Advice on making a Tool Chest ala Anarchist Tool Chest - which wood?

[PaulArthur]

I keep my eye out for auctions of wood, sadly from joinery workshops that have closed for a multitude of reasons. That lead me to get a huge load of beech for very little money a couple of years ago.

I used the beech to make two chests as to chests for my children, on the understanding that I would convert them to tool chests when they were adults if they wanted me to (although if they want it, they should probably do it themselves as a good project).

It wouldn’t be cheap to buy beech off the shelf, but it worked brilliantly and there are other sources sometimes.

 

[Adam W.]

just out of interest what is the thickness of your sides please? wickes mostly stock 20.5mm board in redwood and I feel like thats probably too thin

If it's finished 20mm, it should be all right. The big skirting at the bottom and architrave at the top adds a lot of stability to the carcass.

I'll measure my old one when I get in, but I think it's around 20mm.

 

[PaulArthur]

If it's finished 20mm, it should be all right. The big skirting at the bottom and architrave at the top adds a lot of stability to the carcass.

I'll measure my old one when I get in, but I think it's around 20mm.

I think mine were about 18mm

 

[Adam W.]

I think mine were about 18mm

I've measured mine at 16mm or 5/8th in proper money.

The runners for the tills add a lot to the wall thickness too. Everything is super thin and the jointing is spot on.

 

[Nic_the_Urchin]

I've measured mine at 16mm or 5/8th in proper money.

The runners for the tills add a lot to the wall thickness too. Everything is super thin and the jointing is spot on.

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Wow! Looks wicked! Something to aspire to!

 

[Jameshow]

I've measured mine at 16mm or 5/8th in proper money.

The runners for the tills add a lot to the wall thickness too. Everything is super thin and the jointing is spot on.

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Do the walls get thicker lower down if so there's a lot of material by the time you get to the bottom??

 

[Adam W.]

Do the walls get thicker lower down if so there's a lot of material by the time you get to the bottom??

They do, until the covering piece over the space at the bottom, then it steps back in. There needs to be extra thickness to support the cleated iron lifting handles on the outside as the thing weighs a lot, even when empty.

It looks gash on the outside but it's pure luxury on the inside.

@Nic_the_Urchin

He's done a lovely job and I'm really happy that I managed to get it, as I've been looking for one like this for ages.

 

[Adam W.]

How about this for a saw till then ?

An interesting dovetailed saw till - FineWoodworking Ooooh!

 

[Jameshow]

How about this for a saw till then ?

An interesting dovetailed saw till - FineWoodworking Ooooh!

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Build a box and then go and cut it up!!

Amazing yet crazy!!

 

[thetyreman]

just out of interest what is the thickness of your sides please? wickes mostly stock 20.5mm board in redwood and I feel like thats probably too thin

this might surprise you but it's 1/2" thick stock for the main carcass and the skirtings, when you add on the skirting it adds a lot of strength, adding up to 1 inch thick.

 

[Nic_the_Urchin]

I think mine were about 18mm

this might surprise you but it's 1/2" thick stock for the main carcass and the skirtings, when you add on the skirting it adds a lot of strength, adding up to 1 inch thick.

That does surprise me. I think Chris Schwartz insist between 3/4 to an inch thick. So that’s good to know. Thanks

 

[Nic_the_Urchin]

How about this for a saw till then ?

An interesting dovetailed saw till - FineWoodworking Ooooh!

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This is great! I’m trying to get my head around how the cutouts have been made - fiddly.

 

[Adam W.]

That does surprise me. I think Chris Schwartz insist between 3/4 to an inch thick. So that’s good to know. Thanks

Well that's Christopher Schwartz for you!

I don't think he's seen many English cabinetmakers chests, which are a cut above the carpenters or shipwrights chest that appear in the states.

I'll measure the thickness of the till material on the one I have, but as a guess it's about 3/8ths

Here's another forumites fine chest..

https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/thread...tternmakers-tool-chest-and-tools-1888.131594/

 

[Nic_the_Urchin]

I keep my eye out for auctions of wood, sadly from joinery workshops that have closed for a multitude of reasons. That lead me to get a huge load of beech for very little money a couple of years ago.

I used the beech to make two chests as to chests for my children, on the understanding that I would convert them to tool chests when they were adults if they wanted me to (although if they want it, they should probably do it themselves as a good project).

It wouldn’t be cheap to buy beech off the shelf, but it worked brilliantly and there are other sources sometimes.

I realised I never responded to this on here. The chests look great - I’m very envious of the wood haul too!

 

[PaulArthur]

I realised I never responded to this on here. The chests look great - I’m very envious of the wood haul too!

Thank you. I was really pleased with them. I’m just sad I don’t have the space to make one for me and my workshop!

That haul was £700 two years ago, but I had another one last month - £1200 for this lot (and more). It was a stack of teak, sapele and Japanese oak, with a few massive boards of black walnut and wenge, and something I haven’t quite managed to identify yet. Should keep me going for the next decade. The auctions are the only way I could afford it these days.

 

[Nic_the_Urchin]

Thank you. I was really pleased with them. I’m just sad I don’t have the space to make one for me and my workshop!

That haul was £700 two years ago, but I had another one last month - £1200 for this lot (and more). It was a stack of teak, sapele and Japanese oak, with a few massive boards of black walnut and wenge, and something I haven’t quite managed to identify yet. Should keep me going for the next decade. The auctions are the only way I could afford it these days.

Impressive haul! Any hints on where to spot these auctions?

 

[Nic_the_Urchin]

I have the opportunity to purchase very cheap from a friend - a job lot (25sq meters) of 100 year old pine floor boards (18-20mm thick) and I was gonna use some of that to make this toolbox - anything I should be aware of?

Considering all of your appreciated and helpful replies it seemed to be a good choice.

 

[Jameshow]

I have the opportunity to purchase very cheap from a friend - a job lot (25sq meters) of 100 year old pine floor boards (18-20mm thick) and I was gonna use some of that to make this toolbox - anything I should be aware of?

Considering all of your appreciated and helpful replies it seemed to be a good choice.

Go for it, it will be fine for a working tool box, use the most worn pieces and you'll trick people into thinking you've been woodworking for much longer!

 

[Cooper]

Looking at how fabulous Adam's purchase is, (no refection on the one he's made) I presume that these chests were apprentice pieces made in the early years of someones career. Otherwise how could they afford the time? And where would they keep their tools in the meanwhile.

 

[PaulArthur]

Impressive haul! Any hints on where to spot these auctions?

Get yourself on the mailing lists of GJWisdom and John Pye. Those seem best from experience.