Thread: The final drawer of the underbench cabinet.

Originally Posted by derekcohen

......Of course, I may need a second one ....

Ahh, so there IS a cunning plan indeed!

My comment wasn't meant to sound so critical - as you say, my drawers are cluttered by comparison - I'm somewhat envious of the neat "presentation" you've managed.

My tool cupboard started out a bit more like yours, but time & acquisitions I didn't foresee kinda wrecked the master plan. For instance, the 1 1/4" socket Titan "heavy" I found amongst some junk when cleaning out my dad's shed got me looking for a few mates for it, which culminated in a set of 7 unplanned chisels to accomodate. I managed to keep ahead of the game by culling a few tools & squeezing more in the available space. My only requirement is that each item is visible & easy to extract & I'm still managing that (just!). At one point I realised I could double the space for my layout tools by replacing one drawer with two shallower drawers. I did consider using two layers similar to what you've done in a couple of your drawers, but decided that would reduce one-handed accessibility.

My original plan was to have all of my hand tools in the one chest/cupboard which I did achieve for about the first 2 years, but after that it became more difficult. And when I took up saw-making (thanks to RayG's encouragement & help), things went to hell in a handbasket real quick. No matter how I laid out my extra saws on the doors of the cupboard, they just could not fit. I considered making new, deeper doors that could accommodate an internal hinged partition, but a) that was a major job & I didn't have enough matching wood (the NG rosewood I used for the carcase was scraps left over from re-sawing some large billets for a friend), & b) I was worried about sagging doors with all that extra weight on them. So a second cupboard for the 'overflow' saws came into being. My collection of specialty planes & woodies also outgrew their allotted space some years ago too, so they've now got their own home (which is currently chockers!).

But unlike the expanding universe, it can't go on forever, and the solution has been found! We made a decision a few months back that we will "downsize" within the next four years. Much as we love living on our 2 1/2 acres, it's starting to become a bit much for a pair of oldies to maintain. So I have been looking very critically at the "collection" & making mental lists of what will come with me on the next phase & what has to find new homes. I oscillate between being coldly practical, & giving in to sentiment - some of my tools have been with me for a very long time & though not what you might consider 'essential' they will be very hard to part with. I get a strong feeling you might have a similar problem (& a lot of other blokes as well).....

Cheers,

Absolutely no names mentioned, but I note the philosophical differences:

1. Where can I fit another tool, vs
2. Where can I put another drawer?

Hey Derek, what number square is your little Starrett. I have a 453e and a 457 and just cannot recognised yours.

Here's a group pic with the Vesper version, 453e, 457 and a Brown & Sharpe 554, along with various rules.

Squares.jpg

Here is the 453e, with twin locking pins 453e.jpg

Here is the 457, with the angle adjustment and single locking pin 457.jpg

I'm no expert on Starrett, just trying to improve my knowledge base.

Hi Pat

Here is the original box and extra blade for the Starrett double square ...





It is a #14M ...



Regards from Perth

Derek

Thanks Derek, another one to look for

How do those blade holders work? I can't picture it.

Dick, here is a travelling box I built for chisels, which is similar to the drawer ...


The chisel blades rest on rare earth magnets ...



Similar to the flushing chisels in the drawer ...



Regards from Perth

Derek

Sorry, I meant the Starrett shown above and sliding bevels types with the thumb screw at the bottom. I don't like the big levers that generally come on them.

There is a spring-loaded tongue (like a tenon) which enters the groove (like a mortice) when you slide the blade into the handle. Tighten down at the screw.

The same as all combination squares.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Ahh, thank you. I didn't see the groove.