Phase 1 complete... (Image 1)

Re: Phase 1 complete... (Image 2) 

Christopher Fitch@Memphis

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Re: Phase 1 complete... (Image 3) 

Christopher Fitch@Memphis

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Re: Phase 1 complete... (Image 4) 

Christopher Fitch@Memphis

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Re: Phase 1 complete... (Image 5) 

Christopher Fitch@Memphis

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Re: Phase 1 complete... (Image 1)

Frank D. in Montreal

>Nice job Christopher! Now all you need is a few decent tools and you'll be all set! ;-)

The design looks well thought out, it must have taken you a long time to figure out the dimensions of all the compartments.

oh my!

Tom Sontag - St. Louis

>Awesome. Just plain awesome. I love the plane cabinet. It seems you got everything tucked away just so - hope you don't find another plane you need to buy!

Great work.

Re: Phase 1 complete... (Image 1)

Dan Clermont in Burnaby

>Very nice Christopher!

That cabinet looks pretty full. Hope you have room to expand it someday

Cheers

Dan CLermont

Next, send me your addy, so I can...

Greg Sloop, Portland Oregon

>throw a brick through your window with the following message attached...

"Steve Knight and I think you're a neat freak!" Ok, I should leave Steve out of this one huh?

(And I'm wondering which shop is worse, Steve's or mine. Heck, my desk is probably in the running too...)

Nice that is! Did I mention, you're a sick freak o'neat-ness?

Thanks for sharing.

-Greg

Re: Phase 1 complete... (Image 1)

Greg B�tit, Vergennes, VT.

>Does this mean you're done acquiring tools? :)

I really like your spoke shave line up. I couldn't do anything like this for mine, though. I'd be afraid of making the ones that weren't up there jealous.

Mighty nice! Well thought out and well executed!

Greg

Re: Phase 1 complete... (Image 1)

Dave Anderson Chester, NH

>Very nicely done Christopher!!! It does look like you'll be running out of wall space pretty soon though. What's the plan for stage 2??

Re: Comments....

Christopher Fitch @ Memphis

>Thanks! yeah I might need some tools now to fill it out some...

With regards to the storage dimensions, it was not that bad. I did measure each tool and create a list. I tried to follow Christian Becksvoort's ideas for tool cabinet design. In some cases, his ideas helped but when it came to determing the actual tool location I found it easier to make a poster board cutout of the target area and arrange tools until I found a good layout. I think it would have been harder to use had I just worked on paper since I would not have provided space for pulling the tools our or putting them back in.

I'm pretty happy with the cabinet itself. Even though I used power tools (gasp) for the sizing (TS, CMS, planer), the joinery is all hand-cut and I did the initial flattening of the poplar with my #7 (No need to flatten the plywood fronts and backs!).

The internal holders, diveders, etc are all horrible. Most of it is plywood that's all "Normed up" with glue, nails, and screws. However, it's sturdy and serves its purpose. I had a large amount of cutoffs, and extra pieces of plywood so I decided to use it.

Originally I wanted to put ALL of those tools in a cabinet but I kept running into issues with space (obviously). So I gave up, figured out the size of a cabinet that would fit the space, and built it. After that I started playing around with sizes, layout, etc and realized that I would not be able to fit everything in it. So I came up with the panels on the side as a solution. The cabinet is smaller than Becksvoort's. His cabinet is a monster, 4' high, and 44" wide (I think). Mine is only 3' tall and 42" wide. Far less space for tools in mine.

I'm actually pretty happy with how the saw till came out. It's another "Normed up" construction. The design is a modification of a Pop. Woodworking plan where I cut the bottom drawers out, made it skinnier, and cut down on the kerf board for hand saws, opting instead for a shelf for the smaller saws.

I got over the plywood, screws, nails, etc because I realized it's shop furniture and the only person who has to see it is me. As long as it works for it's purpose and does not fall apart, I'm fine with it. Of some interest, I did find that as I completed parts and filled them with tools, my work patterns already started changing and I started using tools I had not before. "Out of sight out of mind" is sooo true....

