Hand tool cabinet in maple

[pkinneb]

Looking great! Getting close now  

[Art]

Looks good!

[SawDustB]

Thanks guys! I'd really like to get this up and out of the way, so I can move on with some other organization I have planned. I'm also going to be bringing in a small lathe, so I need to clear some room to put it. I suspect the next project may end up being another tool cart.

[SawDustB]

Sigh... There's always something a bit depressing about taking everything apart to get into finish sanding and prep. I realized there's a few things I put off, like using saw dust and glue on the dovetails. I'm hoping to start applying finish before I go back to work on Thursday.

[treeslayer]

I agree, taking things apart after you’ve seen what it going to look like is a downer. On the plus side it’s one step closer to being done, it always seems like the small details take the most time, hardware, final sanding and assembly and finish always take longer than expected in my shop. looking real good, that’s going to be a beautiful piece!

[SawDustB]

I finally have finish on the cabinet, and it's mounted on the wall. I used Tried and True varnish oil, with 2-3 coats depending on whether it was a wear surface or not. This gave a very nice finish, close to the wood, but it brought out the figure. I did find it went much better onto the maple than the other side of the plywood, since it was less porous. I took everything up to 320 grit.

These are the outer doors open - this will probably be for less used tools. It doesn't look nearly as good as the maple, but it's fine for storage.

 

Finally, here's the inside view of the cabinet. You can see the lag screws I used to put it up - there's 6 in the cleat and 3 through the cabinet back. I just used 2 1/2" because I didn't want to go too far into the studs behind. It's very solid. Obviously I also had to remount the doors, and I've added all the screws to the hinges.

 

I haven't made any holders yet, but I really wanted to get this part up on the wall to get my space back. I'll pick away at them over the next little while and get my stuff moved in. I am trying to figure out if I should put magnets in the door to help keep them closed, since they don't stay right now. I'm trying to figure out if I'll stick with the layout in the plans, since I realized not all my saws will fit in the space allocated for them.

 

[treeslayer]

That looks great and useful to boot! Well done sir

[pkinneb]

That turned out great!! Please continue to share pics as you fill it up 

[SawDustB]

2 minutes ago, pkinneb said:

That turned out great!! Please continue to share pics as you fill it up 

I will! I'm just taking inventory now to decide on where to start. I think a full width chisel holder may be the first one I tackle. Here's a good chunk of the collection, although there's a fair number of stragglers in the basement or other drawers. I'm thinking I should have dropped a couple of gallery spots in favor of a taller saw till. My bigger saws will need to live in the doors now.

[SawDustB]

It took a lot longer than it should have, but I made my chisel holder. I made about half of one out of pine to prototype it, then made this from sapele. By the time I was done I think I removed 75% of the wood I started with. Still needs finish, but it's secure and fits all but a couple of specialty chisels. I drilled two Forstner bit holes, then used a small cove bit too make it fit the handle and cut the notches. Finally I had to use the router table to add the step back to make them easier to remove. I like having the guards on there, so it complicated life a bit.

I also fit the plywood for the tall plane till and cut the little strips up for fitting those. It looks like my number 6 and 7 will just fit in their (width wise, there's lots of height). The sapele drawer front there is the start of my card scraper holder, but I'm still thinking that through. I want a more finished look than Matt had in the project for that.

[treeslayer]

it's the small details that really finish out this great cabinet sawdust, that chisel holder is a great idea, consider that stolen. you will appreciate taking the time to get it right you're going to have that beautiful cabinet a long time, this has been a great ride, thanks!

[SawDustB]

Since I didn't do a great job of explaining, here's a close up of the spots for the chisels. The rabbet in the block makes it much easier to remove them while not affecting how secure they are. The small hole is 7/8" and the larger started at 1 1/8", although after the router bit it's closer to 1 1/4", just with the rounded cove for the handle to sit in. I'm very happy with the result, although if I made it again I might add 1/8" to the wood at the back to make it a little stronger. It's fine in place but a bit flimsy until screwed to the cabinet.

[Chestnut]

Thanks for the detail on the chisel holder. I swear I'm going to make a hand tool cabinet one of these days.

[SawDustB]

33 minutes ago, Chestnut said:

Thanks for the detail on the chisel holder. I swear I'm going to make a hand tool cabinet one of these days.

I'll believe it right after I see your Roubo . 

[Chestnut]

1 hour ago, SawDustB said:

I'll believe it right after I see your Roubo . 

I think the hand tool cabinet will come first. I need to get a new planer, and the roubo is a milling heavy project.

[SawDustB]

2 hours ago, Chestnut said:

I think the hand tool cabinet will come first. I need to get a new planer, and the roubo is a milling heavy project.

OK, fair enough, it sure is. My #6 and I can attest to that. Putting the slabs through the bench top planer was an adventure, and I shortened mine to 6 feet.

