Convenient way to store handsaws
Like most addictions, my handsaw habit started innocently: a great buy at a flea market, a high bid at an auction, a treasure found at a yard sale—and I was hooked. Finally, I got a grip and decided I was a builder, not a collector, so I chose 12 saws to keep and no more: two rippers, six crosscuts, one dovetail saw, one carcass saw, and two tenon saws.
Once I had my collection pared down, I designed this saw till to display … er, store … my saws, making them easily accessible from my bench, and included a drawer to hold a saw set, files, and a diamond stone. I chose southern yellow pine for the primary wood and poplar for the secondary.
Cut the sides, top, and bottom to length and mill these parts, along with the material for the drawer divider and stanchion, to 3/4 in. thick. Rabbet the four case pieces full length to receive the back. Dado each side for the drawer divider, and taper the sides. Through-dovetails join the case, with a miter at the back to hide the rabbeted edge. Cut the drawer divider to length after the dovetails are fitted and dado it for the stanchion. To fit the stanchion assembly to your saws, hold the long dowel up inside the carcase and place a couple of saws over it, leaving a few inches of space above the drawer divider. Mark the dowel’s location. Do the same for the smaller backsaws, then drill the holes, glue up the case, and install the stanchion. Then make and fit the drawer. Finally, screw on the slotted cleats from the back and hang the till on the wall.
Jim Richey
Jim Richey
John Holland, Madison, NC
Fine Woodworking Recommended Products
Estwing Dead-Blow Mallet
Suizan Japanese Pull Saw
Stanley Powerlock 16-ft. tape measure
Comments
Mitred dovetail to hide the rabbets .... why didn't I think of that? Would have been much easier than the stopped rabbets I cut!
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