Thread: My next box

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

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

excellent work Phil

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.

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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.
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Originally Posted by Phil Spencer

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

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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.


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Nice box Phil and a fitting home for your tools.

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

Here is the plan, if any one wants to build one, who needs sketchup!
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