Re: oh my!

Christopher Fitch @ Memphis

>hehe...well, if I think I'm ok with planes right now. Plus there is some space there...

Re: Phase 1 complete... (Image 1)

Christopher Fitch @ Memphis

>Dan I don't know that I will expand it. I do have some space and the internal sections can all be removed since I just screwed them to the case. So if I need to change things in a big way I could. For the most part, I don't expect any changes or new additions to the family. I'm about "planed out" right now, hard as that is to believe.

Oh there are planes I want...but I only plan on buying one more, the LV BUS.

Apart from that I'm not sure what I would even get...

These are the planes I'd like to get but I probably won't ever:

LN 10 1/4

LN Iron Miter

I'd also like an LN 140 and an LN convex sole plane along with the *VERY* much a rumor LV combination plane (more like a fantasy).

As to other tools there's the Iles Drawknife, Scorp, and Froe and the rumored LV travisher(I think) for that day in the future when I start making chairs...

Re: Next, send me your addy, so I can...

Christopher Fitch @ Memphis

>Well you did not see the stack of plane boxes under the drill press...I just packed them up into a giant box (headed for the attic) right before I took those. Also, my bench is really the only work space I have besides my table saw. And those pics do not show the stack of tools and stuff on the floor to the right nor the bandsaw and giant boxes that almost block the door. Phase 2 will make a dent in some of that and really help out alot with my space/storage issues.

:)

Re: Phase 1 complete... (Image 1)

Stephen Kirk in Quakertown PA

>Very very nice. I don't think it's bad to use plywood and screws on shop projects - they're just there for utility after all. You give me hope that I may have some storage and organization one of these days. I've been looking at a tool cabinet plan in an old Woodsmith that I may get to sometime.

Great Job!

Re: Phase 1 complete... (Image 1)

Christopher Fitch @ Memphis

>hehe as I just responded to Dan above, no I'm not done, I'm just um... slowing down the acquisition pace and I'm actually going to focus alot more on making furniture for the house, etc.

Re: Comments....

Frank D. in Montreal

>I agree with you about power tools for utility stuff, like Stephen said below. Unless I want to practice my dovetails or a certain technique, I just use scraps, glue and brad nails (air nailer).

Thanks for the details.

Re: Phase 1 complete... (long)

Christopher Fitch @ Memphis

>thanks!

Stephen, for me, it really came down to using tools or not using them and reducing the "fun" of woodworking. Almost all of the planes and a large amount of tools were sitting in their original boxes. Further, lots of those boxes were sitting in my house (to my wife's irritation as well as mine). For quite some time, I only used 5 planes because they were out in the shop where I could see them and use them. It was sort of depressing since I knew other tools were around but when I actually went to work, I had to consciously grab a boxed tool or two or three to use them out in the shop. If I didn't do it, I'd often become frustrated and either go back in to get them or just forget about it. Now it's alot better, and I find I can get far more down since the tools are right there ready for use.

By the way the five planes I used all the time were:

- Veritas LA block

- LN 164

- Record 05

- Veritas Flush plane

- Clifton #7 (occasionally...it stayed in the box alot but was in the shop)

Also here's some comments about these five and some thoughts.

I have an LN Standard angle block. Nice plane...but I just don't use it. It does not fit my hand as well as the LV. I suspect that in many cases, most people choose planes they like simply because it feels better.

I like the LN 164...until I have to sharpen the blade, then it becomes a piece of misery that makes me want to just put it up and never touch it again.

The Veritas flush plane is worth every cent I paid for it (not many). I once lusted after the LN chisel planes but I objected to using such a fine tool for removing glue lines, trimming, or other such tasks. The flush plane works perfectly and I have never sharpened it in the one year or so I have owned it.

