Introduction: Kipple Kabinet (rolling Art Supply Cabinet)

By steflenk.com
About: Artist, medical illustrator, bibliophile. Interested in visual storytelling and random nonsense. Make stuff in my free time. In this little corner of the internet you will find some of my DIY projects as well …

My DIY partner in crime Herr B donated the suitcase and helped me convert it into a rolling cabinet of shelves to house my art supplies. It's convenient, portable, rollable, and kindda cool.

Step 1: Ingredients

you'll need:

an old suitcase (for this instructable, a wooden one is recommended, since you will be drilling into it to install the wheels)

lining paper (I used gift wrap with spray glue, but wallpaper would work just as well)

measuring tape / cutting board (optional) / cutting knife or scissors

plywood and a saw (for shelves) (make sure before purchasing to take into consideration the thickness of the plywood depending on what you are using to install the shelves - my mounting thingys (see below) were fashioned as such that the plywood slides into place in them.)

mounting thingys (sorry, have NO idea what the ones I used are called, have asked friends, don't even know the german word (I got them at a german hardware store). Basically any form of support to hold up your shelves. I suggest (as always) ask at your (preferably) local hardware store. A few well placed nails are primitive but will also do the trick.

metal plate (2 mm or so, light as possible )(optional / bought pre-measured and cut to fit the lid of the suitcase)

rare-earth magnets (optional / for mounting tins on metal plate)

4 little coasters (size contingent on the size of the case) and corresponding screws.

old tins (also optional)

Step 2: Lining the Suitcase.

You'll need to measure and cut out the paper in advance (think of it as reverse gift-wrapping, where you account for both side walls as well as the bottom surface of the case) I ran the paper from top of the vertical wall, down to across the base of the case and back up the vertical wall (attached to the lid) and then had two supplementary pieces I used for the top and bottom walls)

If you use spray glue (or wallpaper), it's best to have someone give you a hand, so your lining is straight. Spray the surface of the case and affix paper. Wait until it is good and dry/stuck before doing any shelf installation.

In the meantime, you can cut the plywood to size for your shelves; if your lining paper is particularly thick you are going to have to take this into account when measuring your shelf length/depth. If you want to paint/sand shelves, now's the best time to do it.

Step 3: Coasters/rollers

My kipple kabinet has little rolling wheels on it. Basically decide on what surface you want the case to stand on (which way you want the door to open) and measure where your wheels should go, at a relatively equal distance form each other and to maximize the support for the whole case. You probably don't want the wheels to go on the side surface with hinges and lid, since this will defy the shelf-like nature of the thing. In the case of my suitcase, I in fact installed one coaster on the lid itself, since it was relatively heavy. This allows the door to swing open on a wheel and not make the suitcase fall over with it.

Step 4: Metal/magnetic Surface

This is optional, but at this point you can install the metal/magnetic surface inside the lid of the case, to which you can affix any number of groovy things with magnets. I used industrial strength glue and have had no problem with the metal plate staying in place.

Step 5: Finishing Up.

Case is lined, metal plate is in place, rollers are screwed on, now you install your shelves. This is a flawed Instructable, alas, as the shelve thingys I had were refurbished from who-knows-where and I haven't been able to track down either what they are called or where to get them these days. But this is where audience engagement comes into it! Ask at your local hardware store, tell them what you want to do and they will be able to provide.

Or take the simple route and bang four nails into each corner of the case and perch the shelf on top of them. This isn't extraordinarily stable but will work (make sure the nails aren't too long or they will come poking out to the outside of your case)

And that's about it. Enjoy!