Replies

1. 
   murphreejz | Jan 19, 2007 08:34am | #1

   Lyptus has a strikingly similar grain and color without the price tag of mahogany. It is a fast-growing (ala bamboo) hybrid which makes it appealing to me as I make a conscious effort to use "green" materials and sustainably harvested lumber in my work.

1. 
   DustyFace | Jan 20, 2007 02:49pm | #2

   I haven't used Lyptus yet but have heard of it's qualities, perhaps not friendly to cutting with hand tools?  My wood supplier has 4/4 lyptus @ $6+ bdf.  I have used Jarrah which has IMO exceedingly nice qualities when workded with chisels, e.g. dovetails.  But Jarrah is available @ $8 bdf. 

2. 
   JeffHeath | Jan 20, 2007 07:57pm | #3

   My advice, speaking from my own experience, is that you're going to build this cabinet once.  You're going to take the careful time to plan it properly to custom fit all of your tools in it.  YOUR TOOLS.  You're talking about building a shop cabinet that you'll want to hand down to a son or daughter, and have them pass it on to their kids, so on and so forth.  Pick a wood that you will be proud of for years to come, long after the heartache of the extra $100.00 spent wears off.

   If that still doesn't work for you, pick a hardwood with easy working qualities that you can afford, and look into dye stain finishing that will make it look CLOSE to what you want it to look like. 

   Either way, enjoy the process.  It will be something you'll be looking at for the rest of your life.  Don't skimp.

   Jeff

1. 
   DustyFace | Jan 20, 2007 08:35pm | #4

   Jeff- Thanks for the sage advice, cost spread over a lifetime.  It's what I really want to end up with that counts.  It took me 2 years planning(wrestling with which plans)and then another year to build Frank Klausz' bench and I have never regretted that decision.  It is a wonderful tool itself.  Any comments on AR's cabinet?

    

     

1. 
   woodrae | Feb 15, 2007 07:08am | #5

   Dusty--I think Jeff hit the preverbial nail smack on the head... then used a nail set to drive his point home.If I were to build my cabinet today, I'm not sure I'd choose genuine mahogany as I did many years ago, due to current over-logging and other social and economic issues with that particular wood (and many other tropical woods). But I sure would pick a wood I like and admire. These days, I'm a big fan of common domestics, such as walnut, cherry, and maple, especially when figured or when quartersawn. Having said this, I think the cabinet can be made successfully and very handsomely in just about any wood—including a softwood, if that's your preference.Whichever wood you choose, build it with care and attention so it will outlast you by a goodly margin. That will bring great satisfation to you, and more than passing interest from most who see it.--Andy Rae

1. 
   KWL | Feb 19, 2007 05:47pm | #6

   Does anyone have a link to the article/plans/reference for Andy's Cabinet?

1. 
   woodrae | Feb 19, 2007 08:01pm | #7

   KWL--American Furniture Designs have the original plans that I made for them many moons ago (http://www.americanfurnituredsgn.com) but these days you can get 'em just about anywhere, including from Lee Valley Tools on their website (http://www.leevalley.com).Good luck--Andy

2. 
   Walnutz | Feb 19, 2007 08:12pm | #8

   If you get The Toolbox Book by Jim Tolpin (Taunton Press), Andy's chest is featured.  There aren't any plans, (that I'm aware of), but it is discussed pretty thoroughly, and there are some great pictures, as well as a discussion about construction.

   Also, there's Choosing and Using Hand Tools by Andy Rae (the man himself), and in that book, he also shows many pics of his toolchest, as well as the removable dovetailed  tool holders that you can move around inside the box.

   Both books are favorites of mine, and rank right up there for great ideas that you could apply to whatever you decide to build for yourself.

   Walnutz