I am going to be keeping an eye open for a locking cabinet specifically for sewing, dyeing, and general textile working supplies.
I'm thinking of something along the lines of a good machineshop cabinet, but I doubt I could ever afford something like that.
That it must be spacious goes without saying, I tend to buy pounds and bolts of things because that is most economical. It also has to be sturdy and lockable. Sturdy as in I can put a sandbag in the bottom so the kidlet doesn't accidently tip it over, and it will hold together when he manages it anyway, for the tenth time. Lockable as in defies the best efforts of a strong man with a crowbar or the average six year old.
Short of seducing a metalworker, does anyone have any good ideas? I can't spend much more than a hundred dollars on this, and that with very careful budgeting.
Sure, you can do that for under $100. Back in my criminal days (I was just custodian of the record, I didn't get to rob trains with them) we had tall, legal-size filing cabinets. Some of them had bars that ran vertically through the handles, others had chains . . . but they very securely locked with the addition of a hefty padlock. You should be able to get a cabinet, perhaps with a ding or bend in it for a good price. Then, you can get very creative in what manner of locking would be best for you. Get a combination padlock that you can set to your birthday or something else nobody will remember but you. There are some super fun spray paints that do nicely on metal now and you could even paint it red. If you don't happen to have any sandbags handy to weight that bottom drawer (which you certainly must do), you would be surprised at how cheaply you can get stone floor tiles; leftovers from a flooring job or broken at the home shop. HTH Polly
Check your used office furniture places... Lots of cabinets like that. They have blocks of concrete in the bottom to prevent tipping. This also makes for interesting delivery/installation if you need to drag it up steps...
If you find an old up-right freezer with a locking door, would that do? I know the other half used to use one as a paint and tool cabinet because it could be left outdoors without being a safely hazard, and you needed a key to open it. (Wish we still had it.) I don't know many kidlets that can tip over a freezer. JM2C.
The stone tile idea is brilliant! I used to use big flat river rocks, but my transportation for such stuff is gone. I bet I could get tiles in town.
Sadly, we don't have a used office furniture store or freecycle. Aunt Sal-ly doesn't have anything at present. I am either going to have to get whatever I end up with new locally or pay shipping, barring something showing up suddenly at one of the thrift shops. That is why I am budgeting at the high end of what I can afford, transport costs! Often you can pay $25 dollars for such an object, and then get charged $75 to shift it.
I am considering going with wood and making it myself. Wood can be expensive but, after perusing the classifieds and the pennysaver today I am thinking hard about it. Besides, most of the lumber yards do free delivery if you buy so much as a sheet of gypsum board. I shall be scavenging all this week as it is fall cleanup here, maybe I will get lucky on materials. This is why I am looking for ideas, I don't want to leave any stone unturned that might save me the woodworking. I used to work in a fine furniture factory, so I am good at it. But doing such things with all hand tools is time consuming!
The stupid discount stores want outrageous prices for things that are half cardboard. I can scrounge boxes and paste them together into theater lumber and get better quality than most of it! In fact, we are hard up for bookshelves again and I have been talking to DH about doing just that for high up shelves.
We actually have an old refrigerator that is sitting empty. I have been trying to get rid of it for years. A lock could be fitted on it, but it wouldn't be very space efficient. Then there are the coolent issues. I am pretty sure that if I got caught by social services useing such a thing like that, that there would be a hoo haw about it that you could hear in China.
If Ash weren't so curious and clever (and stubborn), this would be a lot easier. We actually had to buy an alarm for the front door because he has figured out how to undo all the locks. Could someone explain why an electronic security system that requires a key code to get in or out is legal, while a combination lock on the door is not (in a house with children in it anyway)? It makes no sense to me.
Howdy! 2nd-hand firearms safe, old/used clothing wardrobe (my choice), used office furniture supply cabinets -- all hold large amounts of goods, are difficult to unlock, and are usually safe from tipping over. YMMV
Funny this question should come up just as SOME are talking about stash raids. ;-D
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