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Blade Box Redux

Project by jcees posted 625 days ago 853 views 8 times favorited 17 comments Add to Favorites Watch

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

View Topapilot's profile

Topapilot

123 posts in 734 days


posted 625 days ago

Nice work, and good use of leftover materials.

View TomK 's profile

TomK

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

View jstewart's profile

jstewart

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

View Blake's profile

Blake

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

View Yettiman's profile

Yettiman

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

View Scott Bryan's profile

Scott Bryan

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.

View Sawdust2's profile

Sawdust2

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.

View Mario's profile (online now)

Mario

882 posts in 945 days


posted 625 days ago

Very nice design and construction, thamls for the post.

-- Hope Never fails

View HallTree's profile

HallTree

2040 posts in 661 days


posted 625 days ago

Good idea! And good use of scrap wood

-- Ron in Osseo, Minnesota

View teenagewoodworker's profile

teenagewoodworker

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.

View Lakey's profile

Lakey

99 posts in 666 days


posted 625 days ago

Now that’s a beauty! Great idea.

-- "No Board Left Behind"

View GaryK's profile

GaryK

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.

View Hawgnutz's profile

Hawgnutz

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

View jcees's profile

jcees

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

View Woodshopfreak's profile

Woodshopfreak

390 posts in 635 days


posted 624 days ago

Great simple design. very simple, yet very effective.

-- Tyler, Illinois

View cajunpen's profile

cajunpen

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/

View TNwoodchuck's profile

TNwoodchuck

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.

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