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I know the hanging tool brackets/cleating systems are really practical but I don’t like the look of them. I’ve looked around, especially at Bob Rozaieski’s shop, but they look untidy to my eye. I hate seeing stuff just hanging there or out on the work surface, and much prefer putting stuff away out of sight; my wife would tell you – I’m constantly moving her stuff into drawers and cupboards!
The tool cabinet idea really appeals to me. Everything has its place, I can open the doors and get to anything easily, but close the doors and shut it all away as well.
George.
Its all personal George, if you like the idea of a cabinet all I can say is go for it. It was a lot of fun making mine and a real learning experience.
After working out of it for a couple months now there are some things I would do different. In particular the size, I built mine 30 wide x 36 tall. Doing it again I would go 36 wide x 48 inches tall. Depth would be the same at around 11 or 12 inches deep. I made the doors only 2 1/2 inches deep, I would go with a deeper door like around 4 inches or so, you could make stepped tool racks and have lots of room.
Its pretty simple construction, dovetailed carcass and dadoed shelving.
Oh yeah, forget clamps on the dovetailed carcass when gluing up, glue each corner and use a mallet to bang the dovetails together, I fussed around with clamps and ended up getting glue locked on a couple corners and in my panic broke a few pins. I’m building a tool chest now and the carcass came together with no problem primarily because of my experience with the cabinet.