I’m starting on a tool cabinet for my new shop, and I’d like to have some fun here.<!—-><!—->
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H. O. Studley’s cabinet has no doubt supplied a lot of inspiration for tool nuts, and I’m no exception. I want to build a cabinet based loosely on that great piece. I know it will not be as spectacular, and I’m not trying to build a replica. What I’m thinking of is a cabinet that will hold a full kit of hand tools to hang by my bench. I have most of these tools, but I’m still acquiring some, and I’d like to have a space for new acquisitions as I fill my collection. What am I missing that you would include? Here’s my list;<!—->
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Full set of bench planes, large shoulder plane, small shoulder, scrub, infill smoother, low angle block, 9 ½ block, miter plane, chisel plane, carriage makers rabbet, large scraper plane, low angle jack, butt mortise plane, router plane, small bull nose, rabbet and fillister, large bull nose, side rabbet set, circular plane, spoke shaves, full set of hollows and rounds and some of the more commonly used molding planes.<!—->
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That is what I’ve got for planes, now the other stuff; <!—->
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Bench chisel set, mortise chisels, slick, carving chisels, set of backsaws, set of handsaws, tape measure, marking gauges, large collection of Starrett squares and rules, 48” straight edge, bevel gauge, dial caliper, several pliers, draw knife, rasps and rifflers, screwdrivers, trammel points, stair gauges, rpm counter, compass, protractor, dividers, calipers, scribe, marking knife, pencils, brace and egg beater drill and bits, nail sets, mallet, carpenters hammer, ball peen hammer.<!—->
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I’m forgetting something, any ideas?
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Replies
Only things I can think of that's not on your list:
- card scrapers (square and contoured)
- maybe files (unless you're lumping those in with your rasps)
- gouges?
That's assuming you even use any of those. Your list is pretty complete.
Waddaya mean it wont fit through the door?
Scrapers! Yup, new I was forgetting a few items. Mentally I had the files lumped together with the rasps and rifflers. Gouges I forgot. Better make a place for the corner chisels too. Thanks!Steve
Make the cabinet as nice as you want, and make the tool holders as nice as you want, but mount them on plywood so you can make changes as time goes on.
Good idea, but as I'm still in the planing phase, and probably will be for a while, might as well make every effort to get it right the first time. Thanks for the input,Steve
What about when you inevitably buy a new tool? Perhaps something that isn't even on the market yet? Like the new improved LN 4 1/2 smoother thats coming out
One of two things I suppose, either the new tool takes the place of an existing tool, or I find a place somewhere else in the shop. I want this to hold a full set of tools from the start, that's why I'm taking pains to get a comprehensive list to plan around.
I won't put my whole plane herd in this cabinet for example, they wouldn't fit, but I hope to have a full set of easily accessible tools by my bench. My general plan is to put my best tools in this cabinet. I don't yet have a Norris A5, but I want one someday, so it gets a space. Until I get that Norris, my next best smoother can use its spot. I think this approach will work,
Steve
All; Hope this is not blasphime but I bought a metal tool chest with maple top and riser as in the link below. Rock solid and lockable, I also installed a small electric heater below the bottom drawer and will never have a rust spot on anything. I keep planes, router bits, hand saws, squares and rules, drill bits anything metal and important in it. Also keeps biscuits and Miller dowels dry. Added a 3' flourescent under the riser which give great even light on the work surface for fine work or reading plans etc.http://www.stanleyvidmar.com/default.asp?TYPE=STATICLEFT&PAGE=Workstation.htm&LEFT=left_workstation.htm
Stanley Vidmar Storage SystemsKDMKenneth Duke Masters
The Bill of Rights
December 15 1791
NRA Endowment Member
LEAA Life Member
CRPA Member
Edited 3/28/2005 9:46 am ET by duke-one
Well if we're going to venture into blasphemy, we might as well add pornography, too.http://www.gerstnerusa.com/bases/WorkStations.htm
Nice stuff. I guess one of the questions is how long would it take and how much would it cost to make one vs. buying it? Also what else would you do in the time spent building one? Edit: Just went back to look at the prices of those Gerstner chests; they are twice what I paid for my Stanley-Vidmar!! Beautiful, though.KDMKenneth Duke Masters
The Bill of Rights
December 15 1791
NRA Endowment Member
LEAA Life Member
CRPA MemberEdited 3/28/2005 11:02 am ET by duke-one
Edited 3/28/2005 11:03 am ET by duke-one
Schwing!!!!
