If you’re tired of clutter in your workshop, Cody from Craftswright has the perfect solution for you! In this guide, Cody shares his step-by-step process for building a small tool chest that not only organizes your tools but also adds a touch of charm to your workspace. Below are the materials and tools you’ll need to get started. Check out his plans at the end of the article.
Materials Needed
- 5/4 Red Maple lumber
- Cherry for bowtie keys (optional)
- Plywood for drawer bottoms
- Beech for drawer fronts
- Wood finish (Cody will share details in a future video)
Tools Required
- Table saw
- Miter saw
- Router
- Dovetail jig (optional)
- Chisels
- Drill
- Combination square
- Clamps
- Sanding materials
- Marking gauge
- Safety equipment (gloves, goggles)
Step 1: Breaking Down the Lumber
Cody starts by breaking down the rough sawn red maple he sourced from a local sawyer. Working with rough lumber can be labor-intensive, but it’s often more cost-effective. Once the wood is in manageable pieces, he mills them flat and square using a planer sled. This allows him to flatten one face before flipping it over to plane the other side.
Step 2: Laying Out the Pieces
After milling, Cody refers to his cut list to lay out the pieces for optimal yield and grain matching. He emphasizes that it’s normal for designs to evolve during the build process. Initially, he considered adding a funky lip around the top but decided against it to avoid creating more surfaces for clutter.
Step 3: Cutting the Joints
Cody begins cutting the individual pieces using the table and miter saw. He ensures the ends of each crosscut are perfectly square by shooting them with a shooting board. He also discusses the importance of marking the thickness of a combo square on his marking gauge to achieve proud dovetails.
Step 4: Learning Dovetails
Learning to cut dovetails by hand is a rite of passage for woodworkers. Cody shares that using Jonathan Katz Moses’s dovetail jig can speed up the learning curve, but he encourages woodworkers to practice hand-cutting dovetails for skill development. Regular stropping of chisels is also crucial to keep them sharp.
Step 5: Addressing Mistakes
During assembly, Cody accidentally splits a side of the carcass but creatively uses cherry bowtie keys to fix the mistake. He also shares a safety tip: if your miter gauge gets pushed out at the table saw, simply turn it around.
Step 6: Making Mortises and Tenons
Making half mortises and faux tenons can be tricky. Cody uses a marking gauge for precision and removes most of the waste with a router. He cleans up the mortises with chisels and marks the joints with Roman numerals for easy assembly.
Step 7: Pre-Finishing the Carcass
Before gluing, Cody pre-finishes the entire carcass, which simplifies the glue-up process. He demonstrates how to cut a rabbit for the case back using a router and a straight pattern bit.
Step 8: Assembling the Drawers
The drawers are simple frames glued to plywood bottoms. Cody uses contrasting beech for the drawer fronts and emphasizes the importance of finessing the fit for a clean reveal.
Step 9: Finishing Touches
Once the drawers function properly, Cody trims the faux tenons and pre-drills holes for the drawer pulls. He shares his excitement about a new finish he’s been using, which makes repairs easy.
Step 10: Final Assembly and Hardware
Cody sources vintage hardware from a local store and highlights the charm of using historical pieces. Finally, he reflects on the importance of keeping everything square during assembly and invites viewers to check out his next video on making squaring sticks.
