Project Information
This is my version of a tool chest, but is only the first of three pieces that I intend to make for my hand tools. This chest contains: carving tools, chisels, turning tools, measuring and marking tools, files, some of the small saws I use for joinery, drill bits, brace bits, and forstner bits, and miscellaneous small items that I use often.
The next cabinet will sit under this one and will contain my hand planes and a drawer for my sharpening stones. The bottom cabinet will contain my hand saws and other larger items.
I had equipped my shop with a wall of cabinets where these tools use to reside but that proved a difficult storage system as cabinets are not easy to get into, and organization was not very efficient. I found a half sheet of Mahogany plywood while trying to cleaning my shop and thought that this would be enough to make this cabinet. The sides, top, and bottom are plywood with solid wood edging. The drawer faces and the tops front edge are solid wood. I used some oak plywood for the web frame. The wood edging on the face is dovetailed at all intersecting joints. I used Maple drawer sides and hand cut dovetails. Drawer backs have an interlocking dado joint and the bottoms are plywood. I did not use drawer guides as the drawers are fitted so they slide easily within their openings and are easy to remove so I can take them to the bench. I lined the drawer bottoms with cork for tool protection and it makes them look nice. I made tool separators with more maple. They have half moon cutouts to keep the tools from rolling around. I finished the cabinet with a coat of Danish oil, and then a few coats of amber shellac. I then buffed it out with dark paste wax and #0000 steel wool.
I asked for recommendations for the drawer pulls as I was going to make them out of Maple. Some recommended brass, but I asked Dave at Chisel & Forge if he could make something a little more rustic looking. Here is what he cam up with. Please look at the last picture with a close up of the pulls. These look beautiful with the finish I had chosen. My wife even complimented them (it's not easy to get compliments from her!).
I really enjoyed this build but still have a few things to finish on it. Will need to ask Dave again for an idea for a handle for the lid. Forgot about that part. Have also not decided what to use for something to hold the lid open.
Thanks for looking. I appreciate all comments and suggestions for the next build.
HT
The next cabinet will sit under this one and will contain my hand planes and a drawer for my sharpening stones. The bottom cabinet will contain my hand saws and other larger items.
I had equipped my shop with a wall of cabinets where these tools use to reside but that proved a difficult storage system as cabinets are not easy to get into, and organization was not very efficient. I found a half sheet of Mahogany plywood while trying to cleaning my shop and thought that this would be enough to make this cabinet. The sides, top, and bottom are plywood with solid wood edging. The drawer faces and the tops front edge are solid wood. I used some oak plywood for the web frame. The wood edging on the face is dovetailed at all intersecting joints. I used Maple drawer sides and hand cut dovetails. Drawer backs have an interlocking dado joint and the bottoms are plywood. I did not use drawer guides as the drawers are fitted so they slide easily within their openings and are easy to remove so I can take them to the bench. I lined the drawer bottoms with cork for tool protection and it makes them look nice. I made tool separators with more maple. They have half moon cutouts to keep the tools from rolling around. I finished the cabinet with a coat of Danish oil, and then a few coats of amber shellac. I then buffed it out with dark paste wax and #0000 steel wool.
I asked for recommendations for the drawer pulls as I was going to make them out of Maple. Some recommended brass, but I asked Dave at Chisel & Forge if he could make something a little more rustic looking. Here is what he cam up with. Please look at the last picture with a close up of the pulls. These look beautiful with the finish I had chosen. My wife even complimented them (it's not easy to get compliments from her!).
I really enjoyed this build but still have a few things to finish on it. Will need to ask Dave again for an idea for a handle for the lid. Forgot about that part. Have also not decided what to use for something to hold the lid open.
Thanks for looking. I appreciate all comments and suggestions for the next build.
HT