Steve
Hi Duke,
No blasphemy I don't suppose. Looks like a nicely built cabinet, and I bet very solid. I saw some of those listed on Ebay not to long ago. They were very affordable, just 2000 miles away. I like your idea to keep rust off your tools. Have a good evening,
Steve
A lot of folks have probably looked at that Studley chest and been seduced by the sheer ingenuity of it, but I wouldn't want to live with it in my shop on a daily basis. Unhooking six tools to get the one you need, or fossicking into all those corners looking for some smaller tool would drive me nuts!
The idea of a really nice-looking toolchest is irresistable to most of us, and for at least 25 years I was 'getting around' to building one, that would hold the 'daily' tools in the most efficient way. I finally got to the stage where the old plywood thing had been remodelled and refitted too many times, and was bursting at the seams, so built the 'real' thing.
I tried to do it with total logic and efficiency, but the exercise got so damn complex I finished up going with a design that took care of the major items, and the rest got slotted in where they fit best. It works pretty well, except that I put the primary bench planes on the wrong side (who knows?!). I went for a lot of shallow drawers, because it's easiest to find things and I can take a drawerful of chisels or carving tools out to the bench when needed. Like you, I also told myself that I had all the tools I ever needed, so any new ones would just be replacements. Yeah, well, so much for that sort of hubris! I've already had to do a minor remodel since it was first made, (abt 8 yrs ago) and another is coming up someday, soon. I think it's the doors that do it - they breed in the dark! So about the only advice I have is to leave a few blank spots of various sizes, or pack 'em in loosely - that way you can squeeze a bit of room for the inevitable newcomers.
Cheers,
IW
One of my favorite passages from Guy Lautard's book The Macninist's Bedside Reader is where Guy is agonizing about buying a second machinist's tool chest. He mentions his concern to a machinist friend who replies that he has two Gerstners and four Kennedys at the shop and a bunch more at home.
Retirement fund?
Steve
Peter36 wrote:
" Like the new improved LN 4 1/2 smoother thats coming out "
Huh???!!!
I am on my way to the L.N. site (their 4 1/2 is my favorite smoothing plane ... actually- my favorite plane period).
-Peter T.
Well finally enough people have complained and LN is doing something about there ridiculously tight handholds. So there is a larger handle, the plane is somewhere in the neighborhood of 6 1/2 lbs. OH I've said too much already..............
Really?! I thought you were speaking hypothetically when you mentioned the improved 4 1/2. More spacious tote, and what else? You can tell use, we won't tell.
Steve
Bronze!
Hi Steve,Plumb bob?
Saw doctor stuff?I get the feeling that of the qualities of practical portability (not requiring forklift or tractor), comprehensiveness, and display aesthetics, you're only going to be able to choose two at most. Of course you could always use my system of two cabinets, cabinet annex, Chest of drawers, cardboard boxes and a liberal sprinkling of old tools artfully placed in hard-to-remember places throughout the environs.Take care, Ed
Ed (and Will),
I guess I really have no intention of moving this beast about. I own the building, I like the location, I hope to have this shop for a while. The plan in my head is to French cleat this cabinet to the wall, hopefully in the right location the first time.
I like your tool cataloging systen Ed. Sounds a lot like the one I'm trying to update. Bet mines got more milk boxes then yours does though....
You mentioned hard to find places throughout the environs, I happened to be at my old wood shop for a little bit today, and I came across a set of Holly carbs that I was sure someone pilfered several years ago. Kind of humbling to know that I could loose something that substantial in such a little space.
