Tool Chest Build W.I.P.

[owenmcc]

Very nice hand tool work, nice to follow the WIP.

 

[woodiedonald]

Very nice hand tool work, nice to follow the WIP.

Thanks Owen, I was admiring your joinery work in your projects thread also.

I thought it might be of benefit to take some pictures of cutting the tenon and paring it to size.

I cut the shoulders first,

Then I cut the cheeks,

Then I pare the cheeks,

Then I pare the shoulders,

Then I cut the haunch, I didn't cut along the grain afterwards, I just snapped the piece off with my fingers. It will never be seen so it doesn't matter.

Now for some unforeseen repairs, I should have paid more attention to where I was cross cutting my stock as I have a dead knot right where the mortice was. It was a bit of a pain to mortice through it and it came straight out on one side when I was cutting the mortice. I drilled out the hole first with a brace. I wouldn't normally use a brace but I did seeing as I had only used hand tools so far. Making the dowel to fit into it was where the hand tools ended as I turned it on the lathe. I was going to say I turned the motor over by hand and didn't plug it in at all but I doubt anyone would believe me. Please forgive me.

I stuck it in with a bit of mitre adhesive. I wanted to keep the grain of the dowel running straight with the rest of the board but the mitre adhesive set solid as I was fluting around twirling the dowel in the hole. #-o . Doesn't seem to be too bad when flush though, the dowel is in the middle of a bit of flame grain and even if I had the grain going parallel with the rest it would probably still look a bit out of place.

 

[woodiedonald]

2nd post here as there is a 10 attachment maximum with the pictures, I didn't know that before! I must be doing a bit more than I thought on this blummin tool box!

I got a start made on the top panel, I have the three pieces planed and glued up now, It looks to be starting to come together now with the top panel sitting there on the top.

Cheers,
Donald

 

[Tierney]

Looking good, admirable use of hand tools.

DT

 

[woodiedonald]

Here's what I got done yesterday, nothing done today, I'm having a day off!

edit: sorry DT, missed your post, and thanks!

Some pictures of planing the top panel, jack plane first across the grain to get it nearly flat.

Then flattening it with the jointer plane

Then smoothing with an old no.4

I made the rebates for the top panel the same way as the bottom, this time I had an off cut from one of the rails to help me fit the tongue which the rebate made which helped greatly.

And here is the lid sitting on the box waiting to be hinged. Seems like I'm nearly done now, just hinges and trays and dividers for inside. Now that I've said that there will probably seem like hundreds of other small things to do that I haven't thought of.

Cheers,
Donald.

 

[woodiedonald]

Right so I've since hinged the lid and got four castors mounted on the bottom, the two at the back are lockable and will stick out a bit to let me get at the pedal to lock them.

I have the skirt done now, only need to fit it a bit and its done. 4 parts and the back one is cut out to let the castor pedals stick out to lock them.

Cheers,
Donald

 

[tobytools]

Beautifully done
TT

 

[woodiedonald]

Thanks Toby.

After a short (or long) hiatus I'm back at it again. My thread was relegated to page 2 also, didn't think I would be that long gone!

I have some notched blocks put in to hold planes in the bottom and guides for the sliding trays. The guides are of oak for wear resistance. The bottom guide sits proud on a white deal baton to allow me to put the bottom drawer in place. The bottoms of the drawers will also have oak strips set in them for wear resistance.

Cheers,
Donald.

 

[tobytools]

Coming along nicely.
One day I'll make a tool box, currently I have my great granddads tool box, lots of old paint splatter and worm holes
I'm torn between a Japanese style tool box or a anarchists tool chest. With the latter I will need to improve my dovetailing.
Great progress and keep it coming, I for one am enjoying this thread

Thanks
TT

 

[terencedug]

Nice job, I like a lot

 

[woodiedonald]

Thanks Terence & Toby. Toby, I never heard of a Japanese tool box, just after searching for it, I'd still go for the western style chest if it was me. Also, that's my great grandfather's jack plane in the bottom, handle and wedge made by me.

I've the saw rack done now, just two kerfed blocks, I needed to screw another bit on to hold another saw as the block wasn't wide enough. I probably should have kept the screwed on bit to the back to hide it but I'm not changing it now its done.

Outside

Fixed in.

Cheers,
Donald

 

[woodiedonald]

Chest is now finished!!!!

I made two trays and a rebate in the bottom to take the bottom panel which is nailed in.

When I set out to make this I intended on only using hand tools as what I do at work is all machines and fancied a change. Its certainly a lot harder with hand tools and it gave me a lot of respect for the chaps who did it like this all those years ago not like me most days making much simpler things with machines.

If I could do it again I probably would use better quality timber not this stuff which was more knots than good timber and grain that changed direction what seemed like every inch! I'd hope to be able to use a few more machines especially for planing boards and panels (sweating from planing it by hand I was!). Hopefully my dovetails would be properly up to scratch by the time I make another chest. Its the paring that really lets me down.

But anyway, CHEERS!!! Finally done!!!
Donald.

 

[rileytoolworks]

I like that a LOT.
Thanks for sharing.

Adam.

 

[paul-c]

I like that a LOT.
Thanks for sharing.

Adam.

+1
cheers paul-c