| Project by Joe Brumley | posted 487 days ago | 748 views | 4 times favorited | 10 comments |  |
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Ok so here’s one from the archives. This is my first and so far my only tool cabinet. It is still in use today and until I decide that I have enough time to warrant building another one this will probably be my last tool cabinet. I also now keep most of my hand tools on the wall behind my bench so that I don’t have to keep opening and closing the doors every time I want something. With this system I can see when something is missing and put it back right away. Anyway, I built the cabinet after getting a copy of the Toolbox book by Jim Tolpin from our local library. Since I was a beginner I chose to use pine and birch plywood as the bulk of the cabinet and use a little of the air-dried cherry and air-dried walnut that I had received from a buddy. He was not into woodworking but had a farm with some stickered wood located under an old shed at the edge of his woods. He estimated it at being about 20 years old.
Since this was my first big piece I decided to make it in a shaker style with the simple frame and panel doors and the graduated drawers. The doors are cherry frames with 1/4” birch ply panels, and the drawers are walnut with pine backs and 1/4” birch ply bottoms. I used a half-lap joing that I cut on the table saw to join the door frames and the drawers are hand cut dovetails. The pulls are generic hardware store pulls that were stained to somewhat resemble the walnut. The plane shelf is fixed and angled about 15 degrees. The three other shelves are adjustable. It is ultimately more utilitarian than stylish but I had a blast building it because I love woodworking. This picture was taken in 2001 but I built the cabinet in 1998/99. I just didn’t have a digital camera until after I got married (wedding gift).
-- Joe, Indiana, http://www.crookedshack.com
10 comments so far
sIKE
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1094 posts in 647 days
posted 487 days ago
That is one nice looking tool cabinet thanks for the inspiration, and I will need to look for that book at the local library myself.
-- //FC - Round Rock, TX - "Experience is what you get just after you need it"
Tom Adamski
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309 posts in 664 days
posted 487 days ago
Joe, very nice tool cabinet. I can’t see why you would want to make another…
Tom
-- Anybody can become a woodworker, but only a Craftsman can hide his mistakes.
SteveKorz
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2030 posts in 607 days
posted 487 days ago
Very nice cabinet, great job!
-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †
Dorje
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1767 posts in 890 days
posted 487 days ago
I like it! Great hand cut joints for the drawers. Tool cabinets are some of my favorite pieces…
How did you join up the carcase?
-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA
beaudex
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43 posts in 532 days
posted 487 days ago
Very nice design. I have been thinking about trying a set of drawers with rabbeted sides. I have often wondered how they stand up under heavy use. I wonder if might comment on that.
Cheers,
Derek
-- Derek Tay, Venerate the Tree Design
griff
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926 posts in 655 days
posted 487 days ago
Very nice tool cabinet. very good build
-- Mike, Bruce Mississippi = Jack of many trades master of none
darryl
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1392 posts in 1219 days
posted 487 days ago
your cabinet looks great.
I could use something like this…
-- www.darrylmasterson.com ~ www.darrylmasterson.etsy.com
Joe Brumley
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63 posts in 675 days
posted 487 days ago
Thanks guys. You are all too kind.
Dorje
Since it is a plywood box I just put a rabbet along the ends of the sides and a dado for the shelves and attached it with glue and nails. I edged the plywood with some cherry to cover everything up.
Derek,
The drawers have held up very well. I don’t load them up with a lot of weight as they are only about 16.5 by 9.5 by 2, 3, and 3.75, but the one that holds my drill bits is pretty heavy and so far so good.
If you guys have any more questions please ask.
-- Joe, Indiana, http://www.crookedshack.com
Woodwrecker
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489 posts in 469 days
posted 457 days ago
Nice job Joe.
The joints on the drawers are sweet!
-- Eric
Karson
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25792 posts in 1294 days
posted 253 days ago
A great looking tool cabinet. I guess you did post it and it slipped by.
Nice job.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †