Power Switch:
72 MODEL AVIATION
A neatly
organized and
properly equipped
workshop creates
a more active
environment
Slide-Lok Work&shop
Garage Storage Systems
by Tom Tilley
Space is efficiently used from floor to
ceiling, even in the corners. Six S483424
and three S362424 Stackable Cabinets
have been custom assembled together.
Right: Slat-Wall is available in two colors
and various lengths. Shown are eight of
the hanging accessories put to good use,
for an efficient use of space.
I’VE BEEN INTO model aviation for a long time. If you’re like me,
you regularly have to balance your love for the sport with the practical
needs of your household. I’m referring to balancing the need for
cleanliness and organization in your garage with your need to have a
model-aviation-friendly workshop. This is a hard task.
You need a place to store your airplanes, plans, kits, tools, etc. And
at the same time your spouse would like the garage to not look like a
balsa-dust-spitting tornado hit it.
I took it upon myself to look at the storage products out there that
could address the model-aviation enthusiast’s needs as well as those of
the rest of the household. The line I will review in this article is from
the Slide-Lok company—one of the nation’s leading manufacturers of
garage cabinetry and wall-storage products and accessories.
Slide-Lok is based in the Phoenix, Arizona, area and has well more
than 100 dealers throughout the US and Canada. The company makes a
product that is considerably more practical, durable, and affordable
than most.
Slide-Lok also offers an excellent wall-storage product called the
Slat-Wall, which is available in custom sizes and with eight optional
accessories. The Slat-Wall is compatible with accessories from other
vendors, but the eight accessories that Slide-Lok offers should cover
the needs of 95% of model-aviation enthusiasts.
Let’s start with the most important and most delicate storage need:
that of models. I was looking for a way to store airplanes that would
not have them hang from the ceiling. I enjoy seeing my aircraft hang,
but too much of that in a garage workshop can be cumbersome. I found
the ideal solution using the Slat-Wall.
11sig3.QXD 9/25/06 1:53 PM Page 72November 2006 73
The Woodgrain Slat-Wall section is
mounted to the wall and into the studs. A
Slat-Wall 8-inch Loop Hook supports a
transmitter for easy use and storage.
This 6-foot Work Bench System, in Natural Maple finish, has the Blackstar Granite laminate
countertop. To the left is a pantry cabinet (P246824). Two stackable cabinets (S483424) are
on the right.
The premium plywood cabinetry is
finished inside and out. This 24-inch
Pantry Cabinet features warp-proof
Thermofuse doors and six-point hinging.
The 8 x 12-inch Slide-Lok basket hangs on
the Slat-Wall. The backing and the basket
can hold a surprising amount of weight.
As needs change, accessories such as this tool rack and basket can be shuffled around.
Storing items away from the floor means they’re less likely to be damaged by moisture.
A Slide-Lok 3-Hook Tool Rack is coated with a rubber material to make the tough
metal construction mar-resistant while it grips whatever is attached to it.
Photos by the author
11sig3.QXD 9/25/06 2:14 PM Page 7374 MODEL AVIATION
Slide-Lok Modular
Cabinet Systems
Below are just a few stackable/
modular cabinet configurations
available from Slide-Lok. Mix and
match cabinets and cabinet systems
to create a custom-designed
workshop.
• 5’ Storage System
• 6’ Work Station
• 6’ Storage System
• 8’ Storage Unit
• 10’ Hobby Bench
• 14’ Work Bench
• 12’ Storage Wall
• 16’ Wall Storage
Dimensions are given in unit
width. Each cabinet has a height of
6 feet. Adjustable legs raise the
cabinets 3-6 inches from the floor
for leveling and protection against
water damage. The cabinets are
offered in two depths: 16 or 24
inches.
The cabinet interiors are finished
in white. The exterior finishes are
available in four Thermofuse
finishes: Natural Maple, Oak Frost,
White Maple, and White.
Individual units can be ordered
to modify or satisfy any workshop
need. Custom sizing is available
upon request. Visit www.slidelok.
com for pricing and locations of
local dealers. MA
—Tom Tilley
Slide-Lok Features
I found that several of the Slide-Lok products’ features differentiate
them from the competitors. Slide-Lok cabinets are plywood—not particle
board. In the outside, uncontrolled climate of the garage workshop, many
materials just don’t cut it—and particle board is one of them.
Slide-Lok is the only leading manufacturer I found that makes its
cabinets from plywood. Almost everyone else who is making “wood”
cabinets manufactures them from particle board or some other relatively
inferior material.
The problem with particle board is that it gets dry and brittle and is
prone to cracking and sagging. Engineers will tell you that this material
can’t support its own weight over time.
In addition to particle board’s structural weaknesses, it generally
contains carcinogens such as formaldehyde—definitely not the kind of
thing you want you, your spouse, or your kids spending time around.
In contrast, plywood is durable and safe—so much so that an
upcoming cable television show is planning on focusing on the
environmental friendliness of Slide-Lok’s plywood construction.
Slide-Lok’s cabinets have Thermofuse doors. I wasn’t sure why I should
care whether or not a door was “Thermofuse,” but after some detective
work I learned that there truly is a difference.
Thermofuse doors are produced using a high-temperature, highpressure
baking process. The result is a door that has a harder, more
durable, and more scratch-resistant finish than those produced by other
manufacturers.
The most important thing about Thermofuse doors is that they stay
nice and straight; you’re not going to see the warping that so often occurs
with other manufacturers’ products.