[SawDustB]

I am still working on this, really. I had to travel for work last weekend, so it's only been a few more hours. I got my square holder sorted out. I have others for my larger squares, not hung yet. I liked the concept of stacking them.

I've basically finished with the plane till, aside from adding a few screws to secure it. I've left room to add a couple more, but I didn't need the full width in the plans. I may put in a different type of file and rasp rack instead.

I should add a few things I found in populating this. First, the space Matt left for saws isn't tall enough for some back saws. My Veritas tenon saw and an older disston I have don't fit, so they'll have to go in a door. If I was doing this again, I would have left more taller spots and shrunk the plane gallery. I don't need that many spots, so I think my card scrapers will live in there and I might add another drawer.

Also, the only spot for full size hand saws is also in the door, so one set of doors will end up being mostly saws.

When doing the plane till, I found it way easier to use a little hide glue and pin nails, rather than screws. 1/4" stock is so small that it splits even with drilling pilot holes. If I need to rearrange, it still wouldn't be too hard to remove them.

[SawDustB]

I put the screws in, and couldn't resist seeing it populated. I definitely still need to add a few magnets, and a clip for the router plane (it's a bit precariously balanced in the picture). Looks like I need more planes... 

 

[Chestnut]

Man that look really good. I agree it looks like you need more planes to fill up all that empty space.

[Coop]

Looking fantastic Brian! 

[SawDustB]

14 hours ago, Chestnut said:

Man that look really good. I agree it looks like you need more planes to fill up all that empty space.

Thanks - should look even better once I put finish on all of it. I actually don't see me getting that many more planes... I'd like a low angle Jack, and a nicer block plane, but I'm not sure what else I'd want. I'm trying to make an effort not to buy tools unless I'm going to use them. I really only use my smoother and my #6 most of the time, unless I'm in a project with lots of jointing required.

13 hours ago, K Cooper said:

Looking fantastic Brian! 

Thanks Coop!

[Chestnut]

10 minutes ago, SawDustB said:

Thanks - should look even better once I put finish on all of it. I actually don't see me getting that many more planes... I'd like a low angle Jack, and a nicer block plane, but I'm not sure what else I'd want. I'm trying to make an effort not to buy tools unless I'm going to use them. I really only use my smoother and my #6 most of the time, unless I'm in a project with lots of jointing required.

What about getting more specialty planes like a compass plane or some molding planes?

You do more than average amount of hand tool work so i can see a jack plane working well in your shop. I've never really liked the low angle planes are they something that you like to use?

Also i have 2 #4s and as much as I thought after i bought the LN #4 that i'd stop using my junky Stanley one that i got dirt cheap I use them about the same amount. I'm SUPER glad i didn't listen to the nay sayers and bought my LN with a 50 degree frog. I have it set up for a light cut and when i hit the nasty spots I grab it over the Stanley. For the bulk work the Stanley does the job.

I need to restore the #3s that i have to see if they are something that fits in my work. I"m sure they would but i need to have it available first.

[Mick S]

Very mice job, Brian! That's a definite bucket list item for me. Nice detail on the chisel sockets. Love the continuous grain on the drawers. Lot's to be proud of.

[SawDustB]

2 hours ago, Chestnut said:

What about getting more specialty planes like a compass plane or some molding planes?

I could maybe see a compass plane. I had a chance to buy one around when I did the roubo, but I was spending enough money on other tools that I passed. The molding planes are interesting, but I do like my router table. I find myself not really doing much aside from chamfers most of the time.

2 hours ago, Chestnut said:

You do more than average amount of hand tool work so i can see a jack plane working well in your shop. I've never really liked the low angle planes are they something that you like to use?

I've got a standard Jack plane, it's on the far left in the till. I do use it, but it's set up with a heavier camber so it basically gets used for heavy material removal. I want the low angle Jack in part for shooting, but it's not necessary.

2 hours ago, Chestnut said:

Also i have 2 #4s and as much as I thought after i bought the LN #4 that i'd stop using my junky Stanley one that i got dirt cheap I use them about the same amount. I'm SUPER glad i didn't listen to the nay sayers and bought my LN with a 50 degree frog. I have it set up for a light cut and when i hit the nasty spots I grab it over the Stanley. For the bulk work the Stanley does the job.

I need to restore the #3s that i have to see if they are something that fits in my work. I"m sure they would but i need to have it available first.

I would like to pick up a #3 to try it as well, just haven't found one in decent shape. I use my low angle smoother since my #4 has a sole that is not even remotely flat.

So I guess I could find a couple of planes to give a home to. It's just a little lower on my list than a few other tools.

[Chestnut]

2 minutes ago, SawDustB said:

I would like to pick up a #3 to try it as well, just haven't found one in decent shape. I use my low angle smoother since my #4 has a sole that is not even remotely flat.

I have 2 both are in good shape i'd offer to send one to you to see if you like it but I remember your in Canada and shipping is crazy expensive.