I want to build some kind of a case to hold frequently used stuff.
1. I have a tool bag for working on vehicles. I think the cuurent iteration is a tennis bag, I have used a diaper bag in the past. Something like 20-30 pounds, 10-15 kilos. When I am working on my truck, I grab it. For a day trip in my boat I take it, for an overnight trip in my boat I look it over a little more carefully. Ratchet sets in 3/8 and 1/4, limited stuff in 1/2 drive, spark plug sockets for all the vehicles, some flat wrenches and etcetera.
2. Tool belt for homeowner stuff. I tried unloading the tool belt into my toolchest between homeowner chores for a few years after I got married, but it is pointless. I just leave it loaded now. If I need to replace a smoke detector or deal with a stuck door, the time efficient solution is to just strap on and go deal with it.
3. Joinery layout tools, these are spread all over my shop, the pic is just what I pulled out of one drawer in my tool chest. I have a couple bevel gauges, marking knives I don't love, bevel gauges, blah blah.
4. Joinery saws. I only have one in good working order, but I finally have a good enough vise to see a point in having all three of dovetail, carcass and tenon.
My goal is to build a single case, nominal 16" width x 20-24 " depth x 60-70 " tall to handle all this. Open shelf at the lowest level for the tool bag. Open shelf at maybe 24" off the floor for my tool belt. I just have to work with it. When I need a #2 Phillips or needle nose, I think of my tool belt and just don't see a point in having duplicate tools elsewhere. I want to get the layout tools for joinery in the same foot print and then have a small (16" nominal width) till for backsaws at the top.
Having the back saw till at the top and the tool bag at the bottom is going to do a lot to prevent top heaviness until I take off for a week in my boat. Pretty sure I need a back panel for stiffness. Happy to put a french cleat on the back and back it up to a wall near my bench when I have amenable shop space.
The question is how can I park all the layout tools between say 36-60" off the floor without adding a bunch of weight with drawers? None of the layout tools are especially heavy, I am thinking about 3/8 plywood for for drawer bottoms with no verticals involved.
Current plan is 3/4 plywood for bottom, sides and one fixed shelf near the top, with 1/2 ply back and casters about 3" diameter while I am wall space constrained. It will be ugly. I would like to not remake it from scratch when I get to a dedicated shop. All I have at this point is maybe iron on veneer tape for the exposed plywood edges on the front.
Of the tools in the deep drawer of my chest, I would very much like to put either my 3/8 chuck drill or circular saw, or both, in the open space above the tool bag in the lowest compartment. They can just sit on the zipped shut tool bag.
FWIW my current "tool chest" is one of those metal things with a bunch of drawers, deepest at the bottom, I think 36" width x 60 height.
The good news is I only own one #2 Phillips screwdriver. The bad news is I have a metric butt ton of other tools.
20210328_220324[1].jpg20210328_220341[1].jpg