Plans or experience building a wood tool chest
I am fairly inexperienced but have found that practicing on my own shop cabinets, etc.. is a good way to learn (usually what NOT to do.. but that is for another day).
I was looking at tool chests recently and am shocked by how much good chests cost. I was toying with the idea of making my own (wood) toolchest, but I have two questions:
1) will this end up costing me more money that if I just bought the darn thing
2) does anyone have any plans they could point me towards?
Thanks,
George
Machinist chest hardware & plans
Try Woodsmith`s newest issue # 183 It`s a beautiful 17" seven drawer , turn of the century mission style .Modeled after the Union toolchest works co. of Rochester NY.The guys that set the standard in chest building.
Here`s a link to the supplier selling the hardware kit.
WWW.MACHINISTCHEST.COM
Some thoughts on Machinist's style tool chests
If one is looking at building a Machinist's style tool chest I think that this plan is by far the best, IMHO
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalo.../toolchest.php
It's essentially patterned after an #52611 11-drawer Kennedy with a riser. I've been using an 11-drawer Kennedy and riser of these proportions since I began machining over eight years ago. And now that I have started into woodworking I think a chest similar to this (that I build myself in hardwood, of course) would suit me just fine except that I feel the depth needs to be increase to 12" vice 10 1/2". I have found that these type of tool chests would benefit greatly by allowing storage of longer tools and instruments. Many times on the job I have wished I had got the larger Kennedy: 26" W 12" D 18-7/8"H. On the other hand they cost $600! Which is why I didn't get one.
Incidentally...
It's turns out that most Gerstner Machinists chests are made in china (except the top-of-the-line Gerstners). Gerstner was well known for fine oak (as well as cherry and walnut) tool chests in the machining world for a long time. Nowadays they lack the quality of the early ones. But they're still charging almost top dollar for them. :rolleyes: I'd never buy one of these if I could make one !! ... just out of principle.
In short: if you can, and you don't worry about your time, build one rather than buy; because you can do as well or better than any chinese hardwood machinist's chest.
On the other hand if you don't mind chinese or you have no desire to own your self made tool box, or you don't care what sort of materials it's made out of...just buy one. Building one requires the same cabinetmaking skills you will use in furniture, kitchen cabinets etc. In my opinion, building one of these is about the journey and the destination. A thought: long ago, it used to be that apprentices were judged to some degree on a requisite tool chest they had to build themselves when passing from apprentice to journeyman.