Designs for portable tool case/chest/box
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I am slowly buying the hand tools I need and looking forward to beginning the projects. I am thinking about building a portable tool-case, sort of a cross between a tool chest and a tool cabinet. I want it to fit all the tools listed in Paul’s book – so it would be bigger that a one man tool chest. But it should be small enough to lift up onto a bench or hang on a cleat on the wall. Maybe something on wheels that could be rolled like a suitcase. Please see the attached sketch. Does anyone have any suggestions? Or has anyone seen plans for a tool case similar to this?
Robin ... Richmond, Virginia, USA
Robin, I do know Paul is going to do a video project for a toolbox of some sort. i think if you look around on his blog you will see the style of chest he is going to introduce us to. I’ve been busy building a cabinet of sorts and I got my inspiration from the Toolbox Book by Jim Tolpin. There are a few designs for wheeled site boxes in it. Its not a project plan book but lots of toolboxes and cabinets are presented with a few plans and some brief descriptions of building.
-Canada
Hey Robin
I really like where you are going with that design. I do the bulk of my work out in my driveway, not enough room in the garage so I have to roll all my tools out as I need them. Its great when the weater cooperates. This is a picture of a toolbox I made a few years ago, prior to my Hand-Tool interest. I modified a set of plans from Woodsmith.
http://www.woodsmithshop.com/episodes/season1/108?toolcab
You may be able to use this as a starting place for your design. I never got around to making the smaller toolbox that sits on top. I really like the way yours would open out on the top and swing back. I may need to make another version like yours. Please keep us posted.
Memphis, Tennessee
This could be a nice little project
Robin-
Interesting cabinet door design. I have not seen one slanted like that. I like how it keeps makes the tools easier to see/reach when sitting on the floor. Keeping tools secured while wheeling it around (on a tilt) may be challenging. Having a wheel on each corner may be the way to go. Also, if you are planning on having longer tools, like a 24″ straight edge, or a 22″ jointer plane, where would you put them in this design?
Here are some tips: One tool I’ve been using during my tool chest/cabinet design is Google Images. Using the “similar” link on Google Images can improve results. I have also been doing some foreign language searches, like “werkzeugschrank holz” to see what wooden tool cabinets look like in Germany.
Having an open top may appeal to you as well. Chris Schwarz recently built a tool chest based on some very old traditional Dutch chest he examined. He then put handles on the side, and casters on the bottom. It is a pretty simple design that could be easily embellished with drawers if desired. The large one was roughly 26″ wide x 12″ deep x 34″ high. You can google “Dutch Toolchest Lost Arts Press” and find the link to the site pretty quickly. He has a video of it as well. Food for thought. Schwarz also sells a book called “Grandpa’s Tool Chest” which depicts a similar design.
Hope this helps.
-Scott Los Angeles
I’ve been busy building a cabinet of sorts and I got my inspiration from the Toolbox Book by Jim Tolpin. There are a few designs for wheeled site boxes in it. Its not a project plan book but lots of toolboxes and cabinets are presented with a few plans and some brief descriptions of building.
Tolpin’s book is great. I also recommend it for getting ideas.
-Scott Los Angeles
I’ve been busy building a cabinet of sorts and I got my inspiration from the Toolbox Book by Jim Tolpin. There are a few designs for wheeled site boxes in it. Its not a project plan book but lots of toolboxes and cabinets are presented with a few plans and some brief descriptions of building.
@dave, thanks for the tip about the Tolpin book. I found it for $10 on my kindle. I will check it out.
Robin ... Richmond, Virginia, USA
I really like the way yours would open out on the top and swing back
Thanks, the doors on the top were the main idea I started with.
This is a picture of a toolbox I made a few years ago, prior to my Hand-Tool interest. I modified a set of plans from Woodsmith.
Nice tool cart. Do you still use it for power tools, or have you switched it over to hand tools? What do you keep in the top open section?
Robin ... Richmond, Virginia, USA
Interesting cabinet door design. I have not seen one slanted like that. I like how it keeps makes the tools easier to see/reach when sitting on the floor. Keeping tools secured while wheeling it around (on a tilt) may be challenging.
@rroselavy, you may be right about keeping the tools secured. maybe I could do something like the tool chests have that store tool in the lid, or maybe foam cutouts for each tool … Anyway I will give it some thought.
Also, if you are planning on having longer tools, like a 24″ straight edge, or a 22″ jointer plane, where would you put them in this design?
Good point, I will need a section one the side that runs floor to top for things like saws and straight edges. I am hoping to make due with my #5 jack plane, so I probably wont worry too much about the 22″ jointer plane
Chris Schwarz recently built a tool chest based on some very old traditional Dutch chest he examined.
I will definitely check that out, thanks
Robin ... Richmond, Virginia, USA
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.
Memphis, Tennessee
So … Here is the latest on my Traveling Tool Cabinet. It is Google Sketchup file and a small MP4 file containing the Sketchup animation … I hope.
Robin ... Richmond, Virginia, USA
Really nice Robin!
Hurry up with that bathroom remodel so you can get to work on the toolbox. I’m anxious to see some pictures!
Memphis, Tennessee
Hey Robin
That looks great! An idea for handles would be to extend the sides of the main carcass about six inches from the top and then make some holes for your hands. You could wheel that toolbox around all over the place.
-Canada
Robin-
Very nice to see it visualized in Sketchup with concrete dimensions. Good work!
Could you explain to us what tools will go in each location? It may be easier for me to make any suggestions if I know what your planning.
As far as construction is concerned, would you build it like a wall cabinet with the top/bottom and sides dovetailed together, with the back being frame&panel/shiplapped/plywood? Currently your model only shows dovetails on the front, which means you are effectively dovetailing cross-grain if I understand correctly.
-Scott
-Scott Los Angeles
…what tools will go in each location? …your model only shows dovetails on the front … dovetailing cross-grain …
Hey Scott, I am not sure about tool placement yet. I have been looking a permanent tool cabinets for ideas, but everything will need to secured for travel. It is a work in progress. For joinery, I was thinking of using everything from the clock/tote/box projects, but that was just an idea. To be honest the front shows dovetails because I wanted to figure out how to do dovetails in sketchup 🙂 I wonder how strong the dovetails would be if the pins were cut into the long grain? Also, I was thinking to use irregularly spaced dovetails to make it obvious they were not machined.
Robin ... Richmond, Virginia, USA
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