The Shibusa of Tool Organization

[Mike Allen1010]

I don't speak Japanese (hell, can barely manage English), but there is a Japanese concept I really like that Wikipedia describes as "Shibusa; an enriched, subdued appearance or experience of intrinsically fine quality with economy of form, line, and effort, producing a timeless tranquility. Shibusa includes the following essential qualities: Shibui objects appear to be simple overall but they include subtle details, such as textures, that balance simplicity with complexity...."

There's more to the definition and solid chance I'm grossly misinterpreting the concept and/or translation. My perception is the gist of the idea is an aesthetic appreciation of simple things/objects.

In between projects I like to tidy up the shop – you know, things like cleaning out all the miscellaneous scraps that accumulate under the bench and organizing hand tools. 3 things that have been scattered around the shop and stored in their original plastic shipping containers are: small sanding blocks, plow plane blades and router plane blades. Every time I go looking for these, I have to sort through disintegrating plastic boxes etc. to find what I'm looking for. Finally tired of of tolerating this dis oragnization, I built simple little boxes to store these tools. Nothing special, just fun, simple hand tool projects using scraps.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4753/39699640052_0a60292dfa_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/23u82SC)1 (https://flic.kr/p/23u82SC) by Mike Allen (https://www.flickr.com/photos/157847244@N02/), on Flickr



Even though there are major parts of my life that are clearly more than a little "disorganized", at least these 3 sets of tools are easier to find/use stored in simple boxes that I enjoy a lot more than the original plastic packaging. There – I feel better now!

Anybody else have any pictures of shop appliances/tool organizers they want to share?

All the best, Mike

[William Adams]

Very nice! Shibui / Shibusa are concepts I've been fascinated by since I was a child, esp. after reading a certain novel which used a related concept for the title.

I did a small box of the tools I needed for my first CNC:

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and I'm close to the point where I have enough tools that I'm feeling confident of making a fitted tool cabinet for the nicer tools I use frequently, then I'll box up all the duplicates and get rid of a couple of the tool chests which I've picked up off Craigslist in acquiring tools:

376642

(don't have a photo of the small joiners chest --- Roy Underhill had a PDF of one on his PBS page for a while)

[Frederick Skelly]

Nice boxes Mike! My shop boxes are usually scrap plywood or pine. Love yours.
Fred

[Derek Cohen]

Mike, where is the "like" button when you need it? :)

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Andrew Hughes]

I think it's nice too. the shape the color.
I'd also click the like button on that.:)

[Christopher Charles]

Those are awesome Mike. I need some similar storage and I really like the router blade box. How are the blades held in place? Looks like grooves?

[Mike Holbrook]

The bottom one looks like a smaller version of the ones Toshio Odate has pictured to carry his tools in “Japanese Woodworking Tools: Their Tradition, Spirit and Use”. I hope to make something similar soon too.

[steven c newman]

I must have too many tools...
376739
When I need to build a 5 drawer "Chester Drawers"

[Joe A Faulkner]

Another user looking for the like button. From time to time, I find myself doing similar things - spontaneously making something to hold or store stuff. Most recent examples were a simple pencil holder and a holder for shims. I find myself using shims for all sorts of things - glue spreading, stir sticks, wedges to assist with work holding. None of my spontaneous projects are quite as nice as yours though. Like you, I tend to get motivated to make them when I'm trying to clean up the shop and climb one step higher on the organization curve.

[Andrew Zetts]

Very nice! Shibui / Shibusa are concepts I've been fascinated by since I was a child, esp. after reading a certain novel which used a related concept for the title.




Would that be Shibumi?

[William Adams]

Would that be Shibumi?


Yes. Regretfully I also read the prequel (midquel?) novel --- _Shibumi_ hasn't aged well, but at least has age/time to excuse it --- the other novel really needed a good editor to address continuity issues.

[Hasin Haroon]

Lovely as always Mike! I have tool storage that I love, but it's nothing to show off, nowhere near as nice as yours.

[Brian Holcombe]

Very cool, Mike!

[Mike Allen1010]

I think it's nice too. the shape the color.
I'd also click the like button on that.:)


Thanks all for the kind comments.


I'm sure this is unbelievable to most, but I'm embarrassed to confess - as much as I appreciate the sentiment, I really don't understand the reference to the "like button"? I'm guessing this must be some social networking thing – right?


Yeah I know --- all you smart, Internet savvy guys think it incredible that there could possibly be a dinosaur who doesn't know what a "like button" is. Just saying I've got NFI. My only online communication (aside from email and all that crap) is SMC. Go ahead and laugh if you'd like – I'm sure I deserve it. That said help a brother out and give me the 411 on "like button"?


AJ by way, please come down for a visit. Always love to hang out in the shop with a fellow Neander.


Best, Mike

[Stanley Covington]

Beautiful work, Mike!

Shibui is an interesting word. It's meanings range from a bitter flavor, as in a bitter persimmon or tea, to parsimonious, to the meaning you refer to. It once referred to sewage. Yuck! Shibuya in Tokyo means "bitter valley" and at one time had an effluent stream running through it that gave the area the name. That has since been piped and contained and today Shibuya is a nice non-stinky area well known for the "scramble" crossing.

Nowadays, the term refers to "understated, subtly elegant, in reference to design, clothing, personality, taste, etc. Something that does not jump out and scream or flash lights or include polished chrome, and might even be overlooked by the less discerning person. Something that is not fashionable but improves with age and usage. The ability to discern and appreciate shibui things and people and ideas is considered a virtue by all but children and the empty-headed herd.

