| Project by jcees | posted 625 days ago | 853 views | 8 times favorited | 17 comments | ![]() |
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Ten years ago, I was fretting over the state of my tablesaw blade storage, er, uh, there was none! I had them in a flat file drawer with sheets of cardboard to separate them. As I would swap one for a sharp one or one of a different use, I’d have to do a blade shuffle and be careful not to bang them into one another. ENOUGH!!!
I came up with this solution with three parameters in mind; it had to be portable so I could haul the blades to the sharpening service safely, it had to be made of scraps as in I couldn’t use it as an excuse to buy another 100 bd’ of cherry, and last but certainly not least—it had to be easy to make. I’m lazy like that.
So here’s what transpired using a 4 inch wide by 48 inch strip of leftover 3/4” Baltic Birch ply, about one half sheet of 1/8” tempered hardboard, two leftover drawer bails [‘cause it’s heavy when it’s full], an old 3” door hinge, two plastic bumpers, and the only thing I actually had to purchase was the hasp and I think it beat up a two dollar bill.
I cut four equal length pieces of the Birch ply then mitered the ends and grooved them to accept the hardboard. There are eight pieces of hardboard apx. 11 inches square. I used slow set West Systems epoxy in order to have enough open time to pull this puzzle together and get it all into a pair of Bessey band clamps. Obviously I only applied glue to three sides. After that, it was a matter of installing the hardware after a coat of poly. I knew I got it right when my sharpener said, “Wow, I like that.”
It would be an easy enough design to expand in order for it to hold more blades, but as it is, when it’s toting 7 blades it tips the bathroom scale at over twenty pounds. A more comfortable handle would be nice too, maybe a leather chest handle… and maybe some nice brass corners… naaaa. Anyway, I made the parts double so if I expand the blade collection much more I can slap one of these together in an hour and be using it by tomorrow.
To dispense a blade is simplicity in itself; you tilt the box forward on the knuckle of the hinge while holding your other hand across the open front, when the blades roll forward it is easy to see which one you’re after and putting a finger on it, relax the box back and the rest roll back into the box. Sweet.
Here’s a closer look at some of the details…
http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh20/jcees_photos/Blade%20Box/IMG_0014.jpg
http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh20/jcees_photos/Blade%20Box/IMG_0016.jpg
http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh20/jcees_photos/Blade%20Box/IMG_0009.jpg
http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh20/jcees_photos/Blade%20Box/IMG_0007.jpg
http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh20/jcees_photos/Blade%20Box/IMG_0006.jpg
http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh20/jcees_photos/Blade%20Box/IMG_0005.jpg
http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh20/jcees_photos/Blade%20Box/IMG_0003.jpg
-- "Imagination is more important than knowledge" -- Albert Einstein
































17 comments so far
Topapilot
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123 posts in 734 days
posted 625 days ago
Nice work, and good use of leftover materials.
TomK
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503 posts in 768 days
posted 625 days ago
Form follows function….....looks great, and easy to store!
-- If you think healthcare is expensive now, wait until it's free! PJ O'Rourke
jstewart
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141 posts in 984 days
posted 625 days ago
Nice idea. I think I might have to make one for myself. My dado could use a better case then the one it came it. Maybe some variation of what you have here.
-- Joshua, Olathe, Kansas
Blake
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2753 posts in 767 days
posted 625 days ago
Good design. I could use one of these too. I might be stealing your idea!
By the way, If you put an exclamation mark (!) before and after your photo links they will actually appear in your blog.
This: (without the spaces)
! http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh20/jcees_photos/Blade%20Box/IMG_0014.jpg !
Turns into this:
-- Check out my new website! http://www.blakeweberwoodworking.com
Yettiman
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153 posts in 631 days
posted 625 days ago
Jcees,
Sorry to butt in, I just wanted to thank Blake, I did not know about the ! when posting photos.
Great blade holder, thanks for sharing
-- Keep your tools sharp, your mind sharper and the coffee hot
Scott Bryan
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20600 posts in 715 days
posted 625 days ago
Jcees,
This is a very practical solution to a common problem. And is is another reason why we don’t toss cutoffs. For less than two dollars you have a nice blade box.
Thanks for the post.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
Sawdust2
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1183 posts in 981 days
posted 625 days ago
And with the weight of all those blades he gets some exercise as well LOL
Lee
-- No piece is cut too short. It was meant for a smaller project.
Mario
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882 posts in 945 days
posted 625 days ago
Very nice design and construction, thamls for the post.
-- Hope Never fails
HallTree
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2040 posts in 661 days
posted 625 days ago
Good idea! And good use of scrap wood
-- Ron in Osseo, Minnesota
teenagewoodworker
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2480 posts in 661 days
posted 625 days ago
thats such a good idea. i would never have thought of that. thanks for the post.
Lakey
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99 posts in 666 days
posted 625 days ago
Now that’s a beauty! Great idea.
-- "No Board Left Behind"
GaryK
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9521 posts in 881 days
posted 625 days ago
That’s pretty cool! I am going to need something for my blades pretty soon.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
Hawgnutz
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522 posts in 970 days
posted 624 days ago
Jcees,
Great idea for a problem alm ost all have. I will scale it down for my dado blades set! I am tired of the cardboard box and plastic edge guards!
Thanks for the post!
God Bless,
Hawg
-- Saving barnwood from the scrapyards
jcees
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552 posts in 692 days
posted 624 days ago
Thanks all. Don’t we all love a simple useful thing! Joshua and Hawg, I think I saw a dado holder plan a while back. If I cam find it, I’ll forward it to both of you as I need to do the same.
always,
J.C.
-- "Imagination is more important than knowledge" -- Albert Einstein
Woodshopfreak
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390 posts in 635 days
posted 624 days ago
Great simple design. very simple, yet very effective.
-- Tyler, Illinois
cajunpen
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5968 posts in 959 days
posted 624 days ago
Nice saw blade holder. Very clever use of available materials.
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
TNwoodchuck
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14 posts in 669 days
posted 615 days ago
Your elegantly simple design, well-executed and documented construction, and recycled parts will force me into the copycat mode this weekend. Thanks for your work.