Hand Tool Cabinet

[Coop]

A few weeks ago, I posted a topic called Betsy’s Table which was a project co-authored by my friend @RichardA. If you recall, I picked up the parts to the table that Richard made of cherry and had them dry fitted in his shop. I broke them down and brought them back to Houston along with two totes of hand tools that Rick and I had made a deal on. My wife and I made a trip in April in her Traverse to return the table, fully assembled and presented it to Mrs. Betsy. 
What I failed to mention is that the Traverse was fully loaded on our return trip. For those that have never seen Rick’s shop, it is or was one of the nicest and functional ones I’ve had the chance to experience. It makes mine look like a puzzle still in the box. One of the items that I really like was his solid oak, hand  tool cabinet. I would have definitely bought that from him on last years trip had I had the room in my shop for it. Then, after getting the measurements from Rick, it occurred to me that it would fit perfectly on a solid core door that leads from my shop to a side room. This door has never been used since the day I installed it. As the cabinet weighs a good 50 lbs., I bolted a 2x4 French cleat planned flat,  to the door and a reciprocating one to the back of the cabinet with a stand-off piece added to the bottom of the backside. Before mounting the cabinet to the door, I realized that the weakest link was the factory screws that came with the three door hinges. I replaced all of the screws with #10, 2 1/4” construction screws. 
This is the cabinet mounted and empty.

And with it loaded with mostly Rick’s tools and a couple of mine.

Calling this piece shop furniture, doesn’t do it justice. I’m really proud to have this in my shop. Thank you my friend! 

[gee-dub]

Hot dang!  That looks so good!

[Von]

What a wonderful cabinet!

[Mark J]

10 hours ago, Coop said:

Calling this piece shop furniture, doesn’t do it justice.

+1 to that!

Coop, In addition to the stronger hinge screws, another thing you could do to manage the load is put some shims under the door, so more of the weight is transferred to the floor.  

[gee-dub]

To Mark J's point; mine are clam shell style doors which means they bear some weight and I used piano hinges.

I am a belt an suspenders type of guy so I added some lower supports.

Mine are much more utilitarian but you get the idea.

They are just there to bear the weight should the doors ever decide to sag.  So far, so good.

[Immortan D]

Beautiful cabinet and a very nice tool collection!

Why not just get rid of the door and mount the cabinet to the wall? Since you said you have no use for that door...

[Coop]

On 6/2/2025 at 10:40 AM, Immortan D said:

Why not just get rid of the door and mount the cabinet to the wall? Since you said you have no use for that door...

I thought about it but only for a fleeting moment. If I took the door down, then I would have had to take it to a landfill. 

[Coop]

I don’t know that I will ever use all of these tools and if I do, it will be infrequently. Aside from the desiccant packs, what is the best moisture inhibitors I can provide? Will Gunk heavy duty Silicone Spray provide the needed protection? 

[Beechwood Chip]

On 6/2/2025 at 11:03 PM, Coop said:

I don’t know that I will ever use all of these tools and if I do, it will be infrequently. Aside from the desiccant packs, what is the best moisture inhibitors I can provide?

There's always Cosmoline

[Mark J]

9 hours ago, Coop said:

Will Gunk heavy duty Silicone Spray provide the needed protection? 

Doesn't silicone interfere with finishes?  What about just paste wax?

[Don Z.]

Boeshield?

 

[Immortan D]

On 6/3/2025 at 12:03 AM, Coop said:

I don’t know that I will ever use all of these tools and if I do, it will be infrequently. Aside from the desiccant packs, what is the best moisture inhibitors I can provide? Will Gunk heavy duty Silicone Spray provide the needed protection? 

I've been using desiccant packs. Also WD40 every 3 or 4 months: I remove all blades/chip breakers, spray generously then remove the excess with a rag.  No signs of rust with this method but results may vary.

[wtnhighlander]

I am happy with "browning" most of my tools and cast iron tables. Creating a controlled, light layer of oxide, wiping away anything loose, then rubbing in some paste wax seems to prevent further rust better than anything else. And no residue to interfere with finishes. Its a bit like 'seasoning' a cast iron skillet.

[Coop]

Ross, I’ve been doing that for years and didn’t realize it was a thing! 

In my humidity, it impossible (excuse) to keep the tops in showroom condition. “Browning” it is! 

[wtnhighlander]

Ken, most of my browning is "natural", but I've seen it done with real intent, by misting a solution of salt & vinegar over the freshly-degreased iron. The fine layer of oxide forms quickly, and can be buffed away with an abrasive pad as soon as it dries. Multiple applications might be required to achieve a perfect patina, but the result can be as lustrous as an antique firearm.

[Coop]

Thank you sir! 

