My next box

[Phil Spencer]

I am planning my next box, it will be a small traditional chest to hold the tools that I made 41 years ago in the first year of my apprenticeship
206326
I suppose it will be a man's memory box. When I rounded up the tools I found some had rust on them so it is off to Bunnies tomorrow for some fine emery and clear pine.

I will post progress pictures, it will be built along the lines of the chain-saw box I recently built that now lives in the family room, I will have to keep this away from Mrs Phil, she will most likely want it for her knitting.

[wheelinround]

Wow Phil some work there

Did you really make the tourque wrench:rolleyes:

[Big Shed]

Something like this perhaps?

Woodsmith Australia August 2010 Issue #79, Machinistchest.com Woodworking Plan | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/49759867@N04/6910745230/)

[Phil Spencer]

Wow Phil some work there

Did you really make the tourque wrench:rolleyes:

Every thing on the table I made, at the time i didn't think much about it but it was rolled gold training and the skills I learnt have come in useful over my life.

[Big Shed]

My son made the exact same torque wrench when he did his F&T apprencticeship, still uses it too.

[Phil Spencer]

Something like this perhaps?

Woodsmith Australia August 2010 Issue #79, Machinistchest.com Woodworking Plan | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/49759867@N04/6910745230/)

I was thinking more along the lines of Chris Schwarz's Anarchists Tool Chest.

I made this motor also,
206337206338206339

Suppose I should make a space for it in the tool box also.

[wheelinround]

That is something to be proud of.:2tsup:

[Ruddy]

Hi Phil.....
Enjoy making your own Toolchest.You have some great looking memories in those tools. The toolchest Big Shed has suggested will be way too small for that lot. I made my version of that toolchest a couple of years ago and it finished up in the sewing room where SWMBO uses it to hold all the sewing machine bobbins, and stuff like that. It's all secret womens business.......
I then made a much expanded version basically following some of that design but also put hanging doors on the front instead of the flip up lid. I basically doubled the size, added many more smaller drawers and included hangers to hold chsels and screwdrivers.
It is posted somewhere on here but I have no idea how to put the link to the post!..
Look forward to seeing what you come up with in the final design.

[munruben]

Look forward to seeing this one take shape. :2tsup:

[Christos]

....I will have to keep this away from Mrs Phil, she will most likely want it for her knitting.


Simple soluation to this possible problem is to make two. Then again she might have a need for two boxes. :U

[Phil Spencer]

I went to Bunnies and purchased the wood, young bloke was not impressed with me unloading his entire rack to find some knot free pine. He should have been thankful that I stacked it back neater than it was.

I forgot to include the electric soldering iron in the tool picture, I remember the handle smelt like crap when I machined it.
206512

[Phil Spencer]

I cut the dovetails, today I was hoping to get the base cut and the ship lapped joints cut that will have to wait for another day.


206936

[Phil Spencer]

Today I cut and made the ship lapped joints for the base


207053 207054

[Phil Spencer]

Yesterday I fitted the base, today I cleaned up the carcass and made the skirts, these I dovetailed for strength and put the tails on the pin side of the carcass.

207878 207879

[Ruddy]

Looking good Phil. that is going to be one very very strong box.

[Phil Spencer]

I started to make the lid today

208498

I use a piece of key steel as a set up aid, I wanted slots cut in the centre of the 3/4 stock 1/4 piece of key stock and a 1/4 slot cutter leaves 1/4 so the slot ends up in the centre.

208499

Slots cut

208500

Through mortices cut, tomorrow I will cut the tenons

[Phil Spencer]

Finished off the lid today, I cut the tenons and raised the panel and glued it up.

208953

208954

[Acco]

Looking good Phil, look forward to seeing how you fit it out :2tsup:

[munruben]

excellent work Phil:2tsup::2tsup:

[Phil Spencer]

My Grandfather was a carpenter and later a woodwork teacher at the former Caulfield Tech in Melbourne. I remember when he had his apprentices building their tool boxes he would have them incorporate two raised hardwood strips into the lids running along the edges of the lid, these strips went all the way through and sat on the frame of the box this gave them support, I call them the 'Spratling Bead' after my Grandfather Lindsay Spratling, these beads are different in that they go all the way through to rest on the box frame, are made from hardwood and at least 6mm thick..

The idea of the strips was to sit proud of the raised panel and gave the owner something solid to rest a plank on so it could be cut, if the plank was rested on the raised panel it would usually rock. so the lid has these two raised strips of hardwood included to act as mini saw horses. Mostly the boxes these strips were included on were used to house tools for trim carpentry.

Just have to fit the apron around the lid and the lid will then be finished.

209174

209175

[Phil Spencer]

I made the skirts up today and dry fitted them in place, the pictures give a better picture of the 'Spratling Beads' and how they form a support for light planks when the box is used as a saw horse.
209286

209287

[Blue-deviled]

Every thing on the table I made, at the time i didn't think much about it but it was rolled gold training and the skills I learnt have come in useful over my life.

Even the calculator:U

[Phil Spencer]

After fitting the lock escutcheon, I started to think about the fit out. The box will have a removable till, the till will have an open tray at the top and two drawers underneath the hold the smaller tools.
I am thinking about Blackwood facing and drawer fronts on the till and possibly some Huon Pine Cock Beading around the drawers.
The hacksaw will hang on the front panel.


209728 209729

209730

[Phil Spencer]

Today I cut the till and dry fitted the components together, it will have a Blackwood face, the drawer fronts will be Blackwood also and with a bit of luck Huon Pine cock beading and pulls.


209974 209975

[Phil Spencer]

The carcase has been sanded and today I made the drawers for the till, the drawers still have to have some Huon Pine cock beading and I have to turn up the drawer pulls out Huon Pine.


211227 211228

[Phil Spencer]

Today I made and fitted the knobs for the till drawers and Cock Beading to the drawers, I also fitted a 'handle' to lift the lid, the lid is such a tight fit I was having difficulty lifting it.


211648 211649


211650 211651


The only tasks now are to make and fit the handles and then paint it, Federation Blue milk paint on the outside and Garnet shellac and wax on the inside.

[Phil Spencer]

I have finally finished it, those tools that I made 41 years ago in the first year of my apprenticeship now have a fitting home.

The finish is:
Outside: Federation Blue milk paint, it was rubbed back lightly and then treated with Boiled Linseed oil (BLO) and wax
Inside: Polished with Master Craft French polish, it was applied with a mop and then waxed.

The box has been made from clear pine with Blackwood front and drawer fronts on the till, the drawers have Huon Pone Cock Beading and drawer pulls.

The base of the box, till and drawers have Royal Blue felt on the base it has been glued to the tightly cut panels with Blue Glue and press fitted in.

Mrs Phil says it is too good for tools, I have managed to win a spot for it in the family room, I were not allowed to put it beside the bed.


213266 213267

213268 213269

213270

[mic-d]

Nice box Phil and a fitting home for your tools.:2tsup:

[Ruddy]

Great result Phil. Been a great journey following this one.There is something special about making wooden toolchests and this one deserves 5 stars.

[Phil Spencer]

Here is the plan, if any one wants to build one, who needs sketchup! :):D
213282