Hand Tool Cabinet

[Jeremy Rayburn]

I would like to make a tool cabinet to house all of my planes, chisels, saws, etc. Just curious of anyone else who has built one, and the design you may have used. Please post pics if you got em...

[Douglas Brummett]

If you want pictures of something, best place to start is a google image search

http://images.google.com/images?q=woodworkers%20tool%20cabinet&sourceid=navclient-ff&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1B3GGGL_enUS250US250&um=1&sa=N&tab=wi

[Zahid Naqvi]

This one (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/418PZJJ4SJL._SL500_AA280_.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.amazon.com/Tool-Cabinet-Woodworking-Paper-Build/dp/B00024W818&h=280&w=280&sz=14&hl=en&start=3&um=1&usg=__hqfWoVvjQ7spCIxR7vQ0tqubPXI=&tbnid=CvsNVfy4-D4CKM:&tbnh=114&tbnw=114&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2522tool%2Bcabinet%2522%26um%3D1%26h l%3Den%26rlz%3D1B3GGGL_enUS250US250) looks quite grand.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/418PZJJ4SJL._SL500_AA280_.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.amazon.com/Tool-Cabinet-Woodworking-Paper-Build/dp/B00024W818&h=280&w=280&sz=14&hl=en&start=3&um=1&usg=__hqfWoVvjQ7spCIxR7vQ0tqubPXI=&tbnid=CvsNVfy4-D4CKM:&tbnh=114&tbnw=114&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2522tool%2Bcabinet%2522%26um%3D1%26h l%3Den%26rlz%3D1B3GGGL_enUS250US250

[Jeremy Rayburn]

Yeah but the google image search also pulls up more crap than actual images worth looking at. Of what I have found so far, this is my favorite. Although I'd rather use more hardwoods than plywood.

http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ProjectsAndDesign/ProjectsAndDesignPDF.aspx?id=2764

[Don C Peterson]

It ain't fancy, but I made this one and quite like it.

One side is for saws, the other for planes and the two edges hold chisels and braces respectively. The drawers are for sharpening supplies under the planes and files and layout tools under the saws.

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=73095&highlight=tool+till

[Justin Sipes]

Jeremy,

I'm planning on building one as well after I finish a crib I'm currently working on. (the pressure's on! baby due 12/7!)

You might check out "The Toolbox Book" by Jim Tolpin. There are quite a few pictures to obtain design "inspiration" (or steal ideas, depending on what you call it :D ) , including a little blurb on the H.O. Studley tool chest which I believe still resides in the Smithsonian. I've spent several hours with the book but am still evaluating what kind of tool chest will best meet my needs.

I believe google books has an online version you can read/checkout before buying...

Keep us posted on your progress once you start building!

[Gary Benson]

Here is my version, for what it is worth. It was a great project and has functioned well. Good luck with your decision.
Gary

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?p=697662#poststop

[Johnny Kleso]

This is my prototype
https://home.comcast.net/~rexmill/projects/tool_cabinet/images/cabinet.jpg

I hope some day to build a final design out of hardwood not an plywood box I built as a table :)

[Jeremy Rayburn]

Justin, I just had a baby in August, and did a cradle for him. I know the feeling of making sure it gets done! Plus, he showed up early!

http://sawmillcreek.org/picture.php?albumid=42&pictureid=369

Gary, nice cabinet. That is a lot like what I picture, but mine may need to be a bit taller. Very nice craftsmanship even if you did "cheat" a little with power tools!

[Pedro Reyes]

I'm not sure I have pictures (or know how to post them here). But I built mine out of poplar, mostly because I didn't want to mess up on more expensive wood. It is similar to what Gary posted above (not as nice), except the slanted surface that holds my planes is hinged on top, so it opens up to reveal a shelf, and I keep less used stuff back there.

I built mine by making a dovetailed carcass, with dadoes for both a back panel as well as two shelves (one hidden behind the slanted board that holds most of the planes). It holds (side by side) my #3, #4, #4-1/2, #5, #5-1/2, and my #6. My #7 can go on the shelf below with multiple block planes. Below that I will make 3 drawers (someday).

In the future I could make a door for it where I would hang some light stuff like joinery saws. It is a work in progress. It hangs on a wall using a french cleat. It is mostly hardwood with the exception of the back panel (1/4" birch plywood) and the panel that is slanted and holds the planes in view (3/8" birch plywood covered with felt).

It works.

/p


(edit)
Well figured out how to add a pic (albeit a small one). So on the bottom, the three openings (one large, two small) will have drawers, the dark brown surface pivots on a hinge at the top revealing a shelf behind it.

98283

[Raney Nelson]

Here's mine - made early in the summer - no plans, but it was very heavily informed by its predecessor, which was much larger, and plywood. After using and modifying that one for a couple years, I was pretty clear on just what I wanted this one organized...
If it's feasible, I would highly suggest a prototype that you can use for a little while and modify. Your ideas about what/where/ etc. may change significantly once you've used it

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d17/rckt/IMG_0592.jpg
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/%5BIMG%5Dhttp://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d17/rckt/IMG_0592.jpg%5B/IMG%5D

[Glenn Crocker]

I needed my hand tool cabinet to be freestanding on casters.
Dimensions –
Case 46” high, 26” wide, 16” deep, cabinet 72” high.
Construction-
Case is handcut dovetailed SYP panels (strips are 2-3 inches wide), door frame is finger jointed vertical grain SYP, all SYP came from selected 2x10 and 2x12 framing lumber.
Door panels are QS white oak veneer on birch ply, drawers are finger jointed ponderosa pine with birch ply bottoms, trestle is through mortised red & white oak. All mouldings made with planes, all surfaces planed, no sandpaper used.
Finish –
White oak was fumed with ammonia, red oak was mineral streaked stock – no stain/coloring needed. All oak was finished with oil & wax. Case is milk paint (Lexington Green & Buttermilk) with very thin beeswax & turp topcoat, drawers are nitric acid with heat. The drawers are too orange for my liking and I need to redo the veneered panels (first time I've done hammer veneeer and I got the seam wrong,) but I’ll remedy that as time permits.