Wood carpenters boxes?

[Aaron Berk]

I've decide to go mobile with my wood working and general repair business. I'd like to bring a wheeled portable tool box with me. Something that wouldn't be to much of a bear to get up into the back of my F250. I can use ramps if need be. I'm looking for something utilitarian and cool. Something that says "I Care About What I Do" but yet I don't want it to be "furniture quality". Is this possible?:confused:

Any one got any plans handy, or pics of one they have built? I'd like to be on 2 wheels and move it kind of like a dolly for the purpose of going up stairs.

[Jeff Willard]

Ever seen The Toolbox Book by Jim Tolpin? You might want to check it out. Taunton Press.

[Aaron Berk]

YES!!

But I forgot what the title was! Thanks for bringing it back to my memory. I'm off to the library tomorrow

Thanks for the reminder.

[Paul Steiner]

I am a construction teacher and a part-time handyman and I have gone through tool boxes, bags, and buckets. I never found anything I liked. Two years ago I read a Norm Abrams book about tools and I decided to try an old I idea. I built what I refer to as an A frame toolbox and I like it alot. It is easy to find what you need and you can built it to fit the tools you most use. I made mine so I could lay my drill and driver in it, the notches on the side hold a 48" level, and there is a tray and slot for saws and putty knives. Personally I think there are laws that can be applied to all moblile toolboxes, they would be something like this 1. It will always be heavy 2. It will never be as organized as you would like 3. There will always be at least 1 tool that will not fit. My truck is my large mobile toolbox and this is my small tool box.

[Keith Outten]

Sign Cart and Tool Carryall

Like Paul I tried just about every kind of bucket, box and rolling box before I setteled on a plywood tool carryall very simular to what he is using. Mine was sized to fit one of the bucket buddy liners that has all the tool pockets, it fits on the inside of the box all the way around the interior. The center area is used for special tools, jigs, tape, etc.

I also tried every kind of cart on the market and none suited me until I found the one I use now. It's a four wheeled Rubbermaid Janitors style cart, mine has the top surface, bottom and an intermediate shelf. I tried the large one first, it was to wide to move through doorways comfortably so I bought the narrow model, I think it is 17" wide.

I replaced the stock wheels with rubber air tires. They will roll over just about any thing on the floor incuding air hoses and electric cords plus it glides over brick paver walks. While on the job the cart serves as a workbench and I am working on a holder for my IPad so I can view PDF drawings and not have to carry a large roll of paper drawings with me.

I can get pictures of the the cart and carryall on Monday at CNU if you are interested.
.

[Andrew Gibson]

I have an older model of one of these. It has worked well for me and if you pack it right you can easily get it to way a lot... :P
http://akamai.edeal.com/images/catalog10240/folder86430/img8691977med.jpg
It has two trays that lift out, and you can lift one or both at the same time, so if you can remember where you put that screwdriver it works OK. It would work better with a hinged top. I have even flown with the box back before a pair of shoes put your suitcase over the weight limit.

If I were making something like that, I would do a decorative interior similar to an old cabinetmakers chest. and keep the outside so it can easily be touched up with a coat of paint or the like when it gets banged up.

The tricky part would be making the collapsible handle but I guess could be done fairly easily with a few lengths of pipe or angle of some sort.

[Richard Dragin]

If I know I'm gonna be there awhile I like to roll in with this

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j147/DraginRichard/IMG_1306.jpg

built from Shopnotes plans....

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j147/DraginRichard/IMG_1309.jpg

Or if I just need the basics...

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j147/DraginRichard/IMG_0474.jpg

From recycled pallet wood...

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j147/DraginRichard/IMG_0484.jpg

[Eiji Fuller]

whoa! Nice tool totes! I especially like the small one. Can you give us some more pics? close ups of the interior trays and dividers?




If I know I'm gonna be there awhile I like to roll in with this

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j147/DraginRichard/IMG_1306.jpg

built from Shopnotes plans....

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j147/DraginRichard/IMG_1309.jpg

Or if I just need the basics...

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j147/DraginRichard/IMG_0474.jpg

From recycled pallet wood...

