single layer

B

• Includes drawers 1 and 6
• Nominal internal measurements are: 57cm W, 49cm D, 12cm H
• Precise internal measurements: 56.9cm W, 49.5cm D, 12cm H
• Functional internal measurements: 56cm W, 48cm D, 12cm H
• Deeper drawers, but only 1 slider on each side, so can stack organizers but should be careful not to overload

C

• Drawer 7 only
• Nominal internal measurements are: 57cm W, 49cm D, 13cm H
• Precise internal measurements: 56.9cm W, 49.5cm D, 13.5cm H
• Functional internal measurements: 56cm W, 48cm D, 13.5cm H
• Has 2 sliders on each side of drawer, so can safely use for heaviest items

D

• Top of toolchest, or ‘drawer 0’
• Nominal measurements: 68 cm W x 55 cm D x indefinite
• Functional measurements: 67.9 W x 55.4 cm D x single layer, multi/variable-height organizers ok
• If using multiple heights of trays, tall should be positioned towards rear and short to the front for access
• Flat space should be maintained to hold notebook, laptop, or other personal items

Update 2, even later

Donovan printed a test stack on the Prusa XL and it looks like the printer bed isn’t level and it’s challenging to figure out how to fix that, so Ian is recommending we maybe just use the Bambu instead. I’m going to look at the machine specs for what we have to work with and my drawer sizes and see what looks good.