Drawing stuff is easier than making stuff.
I needed to print out the layouts for the dados I need to cut into the plywood pieces for my hand tool cabinet, which is a real no-brainer compared to to getting the layout and cuts done accurately in real life. With the new dado jig I made last night this should be pretty simple to do, and with a little luck and a decent tail wind I’ll get home from work with enough time to start cutting these.
Dado Layout
While I had Sketchup fired up, I mocked up some dividers for drawers. I think something like this would work OK. Which means more dados of course. I’m not sure what I’ll put in the drawers, but I’ll cross that bridge later.
Drawer Mockup
I like the drawers better then the open space. I think they are a good choice for the small tools.
When designing my wall hung tool cabinet, the majority of the work was optimizing shelf spacing to fit my tools. I added a 2″ tall one for spokeshaves, etc. Made a couple of them adjustable too.
I have drawers but only two of the size you show for marking knives, etc. and the other for extra plane blades. I can more easily find items on an open shelf (or hanging) than in one of many small drawers. YMMV
My doors are going to be 2″ deep, so I am planning on hanging my chisels and spoke shaves there. I can probably fit all carving, mortise, paring and regular chisels, plus spokeshaves on one door with room to spare. This is a giant cabinet.
I think I can fit my layout tools in one drawer, which I think will be handy. I can take the entire drawer to the bench to do layout work, then put all my layout tools away easily. The drawers are 15″ wide x 14″ deep x 3.75″ tall. I’m thinking I’ll have a removable insert in this drawer with my layout tools french fit.
I have a handful of extra/alternate plane blades, but not nearly enough to take up an entire drawer. I may store my sharpening jigs and extra stones in that drawer, although I need to bring my sharpening bench in to see if it will fit in the shop. I may need to make a smaller one with a drawer, which would be unfortunate since I like my sharpening bench.
When I’m finished I think I’ll have 3 or four drawers of free space, and maybe one entire door inside that is free. It will be nice to have a place to put my hand tools away, and still have them ready to go to work.