MIMF

After 10 years of digging through boxes for hours to find where the heck I put a tool, I happened to see a couple articles for building tool cabinets, and decided that was the solution.
I’ve a good friend who is a retired home builder who did all his own cabinetry etc. that has taken me under his wing on this project. Only problem is he thinks things like the dovetails should be hand cut. I gave up after a day of trying and used a jig.
First built a mock up with ½ inch Styrofoam sheet and duct tape. Then built a box, and cut the front off for doors.

Then started sticking stuff on to get storage space.

Decided I needed drawers on the bottom.

And one year later, it’s dawning on me I’ll never be finished with this thing, so I figured if I didn’t post it now I never would. I will be sticking stuff on this thing for ever I think.

The drawers have dividers to allow different sized spaces. They turned out a little skewed, but by shimming ½ inch aluminum angle iron for holding the drawers I was able to make the fronts line up straight .

The drawer pulls are old Brazilian rosewood violin tuning pegs. So it won’t be able to leave the country, but at 140 lbs empty, it’s not going anywhere anyway.

Oh, Chuck… French polished, not sprayed.

Hey, that's some fine work, Randy, and a satisfactory excuse for not building guitars! I really geek-out over fine tool chests and cabinets, but it'll probably be a good long while till I make one.

Hot damn! That thing is nicer than my entire workshop.

Sorry, been busy: http://surfsunstix.net/

Good Gawd Man!
Those first few shots are just mockups? You have time to do mockups!?!
You have time to do real FP!?!?!



Sorry, just being a jerk. Because I'm jealous and I don't have the patience to actually build anything as amazingly elegant as that.
Great work - as always.

Hi Randy,
It looks like you are well on your way to making a tool chest to rival H. O. Studley's. It will be something you will probably add to and modify forever!
Several years ago I built a small chest modeled after the Gerstner chests, but with fewer drawers more suitable for wood working tools. I made it out of bubinga . A pretty box, but after my shop was broken into several times I decided it was safer sitting on my dresser. Oh well!
Making fine tools and chests to keep them in can be very rewarding for the craftsman. Although most of our work leaves us, our tools we keep close at hand.

NICE!

I need to do that one of these days...

doors finally finished and got the whole thing hung on the wall with French cleats.

Of course any wooden surface should have a little inlay for good measure...

Now to start searching boxes for tools I haven't seen in a year or more and start loading her up.

That's just one of those things you're going to look at every day and feel good about. Outstanding, Randy!

Wow - Beautiful Randy.
I would like to improve Jason's comment "That's just one of those things you're going to _USE_ every day and feel good about."
The utility and elegance of the design is only enhanced by the stunning good looks of the execution (and inlay)