Making a toolbox - by a numpty.

[Smudger]

I need some very basic advice here.

I am just starting out with hand tools, and I need something to keep them in when I go out to our French place for the summer. Now I have no experience at all, and small skills, so I decided to make a series of small (10"x6") boxes to put planes etc in, so that they would stack in the car.

I made up a box for a 71 yesterday by gluing up pieces of board, lap jointed and pinned at the edges with drop-in top and bottom. It's a Frankenstein box!

How do I cut off the lid? I thought of using a plough plane and 1/8" cutter, but I need a lot more practice to do that, I think. It is too big to fit in my bandsaw, so it's a handsaw or nothing. Is it just a case of careful marking and cutting, or is there a trick I don't know?

Answers on a postcard, please, and TIA.

 

[Paul Chapman]

The normal way is to use a hand saw and then skim over the sawn edges with a plane. Careful not to hit any of those pins and blunt your saw :wink:

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Smudger]

Thanks, Paul. That's what I did in the end - not too bad, in fact on the whole Frankenbox it's the neatest part!

I've learned a lot doing this - the need for accuracy, for straight wood, patience and sharp plane irons...
The rabbet plane is a joy to use, I got a Record 078 off the Bay with the front knob (as copied by Anant) and it (the knob) makes a real difference. That and the advice of Mr C.W. Hampton, of course.

 

[Alf]

Smudging-one, one dodge is to plough a groove on both sides of the pieces before you glue up, then saw through the remainder - the groove sides give you a nice clear point to plane to for cleaning up. You can take that further if desired, stagger the grooves and create a rebated lip. As hand tool users many of us seem a bit reluctant to use guides and fences too, but that's another way to help guide your saw if you'd had problems.

Cheers, Alf

 

[Smudger]

Thanks, Alf, that's a great tip. You're up there with Mr Hampton.

And it means I REALLY need to buy that 045 on eBay!

 

[Alf]

And it means I REALLY need to buy that 045 on eBay!

My work here is done. :twisted: Mwhahahahahaaaaaa....

 

[Mittlefehldt]

I can't explain it but I was at an antique mall on the weekend and this 45 was calling to me, nay shouting loudly, and when the owner offered ten percent off the regular price, I sort of felt my knees buckle, and I weakly said yes sir I will have it.

Only has one cutter but everything else is there, why did I buy it I cannot comprehend that weirdness that overtook me. Sigh.

 

[Smudger]

I was chatting to Andy my Wood Guru at the School Sports and told him that I had seen a Record 045 on the Bay that I was thinking of bidding for.

"Ah," he said, "I've got one of those. Bought it thirty years ago. Full set of bottoms, everything. In those thirty years I must have used it, oh, about, [pause], five times."

Ah well...

 

[mr]

Whereas, having dragged mine out of its box and cleaned it up I'm now running round the house looking for things to put grooves in. I still can't pull off the stopped groove properly though :/
Which reminds me I was about to go and stick some grooves in the sides of my new tool box


Cheers Mike