Slide-Lok’s cabinets use six-way-adjustable concealed hinges, which
gives them a nice, clean, European look. Your doors line up properly and
you get nice, even gaps.
These Slide-Lok cabinets were almost the only ones I found that
provide a dovetail joint. When you compare the structural soundness of
dovetail joints to the toggles and dowels that competing products found
in home-improvement stores use to hold their drawers together, Slide-
Lok wins hands down. MA
—Tom Tilley
The 8-inch Double Hook and the 3-Hook
Tool Rack not only fit my models like a
glove, but the hooks have rubber padding on
their prongs which keeps the hooks from
denting or damaging my airplanes’ tail
surfaces. The same hooks can provide a place
for storing household items including vacuum
cleaners, brooms, dustpans, and mops.
Another alternative for many modelers is
to hang their airplanes directly from the
garage workshop’s drywall by the models’
tail wheels. However, this usually isn’t the
best way to do things; models hung by their
tail wheels can easily fall off the wall if given
an inadvertent nudge or encountering enough
vibration.
I found that the Slide-Lok hooks’ prongs
fit nicely around the rear portion of the
fuselage and under the horizontal stabilizer.
For smaller airplanes, the same Slide-Lok
hooks fit well around the fuselage under the
aircraft’s wings.
For modelers who prefer to store their
airplanes’ fuselages and wings together in
a PVC rack they can carry around, the
Slide-Lok 3-Hook Tool Rack or a pair of
the 8-inch Double Hooks or 6-inch J
Hooks can easily support the rack with the
entire airplane in it.
A hanging system based on the Slat-Wall
system and the available accessories will also
accommodate model boats and their cradles.
Oh yeah, you can also put Slat-Wall inside
your cabinets so you can hang items in the
backs of the cabinets in addition to storing
items on the shelves.
The average Slide-Lok workbench is suited
to working with an airplane’s components
such as fuselages, wings, and tail assemblies.
However, you’ll probably want a bit more
space when it comes time for final assembly
and alignment.
A great modification to a stationary
workbench is to turn it into a roll-around work
surface. If you order a system from Slide-Lok
that includes a workbench, most of you do-ityourselfers
will have no problem adding
casters to the base cabinets that support the
workbench, enabling you to roll your
workbench away from the wall, providing
additional workspace.
Some of Slide-Lok’s installers may be
willing to do this for you, but it isn’t a
standard offering, so ask. But again, it’s an
easy modification for you to do yourself.
Consider putting a pinnable surface such
as ceiling tile, drywall, or homosote on top of
the countertop so you can replace the surface
11sig3.QXD 9/25/06 1:54 PM Page 74as needed while maintaining the
attractiveness of the original countertop
beneath; that’s good for the resale value of
your home!
Alternatively, you can use the Slide-Lok
base cabinets with your own countertop
surface instead of the one that comes from the
company.
I’ve covered the big stuff, now let’s get into
the little stuff: paints, tools, covering material,
etc. When it comes to storing these items, you
have many choices. You could keep them in a
Slide-Lok cabinet system’s drawers or in the
baskets Slide-Lok offers for the Slat-Wall. I
really liked the idea of storing them in one of
the Slide-Lok pantry cabinet units.
The pantry cabinets come in 8-, 16-, and
24-inch depths; the 8-inch variety is really
something. You can put as many as 10
shelves in one of these cabinets, giving you
an incredibly space-efficient area for storing
all things small.
You can easily keep intermediate-sized
items such as starter boxes, transmitter cases,
and fuel jugs in almost any of the cabinets.
You can also stash these items in the basket
accessories Slide-Lok offers for the Slat-Wall
product. These baskets are also great for
storing household items such as cleaning
products, paper towels, light bulbs, etc.
And for you electric-power fliers, there
will be no problem storing your batteries and
chargers in the cabinets and baskets.
However, don’t forget to store your Li-Poly
batteries in a fireproof receptacle such as an
ammunition box or a ceramic container.
The modular Slide-Lok cabinet system and
the ability to rearrange the placement of the
Slat-Wall hooks gives you and your family
incredible design flexibility. Slide-Lok offers
the most popular design configurations as
prepackaged “systems”; but on the Slide-Lok
Web site you can access “Jack’s Design
Center,” which enables you to custom-design
cabinet configurations to meet your specific
needs.
Not only are the cabinets easy to install—
which you can do yourself or have a local
Slide-Lok dealer do for you—but they are
extremely easy to order. You can order
various preconfigured systems online or you
can go to the “Locate a Dealer” section of the
Web site and find a Slide-Lok dealer near
you. If you want to order online but need
something a bit different, you can call Slide-
Lok.
In all, Slide-Lok provides 10 different
modular cabinets in four colors. And because
of the modular design, you have the
flexibility to produce an almost limitless array
of configurations.
The Slat-Wall product comes in two
colors (gray and woodgrain) and has eight
available basket and hook accessories. The
Slat-Wall is great for any garage workshop—
especially those in small two-car garages,
where you don’t have the space to put a
cabinet next to your vehicle because of the
amount of room it would require to open a
cabinet door.
