Another Dutch Tool Chest

[Duncan Ainslie]

I thought the neanderthals might be interested in this, my new hand-built hand-tool chest.


http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h368/PrivateIron1/ToolChest/edac6b7b-697e-45e1-b973-ce0485e710dc.jpg (http://s1106.photobucket.com/user/PrivateIron1/media/ToolChest/edac6b7b-697e-45e1-b973-ce0485e710dc.jpg.html)

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h368/PrivateIron1/ToolChest/319e164b-5290-4cc2-9add-5f7bc6fc0553.jpg (http://s1106.photobucket.com/user/PrivateIron1/media/ToolChest/319e164b-5290-4cc2-9add-5f7bc6fc0553.jpg.html)

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h368/PrivateIron1/ToolChest/fde13a26-f4c7-4cc6-8f25-405c8b02aa48.jpg (http://s1106.photobucket.com/user/PrivateIron1/media/ToolChest/fde13a26-f4c7-4cc6-8f25-405c8b02aa48.jpg.html)

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h368/PrivateIron1/ToolChest/33347094-8232-4a32-a56b-30b35cf103c4.jpg (http://s1106.photobucket.com/user/PrivateIron1/media/ToolChest/33347094-8232-4a32-a56b-30b35cf103c4.jpg.html)

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h368/PrivateIron1/ToolChest/7c4afc49-8c48-446d-be7e-34312f849237.jpg (http://s1106.photobucket.com/user/PrivateIron1/media/ToolChest/7c4afc49-8c48-446d-be7e-34312f849237.jpg.html)


It's mostly built using Chris Schwarz's article on the Dutch style tool chest in Popular Woodworking magazine, though I did deviate (or improvise) in some of the details. It's reasonably simple to make - the bottom corners are dovetailed, the middle shelf is a dado but most of the rest is just glued and/or screwed. I had to tongue and groove most of the pieces to get the suitable width as the widest pine boards I could get were about 5", and the clamped ends on the lid include 5 mortise and tenon joints per end.


It took me much longer than planned to finish (though most of that time was finishing touches), but I'm happy with the result. Now I just need to refine my skills with the tools inside it!

Very best,

[Anthony Moumar]

Nice work! I use a dutch style tool chest and I was surprised how much stuff you can fit in it. I like the drawer in the bottom section, I've been wanting to add something similar to mine if I ever get around to it.

[Gary Viggers]

I'm working on the guts of my Dutch chest; I'll be adding a drawer like yours. Thanks for the idea.

[Tony Parent]

Very cool! I'm also working on a tool chest loosely patterned after Mr. Schwarz's. I had already decided to add a drawer just as you did, so it's nice to see one finished to get the look... I may break the drawer up into two as the chest I'm planning on is a bit wider.

[Duncan Ainslie]

Thanks chaps, glad you like it.

Just a tip for those of you thinking of adding drawers. Remember to leave space to lift tools up and over the lower lip of the opening. I forgot to take this into account and the wedges of the rabbet planes etc. foul on the underside of the drawer, so I have to jiggle them a bit to get them out - I just about got away with it but it's not ideal.
If I was making it again I'd probably make the drawer a little shallower, or the front lip a bit lower.

[Stanley Covington]

Duncan:

Very nice work!

Please tell us how it is to use. Compare it to the various other options, i.e. wall mounted cabinet, wall shelves, ATC Toolchest, counter with drawers and uppers (kitchen cabinet style), rolling chest of drawers, under-the-bench cabinet and drawers, etc., etc..

About the only comparison I recall reading so far is that the Dutch TC will "hold enough tools," and that it will fit into a car easier than an English-style toolchest. In the real world, a wooden toolchest is far from the ideal as a method to take tools back and forth to work or the jobsite daily. While totally boring and unromantic, the various models of Kennedy metal toolboxes, for example, are far superior in terms of size, weight, toughness, ease of carrying, water resistance, and security.

So, portability issues aside, tell us what you have experienced using it in your workshop.

Stan