Thread: Dovetail carpenter's toolbox chest

Do the draws come out to store stuff underneath? I love the idea! I hope someone can help with this.

ShazL

Ya don't need any plans. Ya just need to use your nogging to make one. Basically the lenght of the box was determined by the lenght the hand saws (ie Panel, Cross cut and Rip and they were fitted to the inside of the flap/lid) and the rest of the box proportioned from there. For the drawers rather than have the runners under the drawers the sides of the drawers are trenched and a thin runner made to fit.

These timber tool boxes for chippies were all the rage when I done my time. But now these days the young whipper snapper chippies have either metal or plastic boxes.

I agree, I don't think it would be very hard to make. I like the idea though.

This toolbox was one that you got graded on when I was an apprentice.

I know they are pretty simple, but i'm the sort of person that can make anything, but without a plan, I stuff things up

Could you explain about the trenching of the drawers with a thin runner to fit?

I'll give it a go with 12mm ply, and take some pictures.

Thanks for your help.
Scott.

Originally Posted by scottc

Could you explain about the trenching of the drawers with a thin runner to fit?

In the ends/sides of each drawer router a trench 12mm wide x 6mm deep then cut some timber runners (to suit the trenches) and fix in the appropriate position on the tool box sides. You can make the runners longer than the depth of the drawer, this is so the drawers can be opened to their full depth and not fall off when opened.

I've just been out and about in the local bookshops (and I'm now hiding my purchases ) and I spotted this.......
Danny Proulx's Toolboxes & Workbenches
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1558707077/ref=cm_rdp_product]Amazon.com: Danny Proulx's Toolboxes & Workbenches (0035313706592): Danny Proulx: Books[/ame]

It has a plan for a toolchest very similar to the one in your photo......you might find it at your local library, maybe.

Cheers, thanks for that. Will have a hunt around.

Originally Posted by scottc

Cheers, thanks for that. Will have a hunt around.

Scott

What part of Melbourne are you from. I still have my apprentice box like that up in the shed. 1/2 inch Queensland Maple with 3/16 maple ply sides. The length was determined by your saws as mentioned earlier and the drawer sizes by whatever other tools you had or planned to get in the early years. You are welcome to come and have a look and draw up a plan from it. I along with all other new joinery apprentices made one when they started where I worked. I saw more than one go through the bandsaw if the dovetails had any gaps bigger than a fag paper. We also had to make a mallet, marking gauge, bevel, large panel square and tool chest and most were encouraged to scrounge for old tools in order to refurbish and learn to sharpen them. Saws, chisels, planes etc.

Col
Hoppers Crossing
Vic.....

Hey Col,

thats awesome mate!

I am in Footscray, so not that far away. Would love to have a sticky and take a few measurements.

Cheers mate.
Scott.

Originally Posted by scottc

Hey Col,

thats awesome mate!

I am in Footscray, so not that far away. Would love to have a sticky and take a few measurements.

Cheers mate.
Scott.

I sent you a PM with my phone number.

Col

Good one Col. Have a greenie.