Benchwayze
Established Member
I finally gave in, and bought a copy of Chris Schwartz's book, 'The Anarchist's Tool Chest'. (Incidentally, I was under the impression it was a 'coffee-table' format book, but mine is ‘novel size’. So maybe the photographs I've seen of it are misleading. )
It's making interesting reading though, and there’s a lot of sense in it.
I might raise the tool-chest subject itself in another thread, because interesting as these chests are, I'm not sure a shop-bound amateur really needs one; except maybe for the pure enjoyment of making it. (More later?)
Chris Schwartz raises other points. In particular his philosophy on Plywood. He believes plywood is lacking in quality these days, (I agree) and is considering banishing the stuff from his shop. Chris Schwartz champions pine for his tool-chest, (And if you're going to paint your tool-chest, why worry about it? ) So using softwood throughout, would make sense traditionally, and practically. Hmmm…. Maybe he has something?
I had to think about his idea of banishing plywood. Although there do seem to be a lot of voids, and surface defects; even in some of the more expensive plywoods, would solid timber be just a bit too expensive? So I did a bit of 'calculizing' (That's an invented word Webster’s can adopt if they wish. I shan't mind!)
The price of redwood floorboard for instance. Locally to me, (per square metre) it pans out only a little more than weather-proof ply; yet it's below the price of 'quality' Birch Ply. To put it another way, if I put floorboards down in my shop, it's going to add only about £30.00 to the bill. Considering the ease with which I could replace a broken board, compared to a 4 x 2 section of plywood, I think that's pretty good. It's easier to handle too. And it would give me chance to use the floorboard cramps I've had lying around for yonks!
To make wider panels, floorboard could be acclimatised, and then glued together, to make chests, and so on. A pine wardrobe made from floorboards, (Or more likely jointed redwood) is still less expensive than one made with those laminated pine sheets. Plus, it can be as thick or slender, as I wish, and it can be cleaned up with a plane, without so much worry about grain direction, the bane of laminated pine sheets. So, to put a base into the new stand for my Triton work-centre, I might as well use floor board, as opposed to sheet material.
Hardwood is expensive, so as home woodworkers, we tend to use sheet material and veneer for large panels. But even with hardwood, does the price rise as much as we might think, if we use solid wood, where we can, on smaller projects?
I am still going to need some sheet materials of course, as solid wood is a bit OTT for making kitchen cupboards, and utility drawer bottoms. And I might want to make a walnut wardrobe, for which I'd give in, and use veneered board. But the less I have to mess with large, sheet stuff in my shop the better.
I don't think I shall be disposing of my Track-saw just yet though. At least, not until I have saved up for a nice old Wadkin 12 inch tilt-arbor saw.
Any observations on my ramblings?
It's making interesting reading though, and there’s a lot of sense in it.
I might raise the tool-chest subject itself in another thread, because interesting as these chests are, I'm not sure a shop-bound amateur really needs one; except maybe for the pure enjoyment of making it. (More later?)
Chris Schwartz raises other points. In particular his philosophy on Plywood. He believes plywood is lacking in quality these days, (I agree) and is considering banishing the stuff from his shop. Chris Schwartz champions pine for his tool-chest, (And if you're going to paint your tool-chest, why worry about it? ) So using softwood throughout, would make sense traditionally, and practically. Hmmm…. Maybe he has something?
I had to think about his idea of banishing plywood. Although there do seem to be a lot of voids, and surface defects; even in some of the more expensive plywoods, would solid timber be just a bit too expensive? So I did a bit of 'calculizing' (That's an invented word Webster’s can adopt if they wish. I shan't mind!)
The price of redwood floorboard for instance. Locally to me, (per square metre) it pans out only a little more than weather-proof ply; yet it's below the price of 'quality' Birch Ply. To put it another way, if I put floorboards down in my shop, it's going to add only about £30.00 to the bill. Considering the ease with which I could replace a broken board, compared to a 4 x 2 section of plywood, I think that's pretty good. It's easier to handle too. And it would give me chance to use the floorboard cramps I've had lying around for yonks!
To make wider panels, floorboard could be acclimatised, and then glued together, to make chests, and so on. A pine wardrobe made from floorboards, (Or more likely jointed redwood) is still less expensive than one made with those laminated pine sheets. Plus, it can be as thick or slender, as I wish, and it can be cleaned up with a plane, without so much worry about grain direction, the bane of laminated pine sheets. So, to put a base into the new stand for my Triton work-centre, I might as well use floor board, as opposed to sheet material.
Hardwood is expensive, so as home woodworkers, we tend to use sheet material and veneer for large panels. But even with hardwood, does the price rise as much as we might think, if we use solid wood, where we can, on smaller projects?
I am still going to need some sheet materials of course, as solid wood is a bit OTT for making kitchen cupboards, and utility drawer bottoms. And I might want to make a walnut wardrobe, for which I'd give in, and use veneered board. But the less I have to mess with large, sheet stuff in my shop the better.
I don't think I shall be disposing of my Track-saw just yet though. At least, not until I have saved up for a nice old Wadkin 12 inch tilt-arbor saw.
Any observations on my ramblings?