The Clifton #7 is a monster...and an excellent plane. Even with it's size and mass it's fun to use and I like the looks. It's just too bad Clifton is getting pounded by the exchange rates...

The Record 05 is what I consider to be my first "real" plane (I got mine from Garrett Wade). I bought a Buck Bros. from my local Crap Depot once as well as a Stanley from Lowe's. The Record was better but then I tuned it up by adding Rosewood handles from LV, and adding a Hock A2 iron and Clifton two-piece cap iron, and flattening the sole. I use that plane alot and it works well. I will also say that in my experience with plane blades, the best two are the Clifton and the Hock blade. The LV and LN blades are almost as good but, for me at least, the first two seem to take a slightly better edge and hold it for longer.

enough rambling!

Re: Phase 1 complete... (Image 1)

Christopher Fitch @ Memphis

>Funny you should mention that Dave...phase 2 is really a focus on power tool storage and usage (drill press table, larger storage cabinet, and a rolling short cabinet for grinder, combo sander, and my sharpening tray). The grinder and sharpening tray will help with the hand planes in a major way.

Phase 3 is a combination assembly table and router cabinet that will also act as an outfeed table and provide extra storage. Also, I plan on making a portable horizontal router table.

Phase 4 is to get my cycle dust collector and pipe hooked up along with any other storage things I might want to make like another small cabinet for misc. items as well as a small parts storage unit.

Long ways to go!

Re: Phase 1 complete... (long)

Stephen Kirk in Quakertown PA

>That's quite a collection. I currently have just a little Stanley block plane (new) that I tuned up and it cuts nicely. Doesn't feel great in the hand, but it gets the job done, and it's sitting on my bench more than in a drawer. In a different thread I've been asking about LV vs LN, and got some great information there. I'm thinking of getting a decent smoother and jointer next, maybe a jack in place of one. Money is an object, so while LN is nice, they may be a bit out of my reach at the time.

Thanks for the description. I've gotta get back to work too, but for some reason making Powerpoint presentations just isn't as fun.

Re: spokeshaves

Moses Yoder in White Pigeon, MI

>Those are a lot of spokeshaves to the right of the cabinet (if I am seeing right). Do you use that many, or is it a collection? Looks like a comfortable place to work.

Re: spokeshaves

Christopher Fitch@Memphis

>yes there are 9 spokeshaves on the right:

- Both Clifton shaves (convex/concave)

- All LV shaves(3) and the Low angle shave too

- Both LN Boggs shaves and one of the LN brass shaves.

As to usage, I have used 5 of them on projects:

LV low angle, Clifton concave, all 3 LN shaves.

The LV shaves came after those projects but will certainly see usage in the future. I'm not sure about the Clifton Convex shave...

Basically, I used the LV low angle shave when I made this table:

I recognized its limitations and strengths and realized I needed more shaves. So I bought the 3 LN shaves and used them on another table. I also used the Clifton concave shave on that first table and the performance was fine but the radius for that shave has some issues.

The LN shaves are nice but they also have limitations. I was planning on buying the LV shaves anyway and with the package deal they had, I could not pass them up. As I expected they fill a niche in my spokeshave spectrum so I quite pleased.

I bought the LV low angle first and then picked up the Cliftons on sale (40% off or something) back when people started dropping their items.

I'm not sure when I'll use the Clifton convex shave...

I can't believe you put this in writing!!!

Bruce, a MN Galoot

>For the most part, I don't expect any changes or new additions to the family. I'm about "planed out" right now, hard as that is to believe.

I just hope your wife doesn't EVER see this post.:-)

I've been struggling with a similar design for a few years now, and I thank you for the inspiration. Yours is a really nice execution.

Thanks

Bruce

Re: I can't believe you put this in writing!!!

Christopher Fitch @ Memphis

>hehe well I've already told me wife that...and she looks at me with a very skeptical eye. There's lots of other tools to buy besides planes...

:)

Thanks for the compliment. It's certainly been an interesting experience building these things.