Thursday, January 2, 2020

My son's tools kit

A while back I asked my sons Tim and Matt if they would be interested in having a hand tools woodworking kit.  Since then, with Jean, came one more son, Levy and one daughter Opal.
So, my tool kits requirements has changed somewhat.  Need more tools :-)
Oh and I also picked up 4 grand kids, 3 girls and a boy :-)
Yes, they are keeping me busy :-)

I have been accumulating tools for them all, time to see where I stand with my supply and start (?) figuring out how I am going to fit them all into suitable containers.  Said containers must fit into my car for delivery.  2 in Ontario, 2+ in Nova Scotia.

So during the holiday break I started to gathered the tools I want to put in inside to get some ideas of the size I would required.

It kinda makes a big pile... :-)


Once I had my first pile of tools put together, my first thought was like that Chihuahua from a Taco Bell commercial of long ago "I think I need a bigger box" :-)
Yeah, a tad overwhelming, but the show must go on.

First I checked my list twice, being so close to Christmas and all, it was only natural :-)
Then I reasoned that some of my tool's choices could be changed.  Remove, add, change etc.
If you never tried to come up with a minimalist list of tools, go ahead and try, not so easy, heh?
So many choices, so many wants mixing in with needs.
My starting point was my last Minimalist tool list I made years ago, March 2016.
I stayed pretty true to it, but made some modifications as I went along.  Will update my lists as they are completed, but for now this is were I stand.

The Measurements and Marking section.
I since dropped one marking knife.
Both the trammel bar and pinch stick would be smaller, I just grabbed what I got.
The setup block set and the dial caliper made it.

The plane selection.
Trying both wooden and metal planes selection to gauge the size requirements.
I ditched the block plane, and rethinking the small plow plane

Sawing selection
I am still on the fence WRT the fret saw??
Wondering about the hacksaw?  I still think that it is needed in a well rounded kit.
And it MUST be of a high tension frame, compound lever action.

Bang Bang section 
With maybe one more nail set size and another Vix bit??
The small Warrington hammer (8 Oz)  double as a wooden plane hammer

Chisels and gouge selection
Still on the fence regarding the appropriate size of gouge, but it is representative

The boring pile.
Only one size of Yankee screwdriver will make it.  I got two sizes I'm mulling about.
The brace countersink bit is out, replaced by the hand held countersink with three sizes bits, 
very handy, I used it often.  The Yankee to 1/4 in Hex bit adapter, with a good set of 1/4 in Hex bits , should handle most everything in the fastening department.  The hand drill comes with a set of small brad points bits, 1/16 to 1/4 in in 1/64 increments.  The brace with only a few bits, about 4.  The small push drill has its complement of 8 bits, inside the handle

The scraping section.
Tought about putting in a No 80 Cabinet scraper, but a tad challenged for space 

For my first attempt, I'm trying to see how big of a wall cabinet that would required.  Next I'll see about some sort of tool box storage.   Although they all get similar tool's kit, space will dictate how best, to accommodate them for their requirements.  The next and biggest challenge would be to accommodate a proper bench to use them.  That is where a Morovian  design will undoubtedly shine.
Tim, living in a high rise apartment in a city (Hamilton Ontario) is really crammed for space.  That would be trickier, but I got some ideas.

After some measuring, came out with the following dimensions:

Starting point for sizing cabinets.
I quickly ditched the 30 inch wide cabinet as being too unwieldy for the space, 
and settled on 24 in wide cabinet 7 in deep and doors of 5 in deep. 
The box sizes below are the required real estate to fit the specifics tool sections

First iteration came up as such: The chisels, rasp, files on the RH door 
and all the saws in the LH door.  But no room for any planes?? humm

Top is the RH door, bottom is the LH door with the saws, which don't quite fit, hum...
Unless I stacked them all, but not very practical, so I went back to the drawing board.

Stacking the saws side by side takes up a lot less space

Adding the planes

Then trying the metallic planes, gave me a bit more room,
 can squeeze in the router and No 78

These experiments led me to redesign the space of the cabinet as such:

I shifted the boring tools and bits on the LH door were the saws were to go

That fits pretty well everything with the following exceptions:
- Hacksaw (keep or leave out?)
- Coping saw (should be able to hang it up somewhere)
- Fret saw (leave out)
- Router plane (must fit)
- Duplex Rabbet plane No 78 (must fit)
- Small plow plane (would like to fit it in)


That is a lot better than my first iteration were I was going to store the three amigo's planes (Jointer, Jack, Smoother) on top of cabinet, for lack of space.

What is not apparent from these trials is that the cabinet depth allowed for the stacking of some tools.
The long narrow tools (Winding stick, Pinch stick and Trammel bar) all are set on the inside of the cabinets vertical sides.  So based on my experiments, I think it is doable to fit the projected 24 wide X 30 in tall,  7 in deep cabinet with 5 in deep doors.

Now time to muck up some holders and see how my bright ideas shakes out.

Happy New Year everyone

Bob, with limited shop time but using the dining room table for his experiments.
Yap, all cleared now, apparently it is needed to eat, go figured :-)

9 comments:

  1. Happy new year.
    Sylvain

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  2. And to you and yours too Sylvain.
    Thanks for following along my tribulations and dribbles :-)

    Bob

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  3. Bob,

    I built and use C.S.'s tool chest. He isn't always right but on this he is close. For what you want that may be the best answer. The TFWW 12" Bow Saw can and does the job of both fret and coping saw in my shop. Planes? I'd stick to just two, a #5 and either a #3 or #4.

    Good luck and have fun,

    ken

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  4. Happy new year Bob!
    I once saw a tools cabinet that I found clever. The small tools like chisels were stored on a plate that was sliding in/out from the sides at the back of the cabinet behind the planes storage. This was giving a lot more storage for small extra footprint.

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  5. - Most important: sharpening stone and strop.
    I use two double sided diamond plates (extra-coarse/coarse and fine/extra-fine). But generally only use the coarse, fine and strop.
    - saw files.
    - I see a file guide for scrapper (which is not essential)but no file.
    Files for scratch-stock?
    - In my view, the plow plane is more important than the rebate plane as you can adjust the fence in such a way that the groove is in fact a rebate.
    - If short on space (Tim), a single #4 will do.
    Sylvain

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  6. - In the measuring dept, what about a 2 m folding rule. (I don't like tape measure)

    Sylvain

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  7. Agreed, I completely forgot to include the sharpening stuff, oups. I think I need a bigger box...or a separate box.
    But I think I may have room to put panels inside the doors??

    And agreed, much prefer folding rule to measuring tape also.
    :-)

    Bob

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  8. Hi Bob,
    looks like a lot of fun to bring in the New Year.
    First question is where did you get the hand held countersink? Mine does only one and it is too big.
    Second point I wouldn't leave out the plow plane as I didn't see anything else for making grooves?

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  9. Hi Ralph
    If i remember correctly it was at BusyBee tools in the 90s. I have to find a "few" more, if i find them ill buy you one.
    Agreed, i want to keep the plow plane.

    Bob, who now has two dogs, Rudy girlfriend now live with us, following Jean's mother passing :-(

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