Wooden Tool Boxes...pics anybody?
- Thread starter phartman
- Start date
Cool thread. I always admired a box my Father made back in the 1950s. He trained as a cabinet maker and always was exceptional with wood.
Dad passed away in January
(still miss ya!) and when helping Mom get the house readied for sale I was elated to find his box (which he hadn't used in years) which is now mine.
Dad passed away in January
(still miss ya!) and when helping Mom get the house readied for sale I was elated to find his box (which he hadn't used in years) which is now mine.
Mike in Ohio
Well-known member
Matt can you give me the dimentions of that box also what is under the 2 drawers in the front That is a really neat box. I just inherited a tool box from my grandfather that I am pretty sure was his father in laws.( That great grandfather was the person I loved most on that whole side of the family). It is very simple but the tools inside are great. Mike
Cool thread. I always admired a box my Father made back in the 1950s. He trained as a cabinet maker and always was exceptional with wood.
Dad passed away in January
Yep..I'll get some dimesions.
Under the two drawers is just an open space for larger tools.
I also woundup with some other cools things. My Dad had a saw for cutting under moldings to make room for tiles, etc. He hand made a slender wooden sheath for that, some handemade planes....it's a shame he didn't have time for woodworking when running the business...then would up with Alzheimer's.
Under the two drawers is just an open space for larger tools.
I also woundup with some other cools things. My Dad had a saw for cutting under moldings to make room for tiles, etc. He hand made a slender wooden sheath for that, some handemade planes....it's a shame he didn't have time for woodworking when running the business...then would up with Alzheimer's.
Foul
Well-known member
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=25958&d=1234190932
These were built by my wife's grandfather, or so I was told. The top one looks like it might've been a military foot locker. My father-in-law decided he didn't need them right around the time we bought our house. I built a little cart for them to ride around on.
dan
These were built by my wife's grandfather, or so I was told. The top one looks like it might've been a military foot locker. My father-in-law decided he didn't need them right around the time we bought our house. I built a little cart for them to ride around on.
dan
Richard Givan
Well-known member
I've worked in wood more than metal, and I like making boxes and chests, so this is up my alley. Here are a few examples of how I've wasted time in the past.
First is a simple box I made to house my Stanley #45 molding plane. This plane was made exactly 100 years ago, which I think is pretty cool. I made it from white oak with box (sometimes called finger) joints.
In the open box you can see the set of cutters, rods and the guide fixtures which are pretty much out of sight in front, and an adjusting screwdriver is fixed in the lid.
Next is another white oak box I made to house my carving chisels. It's joined with dovetails (handcut, of course). The drawers use some proprietary guides I got from Lee Valley and I made some simple pulls out of leather.
With way too much time on my hands I made this carpenter's box to hold light or trim tools. It's poplar to hold the weight down with 1/4" plywood front and back. The front door has a catch I made up that's released by pushing down on the metal rod sticking out the top.
With the front door open, you can see the narrow drawers that actually can hold a lot of stuff (with the drawback of winding up too heavy to pack). The front door holds a full-size framing square, shorty panel saw and trim saw. In the bottom reside a cordless drill (crank type) and a 24" level.
I have two more to show in the following post.
First is a simple box I made to house my Stanley #45 molding plane. This plane was made exactly 100 years ago, which I think is pretty cool. I made it from white oak with box (sometimes called finger) joints.
In the open box you can see the set of cutters, rods and the guide fixtures which are pretty much out of sight in front, and an adjusting screwdriver is fixed in the lid.
Next is another white oak box I made to house my carving chisels. It's joined with dovetails (handcut, of course). The drawers use some proprietary guides I got from Lee Valley and I made some simple pulls out of leather.
With way too much time on my hands I made this carpenter's box to hold light or trim tools. It's poplar to hold the weight down with 1/4" plywood front and back. The front door has a catch I made up that's released by pushing down on the metal rod sticking out the top.
With the front door open, you can see the narrow drawers that actually can hold a lot of stuff (with the drawback of winding up too heavy to pack). The front door holds a full-size framing square, shorty panel saw and trim saw. In the bottom reside a cordless drill (crank type) and a 24" level.
I have two more to show in the following post.
Richard Givan
Well-known member
In my shop on a wall is my main hand tool cabinet. It's 3/4" birch ply with mahogany strips in the edges.
Here's a view from the side.
And one of the main doors spread open.
The small drawers inside are mahogany and joined with box joints.
Last is a sea chest I made to copy the one's sailors lived out of a few hundred years ago. It's made of solid poplar (okay, I used plywood on the bottom and top).
Actually, they would have put the painted scene inside the lid to protect from the rough wear expected aboard ship, but I wasn't going to hide away this art (he says, laughing up his sleeve). It's hard to see in the photo, but I cut dovetails in the chest, then did the same but oriented 90% in the skirtboard on the bottom to help lock things together even more. It's painted in matte paint to look more like the milk paint that probably would have been used.
For handles, I fashioned rope grommets (called beckets in this usage) running through cleats on the sides. I carved a simple star on each cleat for fancy.
Here's a view from the side.
And one of the main doors spread open.
The small drawers inside are mahogany and joined with box joints.
Last is a sea chest I made to copy the one's sailors lived out of a few hundred years ago. It's made of solid poplar (okay, I used plywood on the bottom and top).
Actually, they would have put the painted scene inside the lid to protect from the rough wear expected aboard ship, but I wasn't going to hide away this art (he says, laughing up his sleeve). It's hard to see in the photo, but I cut dovetails in the chest, then did the same but oriented 90% in the skirtboard on the bottom to help lock things together even more. It's painted in matte paint to look more like the milk paint that probably would have been used.
For handles, I fashioned rope grommets (called beckets in this usage) running through cleats on the sides. I carved a simple star on each cleat for fancy.
-B-
Well-known member
cravej That is a beauty mind publishing the plans / drawings I would love to make a few of them.
durbancic
Active member
Richard,
Love those boxes, they are beautiful. How do you get the mahogany edges on the birch doors? are they flush with the edges? and do they get stained before attaching? that woodworking is just amazing! More up my alley.
-Dan
Love those boxes, they are beautiful. How do you get the mahogany edges on the birch doors? are they flush with the edges? and do they get stained before attaching? that woodworking is just amazing! More up my alley.
-Dan
Richard Givan
Well-known member
Thanks for the kind words, Dan. I made that cabinet when I moved into this house 17 years ago, so the details are a bit fuzzy, but I think the fronts and sides were dadoed leaving a 1/4" notch after they were glued and nailed. Then I just glued in strips of mahogany about 3/8" square and planed/sanded them down flush. I'm pretty sure I didn't stain anything--just applied a few thin coats of shellac with a rag and waxed that.
I started with plans from some woodworking mag, but probably deviated from them. I can never make anything without veering off in at least one direction.
I started with plans from some woodworking mag, but probably deviated from them. I can never make anything without veering off in at least one direction.
Frank Elson
Well-known member
I made these three to take power tools that came in cardboard boxes. Painted them (with some old Land Rover paint I had) because I made them from off cuts of wood that didn't match up.
Of these two red ones, the one on the left cost me £3 ($6?) in a junk shop, the one on the right, £6 ($12?) with two bags of spanners thrown in, on Ebay. Painted them red because I had some red paint left over from my tool boxes, I thought they'd match. Should have left them stained and varnished wood I guess.
Of these two red ones, the one on the left cost me £3 ($6?) in a junk shop, the one on the right, £6 ($12?) with two bags of spanners thrown in, on Ebay. Painted them red because I had some red paint left over from my tool boxes, I thought they'd match. Should have left them stained and varnished wood I guess.
machinistchest
Member
Hey Guys,
For those of you that like woodworking, Woodsmith magazine issue 183 June/July 2009 has plans to build a turn of the century mission style seven drawer oak machinists chest.
This is a clone of the one made by the Union Tool Chest Works of Rochester NY. this company was founded in 1893. I was told by a old timer that this was the box that Harry Gerstner copied.
I was really glad to see that the folks at Woodsmith were passing on a tradition and preservining our American History in the work place.
The chest is truly an American beauty!
If you would like to get a glimpse ,CLICK ON
WWW.MACHINISTCHEST.COM
For those of you that like woodworking, Woodsmith magazine issue 183 June/July 2009 has plans to build a turn of the century mission style seven drawer oak machinists chest.
This is a clone of the one made by the Union Tool Chest Works of Rochester NY. this company was founded in 1893. I was told by a old timer that this was the box that Harry Gerstner copied.
I was really glad to see that the folks at Woodsmith were passing on a tradition and preservining our American History in the work place.
The chest is truly an American beauty!
If you would like to get a glimpse ,CLICK ON
WWW.MACHINISTCHEST.COM
Steve from Socal
Well-known member
This is an original Union chest that I restored a few years ago.
Steve
Steve
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
Any discussion of wood tool boxes needs to include the one built by H.O. Studley. http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ProjectsAndDesign/ProjectsAndDesignArticle.aspx?id=27038
dreamingmuscle
Well-known member
I was wondering how long that chest would take to pop up on this thread.
It's a thing a beauty that's for sure.
Here is a better site to get a good look at it.
http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/masonicmuseum/tool_chest_made_by_studley.htm
Glen
________
oxygen vaporizer
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machinistchest
Member
wooden machinist chest plans
Now here`s another set of plans to build your own Union 26" wooden mission style machinist chest of the non till type.
http://www.americanfurnituredsgn.co...c?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=AFD&Product_Code=237
Cheers
Now here`s another set of plans to build your own Union 26" wooden mission style machinist chest of the non till type.
http://www.americanfurnituredsgn.co...c?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=AFD&Product_Code=237
Cheers
Gary S
Well-known member
Mine aren't exactly toolboxes.
These are my homemade tool cabinets over my workbench.
and this is a box I made for my tree grafting supplies and tools. It is too small for garage tools.
These are my homemade tool cabinets over my workbench.
and this is a box I made for my tree grafting supplies and tools. It is too small for garage tools.
mrbreezeet1
Banned
Tool chest I built and Gerstner I restored and built new drop down front panel for.
Also wall cabinet I built.
Bottom one is craigslist $40.00 find I refinished.
Also wall cabinet I built.
Bottom one is craigslist $40.00 find I refinished.
Case IH
Well-known member
creativecars
Well-known member
Gemp
Member
Here is a bad pic my leather wrap Gerstner at work....
Jim_No_Garage
Well-known member
mrbreezeet1
Banned
nice set up, is that the 26" Gerstner?Here is a bad pic my leather wrap Gerstner at work....
I think I posted the picture of the 26" clone I had at work.
It's not a Gerstner, but it's still a nice box.
Edit,
No actually I don't see it, I'll try to get a pic up later.
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mrbreezeet1
Banned
Nice job on that one Jim.
Radio Ron w4ron
Well-known member
WOW ! That is stunning.
I'll try to get some pix of my grandfather's old tool box soon.
It's one of my prized possessions, it sits on the hearth of our stone fireplace, it still holds some of him old tools.
R-
I'll try to get some pix of my grandfather's old tool box soon.
It's one of my prized possessions, it sits on the hearth of our stone fireplace, it still holds some of him old tools.
R-
I was wondering how long that chest would take to pop up on this thread.
It's a thing a beauty that's for sure.
Here is a better site to get a good look at it.
http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/masonicmuseum/tool_chest_made_by_studley.htm
Glen
________
oxygen vaporizer
Pat Brady
Banned
I have one. It belonged to my uncle. It's 1'x 2' and has a drawer with a bottom compartment. I use it every day.
willymakeit
Well-known member
I collect and have been given old carpenter tools. Planes, hand saws[skew backs ] etc.. One these days comes the chest.
BlindViper
Well-known member
Now thats a machinist tool box!
Thanks; when I first got married and started my apprenticeship I had more time for woodworking. Free time vanished later as I moved to Reynolds Metals Co and all the overtime I got addicted to.
Here's a pic of a Craftsman box I bought for $10. One of the guys was a chicken farmer and had it out in the chicken coop. I cleaned it up and semi restored it. I remember it took him a month to find the lid and bring it to work for me.
Here's a pic of a Craftsman box I bought for $10. One of the guys was a chicken farmer and had it out in the chicken coop. I cleaned it up and semi restored it. I remember it took him a month to find the lid and bring it to work for me.
Attachments
kentenn
Well-known member
I built a wall hanging chest for my woodworking tools. I also restore old wooden machinist chests.
