Art Mulder
10-25-2013, 7:57 PM
Quick and Simple afternoon project...
I recently inherited a collection of handtools.
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag126/wordsnwood/tooltote/IMG_3870_zps739e6c1c.jpg (http://s1302.photobucket.com/user/wordsnwood/media/tooltote/IMG_3870_zps739e6c1c.jpg.html)
Since, I already have a pretty complete selection of these basic tools in my shop, I decided that some of them (pictured here) would form the core of my "jobsite" tools.
Now, I'm not a contractor, but I still occasionally have a reason to bring tools to a friend's house, or somewhere else, and gathering up a the right set of tools from my shop was always a chore. Inevitably I would forget the one item that I later find that I need.
I thought about making myself a fancy wooden toolbox... but only briefly. Rather, I decided to work with this canvas tool tote that I already owned. It's strong, and a good size, and I already own it. (And yes, it was a freebie once when I bought some green tools... No, not THOSE green tools.)
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag126/wordsnwood/tooltote/IMG_3872_zpsc6652375.jpg (http://s1302.photobucket.com/user/wordsnwood/media/tooltote/IMG_3872_zpsc6652375.jpg.html)
The downside of this tote, is that it is just one big compartment inside. I don't want to just dump all my tools in it: That makes it hard to find things, and can lead to damaged tools, and so on. So I set about designing with a small tray/organizer to fit inside this tote.
Here is one situation when a mock up in cardboard is a very good idea. I grabbed a handy box that I had and set to work.
Here's what I came up with, a basic shallow tray. I have a lot of screwdrivers, so I mocked up a cardboard insert down the middle, where I would drill holes to hold all those various screwdrivers as well as a few other tools. This would also serve as a divider, so I could keep the hammer and a few other large tools on the one side, and have the other side open for various uses.
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag126/wordsnwood/tooltote/IMG_3875_zps92d64b7b.jpg (http://s1302.photobucket.com/user/wordsnwood/media/tooltote/IMG_3875_zps92d64b7b.jpg.html)
Here it is, inside the tote... It seemed to fit fairly well, and I liked how the centre divider was looking, so I moved on to working in wood from my scrap pile.
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag126/wordsnwood/tooltote/IMG_3876_zpscbf237f2.jpg (http://s1302.photobucket.com/user/wordsnwood/media/tooltote/IMG_3876_zpscbf237f2.jpg.html)
I considered using plywood for the sides, but I had some pine available which I discovered was actually lighter than plywood. So I planed that down to 1/2" thickness, ripped it to 3-1/2" wide, and then milled box joints in the ends to make up a box.
Next, I turned my attention to the divider. I picked out a piece of 2x4 and ripped it to just 2" wide, which from the cardboard mockup seemed sufficient width to allow a double row of screwdrivers. I then marked out the locations for the screwdrivers and other things (such as the nailset shown in the photo) to be placed in the divider.
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag126/wordsnwood/tooltote/IMG_3880_zps793c6201.jpg (http://s1302.photobucket.com/user/wordsnwood/media/tooltote/IMG_3880_zps793c6201.jpg.html)
After drilling holes in that piece and trying things out, I ended up scrapping it and making up a second divider. This one I notched at the ends to fit over the ends of the tray. The main reason for this is that I realized that I wanted to hold the screwdrivers a bit higher off the bottom of the tray -- some of the screwdrivers are quite long.
I glued some thin plywood into a rabbet along one side, and boxed in a small area on the one end, where I put a square-ish opening for other random tools.
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag126/wordsnwood/tooltote/IMG_3886_zps0ebc286b.jpg (http://s1302.photobucket.com/user/wordsnwood/media/tooltote/IMG_3886_zps0ebc286b.jpg.html)
Here it is, being glued into place. You can now see the hole I cut in the left side of the divider, which is why that end of the divider is boxed in.
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag126/wordsnwood/tooltote/IMG_3887_zps473a4190.jpg (http://s1302.photobucket.com/user/wordsnwood/media/tooltote/IMG_3887_zps473a4190.jpg.html)
Here it is all filled with my inherited tools. There is a full set of screwdrivers: three each of Phillips, Robertson, and Slotted. As well a nail set, compass+pencil, chisel, needle-nose pliers, cutters, adjustable wrench, a tape measure, and the all important hammer. Everything is sorted and organized, and the other side of the tray is still completely empty.
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag126/wordsnwood/tooltote/IMG_3888_zps52945606.jpg (http://s1302.photobucket.com/user/wordsnwood/media/tooltote/IMG_3888_zps52945606.jpg.html)
As you can see, it nicely fits inside the fabric tote, and holds all my "jobsite" tools nicely organized and ready to go. Hopefully no longer will I be somewhere only to discover I don't have the right size/kind of screwdriver with me...
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag126/wordsnwood/tooltote/IMG_3890_zpsb9c79586.jpg (http://s1302.photobucket.com/user/wordsnwood/media/tooltote/IMG_3890_zpsb9c79586.jpg.html)
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag126/wordsnwood/tooltote/IMG_3891_zps91446123.jpg (http://s1302.photobucket.com/user/wordsnwood/media/tooltote/IMG_3891_zps91446123.jpg.html)
thanks for reading...