Good call on the plumb bob Ed. I think I'll store the saw docter stuff by the sharpening stand (rather pile right now). Thats where I was going to put the saw vise anyway.
Have a good evening,
Steve
dovetail plane
center punches
drill depth stops
hand vise
magnifying glass
scissors
yankee screwdrivers / push drills
bow saw
a metal or hardwood block with accurately bored holes for starting drills square to a surface
miniature anvil, or a small hardened steel block
fine tooth hacksaw
paraffin for plane soles
beeswax or other lube for screws
3 x 5 index cards
Unc,
Good list! I have the Yankee and push drills, forgot to list them, just like everything else you said except for the dovetail plane. Which dovetail plane do you have in mind? I don't have one, but someday I may come across one. Probably ought to add winding sticks too. Thanks for the help,Steve
>> Which dovetail plane do you have in mind?I think the first one I saw was home made. They're for cutting the sockets and tails for sliding dovetails. Google shows commercial models by Knight, ECE, Stanley, and others.
By the amount of tools you want to put in the cabinet why don't you just clad the outside of your shop with inlay ,make some fancy doors and call it a tool cabinet <G>
I'm afraid the wife would notice. I'd prefer her to think of me slaving over some honey-do when I dissapear into my shop. BTW, Studley has around 300 tools in his cabinet.
Steve
Steve,
Here's what I thought of:
*Wasn't sure if you'd referred to these by a different name, considering how extensive your plane collection is.
**Did you lump this in with your handsaws?
Hope that helps,
Mitch
"I'm always humbled by how much I DON'T know..."
Mitch,
This is the second time I've typed this, my POS laptop battery died the first try. Now I'm tethered and I'll try it again.
The jointer and smoother planes are in with the full set of bench planes. The dovetail saw is part of the set of backsaws (LN). The squares are covered in the Starrett items. I didn't have a carpenters square listed, good call, and same with the fairing stick. I think I know what you are refering to as pinch stick, tell me if I'm wrong. You are refering to the sliding sticks that can be used to check diaganally to see if cases are square during assembly. Opposite corner pairs will be equal lengths. I've never really had a name for those things, are we talking of the same creatures?
I've also added a yard stick to my list.
Thanks for the ideas,
Steve
Steve,
"I think I know what you are refering to as pinch stick, tell me if I'm wrong. You are refering to the sliding sticks that can be used to check diaganally to see if cases are square during assembly. Opposite corner pairs will be equal lengths. I've never really had a name for those things, are we talking of the same creatures?"
As good ol' Ed McMahon said back in the day, "Yessir! You are correct sir!"
I've actually made three sizes, and could see more if needed. Very easy to construct - T&G, although instead of that whole thumbscrew thing I just use a plastic mini-clamp.
Glad I could add to the list, although I have to say I'm a little skeptical about the need, and ability, to house practically all of your hand tools ina single cabinet. That's gonna be some cabinet, and if you do build it, I'd love to see it.
Regards,Mitch
"I'm always humbled by how much I DON'T know..."
A tool box is for what you use EVERY DAY.. Not the sometimes stuff.. But then again just me..
I would collect my favorite tools that I ALWAYS use.. Draw out your box..
If it can be made bigger and you have a good arm.. Add the tools you would 'LIKE' to have in there...
Edit.. Maybe a 'always' box AND a 'sometimes' box.. Could be a box in two parts that latch together.. Always on top! and if ya got a really serious job.. Ya latch together and take BOTH!
Edited 3/29/2005 2:30 pm ET by Will George
Every body forgot the one item that is always being looked for and never can find it when you need it.
A pencil. Put a good supply of them in there so you can find one when you need it.
Dane
I will always be a beginner as I am always learning.
Yup, and a sharpener.
Steve
the mallet.
Eric
Not so fast my friend, third item from the end.
Steve
Nice List.
I don't know if you use them or not but maybe including some Japanese pull saws in the handsaws collection? I find them indispensable. I also find that when I need a piece of wood with continuous grain (for the strength) that I reach for a froe.
Perhaps I wax too esoteric....
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