Wall Hung Tool Cabinet #4: Some Carcase Joinery

Nice job Smitty. You do a good job with your pics. Looking forward to more, and the finished project.

Thank you, Shane. Pic taking has almost become second nature in the shop anymore.

-- Don't anthropomorphize your handplanes. They hate it when you do that. -- OldTools Archive

Man – those are some mighty fine dovetails…....very nice!

-- Jeff - I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.

Thanks for reading, Jeff!

-- Don't anthropomorphize your handplanes. They hate it when you do that. -- OldTools Archive

Smitty those blind’s are sum nice woodwork. I love a dovetail. And you sir do them justice. Looks as the project is moving right along.

-- Superdav "No matter where you go - there you are." http://chiselandforge.com

Super, Most appreciated! Lots to do before tools can get stored inside the cabinet, but it’s the journey right?

-- Don't anthropomorphize your handplanes. They hate it when you do that. -- OldTools Archive

You know it. Its a journey through your imagination, into your hands, passed from your tools to shape the wood.

-- Superdav "No matter where you go - there you are." http://chiselandforge.com

Nice work on the dovetails, I have a question though, why did you decide to use half blind dovetails? From a design point of view the sides will be the weight bearing elements of the cabinet, I would have used through dovetails to add strength to the sides.

-- Just because you’ve always done it that way doesn’t mean it’s not incredibly stupid.

JGM- First answer, half blinds come from the inspiration piece that’s been around over 120 years. Second part is much more thoughtful, because this cabinet will get weighted down in the doors themselves, and that’s not the case for the original.

“Sides will be the weight bearing” is true, and sides -to-top joinery is most critical depending also on how this thing gets mounted to the wall as well. When it’s full of tools, doors open wide, there will be outward pressure at the tops of the doors, at the upper hinge. These half-blinds should be as effective as fulls there. So mounting is next. And I do see how full-tailed side boards would be preferred. I’ve thought alot about the hanging stresses that will be present in a cabinet like this, and how best to address them during the build, specifically as the back meets top and sides. Still working through that, actually, but don’t think I’ve bought the farm yet. Also for consideration, there will be a type of corner bracket used underneath, a pair, actually, as extra support when it’s on the wall.

I’ll be sure and talk more about this as the build progresses. Thanks for the comment!

-- Don't anthropomorphize your handplanes. They hate it when you do that. -- OldTools Archive

Smitty, those dovetails look great.

-- There is nothing like the sound of a well tuned hand plane. - http://timetestedtools.wordpress.com (timetestedtools at hotmail dot c0m)

Thanks, Don, very much. Cutting dovetails is one of my favorite activities in the shop, I think.

-- Don't anthropomorphize your handplanes. They hate it when you do that. -- OldTools Archive

Smitty – You’re so honest in your answer to JGM. I would have just said that I couldn’t cut the tails in the side piece because of that stonking great knot right near the top. You’re right though, there will be a huge amount of outward force at the top due to the weight of the doors and there are other ways to counter the downward force on the joinery. Looking good bro’.

-- Andy -- Old Chinese proverb say: If you think something can't be done, don't interrupt man who is doing it.

Good news, Brit, is it’s getting painted on the outside. So pine is a good material choice for this, knots and all.

-- Don't anthropomorphize your handplanes. They hate it when you do that. -- OldTools Archive

Nice work Smitty! I am really enjoying this, thanks for bringing us along.

-- ~Tony

Tony, that’s appreciated!

-- Don't anthropomorphize your handplanes. They hate it when you do that. -- OldTools Archive