I recently inherited a collection of handtools.
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag126/wordsnwood/tooltote/IMG_3870_zps739e6c1c.jpg (http://s1302.photobucket.com/user/wordsnwood/media/tooltote/IMG_3870_zps739e6c1c.jpg.html)
Since, I already have a pretty complete selection of these basic tools in my shop, I decided that some of them (pictured here) would form the core of my "jobsite" tools.
Now, I'm not a contractor, but I still occasionally have a reason to bring tools to a friend's house, or somewhere else, and gathering up a the right set of tools from my shop was always a chore. Inevitably I would forget the one item that I later find that I need.
I thought about making myself a fancy wooden toolbox... but only briefly. Rather, I decided to work with this canvas tool tote that I already owned. It's strong, and a good size, and I already own it. (And yes, it was a freebie once when I bought some green tools... No, not THOSE green tools.)
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag126/wordsnwood/tooltote/IMG_3872_zpsc6652375.jpg (http://s1302.photobucket.com/user/wordsnwood/media/tooltote/IMG_3872_zpsc6652375.jpg.html)
The downside of this tote, is that it is just one big compartment inside. I don't want to just dump all my tools in it: That makes it hard to find things, and can lead to damaged tools, and so on. So I set about designing with a small tray/organizer to fit inside this tote.
Here is one situation when a mock up in cardboard is a very good idea. I grabbed a handy box that I had and set to work.
Here's what I came up with, a basic shallow tray. I have a lot of screwdrivers, so I mocked up a cardboard insert down the middle, where I would drill holes to hold all those various screwdrivers as well as a few other tools. This would also serve as a divider, so I could keep the hammer and a few other large tools on the one side, and have the other side open for various uses.
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag126/wordsnwood/tooltote/IMG_3875_zps92d64b7b.jpg (http://s1302.photobucket.com/user/wordsnwood/media/tooltote/IMG_3875_zps92d64b7b.jpg.html)
Here it is, inside the tote... It seemed to fit fairly well, and I liked how the centre divider was looking, so I moved on to working in wood from my scrap pile.
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag126/wordsnwood/tooltote/IMG_3876_zpscbf237f2.jpg (http://s1302.photobucket.com/user/wordsnwood/media/tooltote/IMG_3876_zpscbf237f2.jpg.html)
I considered using plywood for the sides, but I had some pine available which I discovered was actually lighter than plywood. So I planed that down to 1/2" thickness, ripped it to 3-1/2" wide, and then milled box joints in the ends to make up a box.
Next, I turned my attention to the divider. I picked out a piece of 2x4 and ripped it to just 2" wide, which from the cardboard mockup seemed sufficient width to allow a double row of screwdrivers. I then marked out the locations for the screwdrivers and other things (such as the nailset shown in the photo) to be placed in the divider.
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag126/wordsnwood/tooltote/IMG_3880_zps793c6201.jpg (http://s1302.photobucket.com/user/wordsnwood/media/tooltote/IMG_3880_zps793c6201.jpg.html)
After drilling holes in that piece and trying things out, I ended up scrapping it and making up a second divider. This one I notched at the ends to fit over the ends of the tray. The main reason for this is that I realized that I wanted to hold the screwdrivers a bit higher off the bottom of the tray -- some of the screwdrivers are quite long.
I glued some thin plywood into a rabbet along one side, and boxed in a small area on the one end, where I put a square-ish opening for other random tools.
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag126/wordsnwood/tooltote/IMG_3886_zps0ebc286b.jpg (http://s1302.photobucket.com/user/wordsnwood/media/tooltote/IMG_3886_zps0ebc286b.jpg.html)
Here it is, being glued into place. You can now see the hole I cut in the left side of the divider, which is why that end of the divider is boxed in.
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag126/wordsnwood/tooltote/IMG_3887_zps473a4190.jpg (http://s1302.photobucket.com/user/wordsnwood/media/tooltote/IMG_3887_zps473a4190.jpg.html)
Here it is all filled with my inherited tools. There is a full set of screwdrivers: three each of Phillips, Robertson, and Slotted. As well a nail set, compass+pencil, chisel, needle-nose pliers, cutters, adjustable wrench, a tape measure, and the all important hammer. Everything is sorted and organized, and the other side of the tray is still completely empty.
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag126/wordsnwood/tooltote/IMG_3888_zps52945606.jpg (http://s1302.photobucket.com/user/wordsnwood/media/tooltote/IMG_3888_zps52945606.jpg.html)
As you can see, it nicely fits inside the fabric tote, and holds all my "jobsite" tools nicely organized and ready to go. Hopefully no longer will I be somewhere only to discover I don't have the right size/kind of screwdriver with me...
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag126/wordsnwood/tooltote/IMG_3890_zpsb9c79586.jpg (http://s1302.photobucket.com/user/wordsnwood/media/tooltote/IMG_3890_zpsb9c79586.jpg.html)
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag126/wordsnwood/tooltote/IMG_3891_zps91446123.jpg (http://s1302.photobucket.com/user/wordsnwood/media/tooltote/IMG_3891_zps91446123.jpg.html)
thanks for reading...