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Go to the Tool Case plans page.
As mentioned elsewhere on this site, in the early 1990's I tried my hand at woodworking professionally. I learned through trial and error while on a job one snowy January, that the well equipped and successful contractor must have a proper selection of tools with him at all times that are housed an an appropriate case. I should have known this earlier but I can be a bit thick when I want to be. Drawing on previous experience, through questions and observations of other contractors, and from reading trade publications, I decided on the selection of tools and set out to find an appropriate box to place them in. I read somewhere that a woodworker's toolbox, like his bench, is like his resume, so I wanted to make a good show of it. I found a picture of a nice tool case in a Fine Homebuilding book, so I decided to try it.
Disclaimer: Woodworking purists and nitpickers be forewarned: what you see here was supposed to be a mockup to try out. The finished product was intended to be all hardwood with dovetailed corners and all the fancy touches. I built this from a 3 by 3 inch black and white photo in an old book, with no plan and very little attention to making pretty joints. However, the product was so sturdy, it worked very well and I still use it today.
The toolcase is made of half inch birch plywood. The drawer faces and the front of the top tray are solid maple, as is a support brace I added for the front. The top flips up to reveal the contents of the top tray. The flip-up portion itself houses a saw till with regular hand saws, backsaws, a coping saw, and even a hacksaw. There are two sets of drawers below that house all manner of smaller tools required while on the job. Note that the case is designed to provide the contractor with all the hand tools necessary to do anything, except specialized plumbing jobs, or any other aspect of the work which may require special tools and probably should be performed by a licensed electrician or plumber. No power tools are included. The case was a success. Ther are some adjustments I might make, like a third row of drawers, but I just never got around to it.
Go to the Tool Case plans page.
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