| Blog series by Tim | updated 433 days ago | 7 parts | 9408 reads | 71 comments total |
Part 1: Design... yeah right.
Since finishing my workbench a little over 2 years ago a place to keep hand tools has been on the to do list, but a final design has eluded me. The bench tote vs. tool cabinet battle has been ongoing and with every new project I would get a reminder that I desperately NEED SOMETHING! Recently over at the blog Heartwood, Rob Porcaro did a six part series about his tool cabinet and is a great source of ideas. Jim Bertelson’s blog on a bench tote Tommy is another good source of inspiratio...
Part 2: Rough stock to cabinet glue up
I have some twisted, cupped, bowed, full of knots, worm holes and and even some of the pith for good measure. I’m not sure if it is red or white oak, Its not good enough for furniture but will do nicely for the shop. Yesterday after much planing, cutting and gluing, I was able to get the cabinet carcass built. Because I used a simple rabbet joint on this cabinet I made some walnut dowels to help lock the corners. It was a productive weekend a...
Part 3: Bit of a setback when installing the door hinges
It was not a very productive evening in the shop. When installing the door hinges I broke three screws and a drill bit, all of them buried deep in the wood. The first screw broke off when using the drill as a driver but I had the clutch set…Hmmm. So I switched the a screw driver and promptly broke two more then a drill bit ARGH! The partial screw is from the left hole, there is another screw and drill bit in the center hole. So time to excavate, first draw the layout lines. ...
Part 4: Final sanding
After getting the hinges installed and fitting the doors, today I sanded the cabinet and doors to 400 grit. I hand sand 80, 120, 180, 220, 400. Lately I have started using a cabinet scraper and found I can skip the 80 and 120 grit. Once I reach 400 grit then I switch to Gray Scotch Brite Ultra Fine Pad and a shop vac removes all the dust….all of it. The pad scrubs the dust out and protects the surface from the shop vac nozzle. See the difference? Next go over i...
Part 5: Applying the oil/poly mix
One third each of Boiled linseed oil, poly-urethane and low odor mineral spirits has become my favorite finish. Here is a great site with a lot of good info Homeshop Finishes That Work. Scroll down to: Finish #4: Sam Maloof’s Finish. I normally use a brush to apply the first coat, put it on heavy, continue applying to keep it wet for 10 – 15 min. so it can soak in. Wipe off with paper towels, I usually go over the entire project with the same paper towel to help r...
Part 6: Hanging the cabinet, a clean work bench is getting closer
First a couple shots of the finished cabinet with the doors attached. The bench in the background is a good testimony as to my need for a tool cabinet :) The back of the cabinet is solid oak 5/8” thick and I need to account for some expansion and contraction. Last evening I trimmed the back 1/8” and cut slots to elongate the screw holes. Here it is hanging on the wall, but it seems to be missing something… There, that is better don’t you think?...
Part 7: Adding tool holders to the insides of the doors.
A couple of MAFE inspired chisel racks seem to fit nicely on the inside of the left door. Made from cherry, walnut and spalted oak cutoffs. The top rack is not completely filled, so a few spacers on the left side. Rules and misc, layout tools on the right. made use of some rare earth magnets. My workbench has not been this clean in a while. :) My workbench has not been this clean in a while. :)
