Project Information
I used to keep my chisels in an inexpensive leather tool roll, rolled up in drawer in the workbench. It worked well enough, but my habit was to leave it unrolled on the bench when in use, which had a tendency to catch all the shavings, dust, and chips then get rolled up and fall into both the chisel pockets, and in the bench drawer. While my shop is no model for cleanliness and order I do try and keep things at least somewhat respectable, at least when not in use. I had seen several really great looking boxes that folks on here and other places around the internet had made to store their chisels on the bench. I decided I liked that idea and was looking for a project to occupy my time for a weekend, so I made this.
Initially, I was pretty pleased with this solution, but after using it for a a couple years, I find my opinions on the matter shifting the other direction. Its a decent enough box, but really takes up just too much space on the bench. I wind up moving it around the bench more and more frequently, especially when I'm working at the vise and it often feels like its just in the way of everything I'm trying to do. The tool roll wasn't any better in this regard, but it was more mobile by design. I still use the chisel box, but these days I think those of you that have wall mounted chisel storage really have the right idea. Never more than an arms reach away, but occupying zero bench space at all. Coming up with a version of a wall mounted chisel storage and trying that out for a while is on my list of things to make at some point. Unfortunately, my "want to make" list grows much faster than my ability to find time. In the meantime, Im seriously considering reverting back to the dust collecting tool roll.
The box is made of walnut and ambrosia maple. I filled the big knot in the walnut top with epoxy mixed with copper colored metallic powder. That last bit took forever and a day to cure, but it did produce a kind of cool effect.
Initially, I was pretty pleased with this solution, but after using it for a a couple years, I find my opinions on the matter shifting the other direction. Its a decent enough box, but really takes up just too much space on the bench. I wind up moving it around the bench more and more frequently, especially when I'm working at the vise and it often feels like its just in the way of everything I'm trying to do. The tool roll wasn't any better in this regard, but it was more mobile by design. I still use the chisel box, but these days I think those of you that have wall mounted chisel storage really have the right idea. Never more than an arms reach away, but occupying zero bench space at all. Coming up with a version of a wall mounted chisel storage and trying that out for a while is on my list of things to make at some point. Unfortunately, my "want to make" list grows much faster than my ability to find time. In the meantime, Im seriously considering reverting back to the dust collecting tool roll.
The box is made of walnut and ambrosia maple. I filled the big knot in the walnut top with epoxy mixed with copper colored metallic powder. That last bit took forever and a day to cure, but it did produce a kind of cool effect.