Core77

Ron Paulk's Mobile Super Workshop, Part 4: Completing the Modular Cabinets and Starting the Drawers

By Rain Noe - January 10, 2012

in Hand Tools

With these last two videos, carpenter Ron Paulk brings us up to date on his box-truck-based mobile workshop.

In the first video below, Paulk has completed installation of the cabinetry on the left side and the rear of the truck, leaving a 32" aisle in the center in which to move around in or transport materials. We again can see how the size of the objects to be stored informs the overall design; for example the cabinets at the rear, meant to support Paulk's ladders horizontally, are made precisely tall enough to clear the air compressor next to them. Those cabinets then become storage for the compressor hoses.

Particularly impressive is his solution for the miter saw, which would not fit into the allotted space and retain full functionality without some clever adjustments by Paulk. We also get a look at the onboard vacuum system he's begun to install.

With the major cabinets done, Paulk steps away from the truck in his most recent video, below, and tackles the task of banging out 29 drawers. It's a "monotonous and tedious" process, as Paulk explains, but he's edited the video down to him explaining the design and construction of the modular drawers and walking you through the building of just one of them.

Along the way he shares the kinds of building tips you pick up after 25 years in the biz, and I was also excited to see he's eschewed glue here for the same reasons I avoid it with my own DIY projects; because sometimes you want to change things around and re-use the wood, which you can do by popping out a few screws rather than destroying the whole piece.