Left Overs Tool Box

Hello all, I have been wanting to build a tool tote for some time now for building and mounting projects, when I am in front of customers… I know, I have already one built out of pine which looks just about like the one littlecope posted under charlie1958s tool boxs’ comment section. but I wanted to show off some nice wood and skills while under the watchfull eye of customers. The people in the business know how it is the man with his organized tools and well made box makes an impression that he does good work and cares for and has pride in his work. In simple terms like a business card, or brushing your teeth ;-) Says alot without saying anything.

Besides I had left overs right?

I had a ton of left overs from my Journeymans Piece, and I decided I had enough of my chisels banging around getting dull not to mention my Jap. Saws and just wanted some “Ordnung”. I was also tired of the relative wide compared to the length of my old one that I built a few years ago, I wanted something narrower but there fore longer so clamps fit inside and the longer Jap. Saws, and whatever else I want to fit in then passes. so you will probably notice that the walnut pieces are exaclty the same width as the ones I used on another project that I posted recently.

I cut the slots and drilled the holes for the chisels with a mortise machine in the shop so that way the smaller chisels have their spot graduating in size to the bigger ones, and they will never contact each other because I cut the strip in two, one is glued in toward the bottom and the one that you see is of course on the top with a cone shaped hole so the chisels do not bounce around and sit snugly, but come out easily.

The small saw compartment has a “false” wall held in place by super strong tiny neodym magnets, about 8 mm across and the saws are held in place by a combination of magnets and “hooks” holding the hand grips in place. I have gained the expierence through working in many different shops and different professions, that if putting something away is complicated, it simply wont get put away. So magnets are a great solution for something like that, quick to access and quick to stow. No problems.

The cool thing about this design, is that because of the carrying frame (the walnut part) the body of the tool box can be made alot thinner than most you see, keeping the wieght down. You also might have noticed the bookmatched and bookmatched again, veneer work. This is veneered upon a fir core board with the locking veneering then the Euro. Cherry which you see, also much stronger (agains bending thru although made irrelivent because of the carrying frame) and lighter than birch plywood, or press boards of any kind, which are all heavy because of high density and glue content. If you noticed the groove toward the bottom, that is completly there on purpose, part trademark of the school where I learned, part design line, part practical purpose, which would be in case it does not exactly line up, put a grove there and problem solved, but here it does (must line up) so I did not need it in this aspect ;-)

the surface is oiled

-- Nicholas, Cabinet/Furniture Maker, Blue Hill, Maine