I have a nice set of old Stanley 750 chisels and would like to make a nice box that would be functional in holding the chisels, but also nice enough that it would “look good” holding the chisels.
Anyone have any ideas? Photos of boxes/chisel holders? Would appreciate any ideas.
Thanks,
Alan – planesaw
Replies
Hi Alan,
I attended a weekend seminar a few years ago where the guest speaker, Yeung Chan (Classic Joints with Power Tools, pub. by Lark), showed us a box he made to hold his planes, chisels, and such.
It's two simple, compartmentalized, boxes each of which contain niches for each tool. What makes it very cool is that the two shallow boxes hook together like a large briefcase or artist's portfolio for transport. In the transport mode, there is a thin (1/4"?) plywood divider that keeps the tools in each half from colliding with one another. When he separates the two boxes, the plywood divider is removed and becomes an ingenious "easel" that supports the boxes and makes everything easy to see and access.
I'll see if I can post a picture.
-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
Look in the classifieds for a post about selling a set of Japanese chisels, or search for posts from JHeath. He had a set of chisels that he was selling with a cherry box. The box was very nice.
Planesaw,
Look up Jim Tolpin's book entitled, The Toolbox Book. You may be able to look it up in your local library. There are a number of photos and descriptions that you might find useful. I like that book. Lots of different ideas, and it is laid out so that you can pick and choose and design and build whatever you want. Let us know what you come up with.
I have two sets of chisels. 35 years ago, I bought a Two Cherries woodcarving set. Fabulous. I had a piece of styrofoam and I just cut out a set of slots for the chisels to fit into. Not pretty but functional. Last year I bought a set of Hirsch bench chisels from Lee Valley. Also very nice. I did some research and found that the Hirsch and Two Cherries care identical except for the label. For those, I made a simple pine box with hardboard dividers in it and put a sheet of hardboard on the bottom. Again it is not beautiful, but quite functional. Later I plan to make a very nice portable tool box with a drawer for each set of chisels, each with dividers for the chisels.
If you know anyone who is handy with a sewing machine, it would be easy to make a "chisel roll". Or you could buy an overpriced one at any of the woodworking specialty stores. These are not only handy and easy to store, but very easy to transport without spilling the valuable contents.
Hope you find this useful.
Enjoy,
96
If you like the Chan toolbox, it is described in FWW #167.
It shows how the retainer panels are also used as knock-down stands.
If you subscribe to online access, the article is here:
http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ProjectsAndDesign/ProjectsAndDesignPDF.aspx?id=2888
The most clever I've seen is very similar to the little business card cases I first saw use the technique. The back panel is full length and the front panel is split about 1/2 up. Through some location of pins on the sides, the top half pivots around and makes a support, so that when opened, the case leans back like a picture frame and when closed makes a rectangular box. I'm sorry I don't remember the plans that I once saw published, but maybe that's enough to stir your imagination or ring a bell with someone else who remembers the source.
I just finished making a bench chisel case for eight of my chisels from black walnut according to the plan found in Woodsmith # 63. The plan allows you to modify the case depending on the number and size of chisels you have. It has a book matched top and is quite lovely.
Larry
Hi Planesaw,
Nothing fancy but keeps them at the ready on my bench
when I need them.
The stands are made of a heavy dense wood ,dadoed for the size of the chisel then laminated to a thin piece of the same wood thereby trapping the chisel in a groove.
The feet are just a thicker piece of the same (or not ) wood dadoed to fit the chisel holder.
The carousel for my carving chisels is just a palate or kidney shaped piece of stock
supported by a 1-1 1/2 " dowel set in a 6 or 8 quarter piece of heavy stock of appx the same shape only smaller. Quite stable and I can see the chisel profiles at a glance.
Gene
I made this box last year. It's oak with maple ply dividers and sliding top.
Alan
Here's a few pictures of the box Jim is talking about. I made this for this set of chisels out of cherry.
Jeff
jazzdog, highfigh, 9619, alanws, ljm, byhammerandhand, gdinardo, dave45 and jeffheath,
I posted the question and then had to hit the road. A bit of flooding to deal with in my work.
Thanks for the suggestions, leads, and photos on chisel boxes. I have several sets, need to decide what I am keeping and what I am selling, and then hope to make a nice box for each set that I am keeping. Although I haven't exactly settled on what it will be your suggestions have added some good pieces to the puzzle. Just got to figure out what the picture is going to look like.
Thanks,
Alan - planesaw
Planesaw,You are about to refine your requirements and enter the design phase. That is the same order in which I like to do those two functions. Here is an old saying that I like:"To err is human. To anticipate is design."Enjoy,
96
I like the design and execution. Functional and not too much "styling". Have you had any issues with wood movement?
Jim
No. This box was sold, but I've built many over the years like this. If you pay attention to grain orientation, then you'll have no concerns with movement. Let the bottom panel either float in a dado, or use veneered plywood.
Jeff
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