The Workshop Toolbox

[dstensland]

I'm looking for a holiday project like this Shopsmith Hands On plan from Jan/Feb 2002... http://www.shopsmithhandson.com/archive ... t/mp_3.htm

Has anyone here built one of these? If so, it would be great to see how it looks because the photo in the article is so small.

Thanks,
-Dave

[nuhobby]

When I was at the July-2008 get-together at Shopsmith in Dayton, they had a shop-built tool chest with the Shopsmith logo veneered onto its front, very very sharp.

I have not found the time to build one entirely from scratch, but I have enjoyed reworking existing vintage machinist chests with "issues." I still spend a good chunk of change on fresh hardware (latches, locks, corner guards, felt lining), but love the process.

Another option to keep in mind, getting the hardware and some of the finicky routed pieces in one "swoop", is the recent availability of kits from Gerstner (also a Dayton, OH company):
http://gerstnerusa.com/opencart/index.p ... uct_id=179

There are also guitar enthusiasts (Stewart MacDonald) who have built these Gerstner kits with sunburst finishes and other customizations:
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Kits/Tool_C ... xsr=i-5387

Hope you have a great time doing your choice of project!

[dstensland]

This might be the one you saw in Dayton. It is beautiful...



I've seen what a great job you do on those repairs! Very nice.

A Gerstner kit is a tempting time saver and would definately be high quality project. It would also be a bit expensive. The guitar-inspired versions are especially good. I hadn't noticed those until you pointed them out.

On the other end of the spectrum, there are pre-built Harbor Freight Gerstner clones. They are certainly inferior but can be had for $60 right now if you apply a 25% off coupon... http://www.harborfreight.com/eight-draw ... 94538.html

Another plan that caught my eye is this one from a January 2001 edition of Popular Mechanics... http://books.google.ca/books?id=Zs8DAAA ... &q&f=false

Woodsmith No. 151 included plans for a larger tool chest/combo. The plans are actually available free online at this URL... http://www.woodsmith.com/files/issues/sample/sample.pdf or if you'd like to pay for them, they are here... http://plansnow.com/dn3069c.html

However, I'm still curious about this Shopsmith plan... http://www.shopsmithhandson.com/archive ... t/mp_3.htm

-Dave

[dcottrill]

The Tool Chest with the ShopSmith inlay is very nice. I wish I could have been in the class that built that. It looks kind of like the Gerstner 35B.

[dstensland]

I ended up building one of the 11-drawer plans found here...
http://creeksidewoodshop.com/Creeksidew ... inets.html

This was a special Christmas gift for my 14 year old son to commemorate his induction as a woodworker this year. I couldn't be prouder of him. He's been careful, creative, and diligent. Shopsmith tools helped us spend lots of quality time together in the shop. Figured walnut is his favorite wood to turn, so it seemed appropriate to use that in the chest. The drawer sides are yellow birch with 1/4" laminate flooring bottoms. The finish is natural Danish oil.

-Dave

[danr]

I ended up building one of the 11-drawer plans found here...
http://creeksidewoodshop.com/Creeksidew ... inets.html

This was a special Christmas gift for my 14 year old son ... Danish oil.

-Dave

Very nice. Now if I can just learn how to use Sketchup without a lot of pain...
Dan

[nuhobby]

Excellent! That last photo, by the way, really grabbed me, both the fine work and the lighting of the photo.

[dstensland]

Thanks Dan and Chris. This was the first time I've done something useful with Sketchup. The tool chest plan was a good way to get familiar with the software. I enjoyed using Sketchup and the design and dimensions of the plan were ideal.

The simple style of this design allows it to blend into places outside of the wood shop. The removable drawers are practical. Someday we might add a front door lock for security but for now powerful magnets hold the door shut nicely.

-Dave