Slide-Lok manufacturers an excellent
product that serves the many needs of the
modeler and the modeler’s household. The
company’s staff and dealers are helpful,
friendly, and easy with which to work. MA
Tom Tilley
Edition: Model Aviation - 2006/11
Page Numbers: 72,73,74,75
Edition: Model Aviation - 2006/11
Page Numbers: 72,73,74,75
Power Switch:
72 MODEL AVIATION
A neatly
organized and
properly equipped
workshop creates
a more active
environment
Slide-Lok Work&shop
Garage Storage Systems
by Tom Tilley
Space is efficiently used from floor to
ceiling, even in the corners. Six S483424
and three S362424 Stackable Cabinets
have been custom assembled together.
Right: Slat-Wall is available in two colors
and various lengths. Shown are eight of
the hanging accessories put to good use,
for an efficient use of space.
I’VE BEEN INTO model aviation for a long time. If you’re like me,
you regularly have to balance your love for the sport with the practical
needs of your household. I’m referring to balancing the need for
cleanliness and organization in your garage with your need to have a
model-aviation-friendly workshop. This is a hard task.
You need a place to store your airplanes, plans, kits, tools, etc. And
at the same time your spouse would like the garage to not look like a
balsa-dust-spitting tornado hit it.
I took it upon myself to look at the storage products out there that
could address the model-aviation enthusiast’s needs as well as those of
the rest of the household. The line I will review in this article is from
the Slide-Lok company—one of the nation’s leading manufacturers of
garage cabinetry and wall-storage products and accessories.
Slide-Lok is based in the Phoenix, Arizona, area and has well more
than 100 dealers throughout the US and Canada. The company makes a
product that is considerably more practical, durable, and affordable
than most.
Slide-Lok also offers an excellent wall-storage product called the
Slat-Wall, which is available in custom sizes and with eight optional
accessories. The Slat-Wall is compatible with accessories from other
vendors, but the eight accessories that Slide-Lok offers should cover
the needs of 95% of model-aviation enthusiasts.
Let’s start with the most important and most delicate storage need:
that of models. I was looking for a way to store airplanes that would
not have them hang from the ceiling. I enjoy seeing my aircraft hang,
but too much of that in a garage workshop can be cumbersome. I found
the ideal solution using the Slat-Wall.
11sig3.QXD 9/25/06 1:53 PM Page 72November 2006 73
The Woodgrain Slat-Wall section is
mounted to the wall and into the studs. A
Slat-Wall 8-inch Loop Hook supports a
transmitter for easy use and storage.
This 6-foot Work Bench System, in Natural Maple finish, has the Blackstar Granite laminate
countertop. To the left is a pantry cabinet (P246824). Two stackable cabinets (S483424) are
on the right.
The premium plywood cabinetry is
finished inside and out. This 24-inch
Pantry Cabinet features warp-proof
Thermofuse doors and six-point hinging.
The 8 x 12-inch Slide-Lok basket hangs on
the Slat-Wall. The backing and the basket
can hold a surprising amount of weight.
As needs change, accessories such as this tool rack and basket can be shuffled around.
Storing items away from the floor means they’re less likely to be damaged by moisture.
A Slide-Lok 3-Hook Tool Rack is coated with a rubber material to make the tough
metal construction mar-resistant while it grips whatever is attached to it.
Photos by the author
11sig3.QXD 9/25/06 2:14 PM Page 7374 MODEL AVIATION
Slide-Lok Modular
Cabinet Systems
Below are just a few stackable/
modular cabinet configurations
available from Slide-Lok. Mix and
match cabinets and cabinet systems
to create a custom-designed
workshop.
• 5’ Storage System
• 6’ Work Station
• 6’ Storage System
• 8’ Storage Unit
• 10’ Hobby Bench
• 14’ Work Bench
• 12’ Storage Wall
• 16’ Wall Storage
Dimensions are given in unit
width. Each cabinet has a height of
6 feet. Adjustable legs raise the
cabinets 3-6 inches from the floor
for leveling and protection against
water damage. The cabinets are
offered in two depths: 16 or 24
inches.
The cabinet interiors are finished
in white. The exterior finishes are
available in four Thermofuse
finishes: Natural Maple, Oak Frost,
White Maple, and White.
Individual units can be ordered
to modify or satisfy any workshop
need. Custom sizing is available
upon request. Visit www.slidelok.
com for pricing and locations of
local dealers. MA
—Tom Tilley
Slide-Lok Features
I found that several of the Slide-Lok products’ features differentiate
them from the competitors. Slide-Lok cabinets are plywood—not particle
board. In the outside, uncontrolled climate of the garage workshop, many
materials just don’t cut it—and particle board is one of them.
Slide-Lok is the only leading manufacturer I found that makes its
cabinets from plywood. Almost everyone else who is making “wood”
cabinets manufactures them from particle board or some other relatively
inferior material.
The problem with particle board is that it gets dry and brittle and is
prone to cracking and sagging. Engineers will tell you that this material
can’t support its own weight over time.
In addition to particle board’s structural weaknesses, it generally
contains carcinogens such as formaldehyde—definitely not the kind of
thing you want you, your spouse, or your kids spending time around.
In contrast, plywood is durable and safe—so much so that an
upcoming cable television show is planning on focusing on the
environmental friendliness of Slide-Lok’s plywood construction.
Slide-Lok’s cabinets have Thermofuse doors. I wasn’t sure why I should
care whether or not a door was “Thermofuse,” but after some detective
work I learned that there truly is a difference.
Thermofuse doors are produced using a high-temperature, highpressure
baking process. The result is a door that has a harder, more
durable, and more scratch-resistant finish than those produced by other
manufacturers.
