syntec4
Established Member
Hi all,
Firstly, a quick apology. I am definitely not a School teacher and I've never played one on telly. My spelling is bad, my grammar is worse. Please don't think I cant be bothered though. I will use spell check etc. but don't get upset if it's hard to read.
Anyway-
I've been busy lately with work and such, but I have managed to find some time to start on my dream tote. I have bought and wrecked many tool boxes over the years and never really found one that I was totally happy with. Maybe I never will.
But, as I am getting a bit better at woodwork, I though I could probably knock something together that would be better than shop bought stuff. My main problem with Tool boxes is that I either buy a great big thing and stuff gets lost in the bottom, or I cant see what I've left behind due to a lack of a specific location for a tool
. I have also started to use a small van now, which allows me to carry more stuff. This combined with the fact that I now have more tools means I can have specific tool kits for different jobs. So i have an 'Electronics kit' that contains small screwdrivers, multi meter, soldering iron etc. Then I have my installation kit, much bigger and contains things like drill bits, Big screwdrivers, Mastic guns and all sorts of junk. I now also have a need for a 'Woodworking kit'. Which is where it now gets interesting ( NO honestly, it does)
I recently picked up a copy of the Tool Box book. This one:-
I had plenty of time to read it, sitting with my Dad in Hospital. He's being treated for Cancer. I had been really impressed with a Tote made and designed by David Sellery. The design is the same as this one made by TC Woodwork I found on the net.
I really wanted to make something similar, but though I could add my own take on his design. It would also allow for doing some Joints that I had not tried before.
So I did some 'Fag Packet' sketches to see what bits I wanted to copy and which ones I wanted to change.
Click for bigger images.
I figured I would start with the 2 Laminated Handles as they would be the most challenging bits. I drew the Handle shapes onto 2 pieces of 12mm OSB to use as a former. I cut out blocks on the bandsaw and covered them in Duck tape so that the glue would not stick to them . I screwed them down to the board to create the former.
I also cut out all the strips of Rippled Sycamore and Black Walnut that I was going to use for most of the project. I cut this about 50mm wide by 4mm thick. I figured that this was about as thick as I could bend without it splitting. I wanted to alternate the Sycamore and Walnut pieces to make it Handle roughly 1 1/2" Square when finished. I also wanted the top piece to finish up as Sycamore so i cut that one a little thicker to allow more work with a spokeshave later.
This picture is actually the lower handle in the former, glued up and clamped for a day or two. You can see the strips I cut on the bench.
After the Handle came out of the clamps, I cleaned off the squeeze out and did a little rough shaping with a spokeshave.
Finishing up with this (the top handle)
I got both handles in the rough, then set them aside for another few days whilst I got on with the main tray.
The tray would be made out of Tulip wood (lets not start THAT discussion again
:wink: ) and rippled sycamore. I had a right job getting the sycamore square and straight. I had it close a few times and then a big chunk would fall out just when I thought I was happy with it. I managed to get my 'Gross' (Groz ) working a bit better (following ALF's example), but I should find some funds for some better hand tools.
I also made up a new shooting board to help square the ends of the timber. I used my £10.99 #5 plane form machine mart for this.
Actually it did a decent job with a bit of patience. Once the stock was prepared I got into cutting some mortices.
and some dovetails
You can see in the picture above that one of the bottom rails split at this point and I had to re make it.
The bottom of the main box is made from a sheet of 1/2" Ply. I wanted it to be a darker colour, so I stained it with some Liberon 'Dark Oak'. You can see the base is fitted into it's rebate here.
I wanted to get started with some assembly now, but first I thought it would be good to apply some finish. Especially as some areas would be difficult to get at afterwards. The finish is Chestnut Acrylic lacquer as recommended by several people following my question in the finishing forum.
Here you can see one of the tray dividers with a just applied second coat. I just rubbed down with 1200's between the 3 coats. Should be plenty tough enough.
A bit more assembly gets me to this stage. You can see that I fitted the handles into a morticed block, then screw this into the uprights. I wanted to do it this way in case I ever need to replace some parts. I did use some Walnut plugs I cut on the Drill press to cover the screw heads. These were sanded flush after the glue had dried.
I pegged the end of the handles with some maple offcuts. This finish looks a bit milky in this picture as I've just cut it back with some 1200's again.
I have now started on the tool holders. The chisels for example will be held upright in these laminated pieces. The gaps are just the right width for each blade. 6, 12 and 19mm. I've left some room in case I feel the need for more of a selection.
I have also dowelled the tenons in the bottom of the uprights with some 8mm Dowel. More tool dividers have also been added too.
That is pretty much where I am up to with it now. I will try to get all the tool holding and storage sorted out this weekend and post some more pictures with better lighting then. I am quite please with it so far, it's not as heavy as I though it might be. Certainly on a par with the Stanley metal box I am currently using. And the tools will be easier to identify, select and use. They will also have there cutting edges protected as well.
Thanks for Looking, comments always welcome.
