Take a Look Inside Bob Van Dyke’s Toolbox

Who doesn’t love taking a look inside someone’s toolbox? Bob Van Dyke, director of the Connecticut Valley School of Woodworking, keeps a well-stocked toolbox. In fact, he keeps quite a few of them, filled with tools so his students don’t need to bring a full kit to get started in one of his classes. But what about the contents of Bob’s beautiful personal toolbox decorated with a four-way bookmatch and sand-shaded banding?

Well, unsurprisingly, Bob’s toolbox is filled with what he considers his essential, everyday hand tools including, but not limited to, his handmade cutting gauge, dovetail saw, shoulder plane, low-angle block plane, and, of course, a #4 smoothing plane.

If you’re interested in what more of your favorite woodworkers have in their toolboxes, check out the links below.

• Mike Pekovich: The Essential Tool Chest – Learn what makes this heirloom-quality tool chest tick
• Dan Smith’s Dream Shop and Tool Chest – A look into the beautiful shop and tool chest Dan Smith uses to build furniture and wooden boats
• Christian Becksvoort: Tool-Cabinet Design – Every shop has specific needs, but the strategies for storing hand tools are universal

If you’re interested in more information about working with veneer, Bob has a three-part video series on his veneering techniques available to FineWoodworking.com members.

Also, in issue #256 we featured a great article by Freddy Roman about making your own banding.