You have made something that is seriously shibui IMO.

Stan

[Phillip Mitchell]

Nice post. Thanks for sharing Mike!

I'm currently building a small tool box for some of my chisels to live in when they need to travel out of the shop. I will share some photos to this thread upon completion. The box design attempts to embrace the elegance, subtleties, and simplicity that you are speaking of and is, in fact a tool box in the traditional Japanese style. I dare say this thread is timely for its creation!

Thanks again for sharing your work and thoughts.

[Mike Allen1010]

Beautiful work, Mike!

Shibui is an interesting word. It's meanings range from a bitter flavor, as in a bitter persimmon or tea, to parsimonious, to the meaning you refer to. It once referred to sewage. Yuck! Shibuya in Tokyo means "bitter valley" and at one time had an effluent stream running through it that gave the area the name. That has since been piped and contained and today Shibuya is a nice non-stinky area well known for the "scramble" crossing.

Nowadays, the term refers to "understated, subtly elegant, in reference to design, clothing, personality, taste, etc. Something that does not jump out and scream or flash lights or include polished chrome, and might even be overlooked by the less discerning person. Something that is not fashionable but improves with age and usage. The ability to discern and appreciate shibui things and people and ideas is considered a virtue by all but children and the empty-headed herd.

You have made something that is seriously shibui IMO.

Stan

Stan I was hoping you would share your insight. I really appreciate your understanding of Japanese culture, woodworking, etc. and always look forward to your posts.


Thanks very much for the feedback!


Mike

[Mike Allen1010]

How are the blades held in place? Looks like grooves?

Hey Chris, I'm really enjoying your Herron jewelry box build thread – thanks for posting and sharing pictures. I mean really looking forward to following your progress.

I have a lead Valley router plane and the shaft of the blades is square and cross-section and oriented with corners pointing forward and back. I used a V-shaped carving tool to create the grooves that hold the blades. It was easy, fast and achieve the desired result. If you're interested in getting started with carving tools, IMHO, W the V gouge is a great place to start.


Cheers, Mike

[Christopher Charles]

Thanks Mike, glad to hear. I'll get the rest posted as soon as I can, probably this weekend...classes started for the semester...

Stan, my thanks as well for sharing your insights and perspective!

[Jim Koepke]

I'm sure this is unbelievable to most, but I'm embarrassed to confess - as much as I appreciate the sentiment, I really don't understand the reference to the "like button"? I'm guessing this must be some social networking thing – right?

Yes, the social media sights and others have a way visitors can indicate they like a post or page. Some of the common sites like news and the morning funnies have a "like button" to share the comic or article.

BTW, like your storage boxes.

jtk

[Phillip Mitchell]

Thought I'd share a couple of photos of a recent project.

This is a small tool box I made recently to hold my most used bench chisels when I need them outside of the shop (at work/in the field.)

The box is Alaskan Yellow Cedar and the bottom/lid is Cherry.


I made the dovetails a bit proud for a slightly different look and for some depth and contrast on a small, simple design. I like to think this design falls along the Shibui line. I certainly identify with that design principle and sensibility.

[Mike Allen1010]

Beautifully done Phillip- thanks for sharing! Look forward to seeing more of your work!

Cheers, Mike

[Stanley Covington]

Thought I'd share a couple of photos of a recent project.

This is a small tool box I made recently to hold my most used bench chisels when I need them outside of the shop (at work/in the field.)

The box is Alaskan Yellow Cedar and the bottom/lid is Cherry.


I made the dovetails a bit proud for a slightly different look and for some depth and contrast on a small, simple design. I like to think this design falls along the Shibui line. I certainly identify with that design principle and sensibility.


Beautiful box, Phillip! How did you connect the battens to the lid?

[Stanley Covington]

Stan I was hoping you would share your insight. I really appreciate your understanding of Japanese culture, woodworking, etc. and always look forward to your posts.


Thanks very much for the feedback!


Mike

Keep up the good work, Mike, and continue to share the results with us.

[Derek Cohen]

Here is the box that was signed by Mr Kiyohisa when he sent the slicks (about 10 years ago ... a 3 year wait at that time).

https://s19.postimg.org/4wdtrr0df/image.jpg

When you place the lid on the box, it settles, sinking very slowly on a cushion of air.

https://s19.postimg.org/yqzd7ig83/Kiyohisa.jpg

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Christopher Charles]

Beautiful box Phillip!

[Patrick Walsh]

I also have signed box with my Kiyohisa chisels. The way the lid floats down onto itself is just awesome.

I’m very protective of it. It is quite fragile.

To the OP nice box and great topic.

Derek I’m jealous of those pairing chisels. Although I have a set of ten ori nomi I think it is I would do just about anything for a set of Kiyohisa pairing chisels to go with them..

[Phillip Mitchell]

Thank you fellas for the kind words.

Stan,

In this case, the battens are simply glued to the lid. The lid / box bottom is 1/4" cherry plywood and the battens are vertical grain, so I expect very little cross grain movement. On previous tool boxes of this style, I've used cut nails to nail the batten on (thicker stock.) In the future I'd like to try my hand at a sliding dovetail joint for that batten connection.


This small box was a productive, satisfying and fun way to use up some leftover scraps from a previous job.