Portable tool kit? Portable workbench? What would you do?

[Matt Lau]

I'd like to put together a minimalist portable neander kit for fine woodworking outside/inside/on-site/anywhere.

Do you guys have any suggestions?
I'm particularly curious as to what a workman in Japan would bring to the jobsite, and why.

With the fires up in Sonoma and the joys of Autumn air, I think it'd be nice to have something grab'n go.
Also, I'm curious as to what you like/use as a portable workbench...


I've found most recently that I use only a handful of tools:
1. Tape measure
2. Shinwa hardened steel square
3. Shinwa marking thing (it looks like angled aluminum/steel with a mitered angle/right angles).
4. Takeo Nakano 54 mm and 70 mm plane (thanks for the recommendation, Stan!)
5. Kusaborou Genno (the one tool I'd grab if my house went on fire, again, thanks Stan!)
6. Folding Japanese saws (lee valley dozuki, silkboy kataba).
7. Sharp knife for marking stuff.
8. Pencil.
9. Chisel--an older Japanese one
10. Cam clamps.
11. Floor bench

[John Sanford]

Vesper / Blue Spruce / Shinwa Bevel Gauge.

Pocket knife. For all those other knifey tasks that a marking knife is ill-suited.

Dividers.

[Matt Lau]

Keep them coming!

[Prashun Patel]

How will you sharpen?

[Joe A Faulkner]

Checkout the latest Fine Woodworking Issue. It features a description of the kit that Garret Hack takes on the road when he teaches classes.

[Bill Houghton]

Portable bench: Workmate (alternate names: Workmutt, Wookiemate, etc.)

[steven c newman]

I have a Type 2 Work Mate.....and a tote..
371765
That is a full sized handsaw. I can load this up with what is needed for a job. Varies, according to what needs fixed at my Daughter's place....plenty of room in the tote.

[William Adams]

This is something I've been puzzling over for a long while now.

Interesting how closely your list aligns with www.japanesetools.com.au/collections/sets/products/boat-builders-tool-set

In the previous discussions of this, I think Rob Strawn has had the most elegant setup: http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?141768-A-basic-tool-set-Hand-tool-bug-out-bag

I've been trying for something even smaller, but focused on multi-tools and small folding tools --- gotta get a few chisels and some files yet.

[Derek Cohen]

I'd like to put together a minimalist portable neander kit for fine woodworking outside/inside/on-site/anywhere.

Do you guys have any suggestions?


Hi Matt

I frequently present demonstrations of handwork at wood shows or club meetings. I need to be able to take along all the tools I need - plus a bench, since I cannot be certain that there will be one and, if there is one, that it can hold the work in an appropriate manner. The types of demos I do are dovetailing and drawer making, mortice and tenon joinery, tapered sliding dovetails .... small pieces - it is a demonstration of handwork, not a full build ...

Firstly, I made a bench to take along. 28" long x 15" wide and 2" thick. It has a wagon vise. I wrote it up here (http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ShopMadeTools/BenchInAWeekend.html). Since then, I have added a twin screw vise, which works as a Moxon dovetail vise, and it also used for sawing tenons.

https://s19.postimg.org/3ylugo877/image.jpg

The screw are simply 5/8" steel thread into steel thread inserts ..

https://s19.postimg.org/jwuk6ta4z/image.jpg

Here are some of the basic tools: the LV 14 tpi dovetail saw, since this can be used for both dovetails and small tenons. A prototype Knew Concepts fretsaw (as I will not be distressed if this one gets nicked - a potential issue at wood shows). 3" Starrett square and 1:7 dovetail marker. The knife is a modified (straightened blade) LV Woodworkers knife. This has a very solid blade, and it can be used to rive pegs as well as score lines. The cutting gauge is one I made, so is also expendable.

https://s19.postimg.org/9a0r1ewur/image.jpg

There is an O1 set of Veritas bench chisels, with sizes from 1/8" - 3/4". One reason for these is the box is a useful example to show of dovetails, plus it is easy to store and use this way. The hammer is my plane setting hammer, but with the nylon head, it is an ideal size and weight to use when tapping chisels.

https://s19.postimg.org/me6be31r7/image.jpg

Tools not here include a pair of dividers (I have a 3" set of Starrett), the Veritas Small Plow (with 1/4" and 1/2" blades for grooving drawers and rebating), and 2 Spiderco (UF and M) honing stones.

