Carving Tool Chest

[Dark Lightning]

As my carving has evolved, I've made a few chests to accommodate the tools. This latest chest is made rough and ready in order to take the rigors of travel to/from the local club/class. It's Baltic birch, 1/2" and 1/8". Dimensions are 17-1/4" wide, 15-1/2" tall, 11-1/2" deep. The width and depth were dictated by the size of the (Pfeil) palm tools. I don't carry the larger carving tools anywhere, so they are in a much larger chest that sits under my carving bench. It is currently 30 pounds, as configured, with tools. I have one empty drawer and expansion space in two others for eventual placement of other palm tools to be purchased as I need them.

[Nebraska]

Nice box you’ve got there.

[Randy]

Nice chest. looks well thought out.

[JerseyGirl]

That is soooo nice! Keeps everything nice and neat too. I’m using a Waterloo cabinet with wheels but your’s is prettier!

[Dark Lightning]

Thanks, folks! I'll point out that this is my 5th or 6th chest, so I should have the setup pretty well ironed out. The separators are poplar dowels chosen at a width that keeps the sharp parts of the chisels out of contact with each other while minimizing the space required. The previous one was walnut, but I was afraid to transport it, as it might get all banged up. Here's a pic of that one. I keep it in my bedroom to put trinkets in, instead.

[Tom Ellis]

Definitely too nice to use, That is a beauty.

[joepaulbutler]

You made a wooden chest, I made canvas roll-up tool pouches, Now I ask you who is the most talented

[Dark Lightning]

You made a wooden chest, I made canvas roll-up tool pouches, Now I ask you who is the most talented

Each in their own medium! I wouldn't even consider trying to make canvas roll-ups, tbh. I have no skills beyond sewing on buttons, when it comes to things like clothing, etc.

[Brian T]

Maybe that's the next question to ask: Where do you keep the tool chest? Looks like a very good solution to the puzzle but it needs wheels. I can't lift anything heavy any more.

I had some denim tool rolls made to hold euro gouges. Different cloth reminds me of the groupings of tools. They all pack very well into a big tool box from the hardware store. But, I don't need portability any more.

Then I made a brief case for a wide variety of PacNW crooked knives and adzes. My thinking was that I had as many crooked knives as I would need to use. Can you see the joke coming? I lost count of the knives I got since then. They are in piles on the bench. I keep thinking(?) that I should do something about organizing them but no ideas ever come to mind. I do see that there are "clusters" that work for one carving but not another.

[Merle Rice]

Hi Steven , you are Definitely a Cabinet Maker . Beautiful piece of Work . Merle

[Dark Lightning]

Maybe that's the next question to ask: Where do you keep the tool chest? Looks like a very good solution to the puzzle but it needs wheels. I can't lift anything heavy any more.

I had some denim tool rolls made to hold euro gouges. Different cloth reminds me of the groupings of tools. They all pack very well into a big tool box from the hardware store. But, I don't need portability any more.

Then I made a brief case for a wide variety of PacNW crooked knives and adzes. My thinking was that I had as many crooked knives as I would need to use. Can you see the joke coming? I lost count of the knives I got since then. They are in piles on the bench. I keep thinking(?) that I should do something about organizing them but no ideas ever come to mind. I do see that there are "clusters" that work for one carving but not another.

Strength is indeed an issue. I can still lift more than that 30 pound chest, but I know that the day is coming when I won't be able to, and then I'll have to make sections of chest that can be stacked. I used to be able to dead-lift 325 pounds, but that was 40 years ago. I was tough as an alligator baggie, in those days, lol. I currently have a cart that I use to take the chest from the car to class. I made a larger chest from oak that I keep all my large carving tools and mallets in. It's on a shelf in the carving bench. Lots of drawers, need less to say. This is a picture of that chest, which has a quarter-sawn white oak chest sitting on top, that I used to take to the club/class until it started getting too beat up. It's made on the lines of the kinds of chests that Gerstner makes for machinist's tools, and in fact all the hardware on it was purchased from them.

[Claude]

All are nice looking chests! How do you keep the drawers from sliding open when transporting?

Claude

[Dark Lightning]

The green one has a lock bar on the left edge held on by a screw. The walnut one has a lock bar in the center. The little white oak one on top of the big oak box has a flap that covers the drawers, which is locked in place when the lid is closed. The big oak box, I don't transport, though it does have a front plate to close off the drawers. It has over 3 dozen chisels and gouges, and 2 mallets in it. It's probably 70 pounds, loaded. I didn't even bother with handles on that one!

[Claude]

Thanks, Steven! I thought there must be some way, but couldn't see it. Well done!

Claude

[Rglideride]

Beautiful! .....If only I owned the quantity of tools making a chest necessary, lol!