The most important thing about Thermofuse doors is that they stay
nice and straight; you’re not going to see the warping that so often occurs
with other manufacturers’ products.
Slide-Lok’s cabinets use six-way-adjustable concealed hinges, which
gives them a nice, clean, European look. Your doors line up properly and
you get nice, even gaps.
These Slide-Lok cabinets were almost the only ones I found that
provide a dovetail joint. When you compare the structural soundness of
dovetail joints to the toggles and dowels that competing products found
in home-improvement stores use to hold their drawers together, Slide-
Lok wins hands down. MA
—Tom Tilley
The 8-inch Double Hook and the 3-Hook
Tool Rack not only fit my models like a
glove, but the hooks have rubber padding on
their prongs which keeps the hooks from
denting or damaging my airplanes’ tail
surfaces. The same hooks can provide a place
for storing household items including vacuum
cleaners, brooms, dustpans, and mops.
Another alternative for many modelers is
to hang their airplanes directly from the
garage workshop’s drywall by the models’
tail wheels. However, this usually isn’t the
best way to do things; models hung by their
tail wheels can easily fall off the wall if given
an inadvertent nudge or encountering enough
vibration.
I found that the Slide-Lok hooks’ prongs
fit nicely around the rear portion of the
fuselage and under the horizontal stabilizer.
For smaller airplanes, the same Slide-Lok
hooks fit well around the fuselage under the
aircraft’s wings.
For modelers who prefer to store their
airplanes’ fuselages and wings together in
a PVC rack they can carry around, the
Slide-Lok 3-Hook Tool Rack or a pair of
the 8-inch Double Hooks or 6-inch J
Hooks can easily support the rack with the
entire airplane in it.
A hanging system based on the Slat-Wall
system and the available accessories will also
accommodate model boats and their cradles.
Oh yeah, you can also put Slat-Wall inside
your cabinets so you can hang items in the
backs of the cabinets in addition to storing
items on the shelves.
The average Slide-Lok workbench is suited
to working with an airplane’s components
such as fuselages, wings, and tail assemblies.
However, you’ll probably want a bit more
space when it comes time for final assembly
and alignment.
A great modification to a stationary
workbench is to turn it into a roll-around work
surface. If you order a system from Slide-Lok
that includes a workbench, most of you do-ityourselfers
will have no problem adding
casters to the base cabinets that support the
workbench, enabling you to roll your
workbench away from the wall, providing
additional workspace.
Some of Slide-Lok’s installers may be
willing to do this for you, but it isn’t a
standard offering, so ask. But again, it’s an
easy modification for you to do yourself.
Consider putting a pinnable surface such
as ceiling tile, drywall, or homosote on top of
the countertop so you can replace the surface
11sig3.QXD 9/25/06 1:54 PM Page 74as needed while maintaining the
attractiveness of the original countertop
beneath; that’s good for the resale value of
your home!
Alternatively, you can use the Slide-Lok
base cabinets with your own countertop
surface instead of the one that comes from the
company.
I’ve covered the big stuff, now let’s get into
the little stuff: paints, tools, covering material,
etc. When it comes to storing these items, you
have many choices. You could keep them in a
Slide-Lok cabinet system’s drawers or in the
baskets Slide-Lok offers for the Slat-Wall. I
really liked the idea of storing them in one of
the Slide-Lok pantry cabinet units.
The pantry cabinets come in 8-, 16-, and
24-inch depths; the 8-inch variety is really
something. You can put as many as 10
shelves in one of these cabinets, giving you
an incredibly space-efficient area for storing
all things small.
You can easily keep intermediate-sized
items such as starter boxes, transmitter cases,
and fuel jugs in almost any of the cabinets.
You can also stash these items in the basket
accessories Slide-Lok offers for the Slat-Wall
product. These baskets are also great for
storing household items such as cleaning
products, paper towels, light bulbs, etc.
And for you electric-power fliers, there
will be no problem storing your batteries and
chargers in the cabinets and baskets.
However, don’t forget to store your Li-Poly
batteries in a fireproof receptacle such as an
ammunition box or a ceramic container.
The modular Slide-Lok cabinet system and
the ability to rearrange the placement of the
Slat-Wall hooks gives you and your family
incredible design flexibility. Slide-Lok offers
the most popular design configurations as
prepackaged “systems”; but on the Slide-Lok
Web site you can access “Jack’s Design
Center,” which enables you to custom-design
cabinet configurations to meet your specific
needs.
Not only are the cabinets easy to install—
which you can do yourself or have a local
Slide-Lok dealer do for you—but they are
extremely easy to order. You can order
various preconfigured systems online or you
can go to the “Locate a Dealer” section of the
Web site and find a Slide-Lok dealer near
you. If you want to order online but need
something a bit different, you can call Slide-
Lok.
In all, Slide-Lok provides 10 different
modular cabinets in four colors. And because
of the modular design, you have the
flexibility to produce an almost limitless array
of configurations.
The Slat-Wall product comes in two
colors (gray and woodgrain) and has eight
available basket and hook accessories. The
Slat-Wall is great for any garage workshop—
especially those in small two-car garages,
where you don’t have the space to put a
cabinet next to your vehicle because of the
amount of room it would require to open a
cabinet door.
