With my wife’s box, I felt like I had to agonize over every single little step. I needed something I could just “throw together” without worrying too much about how it looked. I just wanted to build something, and for it not to take months. Enter the chisel box.
A chisel box doesn’t have to look nice. It’ll rarely leave the shop. Nevertheless, I found myself caring a little too much about it, and had to keep reminding myself, “It’s only a chisel box” as the project went on and things kept going wrong. First the pics, then the lessons learned. Click on a pic for a full-screen version.
Lessons Learned:
- Use the pencil! If you noticed, the halfway decent chisel (if I do say so myself) which I woodburned onto the front of my chisel box is actually on the back. Way to go, Eric, for botching which side you thought the front was when you woodburned it on! (The box was glued together and I hadn’t cut the lid off yet.) It’s only a chisel box.
- Use a flush-cut saw to do flush-cut work. I thought I’d glue the two end pieces on a bit too long and then cut them flush with my saw. Well you can see the graze marks on the back of the box where the set of my saw caught the box. It’s only a chisel box.
- Support plywood when screwing into it. I didn’t have a drill bit small enough, so I couldn’t pre-bore my holes for the screws (hinges and clasp). When I drove the screws in, it started ripping apart my cheap plywood. I had to glue and clamp it back together, further complicating a simple project. It’s only a chisel box.
- Don’t go all overkill with the nails. I didn’t know what length nails I’d need. I was afraid that butt-jointing plywood with tiny nails wouldn’t be strong enough, so I went with bigger nails. In a couple spots, I got too close to the edge of the plywood and it’s bulged out a little. Don’t ask me why I didn’t use screws. I don’t know. It’s only a chisel box.
All in all, I’m happy with it. It holds my chisels securely with a minimal amount of wood (important considering I have to lug them overseas and back). It looks okay. And I learned a lot even though it was a simple project.
7 comments
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December 28, 2008 at 6:10 pm
ad
whats yer mean its only a chisel box, if yer take pride in yer work people will see it and apreciate it, not just that crap yers nocked together and called a box, the plactic packet that the chisels come in is better that your attempt, i hope wood work is not your profession.
the saw marks would easily come out with a sander, the joints could have been dove tailed in minuites, nails in the face of the ply look rough as a bears arse, the inside of the box is ok it works well, take yer time with things they are well worth it , trust me,
adam
a j yeomans carpentry & joinery
December 29, 2008 at 9:38 am
Eric
Thanks, Adam. Appreciate your comments. I agree and disagree.
http://adventuresinwoodworking.com/2008/12/29/thatll-do-pig/
December 30, 2008 at 12:27 pm
A literate woodworker
Eric, I wouldn’t take Adam’s comments too seriously. It’s a fairly safe bet that “Adam” is a genetic testing monkey that escaped from the lab, obtained access to a computer and simply jumped up and down on the keyboard while scratching his “arse”.
December 31, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Bob Easton
There are always people too willing to offer criticism. Harry Chapin, the singer, once saw a harsh criticism of a newcomer in the New York Times and wrote the song “Mr. Tanner.” Find the lyrics at: http://harrychapin.com/music/tanner.shtml
Don’t let this jerk’s comments trun you into Mr. Tanner.
March 25, 2009 at 1:00 am
Gye Greene
RE: small drill bits — I’ve heard a trick (and tried it; seems to work) for small drill bits: Snip off the end of a finishing nail, and use **that** as the drill bit. Works for a few holes, at least.
–GG
June 1, 2009 at 12:33 am
Tom
It’s not a piece of furniture, it’s a chisel box. But it is what I was looking for when I googled…
I have a box that’s “only a small toolbox” that a woodworker friend made for Dad when he was an Army doctor during WWII. His job was to ride the troop trains cross country and look after the health of the soldiers as they were moved around. The box, at that time, was to hold a couple of instruments and some medicines. After the war, he used it as a box for small tools. After he passed away, my brothers though we should toss it, but I said I would take it (they are younger and don’t remember). It’s still a pretty solid box, although it has some paint spatters on it. I plan to keep it for a while, maybe pass it down to the grandkids. I don’t think I will strip off the finish and the paint spatters. There’s a bit of family history recorded on that “small toolbox”.
June 1, 2009 at 10:30 pm
Gye Greene
Tom,
Hi!
May I suggest you write a brief summary of what you just said, on the bottom of the box, in permanent marker or crayon/grease pencil? That way, the communication of the information (and thus, sentimental value) to future generations is ensured. Maybe a running list of the owners (e.g. your dad, yourself), and the approx. dates of acquiring, as well.
That’s what I’m doing with some of the ”family stuff” (e.g. grandfather-made footstools) that I’ve acquired.
–GG