Christmas is fast approaching, and as a none too subtle footnote I actually only have until Saturday night to finish this tool chest as we’re getting together with my brother-in-law’s family for our gift exchange on Sunday. Plenty left to do, and I actually have one more present in mind that I’d like to make after this. Or two. Shoot, I’m doomed.
Yesterday I got a few hours in after taking care of work. The first order of business was to get the bottom installed, but I couldn’t wait to see how the dovetails looked after a bit of clean up. The circles on the tails are where I used a piece of dowel rod to drive the tails home. The glue seemed to grab too soon, I think I didn’t have enough on the surface so it was drying out quickly. But overall it’s mostly gap-free, and they should look good after I plane the sides down a bit.
Initial Clean-Up on Dovetails
I’m doing this tool chest the same way Chris Schwarz has shown for his Anarchist’s Tool Chest, although I won’t be dovetailing the skirts. I’d like to have tried that approach, but I’m concerned about the amount of time it would add. I cut half-laps for the bottom boards. I kept them pretty straight and square as I was working, but still used the little shoulder plane to tune them up. One or two passes on the shoulder removed any little problems.
Cutting Half Laps
I had to tweak the depth stop until I got a good fit up between adjacent boards.
Good Fit!
Then I cut a bead on the left side of each joint as a decoration. This is a sample cut on a scrap as a test of course.
Beaded
Finally I nailed the bottom boards to the shell. I pre-drilled holes for the cut nails, and angled them slightly (like dovetails). I really like these nails.
Nailing the Bottom On
I used four nails per board, it seems very secure.
Check Out My Bottom!
I planed up material for the bottom skirt, although I neglected to take any pictures. I mitered the corners, nailed and glued it on, filled the nail holes and beveled the top edge. If I’d taken a picture of the skirting installed it would look like this, but with the skirting of course.
Ready for the Skirt
I was almost out of time for the evening, but I jointed and clued up two boards for the top. The top is a major deviation from the ATC design, instead of a frame and panel it is a flat board with a skirt. More like a boarded blanket chest.
Two 1 x 12 Boards Jointed
In the Clamps
So, what’s left? At least these things, although there are a few other small things I’d do if I had time. I have to say, I’m jealous. I need to make one of these for myself next.
- Plane lid, cut to fit, add skirting, hinges and a support strap
- Interior: small chisel rack, saw till, maybe a sliding till if I have time
- Exterior finish. Shellac, maybe with a stain or dye. I started a finish sample board yesterday
- Clean-up and sharpen a Stanley #4 I bought on ebay to go in it
The dovetails look pretty for a tool chest. I noticed that the half pins seem to be the worse of them. Good luck on trying to stain pine.
You know, I think this is lookin’ awesome. And, since you’re painting, don’t forget about power putty. For the (Sincere) Love of a Muscle-bound, Skintight Wrestler – http://blog.lostartpress.com/2012/12/16/for-the-sincere-love-of-a-muscle-bound-skintight-wrestler/
Are you getting much sleep? 😉
Like this ? 🙂
(although I’m going to just give it a coat of shellac, not paint)
Excellent! Yeah! Just like that. Did I miss that picture?
And I got find some of that stuff!
No, I was in the process of mixing it when you were commenting 🙂
I got it at the local Home Despot, it should be available locally for you.
I’m loving the Cut Nails as well, I just finished a 6 board chest for my son’s tool chest using all cut nails and they worked great.