Slide-Lok manufacturers an excellent
product that serves the many needs of the
modeler and the modeler’s household. The
company’s staff and dealers are helpful,
friendly, and easy with which to work. MA
Tom Tilley
Edition: Model Aviation - 2006/11
Page Numbers: 72,73,74,75
Power Switch:
72 MODEL AVIATION
A neatly
organized and
properly equipped
workshop creates
a more active
environment
Slide-Lok Work&shop
Garage Storage Systems
by Tom Tilley
Space is efficiently used from floor to
ceiling, even in the corners. Six S483424
and three S362424 Stackable Cabinets
have been custom assembled together.
Right: Slat-Wall is available in two colors
and various lengths. Shown are eight of
the hanging accessories put to good use,
for an efficient use of space.
I’VE BEEN INTO model aviation for a long time. If you’re like me,
you regularly have to balance your love for the sport with the practical
needs of your household. I’m referring to balancing the need for
cleanliness and organization in your garage with your need to have a
model-aviation-friendly workshop. This is a hard task.
You need a place to store your airplanes, plans, kits, tools, etc. And
at the same time your spouse would like the garage to not look like a
balsa-dust-spitting tornado hit it.
I took it upon myself to look at the storage products out there that
could address the model-aviation enthusiast’s needs as well as those of
the rest of the household. The line I will review in this article is from
the Slide-Lok company—one of the nation’s leading manufacturers of
garage cabinetry and wall-storage products and accessories.
Slide-Lok is based in the Phoenix, Arizona, area and has well more
than 100 dealers throughout the US and Canada. The company makes a
product that is considerably more practical, durable, and affordable
than most.
Slide-Lok also offers an excellent wall-storage product called the
Slat-Wall, which is available in custom sizes and with eight optional
accessories. The Slat-Wall is compatible with accessories from other
vendors, but the eight accessories that Slide-Lok offers should cover
the needs of 95% of model-aviation enthusiasts.
Let’s start with the most important and most delicate storage need:
that of models. I was looking for a way to store airplanes that would
not have them hang from the ceiling. I enjoy seeing my aircraft hang,
but too much of that in a garage workshop can be cumbersome. I found
the ideal solution using the Slat-Wall.
11sig3.QXD 9/25/06 1:53 PM Page 72November 2006 73
The Woodgrain Slat-Wall section is
mounted to the wall and into the studs. A
Slat-Wall 8-inch Loop Hook supports a
transmitter for easy use and storage.
This 6-foot Work Bench System, in Natural Maple finish, has the Blackstar Granite laminate
countertop. To the left is a pantry cabinet (P246824). Two stackable cabinets (S483424) are
on the right.
The premium plywood cabinetry is
finished inside and out. This 24-inch
Pantry Cabinet features warp-proof
Thermofuse doors and six-point hinging.
The 8 x 12-inch Slide-Lok basket hangs on
the Slat-Wall. The backing and the basket
can hold a surprising amount of weight.
As needs change, accessories such as this tool rack and basket can be shuffled around.
Storing items away from the floor means they’re less likely to be damaged by moisture.
A Slide-Lok 3-Hook Tool Rack is coated with a rubber material to make the tough
metal construction mar-resistant while it grips whatever is attached to it.
Photos by the author
11sig3.QXD 9/25/06 2:14 PM Page 7374 MODEL AVIATION
Slide-Lok Modular
Cabinet Systems
Below are just a few stackable/
modular cabinet configurations
available from Slide-Lok. Mix and
match cabinets and cabinet systems
to create a custom-designed
workshop.
• 5’ Storage System
• 6’ Work Station
• 6’ Storage System
• 8’ Storage Unit
• 10’ Hobby Bench
• 14’ Work Bench
• 12’ Storage Wall
• 16’ Wall Storage
Dimensions are given in unit
width. Each cabinet has a height of
6 feet. Adjustable legs raise the
cabinets 3-6 inches from the floor
for leveling and protection against
water damage. The cabinets are
offered in two depths: 16 or 24
inches.
The cabinet interiors are finished
in white. The exterior finishes are
available in four Thermofuse
finishes: Natural Maple, Oak Frost,
White Maple, and White.
Individual units can be ordered
to modify or satisfy any workshop
need. Custom sizing is available
upon request. Visit www.slidelok.
com for pricing and locations of
local dealers. MA
—Tom Tilley
Slide-Lok Features
I found that several of the Slide-Lok products’ features differentiate
them from the competitors. Slide-Lok cabinets are plywood—not particle
board. In the outside, uncontrolled climate of the garage workshop, many
materials just don’t cut it—and particle board is one of them.
Slide-Lok is the only leading manufacturer I found that makes its
cabinets from plywood. Almost everyone else who is making “wood”
cabinets manufactures them from particle board or some other relatively
inferior material.
The problem with particle board is that it gets dry and brittle and is
prone to cracking and sagging. Engineers will tell you that this material
can’t support its own weight over time.
In addition to particle board’s structural weaknesses, it generally
contains carcinogens such as formaldehyde—definitely not the kind of
thing you want you, your spouse, or your kids spending time around.
In contrast, plywood is durable and safe—so much so that an
upcoming cable television show is planning on focusing on the
environmental friendliness of Slide-Lok’s plywood construction.
Slide-Lok’s cabinets have Thermofuse doors. I wasn’t sure why I should
care whether or not a door was “Thermofuse,” but after some detective
work I learned that there truly is a difference.
Thermofuse doors are produced using a high-temperature, highpressure
baking process. The result is a door that has a harder, more
durable, and more scratch-resistant finish than those produced by other
manufacturers.
