My DIY drawers

[Eddo83]

Here's my drawers. The frame is out of qubelok aluminium and the rest is 16mm mdf. It took 3 weekends to build working both days for around 5-6 hours so about 30-35hrs all up. Total cost was probably around $500-$600. Some advice for anyone thinking of doing their own, plan everything well. I spent about a week and a half just planning drawing sketches and counting up fixings etc. Don't buy anything from bunnings except maybe carpet and kwik grip, they are extremely expensive compared to wholesalers. I got the ally from carpal where it was $18 for 6.5m at bunnings it was $18 for 3m. I got all my fixings from united fasteners and it cost a total of $38. I am lucky enough to work for a company that has an account so got about 70% off most stuff there but would still be cheaper than bunnings if I paid full price. If you can get a mate who has an account at a place similar and you can save a fair bit. I stupidly didn't get enough t-nuts and had to get more from bunnings cos it was Sunday. Cost me $30 for 20 t-nuts and bolts to suit. Considering I bought about 200 different fixings from united fasteners for $38 bunnings really are pretty pricey for some stuff.
For the slides I just used bearings and some box section. Got the bearings from a wholesaler too for $1 each. I used nutserts to fix everything to the ally. Didn't want to use tek screws cos I reckon they'd end up stripping cos the ally is fairly soft.
I did a 12v panel as well. Just tapped in to the cable that goes to the Anderson plug on the back for a trailer and ran the cable through a grommet located at the rear left under the tail lights which gets you into the panel on the inside left of the boot. Put a fuse holder in and got a volt meter some switches and a couple of cig outlets of eBay and mounted them on some 3mm mdf. Also put in some led's that were a freebie from work. Flick em on in the dark and it's like daylight in the back.
When I started I was most concerned about the carpeting but it was actually pretty easy once I found the best way for doing the corners. I used kwik grip after reading that it's the best way to go. I used the spray for inside the drawers but only cos I ran out of the other stuff and had a can already. Will see how it holds up seems ok but not as strong as the stuff out of the tin.
All in all I'm pretty happy with them. They look real neat and are strong as. The only thing that perhaps isn't perfect is the drawers are just a tad small but only a tad. Can still fit plenty in them.
Comments and questions welcome.

[Winnie]

Very very neat mate, I'll be building mine in the next few weeks, what is your total height?

[Eddo83]

Very very neat mate, I'll be building mine in the next few weeks, what is your total height?

Cheers mate they're 250mm high i made them so the sit flush with the bottom of the side pockets. The drawers end up being 150mm deep when you take into account the frame and thickness of the timber. I also left a gap at the back thinking that i might get some sort of water storage to fit in there, this makes the drawers 650mm deep. Decided not to cover the right hand side in either think it would have rendered the space a bit useless this way i can still stuff pillows sleeping bags etc. in there

[Winnie]

It's a good spot for your camp chair =]
Love the look of the T handle locks, I'll be using those in mine.

[Eddo83]

It's a good spot for your camp chair =]
Love the look of the T handle locks, I'll be using those in mine.

It would fit there quite nicely! I looked at a few options for the handles and these seemed the strongest and they dont rattle. I got them of ebay for $42 for the two.

[Drewboyaus]

How strong is that Qubelok Aluminium stuff? Does it come in varying sizes?
I need to make some modification to my drawer and fridge slide setup and am wondering if that stuff will do the job.......

[Eddo83]

How strong is that Qubelok Aluminium stuff? Does it come in varying sizes?
I need to make some modification to my drawer and fridge slide setup and am wondering if that stuff will do the job.......

Its pretty strong stuff. The website says a 500mm span will hold 100kg. It comes in 6.5m lengths and is 25.4mmx25.4mm, you just cut to whatever length you need. Has loads of different connectors so you can make almost anything that is a cube in shape as the name suggests. Check out this link for all the details http://www.aluminiumtc.com.au/download/2012/10/qubelok-flyer.pdf

[Stropp]

very neat job, well done.

[trekster]

Hey mate, I like this build, Very neat!

What is the technical name for the locks? I've been looking for something along those lines for mine but don't know what to search for online.


Cheers,
Eric.

[Eddo83]

Hey mate, I like this build, Very neat!

What is the technical name for the locks? I've been looking for something along those lines for mine but don't know what to search for online.


Cheers,
Eric.

They're called t handle locks i got them off ebay here's the link
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/2-x-Folding-T-handle-Lock-T-Lock-Heavy-Duty-Flush-Mounting-Keyed-Alike-/231028071764?pt=AU_product_Trailer_Parts&hash=item35ca589d54&_uhb=1
If you want to search for them look for "t handle locks" in car and truck parts

[viking]

that is awesome, nice job, I need to custom make some of my own. cheers for the ideas.

[dannypatrol]

Cool stuff. This is exactly what I like to have as well. So how come you spend in the end still around 500 because the alu construction is cheap right? Which total width did you use (with and without the left side)? And how did you attached the frame to the body of the car to prevent moving?

[opinion]

Nice one's, i plan to do myself something like this. But now i have to choose between wood and metal sheets.

[mrflibbles]

nice looking drawers, the frame is a great idea.

[shina]

nice job mate, looks very professional.

[matfew]

Hey mate very nice. Given me some great ideas for mine. I have a wooden set but want to make a set from alloy try n save some weight.

With that qubelok how do you secure the fittings for corners n joins etc. Looks like that stuff could be very very handy for lot of different things

[shina]

Hey mate very nice. Given me some great ideas for mine. I have a wooden set but want to make a set from alloy try n save some weight.

With that qubelok how do you secure the fittings for corners n joins etc. Looks like that stuff could be very very handy for lot of different things



the Qubelok fittings shouldn't come apart because they're a neat fit into the ali tubing and once you put a top on they wont go anywhere mat.


Shane

[BigRAWesty]

the Qubelok fittings shouldn't come apart because they're a neat fit into the ali tubing and once you put a top on they wont go anywhere mat.


Shane

Not to be negative coz it's thinking outside the box,
But with the weight, vibration and movement associated with a draw system I think the plastic joints will flog out in a short time..
Even if you screw em in they will wear.

Imo if you want a no weld setup you've got either ply or buy..

[matfew]

does anyone make an alloy version of the joiners etc. That would be handy with a counter sunk bolt to secure it. would be perfect. I agree the plastic wouldnt last i dont think.

Like you say though. The top will hold it all together but once it wears it will rattle. I'm curious to see how they do hold up though. Ya never know might be wicked

[shina]

I'm going for it.......priced the Qubelok the other day via email from Capral in cambellfield or laverton $17 plus gst for a 6.5m length heaps cheaper than bunnings.

[liftlid]

I was looking at a tray top camper made out of this stuff, plenty strong enough for weight, just sand the joins to rough them up and glue together, no stress cracks then.