Replies

1. 
   Napie | Aug 02, 2004 08:46pm | #1

   This is great project to design yourself and forget published plans, but these books are a good inspiration. Try, “The Tool Box Book”’ by Jim Tolpin or the old “Fine Woodworking On” series had an article by Tage Frid on wall hung boxes.

    

   I designed and built mine based on my hand tool collection.  It was a great way to use a lot of saved scraps of nice hardwood on the interior, the case is white pine.  I hung it on the shop wall with French cleats. 

   
   

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   Edited 8/3/2004 9:00 am ET by napie

1. 
   EdHarrison | Aug 02, 2004 10:23pm | #2

   That one by Jim Tolpin on pp.82-85 of "The Toolbox Book" (which he authored) is really nice. There is an exploded drawing. I copied it, not once, but twice, also using hardwood scraps to fit tools and using French Cleats to hang. When considering size, you gotta think about whether you want it to be portable in that one person can lift it off the wall and carry it somewhere when it has tools in it. I did want that, which was why I made two little ones instead of one big giant one. But mine have more vertical space than the one in the book - enough to hold a No. 8 jointer or 26 inch Disston D-23.

   The fewer our wants, the nearer we resemble the gods. - Socrates

1. 
   AlanTurner | Aug 02, 2004 11:57pm | #3

   I second the advice of Nappie. This is a great chance to do your own design. Mine is a fit out of a WWI tool box from a fellow who was enlisted at the Naval Shipyard in Philadelphia. Still has his Navy #. I posted the story and pix over at sawmillcreek, in the neadethral forum, some time ago.

   The size and interior turns entirely on your present and future hand tool collection. Mine has 32 chisels (just got 3 more and that is an issue), 12(?) planes, and has the strikers hung on one end, on the outside. On the other side , but on the wall, is a rack holding about 12 smallish back and Jap. hand saws (the panel sawas are elsewhere). It all turns on what works for you.

   Mine was made of pine, for weight I am sure, and was built as a floor box, but I flipped it over, putting the narrow drawer on the top, and hung it on french cleats. If I tried to take it off the wall, it would be a chore to lift, and I ma not sure it is strong enought to cart around.

   Each to his own on this one.Alan

   http://www.alanturnerfurnituremaker.com

1. 
   Ardito | Aug 03, 2004 04:45pm | #4

   OK...thanks guys!  I am busy researching this and getting my ideas to build my own! 

   A couple of questions...

   1)  What is a French Cleat2)  Any helpful hints on "fitting" my toold in the chest?  I.E. hanging them? 

   Thanks!

   Dark Magneto

1. 
   AlanTurner | Aug 03, 2004 06:40pm | #5

   A french cleat is opposing 45 degree rips of a board, long grain. Mount one on the wall, the other to the case. The case just sits on teh cleat, and is held tight by the angle. Easier to sketch than write about.

   Tool hanging is a tough one. Each to their own. For my chisels, I let them rest on their edges, standing upright, and put oiled leather on hte bottom. I make 1/8" dowels with a dowel plate, and they are adjustable so that one can reconfigure. I have a single row on one door, and two rows on the other. I lay my planes down flat, on shelves of 1/4" maple.Alan

   http://www.alanturnerfurnituremaker.com

   Edited 8/3/2004 11:42 am ET by s4s

2. 
   JimW | Aug 03, 2004 09:01pm | #6

   French cleats looks like this on eathier side of a case (imagine you are looking directly at the case piece)

   /_             _

   /_             _

   /_             _

   and the shelf or tool rack has 45* cut on both sides to slide into the cleats.

   Hope this gives you a better visual.  Another option (although more difficult) is to cut sliding dovetails and leave the joints unglued.  This leaves the option of changing the "custom fit" shelf to be replaced later if you wish.

   Oops, just realized you were looking to hang from a french cleat.  Pretty much the same thing but rip the wal cleat one 45* and the cabinet cleat the oposite 45*.  The only problem I have with hanging from cleats is that the sides of the case must project the thickness of the cleat from the back or the piece will tilt forward.

   Jim

   Coventry Woodworking

   Edited 8/3/2004 2:06 pm ET by Jim W

3. 
   Ardito | Aug 03, 2004 10:56pm | #7

   I know understand what a French Cleat is.  I found this great article about it:  http://www.newwoodworker.com/frenchcleat.html

   Thanks!Dark Magneto

4. 
   EdHarrison | Aug 04, 2004 01:03am | #8

   The book "The Home Workshop" by "Woodsmith" - the same folks as publish the magazine - has some good ideas for hanging tools inside a cabinet. I used about four or five of them.The fewer our wants, the nearer we resemble the gods. - Socrates