Stuff About Tool Chests

[Toolemera]

Having become tired of reading about workbenches, I decided it was high time a blog devoted to those things we store or carry our tools in should make it's appearance.

Hence, The Tool Chest blog, featuring chests, boxes, cabinets, totes, tills and what-have-you. It's pretty much powered by you. I'm not searching out images or facts to post. I'm only posting whatever people choose to send in. No limit on the number of images, pdf's, text documents, etc.

Please stop in, enjoy, and even consider sending something to post, using the email address [email protected]

http://toolemerablog.typepad.com/the_tool_chest/

 

[Pvt_Ryan]

Perfect timing.. About to start making a tool chest..

Bookmarked

Dimensions would be a nice addition to the descriptions

 

[Toolemera]

Ryan

If you'ld like to post pictures of the build in progress, feel free to do so. I can simply update the post as the project progresses.

I've asked people to provide dimensions when possible. If there is a particular one you're interested in knowing more of, just add a comment and I'll see that it gets passed along to the proper person.

Gary

 

[Pvt_Ryan]

Excellent. I will do.

Can't start until my rip saw and sash cramps arrive though..

I have 2weeks off from the 20th so hopefully I'll be starting around then.

 

[jimi43]

I see WAKA's masterpiece is pride of place in the blog...that is the ULTIMATE tool home! Wonderful piece of work.

Interesting thing about oak and steel in the other glorious machinists tool box. I wonder how many consider using oak until they realise how it affects steel!

I have a nice little one which I found at a bootfair for £3 but I want to make a copy of the oak one..probably in mahogany or maybe something else but that will be sometime in the future.

Good luck with the blog and thread

Jimi

 

[Pvt_Ryan]

Interesting thing about oak and steel in the other glorious machinists tool box. I wonder how many consider using oak until they realise how it affects steel!

er what?

I just bought 3100x25x235mm of white oak to make a tool cabinet out of..

 

[jimi43]

Interesting thing about oak and steel in the other glorious machinists tool box. I wonder how many consider using oak until they realise how it affects steel!

er what?

I just bought 3100x25x235mm of white oak to make a tool cabinet out of..

Oooops!

You had better read this....


Jim

 

[Pvt_Ryan]

Nuts, looks like my tool chest has just become a chess table and perhaps a coffee or bedside table..


*note to self, ask on forum about the suitablity of wood before buying*



PS thank you for that inadvertant saving of my tools (and my sanity)

 

[jimi43]

I am sure that someone will disagree but that is what I was led to believe and my oak bench has black marks on it where tools have lain for a while...so I tend to believe it.

It is apparently the tannin...tannic acid...Western Red Cedar has the same effect.

Jim

 

[mtt.tr]

Im going to leave some steel on some oak and see what happens

 

[Alf]

I imagine the oak/tool storage issue depends on whether you allow the tools to come into direct contact with the tannins in the oak. A coat of finish would seem a simple solution, if it's likely to be a problem. Must say I've never had any difficulties from my oak Moore & Wright engineers tool cabinet.

 

[jimi43]

Spot on Alf...but mark what Jeff Gorman says about his...mind you...sixty years is a long time!

And it IS a lovely chest without a doubt...the figuring on that oak is astounding

Jim

 

[Toolemera]

I imagine the oak/tool storage issue depends on whether you allow the tools to come into direct contact with the tannins in the oak. A coat of finish would seem a simple solution, if it's likely to be a problem. Must say I've never had any difficulties from my oak Moore & Wright engineers tool cabinet.

Yup, classic Gerstner tool boxes are oak. But... that's only the drawer fronts and box sides. The rest of the drawers have poplar sides and galvanized steel bottoms. Plus, it's finished inside and out as well as lined with felt.

 

[Alf]

Spot on Alf...but mark what Jeff Gorman says about his...mind you...sixty years is a long time!

Well I've only just seen that - and remarked to Jeff via email that it's only the second time I'd heard of it, and both in the last 24hrs. And now it turns out it was the same time twice! #-o

Gary, can't get to the w'shop at the moment, but I'm fairly sure my M&W is oak throughout, apart from the drawer bottoms which were lined anyway. I think finishing the insides could be the key, but blessed if I can recall off-hand whether the M&W is or not. (I'm tempted to get side-tracked on to Gerstners and whether they were ever sold here in the UK, but I'll be good.)

I also wondered if dampness or otherwise of workshop conditions might have a bearing? Dunno. My forte is blanket superficial knowledge; specific technicalities about timber and steel is better left to someone who knows what they're talking about.

 

[jimi43]

I think that is the issue ALF...the dampness.

I think you have to release the tannins from the wood with moisture and then the steel will affect the oak and vice versa.

Certainly the close proximity of mild steel nails is a none fact with oak and here stainless steel or non-ferrous metals are needed.

Interesting subject though...I have loads of white oak and was planning a chest and like the look more than mahogany but I also have some nice cherry so may make the carcass of oak and the drawers of cherry...perhaps contrasting mahogany fronts...that would look nice!

Jim

 

[Alf]

Just to complete the info, Jeff isn't absolutely sure it wasn't the felt that might have been the culprit. Now using the "wrong" felt I have heard as a problem before. Anyway, fwiw. If anyone wants to give me a load of oak to make a tool cabinet from, I don't mind taking a risk for the good of tool-owning kind. :wink: