If I haven’t made clear prior to this post, I have space issues at work.  I hold wood-shop classes in the great outdoors, rain or shine (ok, just shine), cold or hot.  Morning and afternoon.  I’ve been looking for a storage solution for the many “wood-centric” tools that end up in the outdoor space but away from the our tool storage trailer.

My solution looks something like this:

It’s not a pretty thing, but the design has a long gestation.  Chris Schwarz has been promoting his conversion to hand tools for years now – and he finally documents the slow spiral in “The Anarchist’s Tool Chest”.  He’s got a book, I guess I have this blog.  Either way, I decided on a 24″ by 18″ by 18″ dovetailed box.  The moldings and bottoms were nailed and glued on, while the top has a split piano hinge as it’s method of movement.   Most of the dovetails and dadoes are splined for strength (because I can’t cut a tight dovetail) and I used a L-N low angle block plan to get the pins and tails even.  I only used power tools for milling the wood.

Let’s take a trip inside.  First, a tool tray with a small selection of hammers, nail sets, wrenches, etc.

A chisel/gouge/trisquare rack,

a saw till,

and some places for hand plane storage.

Over the next few weeks, I will be attaching handles, finding some storage solution for safety glasses, paint & varnish and carrying handles.  I’ll keep you posted.

Make it safe & keep the rubber side down.