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j147/DraginRichard/IMG_0484.jpg

[Jamie Buxton]

When I'm working on-site, I'm generally doing stuff like installing cabinets and trim. I find I need to carry a whole bunch of stuff -- hand tools, power tools, fasteners, small parts that are part of the install, touch-up materials, you name it. I use those plastic tote boxes with the fold-open lids. They're about 15"x15"x20". The lid splits down the middle, and is hinged along the sides so it stays with the box. Most jobs take three boxes, and some need four. Compared with those traditional open-topped tool boxes, these things...

* Are easier for me to carry. Instead of being an unbalanced load in one hand, the box is a balanced load I grab with two hands. And I load 'em up, so being balanced is good. Long ungainly loads in one hand tend to smack walls in narrow halls and stairwells.
* Allow me to put bigger objects than will fit past the handle in the traditional box.
* Stack easily in the truck. And the lid prevents the wind from scattering the contents around.
* Store easily in the shop, nesting when they're not full of stuff.
* Can serve as a sawhorse.

Okay, these boxes don't shout "craftsman". I let my work do that.

[Aaron Berk]

Well these aren't EXACTLY what I was looking for, but since I haven't yet found my ideal tool transport system, I figured I needed to build SOMETHING:rolleyes:

So I found a pic of these "trestles" and decided to twist it for my needs. So here ya go, at least I now have a place to work at while at the job. They are made with a 1-1/4" thick top, 2x6 feet, and 3/4" boards every where else. Glued, screwed, and a half lap on the feet. KISS.
Also I slapped together a small wooden tool box which you can see up on the table saw.

[Igor Petrenko]

Check out this antique tool chest on ebay (it's not active auction item and not mine):
linky (http://cgi.ebay.com/Rare-Carpenters-Tool-Box-and-Tool-Set-/170487455705?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Folk_Art&hash=item27b1d81fd9)
I got pics from it saved into my todo folder. For hand tools you don't have to open anything - most of them are attached to the sides or accessible/visible from outside.

[Sam Dotson]

Richard, I'm building the ShopNotes Roll-Around work cart as we speak, but I can't seem to find those drawer pulls. Where did you get them?

By the way, great looking cart! What plywood and hard wood did you use?

Sam

[Richard Dragin]

Woodworkers Hardware, search for "extruded" and it'll come up.

I used Birch ply and Cherry that was left over from another project. The cherry has darkened and it looks better now.

[Kurt Cady]

Wood magazine has one on wheels. Kinda like a luggage bag on wheels with a pop up handle. I'd have to look for it. Somewhere around 2006

Edit: Found it online. http://www.woodstore.net/gotoca.html

[Rick Markham]

If I know I'm gonna be there awhile I like to roll in with this

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j147/DraginRichard/IMG_1306.jpg

built from Shopnotes plans....

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j147/DraginRichard/IMG_1309.jpg

Or if I just need the basics...

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j147/DraginRichard/IMG_0474.jpg

From recycled pallet wood...

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j147/DraginRichard/IMG_0484.jpg

Beautiful!!! I love the small tool box, I am impressed that it is from recycled pallet wood... you must have gotten some nicer pallets than we used to get at work. Impressive work for sure... I have that shop notes issue... theirs looks downright dumpy compared to yours :D

[Dennis Miller]

How about these? Simple and functional...
http://www.daikudojo.org/Archive/howtos/20070224_toolbox/

[Dave Lehnert]

Well these aren't EXACTLY what I was looking for, but since I haven't yet found my ideal tool transport system, I figured I needed to build SOMETHING:rolleyes:

So I found a pic of these "trestles" and decided to twist it for my needs. So here ya go, at least I now have a place to work at while at the job. They are made with a 1-1/4" thick top, 2x6 feet, and 3/4" boards every where else. Glued, screwed, and a half lap on the feet. KISS.
Also I slapped together a small wooden tool box which you can see up on the table saw.

I built something kinda like you have.

It has dog holds and a "V" notch in the end of the top so you can suport things being cut with a jig or coping saw. The back and sides are flush so you can clamp things easy to it.

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=132857&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1258336533http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=132858&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1258336533