Cheers
Lee.
Firstly, a quick apology. I am definitely not a School teacher and I've never played one on telly. My spelling is bad, my grammar is worse. Please don't think I cant be bothered though. I will use spell check etc. but don't get upset if it's hard to read.
Anyway-
I've been busy lately with work and such, but I have managed to find some time to start on my dream tote. I have bought and wrecked many tool boxes over the years and never really found one that I was totally happy with. Maybe I never will.
But, as I am getting a bit better at woodwork, I though I could probably knock something together that would be better than shop bought stuff. My main problem with Tool boxes is that I either buy a great big thing and stuff gets lost in the bottom, or I cant see what I've left behind due to a lack of a specific location for a tool
. I have also started to use a small van now, which allows me to carry more stuff. This combined with the fact that I now have more tools means I can have specific tool kits for different jobs. So i have an 'Electronics kit' that contains small screwdrivers, multi meter, soldering iron etc. Then I have my installation kit, much bigger and contains things like drill bits, Big screwdrivers, Mastic guns and all sorts of junk. I now also have a need for a 'Woodworking kit'. Which is where it now gets interesting ( NO honestly, it does)
I recently picked up a copy of the Tool Box book. This one:-
I had plenty of time to read it, sitting with my Dad in Hospital. He's being treated for Cancer. I had been really impressed with a Tote made and designed by David Sellery. The design is the same as this one made by TC Woodwork I found on the net.
I really wanted to make something similar, but though I could add my own take on his design. It would also allow for doing some Joints that I had not tried before.
So I did some 'Fag Packet' sketches to see what bits I wanted to copy and which ones I wanted to change.
Click for bigger images.
I figured I would start with the 2 Laminated Handles as they would be the most challenging bits. I drew the Handle shapes onto 2 pieces of 12mm OSB to use as a former. I cut out blocks on the bandsaw and covered them in Duck tape so that the glue would not stick to them . I screwed them down to the board to create the former.
I also cut out all the strips of Rippled Sycamore and Black Walnut that I was going to use for most of the project. I cut this about 50mm wide by 4mm thick. I figured that this was about as thick as I could bend without it splitting. I wanted to alternate the Sycamore and Walnut pieces to make it Handle roughly 1 1/2" Square when finished. I also wanted the top piece to finish up as Sycamore so i cut that one a little thicker to allow more work with a spokeshave later.
This picture is actually the lower handle in the former, glued up and clamped for a day or two. You can see the strips I cut on the bench.
After the Handle came out of the clamps, I cleaned off the squeeze out and did a little rough shaping with a spokeshave.
Finishing up with this (the top handle)
I got both handles in the rough, then set them aside for another few days whilst I got on with the main tray.
The tray would be made out of Tulip wood (lets not start THAT discussion again
:wink: ) and rippled sycamore. I had a right job getting the sycamore square and straight. I had it close a few times and then a big chunk would fall out just when I thought I was happy with it. I managed to get my 'Gross' (Groz ) working a bit better (following ALF's example), but I should find some funds for some better hand tools.
I also made up a new shooting board to help square the ends of the timber. I used my £10.99 #5 plane form machine mart for this.
Actually it did a decent job with a bit of patience. Once the stock was prepared I got into cutting some mortices.
and some dovetails
You can see in the picture above that one of the bottom rails split at this point and I had to re make it.
The bottom of the main box is made from a sheet of 1/2" Ply. I wanted it to be a darker colour, so I stained it with some Liberon 'Dark Oak'. You can see the base is fitted into it's rebate here.
I wanted to get started with some assembly now, but first I thought it would be good to apply some finish. Especially as some areas would be difficult to get at afterwards. The finish is Chestnut Acrylic lacquer as recommended by several people following my question in the finishing forum.
Here you can see one of the tray dividers with a just applied second coat. I just rubbed down with 1200's between the 3 coats. Should be plenty tough enough.
A bit more assembly gets me to this stage. You can see that I fitted the handles into a morticed block, then screw this into the uprights. I wanted to do it this way in case I ever need to replace some parts. I did use some Walnut plugs I cut on the Drill press to cover the screw heads. These were sanded flush after the glue had dried.
I pegged the end of the handles with some maple offcuts. This finish looks a bit milky in this picture as I've just cut it back with some 1200's again.
I have now started on the tool holders. The chisels for example will be held upright in these laminated pieces. The gaps are just the right width for each blade. 6, 12 and 19mm. I've left some room in case I feel the need for more of a selection.
I have also dowelled the tenons in the bottom of the uprights with some 8mm Dowel. More tool dividers have also been added too.
That is pretty much where I am up to with it now. I will try to get all the tool holding and storage sorted out this weekend and post some more pictures with better lighting then. I am quite please with it so far, it's not as heavy as I though it might be. Certainly on a par with the Stanley metal box I am currently using. And the tools will be easier to identify, select and use. They will also have there cutting edges protected as well.
Thanks for Looking, comments always welcome.
Cheers
Lee.