The double screw works for edge planing. I take along one plane, a Stanley #605, with two blades (straight and 12" radius) ...

https://s19.postimg.org/pxs93wzc3/image.jpg

There is a stop for smoothing longer boards ...

https://s19.postimg.org/5dnf5f45f/image.jpg

And of course, there is the end vise for smaller boards or whatever. The dogs are from Veritas and are height adjustable.

https://s19.postimg.org/4bd8mvdmb/image.jpg

All the tools fit into a single shoulder bag.

Hope this is useful.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Mike Holbrook]

Very nice Derek! I may copy that compact, versatile device, just like I have copied so many other solutions on your blog:
http://www.inthewoodshop.com/

I needed a mobile device that I could roll in and out of vehicles, up & down steps, to carry tools to and from a variety of classes. I did not have time to build one. Festool makes a nice hand truck, made specifically to carry the Festool Systainers I already owned. There are quite a few systainers with a variety of drawer sizes that can be stacked and strapped to the hand truck via the included, integrated strap. Ultimately I discovered that this system worked just as well for hand tools. There are tons of Systainers & Sortainers to choose from.

I am currently regularly moving tools between two locations, selling a house & moving. I drive a Mini Cooper. I can roll the truck right into the hatchback/boot & still have room for other items. My favorite thing about this system is the containers and hand truck add very little weight to my kitt. The aformentioned tool carrying system has made these trips a pleasure vs a PITA. So for those who are open to spending the money.

[ken hatch]

I'd like to put together a minimalist portable neander kit for fine woodworking outside/inside/on-site/anywhere.

Do you guys have any suggestions?
I'm particularly curious as to what a workman in Japan would bring to the jobsite, and why.

With the fires up in Sonoma and the joys of Autumn air, I think it'd be nice to have something grab'n go.
Also, I'm curious as to what you like/use as a portable workbench...
C

I've found most recently that I use only a handful of tools:
1. Tape measure
2. Shinwa hardened steel square
3. Shinwa marking thing (it looks like angled aluminum/steel with a mitered angle/right angles).
4. Takeo Nakano 54 mm and 70 mm plane (thanks for the recommendation, Stan!)
5. Kusaborou Genno (the one tool I'd grab if my house went on fire, again, thanks Stan!)
6. Folding Japanese saws (lee valley dozuki, silkboy kataba).
7. Sharp knife for marking stuff.
8. Pencil.
9. Chisel--an older Japanese one
10. Cam clamps.
11. Floor bench

Matt,

Not too long ago I posted about a portable workbench and tool box. Both worked very well on our N CA trip this year.

ken

[Matt Lau]

How will you sharpen?

I have Spyderco medium, ultrafine, and a strop + Japanese soft finisher.

[Matt Lau]

Matt,

Not too long ago I posted about a portable workbench and tool box. Both worked very well on our N CA trip this year.

ken

Ken,

Your thread was what got me thinking on this.


Derek,

Thanks for the post! Your work is impossibly classy as always, and resourceful to boot.

[Matthew Hutchinson477]

I spent quite a bit of time looking at portable bench designs myself and finally settled on something similar to Steve Latta's mini bench.

http://www.finewoodworking.com/2014/10/22/mini-workbench-works-wonders

He designed it to go on top of a regular bench for detail work but I find it useful for travel. It can be clamped to a counter or other table, or it can be used on the ground if you're okay working on your knees or sitting down. If you prefer to stand it wouldn't be too hard to make something similar with removable legs attached with bolts.

[Dave Parkis]

You might want to check out a YouTube video by the Renaissance Woodworkers where he shows a portable workbench. It's his number 159

[Matt Lau]

Thanks, guys!

The move is in maybe 2 weeks. I took most of my not-often used tools and moved them to my workshop (thankfully, have LV anticorrossion emitters in an older wooden chest). My more often used tools will either go with me to the new interim unit, or go to my office.

I'll be slowly paring down my tools to true "user" set in the future.