Toolbox
Every time I drive to my remote workshop I carry bags and boxes with tools. That’s pain in the neck.
I needed something which can store my essential hand tools and since my old, plastic toolbox has just died the need became urgent.
From plywood scraps gathered around my workshop I’ve made simple tool tote. Maybe some day I will make “posh” version with fancy joinery, dovetails etc but I needed something quickly and this one pleases me. It also does the job well.
All joints are screwed with brass screws. Plywood on bearing structure is 12mm, dividers and front walls are 9mm. I could probably use thinner plywood to save weight but I had only these pieces at hand.
All sharp-edged tools have now their own place and don’t bang against each other. Few Terry clips and leather scraps keep them separated.
There is only one piece which I bought specifically for this box: a handle. It is made from hickory, used as axe handle.
I like this wood - it is tough and light. The piece I found has nice, straight grain - almost quarter-sawn.
Most of my hand tools fit there. Even “Mother Of All Planes” - No8 - has it’s place. If I fill the box with all tools it gets damn heavy but I rarely need to carry it more than few hundred meters.
Plywood is varnished three times. No epoxy in this project as I might want to modify the box, still. It’s a prototype.
Besides - I like to varnish wood! It always amazes me how wood grain is emphasised by the first coat!
Today I took it first time for a job. Acceptance tests. It performed as expected.
I might add leather strap for carrying it on longer distances - Meritaten sits in a big hangar so I need to navigate under neighbour boats to reach her. With this “anchor” in hand it gets a tad tiring.
Funny that there are only 3 types of plywood available in Sweden: mahogany, teak and construction plywood which is probably pine or birch. Nothing else.
In this case, however, it’s not a headache: the box is matching Meritaten’s beautiful mahogany hull!