[gee-dub]

Just a coffee can with an old piece of T-shirt in it that I put several drops of three-in-one oil on and refresh regularly. I wipe my planes down with the rag, put the rag in the can, and put the lid on. It’s been working for 20 years.

[RichardA]

On 6/3/2025 at 11:43 PM, gee-dub said:

Just a coffee can with an old piece of T-shirt in it that I put several drops of three-in-one oil on and refresh regularly. I wipe my planes down with the rag, put the rag in the can, and put the lid on. It’s been working for 20 years.

I do a similar thing with Johnson's paste wax.  The same rag has been in there for more years than I can remember!

[RichardA]

On 6/1/2025 at 9:05 PM, Coop said:

A few weeks ago, I posted a topic called Betsy’s Table which was a project co-authored by my friend @RichardA. If you recall, I picked up the parts to the table that Richard made of cherry and had them dry fitted in his shop. I broke them down and brought them back to Houston along with two totes of hand tools that Rick and I had made a deal on. My wife and I made a trip in April in her Traverse to return the table, fully assembled and presented it to Mrs. Betsy. 
What I failed to mention is that the Traverse was fully loaded on our return trip. For those that have never seen Rick’s shop, it is or was one of the nicest and functional ones I’ve had the chance to experience. It makes mine look like a puzzle still in the box. One of the items that I really like was his solid oak, hand  tool cabinet. I would have definitely bought that from him on last years trip had I had the room in my shop for it. Then, after getting the measurements from Rick, it occurred to me that it would fit perfectly on a solid core door that leads from my shop to a side room. This door has never been used since the day I installed it. As the cabinet weighs a good 50 lbs., I bolted a 2x4 French cleat planned flat,  to the door and a reciprocating one to the back of the cabinet with a stand-off piece added to the bottom of the backside. Before mounting the cabinet to the door, I realized that the weakest link was the factory screws that came with the three door hinges. I replaced all of the screws with #10, 2 1/4” construction screws. 
This is the cabinet mounted and empty.

And with it loaded with mostly Rick’s tools and a couple of mine.

Calling this piece shop furniture, doesn’t do it justice. I’m really proud to have this in my shop. Thank you my friend! 

I began buying tools on the early 1960's. I dropped out of college because I was making more money on weekends than graduates were making with their diploma, in the construction business. I had a knack for framing, and finishing. But the finishing felt more like woodwork than construction and I really enjoyed it. So I started buying tools other than construction tools. And I kept buying and began building furniture and specialty pieces for new home owners.  It became a word of mouth side business, Then for reasons that are unimportant here, I became a truck driver of every kind of truck you've ever seen in America. And when ever I had the chance, I built tables chairs, cabinets book cases desks sofas and on and on. Then went back to driving. Each time I stopped doing stay at home kinda work, I'd buy a tool or five that I liked and made use of. Each time I went back to trucking I'd put the tools and other stuff in a storage building. I had storage buildings in West Virginia, Colorado, North Carolina and Florida. When I finally settled down with the love of my life, she and I would take a trip to these places and get things out of storage and keep the tools and use or sell the stuff that I had put away. And I got tired of paying storage fees all over America..   What @coop has in that cabinet is the tools I kept, for a few reasons, they were rare, or totally original, or just the tool that I found works perfect for my hands.  I believe that if Ken takes the time, he'll find how well they'll work for him. And I can't think of a better man to get what I spent a lifetime collecting.  He has a few others that are not in the cabinet, that he should add to that cabinet, Those were my favorites.

[Von]

On 6/4/2025 at 2:09 PM, RichardA said:

I do a similar thing with Johnson's paste wax.  The same rag has been in there for more years than I can remember!

+1

[Chet]

On 6/4/2025 at 11:09 AM, RichardA said:

I do a similar thing with Johnson's paste wax.  The same rag has been in there for more years than I can remember!

It seems you can't get Johnsons Paste wax anymore.  Those that have some to sell seem to think people will be willing to pay $200-300 a can, and Rick & Von I have even seen used cans on Ebay and other places for $30-40 dollars.

[Mark J]

Yeah, it's silly.

Minwax sells a similar paste wax.  

[Von]

On 6/6/2025 at 8:47 AM, Mark J said:

Yeah, it's silly.

Minwax sells a similar paste wax.  

Made me look. My can is actually Minwax.

[Coop]

Yeah, mine too after I depleted the Johnson’s. I’ve heard it said that the Minwax is not quite as good? I guess we’ll see. 

[gee-dub]

Lucky accident . . . I saw a lot of JPW on the clearance rack at the BORG some years ago.  I knew the store manager and asked him what was up.  He told me they were discontinuing the product and he just wanted to clear the on-hand stock out.  Made him an offer on the half a dozen cans he had left and he took it.  I think I now have a lifetime supply.