Practicing and improving

[fiatben]

I view things I do to improve my shop as practice and learning sessions. I can try out things I've read about or seen done, and usually I end up with something that makes the shop a little more useful and convenient, which is something my poor old shop sorely needs.

Case in point; I recently bought some little dowel kits in 3 sizes. Each came with a brad-point bit, a stop collar w/ hex, and 4 centering points. I decided to not throw them in a drawer or toolbox like I normally do, but to give them a proper home. Besides, I had some things I wanted to try out that I hadn't done before. If it didn't turn out, oh well...

So I built a box for my doweling kits:
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It is a cherry box with birch paneling inserts and the two shorted eggcrate-type dividers are walnut. (I used what I had laying around.)

This is the first time I built a box and then cut the lid off on the tablesaw. So that was a bit new for me. It has both top and bottom panels floating in grooves in the sides.
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Then I cut little pieces to fit inside. Lesson to learn here is to start with the biggest kit first (the 3/8") but I didn't have one yet (out of stock at HF). No problem, just used the cut offs to make spacers.
Anyway, now my little dowel kits have a decent home and won't get lost in a drawer or toolbox.
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Now, if only the rest of my shop was as nice......

[algale]

Very nice little box there. Curious how you made the parts that hold the drill bits and such.

[Gene Howe]

Nice job on the box and inserts. Pretty slick idea.

[fiatben]

Very nice little box there. Curious how you made the parts that hold the drill bits and such.

I made the groove for the bit with a box core bit in my router table, starting with a piece long enough to do all three sections. I used the brad-point drill bits from the sets to drill holes for the centering things. Used the calipers and my forstner bits to drill holes for the collars. Pretty basic but functional.
One trick was to get the dividers tall enough to reach the bottom of the lid so that the dowels don't get all mixed up if the box gets knocked around.

[charlese]

Very nice box! I particularly appreciate your locking dado/rabet joints:D

[swampgator]

Super idea and well executed. Really nice idea and box.

[WmZiggy]

Really nice, especially having everything in one place. What, or whose dowl jig do you use? I have a Stanley, and also a Record, The Record is quite complex and I need to work with it, like you did with this project to test out new techniques. I like you lumber choices as well.

[fiatben]

Really nice, especially having everything in one place. What, or whose dowl jig do you use? I have a Stanley, and also a Record, The Record is quite complex and I need to work with it, like you did with this project to test out new techniques. I like you lumber choices as well.

Hmmm, come to think of it, I do believe I have a doweling jig somewhere in a drawer or toolbox.

Typically for my doweling needs, I can set up my SS in horizontal boring mode or as a drill press and be happy.

Now I'll have to go look for that jig and rethink this whole project. Good news is that the eggcrate and tool sections are loose and can come out of the box if needed.

As for lumber choices, I use what I have. I traded work for lumber a couple of years back and have a decent stockpile of cherry and walnut that was air-dried and still rough. I'm trying to wear out my little lunchbox planer.

[WmZiggy]

I use the SS too, but when I was building the bar/hutch this winter there were times when the jig kept me from having to reconfigure my two SS. It must have been when I had one set-up for dados, and the other for biscuits. In any event, I have enjoyed using the Stanley. The Record (English made) I won at auction and it appears to do everything but stand-up and dance.

[fiatben]

Really nice, especially having everything in one place. What, or whose dowl jig do you use? I have a Stanley, and also a Record, The Record is quite complex and I need to work with it, like you did with this project to test out new techniques. I like you lumber choices as well.

Sure enough, I have a dowel jig. It is an old Stanley 59, still in the original box. Guess I'll have to make a bigger box to include it. I also was thinking about my set of stop collars, but I guess it would make more sense to incorporate those into the drill press table I want to build for my '58 Atlas benchtop drill press.
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It's a brute, but I fell in love with it after nearly breaking my back trying to get it out of the back of my truck by myself. I swear the thing weighs as much as I do. I'm in the process of cleaning it up and bringing it back to its former glory, just like my '55 SS.

Meanwhile, here's another little ongoing project. I bought an el cheapo set of HF files, but they had no handles which makes them a bit uncomfortable to use for very long. I have some bois d'arc that came out of the woods behind the house that I had cut into pen blanks. And I always love any chance to get some practice in on the lathe, so....
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