Reply To: Designs for portable tool case/chest/box
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Robin
Here’s the short version of my story. I have been woodworking to some degree almost all my life, as a child with a hand saw, sandpaper and hammer. As I got older I started getting a few power tools, the first being a corded drill for Christmas when I was 15. I make a lot of outdoor furniture and am building a bit of a business up that will be my retirement job in about 10 more years. I have a good arsenal of power tools and machines, so much that I don’t have space to work in my garage. Everything is mobile and I push it all out to the driveway and work under an awning on my days off work. Its really nice when the weather permits. So, the toolbox I made was to accommodate my need to have my tools with me in my working area, wherever that ended up.
I never owned a handplane until a few years ago, but never used it on a project until last month. I am developing skills now to use the handtools and learning that I can do many more things in my woodworking projects without then need of building more jigs or buying new bits, blades, or more machines. I can do them accurately, faster, and safer. (I have trimmed the end of my thumb on a table saw at least three times over the years, I’m lucky to still have them. I came close to loosing an eye from kickback one as well.)
I am going through a handtool evolution now, and I am enjoying the heck out of it. I am understanding as I acquire more of these tools, the need to be taking very good care of them to maintain their accuracy and keep them sharp. The need of that toolchest for handtools becomes more of a place to protect them than to display them. Traditionally those toolchests were a crowning achievement, or final project for an apprentice, and often the mark of a craftsman when pursuing work. It becomes sort of a resume, or display of ones ability.
So, my current toolchest in the picture is used for tools in general, and it was built pretty much with my power tools. My next one will be dedicated to my handtools and built strictly with them. However, I still need the mobility because of my shop setup. I really like your design, and can really see how something of that nature would work out well for my situation.