The most important thing about Thermofuse doors is that they stay
nice and straight; you’re not going to see the warping that so often occurs
with other manufacturers’ products.
Slide-Lok’s cabinets use six-way-adjustable concealed hinges, which
gives them a nice, clean, European look. Your doors line up properly and
you get nice, even gaps.
These Slide-Lok cabinets were almost the only ones I found that
provide a dovetail joint. When you compare the structural soundness of
dovetail joints to the toggles and dowels that competing products found
in home-improvement stores use to hold their drawers together, Slide-
Lok wins hands down. MA
—Tom Tilley
The 8-inch Double Hook and the 3-Hook
Tool Rack not only fit my models like a
glove, but the hooks have rubber padding on
their prongs which keeps the hooks from
denting or damaging my airplanes’ tail
surfaces. The same hooks can provide a place
for storing household items including vacuum
cleaners, brooms, dustpans, and mops.
Another alternative for many modelers is
to hang their airplanes directly from the
garage workshop’s drywall by the models’
tail wheels. However, this usually isn’t the
best way to do things; models hung by their
tail wheels can easily fall off the wall if given
an inadvertent nudge or encountering enough
vibration.
I found that the Slide-Lok hooks’ prongs
fit nicely around the rear portion of the
fuselage and under the horizontal stabilizer.
For smaller airplanes, the same Slide-Lok
hooks fit well around the fuselage under the
aircraft’s wings.
For modelers who prefer to store their
airplanes’ fuselages and wings together in
a PVC rack they can carry around, the
Slide-Lok 3-Hook Tool Rack or a pair of
the 8-inch Double Hooks or 6-inch J
Hooks can easily support the rack with the
entire airplane in it.
A hanging system based on the Slat-Wall
system and the available accessories will also
accommodate model boats and their cradles.
Oh yeah, you can also put Slat-Wall inside
your cabinets so you can hang items in the
backs of the cabinets in addition to storing
items on the shelves.
The average Slide-Lok workbench is suited
to working with an airplane’s components
such as fuselages, wings, and tail assemblies.
However, you’ll probably want a bit more
space when it comes time for final assembly
and alignment.
A great modification to a stationary
workbench is to turn it into a roll-around work
surface. If you order a system from Slide-Lok
that includes a workbench, most of you do-ityourselfers
will have no problem adding
casters to the base cabinets that support the
workbench, enabling you to roll your
workbench away from the wall, providing
additional workspace.
Some of Slide-Lok’s installers may be
willing to do this for you, but it isn’t a
standard offering, so ask. But again, it’s an
easy modification for you to do yourself.
Consider putting a pinnable surface such
as ceiling tile, drywall, or homosote on top of
the countertop so you can replace the surface
11sig3.QXD 9/25/06 1:54 PM Page 74as needed while maintaining the
attractiveness of the original countertop
beneath; that’s good for the resale value of
your home!
Alternatively, you can use the Slide-Lok
base cabinets with your own countertop
surface instead of the one that comes from the
company.
I’ve covered the big stuff, now let’s get into
the little stuff: paints, tools, covering material,
etc. When it comes to storing these items, you
have many choices. You could keep them in a
Slide-Lok cabinet system’s drawers or in the
baskets Slide-Lok offers for the Slat-Wall. I
really liked the idea of storing them in one of
the Slide-Lok pantry cabinet units.
The pantry cabinets come in 8-, 16-, and
24-inch depths; the 8-inch variety is really
something. You can put as many as 10
shelves in one of these cabinets, giving you
an incredibly space-efficient area for storing
all things small.
You can easily keep intermediate-sized
items such as starter boxes, transmitter cases,
and fuel jugs in almost any of the cabinets.
You can also stash these items in the basket
accessories Slide-Lok offers for the Slat-Wall
product. These baskets are also great for
storing household items such as cleaning
products, paper towels, light bulbs, etc.
And for you electric-power fliers, there
will be no problem storing your batteries and
chargers in the cabinets and baskets.
However, don’t forget to store your Li-Poly
batteries in a fireproof receptacle such as an
ammunition box or a ceramic container.
The modular Slide-Lok cabinet system and
the ability to rearrange the placement of the
Slat-Wall hooks gives you and your family
incredible design flexibility. Slide-Lok offers
the most popular design configurations as
prepackaged “systems”; but on the Slide-Lok
Web site you can access “Jack’s Design
Center,” which enables you to custom-design
cabinet configurations to meet your specific
needs.
Not only are the cabinets easy to install—
which you can do yourself or have a local
Slide-Lok dealer do for you—but they are
extremely easy to order. You can order
various preconfigured systems online or you
can go to the “Locate a Dealer” section of the
Web site and find a Slide-Lok dealer near
you. If you want to order online but need
something a bit different, you can call Slide-
Lok.
In all, Slide-Lok provides 10 different
modular cabinets in four colors. And because
of the modular design, you have the
flexibility to produce an almost limitless array
of configurations.
The Slat-Wall product comes in two
colors (gray and woodgrain) and has eight
available basket and hook accessories. The
Slat-Wall is great for any garage workshop—
especially those in small two-car garages,
where you don’t have the space to put a
cabinet next to your vehicle because of the
amount of room it would require to open a
cabinet door.
