Yet another shop furniture build

[Ben Ellenberger]

I was going to wait until this was done before posting, but I’m getting excited so I figured I’d post progress so far. I told myself I would not get any more tools until I had a better storage solution figured out, so I’m building a little chest to go under my bench. It is a simple thing to keep small layout/shaping tools with one big drawer to hold my #7 and a couple other things that don’t fit nicely in my wall cabinet. It is mostly oak, with soft maple for secondary wood. I used some pine for the back panel.

it takes up about a 20x20 footprint. I glued up the panels a few years ago, then stuck them in a corner until I got motivated around Christmas to start back up on this. I have an 18” ruler for my combination square, but it was still finicky getting the panels squared. With their size, it didn’t take much error to have a noticeable deviation across the width of the panel.

After gluing up the carcass I spent some extra time getting the interior surfaces the drawers would slide on true. Derek’s build blog has a nice write-up on this, and it made a huge difference when fitting the drawers.

I’ve got a little cleaning up to do on the carcass and the drawers, then I have to finish making and fitting the drawer pulls. I’m planning to put a couple coats of shellac on this for finish. I may make a few trays, but I’m not planning to do much fitting out of the drawers right away. I’ll use it for a bit first to decide what arrangement works best for me.

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[Jim Koepke]

Looks great Ben.

If you ever feel a need to keep the files separated you might try a simple divider.

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A few variations of this have been used in my storage drawers and boxes.

jtk

[Ben Ellenberger]

Thanks! My files/rasps are currently separated by a paper bag in a small drawer, and were one of the main drivers of this project. I might use your design for their new home.

[Peter Schussheim]

Ben, really nice work on this cabinet. I might build something similar to store my planes as an alternative to a traditional tool chest.

[Christopher Charles]

Looks great Ben. I made a similar chest for under my bench but it was co-opted for the house. Glad to hear you can buy more tools soon :)

Best,
Chris

[Jim Koepke]

Thanks! My files/rasps are currently separated by a paper bag in a small drawer, and were one of the main drivers of this project. I might use your design for their new home.

Some of my best files have their own drawer.

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Many files are kept in their original boxes.

One of these days a better system may be made for the other few dozen files in the shop.

jtk

[Cameron Wood]

Very nice.

This was one of those ten minute projects that was apparently good enough to be in use 40 years later- 2x4 with some kerfs.

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[Joel Gelman]

Just curious, on the first photo of the workbench towards the left, I see what may be chisels stored where you can only see the handle. I have 1 of my 2 benches against the wall, and it would not be hard to bring it out a couple of inches to place a strip between the wall and the bench with holes etc. to allow chisels to be stored. However, it seems like I am best served by being able to see the entire tool before reaching for it.

[Ben Ellenberger]

Joel, I have my chisels arranged by size, so I’ve learned which one to grab. I really like having my chisels hanging on the back of my bench and immediately available. I also have a rack to the right of them that is normally empty, but has space to temporarily hang a combination square or back saw while I’m in the middle of a project.

[Jim Koepke]

However, it seems like I am best served by being able to see the entire tool before reaching for it.


I have my chisels arranged by size, so I’ve learned which one to grab.

There are many ways to build a tray or rack across the backside of a bench to keep often used tools close at hand.

Keeping them in order, like Ben, is an important aspect of keeping tools convenient.

jtk

[Ben Ellenberger]

I’m happy with how this came out. The drawers fit and move really well. I think it will serve the purpose I intended for it.

The overall fit and finish is pretty good for my standards. If this was something for inside the house I’d spend some more time cleaning up a few places on the case and I’d probably fix a few defects in the dovetails. Since it is for the shop I think I’m calling this done.

I still need to put finish on it and wax the runners. I’ll get some drawer liner material for right now and probably make a simple rack for files soon (thanks for the ideas!). Long term I’ll probably make a few lift out trays categories of tools, both to keep them organized and so I’m not constantly going in and out of the drawers as I’m working on projects.

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[Mel Fulks]

Well done, Ben. And just the right style. Too much elegance in tool box design usually means your wife will find it just right for her !
And you will have to make another one. I like your drawer arrangement, best board on top, ugliest board on bottom is correct !

[Ben Ellenberger]

Exactly :) That bottom drawer face was just the end of my wide-enough board. I was not about to cut off waste just to get prettier grain.

[Derek Cohen]

That is very nicely done, Ben. Are you planning to build dividers inside the drawers? Photos of this would be just as interesting as a case build itself.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Ben Ellenberger]

Thanks! For right now I’ve just put things in loose. I’m planning to use it for a bit before deciding exactly how I want to organize it. Although, I just made a real quick and dirty stand for my files/rasps, and I can already tell I’ll like it.

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