WIP John's Tassy Oak Tool Chest

**johnredl** · 16th January 2013, 11:13 AM

Firstly, this is definately not going to be a quick build! Fortunately, I've got 2 little kiddies, unfortunately however, their "fairy princess powers" don't allow me to work faster!

Recently a friend moved house and gave me his old Tassy Oak entertainment unit. It is far too big and heavy for the new house, as it was made for the old style TV's. They now have a nice flat screen, so he was nice enough to donate it to me.

Oh my goodness, it is soo heavy! Assembled it is approximately 2000 H x 1200 W x 950 D, with 25mm thick wood being used. The only laminiated stuff was the back panel and that got turfed immediately - like IanW once said to me - MDF has no place in my workshop!

So far I've managed to disassemble it, and I've picked the panels that I'm going to use for my Anarchists Tool Chest. I've watched the youtube videos by Chris Schwartz, and the relevant Woodwright's Shop episodes, and I've been watching Lumber Bunker's ToolChest with interest.

I do have a question already tho! The panels are finished with 2pack epoxy, and although its in quite good nick, it has yellowed, and I was wanting a more natural colour. So my question is: Besides paint stripper, how else can I remove 2pack? Google lists a heat gun as working.

**Ball Peen** · 16th January 2013, 11:36 AM

Whatever you do don't make dust out of it. Very toxic stuff.

**johnredl** · 23rd January 2013, 10:34 AM

I've worked out how to get the finish off the Oak. I started by using a scraper to get most if the finish off, then switched to my smoothing plane to finish the job.

I'm making a step stool, so it's a perfect job to practice on. Here's a pic.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk 21358897677.665784.jpg

**johnredl** · 20th March 2013, 12:56 PM

I've finished off a couple of other projects, have stripped the coating off my boards with paint stripper, and sanded them to 80 grit. I'm now ready to start the laborious task of marking and hand cutting the dovetails.

Not sure how long this is going to take...there are a lot of them! You might want to grab a chair so you don't get sore feet waiting!

**artme** · 20th March 2013, 09:38 PM

Looking good. Glad to see you removed the finish without too many hassles.

**johnredl** · 22nd March 2013, 10:59 PM

Cutting done. Have to sharpen chisels then lots of chiseling. Then 1st corner of 4 done! Only another 100 work hrs to go until its finished

**Alby123** · 22nd March 2013, 11:22 PM

Well done John, I see the new workbench is performing well and making life a lot easier when working on projects like the new tool chest.

**johnredl** · 22nd March 2013, 11:26 PM

Originally Posted by Alby123

Well done John, I see the new workbench is performing well and making life a lot easier when working on projects like the new tool chest.

Thanks Alby. Yes the bench makes woodworking a pleasure (but then I'm one if those weirdo darksiders who doesn't enjoy mechanical woodwork!). Unfortunately I've got a couple of scratches in it!

**johnredl** · 25th March 2013, 12:00 PM

1 corner of 4 finished. I only had to sharpen my cheap chisel 5 times to finish the job!

ImageUploadedByTapatalk 21364173205.073641.jpg

**Christos** · 2nd April 2013, 09:31 AM

**Ueee** · 4th April 2013, 10:23 PM

Nice Doves

I see a knife gauge there, are you marking the shoulders nicely with it to give you a chisel rest?

**johnredl** · 4th April 2013, 10:34 PM

Originally Posted by Ueee

Nice Doves

I see a knife gauge there, are you marking the shoulders nicely with it to give you a chisel rest?

Yes, exactly. I've found that it is a bit easier than using pencil. Unfortunately it's a bit harder to remove the cut lines than it is to rub out pencil

This work thing is really effecting my woodwork time

. I'm getting there tho. Right now I'm cutting a dovetail marker from some aluminium angle, hold onto ur seats for some rapid progress after its finished!! (I can dream can't I?)

**Nanigai** · 4th April 2013, 10:58 PM

Nice work so far, I've pulled up my cozy chair to see how it goes.
Cheers, Ian

**johnredl** · 12th April 2013, 11:57 PM

Time to stand up and applaud everyone...2 corners of 4 are done! Watch out, you might miss something at this lightening pace!
ImageUploadedByTapatalk 21365771426.973701.jpg
I have a newly acquired Titan firmer chisel that managed to chop this entire side without re-sharpening, definitely better than the corner hardware store ones!

**johnredl** · 12th May 2013, 10:19 PM

I was terribly excited after last post and I was about to glue it straight away, but I was looking at the 3 strips on one side of the panels. In a previous life, the builder had used them to keep the door straight. So I reached for my most favourite plane...the scrub plane!

ImageUploadedByTapatalk 21368356987.970136.jpg

ImageUploadedByTapatalk 21368357087.453493.jpg

and created lots and lots of shavings

ImageUploadedByTapatalk 21368357154.523098.jpg

Then yesterday I spent 1 1/2 drilling 10.5mm holes into 50x25x2.5mm RHS that I attached clamp heads, & creating super strong bar clamps.

Today I found some time between making breakfast in bed with my kiddies for my wife, and lunch to glue up the frame. So now I've got a quite heavy tool chest frame sitting on my workbench.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk 21368357533.556450.jpg

ImageUploadedByTapatalk 21368357557.056314.jpg

Now to shift it...

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