Slide-Lok manufacturers an excellent
product that serves the many needs of the
modeler and the modeler’s household. The
company’s staff and dealers are helpful,
friendly, and easy with which to work. MA
Tom Tilley
Edition: Model Aviation - 2006/11
Page Numbers: 72,73,74,75
Power Switch:
72 MODEL AVIATION
A neatly
organized and
properly equipped
workshop creates
a more active
environment
Slide-Lok Work&shop
Garage Storage Systems
by Tom Tilley
Space is efficiently used from floor to
ceiling, even in the corners. Six S483424
and three S362424 Stackable Cabinets
have been custom assembled together.
Right: Slat-Wall is available in two colors
and various lengths. Shown are eight of
the hanging accessories put to good use,
for an efficient use of space.
I’VE BEEN INTO model aviation for a long time. If you’re like me,
you regularly have to balance your love for the sport with the practical
needs of your household. I’m referring to balancing the need for
cleanliness and organization in your garage with your need to have a
model-aviation-friendly workshop. This is a hard task.
You need a place to store your airplanes, plans, kits, tools, etc. And
at the same time your spouse would like the garage to not look like a
balsa-dust-spitting tornado hit it.
I took it upon myself to look at the storage products out there that
could address the model-aviation enthusiast’s needs as well as those of
the rest of the household. The line I will review in this article is from
the Slide-Lok company—one of the nation’s leading manufacturers of
garage cabinetry and wall-storage products and accessories.
Slide-Lok is based in the Phoenix, Arizona, area and has well more
than 100 dealers throughout the US and Canada. The company makes a
product that is considerably more practical, durable, and affordable
than most.
Slide-Lok also offers an excellent wall-storage product called the
Slat-Wall, which is available in custom sizes and with eight optional
accessories. The Slat-Wall is compatible with accessories from other
vendors, but the eight accessories that Slide-Lok offers should cover
the needs of 95% of model-aviation enthusiasts.
Let’s start with the most important and most delicate storage need:
that of models. I was looking for a way to store airplanes that would
not have them hang from the ceiling. I enjoy seeing my aircraft hang,
but too much of that in a garage workshop can be cumbersome. I found
the ideal solution using the Slat-Wall.
11sig3.QXD 9/25/06 1:53 PM Page 72November 2006 73
The Woodgrain Slat-Wall section is
mounted to the wall and into the studs. A
Slat-Wall 8-inch Loop Hook supports a
transmitter for easy use and storage.
This 6-foot Work Bench System, in Natural Maple finish, has the Blackstar Granite laminate
countertop. To the left is a pantry cabinet (P246824). Two stackable cabinets (S483424) are
on the right.
The premium plywood cabinetry is
finished inside and out. This 24-inch
Pantry Cabinet features warp-proof
Thermofuse doors and six-point hinging.
The 8 x 12-inch Slide-Lok basket hangs on
the Slat-Wall. The backing and the basket
can hold a surprising amount of weight.
As needs change, accessories such as this tool rack and basket can be shuffled around.
Storing items away from the floor means they’re less likely to be damaged by moisture.
A Slide-Lok 3-Hook Tool Rack is coated with a rubber material to make the tough
metal construction mar-resistant while it grips whatever is attached to it.
Photos by the author
11sig3.QXD 9/25/06 2:14 PM Page 7374 MODEL AVIATION
Slide-Lok Modular
Cabinet Systems
Below are just a few stackable/
modular cabinet configurations
available from Slide-Lok. Mix and
match cabinets and cabinet systems
to create a custom-designed
workshop.
• 5’ Storage System
• 6’ Work Station
• 6’ Storage System
• 8’ Storage Unit
• 10’ Hobby Bench
• 14’ Work Bench
• 12’ Storage Wall
• 16’ Wall Storage
Dimensions are given in unit
width. Each cabinet has a height of
6 feet. Adjustable legs raise the
cabinets 3-6 inches from the floor
for leveling and protection against
water damage. The cabinets are
offered in two depths: 16 or 24
inches.
The cabinet interiors are finished
in white. The exterior finishes are
available in four Thermofuse
finishes: Natural Maple, Oak Frost,
White Maple, and White.
Individual units can be ordered
to modify or satisfy any workshop
need. Custom sizing is available
upon request. Visit www.slidelok.
com for pricing and locations of
local dealers. MA
—Tom Tilley
Slide-Lok Features
I found that several of the Slide-Lok products’ features differentiate
them from the competitors. Slide-Lok cabinets are plywood—not particle
board. In the outside, uncontrolled climate of the garage workshop, many
materials just don’t cut it—and particle board is one of them.
Slide-Lok is the only leading manufacturer I found that makes its
cabinets from plywood. Almost everyone else who is making “wood”
cabinets manufactures them from particle board or some other relatively
inferior material.
The problem with particle board is that it gets dry and brittle and is
prone to cracking and sagging. Engineers will tell you that this material
can’t support its own weight over time.
In addition to particle board’s structural weaknesses, it generally
contains carcinogens such as formaldehyde—definitely not the kind of
thing you want you, your spouse, or your kids spending time around.
In contrast, plywood is durable and safe—so much so that an
upcoming cable television show is planning on focusing on the
environmental friendliness of Slide-Lok’s plywood construction.
Slide-Lok’s cabinets have Thermofuse doors. I wasn’t sure why I should
care whether or not a door was “Thermofuse,” but after some detective
work I learned that there truly is a difference.
Thermofuse doors are produced using a high-temperature, highpressure
baking process. The result is a door that has a harder, more
durable, and more scratch-resistant finish than those produced by other
manufacturers.
The most important thing about Thermofuse doors is that they stay
nice and straight; you’re not going to see the warping that so often occurs
with other manufacturers’ products.
Slide-Lok’s cabinets use six-way-adjustable concealed hinges, which
gives them a nice, clean, European look. Your doors line up properly and
you get nice, even gaps.
These Slide-Lok cabinets were almost the only ones I found that
provide a dovetail joint. When you compare the structural soundness of
dovetail joints to the toggles and dowels that competing products found
in home-improvement stores use to hold their drawers together, Slide-
Lok wins hands down. MA
—Tom Tilley
The 8-inch Double Hook and the 3-Hook
Tool Rack not only fit my models like a
glove, but the hooks have rubber padding on
their prongs which keeps the hooks from
denting or damaging my airplanes’ tail
surfaces. The same hooks can provide a place
for storing household items including vacuum
cleaners, brooms, dustpans, and mops.
Another alternative for many modelers is
to hang their airplanes directly from the
garage workshop’s drywall by the models’
tail wheels. However, this usually isn’t the
best way to do things; models hung by their
tail wheels can easily fall off the wall if given
an inadvertent nudge or encountering enough
vibration.
I found that the Slide-Lok hooks’ prongs
fit nicely around the rear portion of the
fuselage and under the horizontal stabilizer.
For smaller airplanes, the same Slide-Lok
hooks fit well around the fuselage under the
aircraft’s wings.
For modelers who prefer to store their
airplanes’ fuselages and wings together in
a PVC rack they can carry around, the
Slide-Lok 3-Hook Tool Rack or a pair of
the 8-inch Double Hooks or 6-inch J
Hooks can easily support the rack with the
entire airplane in it.
A hanging system based on the Slat-Wall
system and the available accessories will also
accommodate model boats and their cradles.
Oh yeah, you can also put Slat-Wall inside
your cabinets so you can hang items in the
backs of the cabinets in addition to storing
items on the shelves.
The average Slide-Lok workbench is suited
to working with an airplane’s components
such as fuselages, wings, and tail assemblies.
However, you’ll probably want a bit more
space when it comes time for final assembly
and alignment.
A great modification to a stationary
workbench is to turn it into a roll-around work
surface. If you order a system from Slide-Lok
that includes a workbench, most of you do-ityourselfers
will have no problem adding
casters to the base cabinets that support the
workbench, enabling you to roll your
workbench away from the wall, providing
additional workspace.
Some of Slide-Lok’s installers may be
willing to do this for you, but it isn’t a
standard offering, so ask. But again, it’s an
easy modification for you to do yourself.
Consider putting a pinnable surface such
as ceiling tile, drywall, or homosote on top of
the countertop so you can replace the surface
11sig3.QXD 9/25/06 1:54 PM Page 74as needed while maintaining the
attractiveness of the original countertop
beneath; that’s good for the resale value of
your home!
Alternatively, you can use the Slide-Lok
base cabinets with your own countertop
surface instead of the one that comes from the
company.
I’ve covered the big stuff, now let’s get into
the little stuff: paints, tools, covering material,
etc. When it comes to storing these items, you
have many choices. You could keep them in a
Slide-Lok cabinet system’s drawers or in the
baskets Slide-Lok offers for the Slat-Wall. I
really liked the idea of storing them in one of
the Slide-Lok pantry cabinet units.
The pantry cabinets come in 8-, 16-, and
24-inch depths; the 8-inch variety is really
something. You can put as many as 10
shelves in one of these cabinets, giving you
an incredibly space-efficient area for storing
all things small.
You can easily keep intermediate-sized
items such as starter boxes, transmitter cases,
and fuel jugs in almost any of the cabinets.
You can also stash these items in the basket
accessories Slide-Lok offers for the Slat-Wall
product. These baskets are also great for
storing household items such as cleaning
products, paper towels, light bulbs, etc.
And for you electric-power fliers, there
will be no problem storing your batteries and
chargers in the cabinets and baskets.
However, don’t forget to store your Li-Poly
batteries in a fireproof receptacle such as an
ammunition box or a ceramic container.
The modular Slide-Lok cabinet system and
the ability to rearrange the placement of the
Slat-Wall hooks gives you and your family
incredible design flexibility. Slide-Lok offers
the most popular design configurations as
prepackaged “systems”; but on the Slide-Lok
Web site you can access “Jack’s Design
Center,” which enables you to custom-design
cabinet configurations to meet your specific
needs.
Not only are the cabinets easy to install—
which you can do yourself or have a local
Slide-Lok dealer do for you—but they are
extremely easy to order. You can order
various preconfigured systems online or you
can go to the “Locate a Dealer” section of the
Web site and find a Slide-Lok dealer near
you. If you want to order online but need
something a bit different, you can call Slide-
Lok.
In all, Slide-Lok provides 10 different
modular cabinets in four colors. And because
of the modular design, you have the
flexibility to produce an almost limitless array
of configurations.
The Slat-Wall product comes in two
colors (gray and woodgrain) and has eight
available basket and hook accessories. The
Slat-Wall is great for any garage workshop—
especially those in small two-car garages,
where you don’t have the space to put a
cabinet next to your vehicle because of the
amount of room it would require to open a
cabinet door.
Slide-Lok manufacturers an excellent
product that serves the many needs of the
modeler and the modeler’s household. The
company’s staff and dealers are helpful,
friendly, and easy with which to work. MA
Tom Tilley