Build a Plywood Tool Chest with Christopher Schwarz Part 1

[@jaykaknes1133]

I have my great grandfather’s tool chest. Mahogany. Has a circular combination lock. I did not know him at all. When he passed someone forced it open and stole all the tools. My older brother took possession of the chest. When he died, I took it. It resides in my bedroom. I plan on getting into my shop.

[@mikeandlucky]

I had a "bucket list" experience this past September when I was able to attend a dovetail school with the great Roy Underhill at The Woodwright's School in Pittsboro, NC. During the class, Roy frequently referenced Christoper and referred to him as "The Great Christopher Schwarz". Great to see this video where Christopher teaches how to build the chest with materials that are readily available and affordable.

[@marchoffmann6211]

Mr Schwarz, the way you explain (in your videos and your books) and also your knowledge is simply unbeatable ! We all owe you! Thank you

[@738polarbear]

I watched the complete series . I must say he actually did a great job on it . Not only is it timesaving but it will last for a 100 years or more.

[@dmueller1875]

Been a fan of Chris' for years and have read his books... Really like his writing style. Thanks!

[@-abigail]

Everybody should read the Anarchist Design Book!

[@jeffforbes3772]

Happy to learn from Chris Schwarz! I think this will be a great series.

[@Ham68229]

One trick to help protect your tools, especially from rust, place a piece of chalk in an open zip lock baggy. The chalk will absorb the moisture and keep that moisture off your tools. Cheers :)

[@slomkaadas9603]

Very interesting and useful video Sir. Thank you for this upload - I really appreciate it Cheers from Poland 🍻

[@paulbabcock9606]

I had a Handy Andy Chest to. Great for kids. Enjoyed your presentation.

[@jimmy5F]

I am building one of these, but with a crowned top. I will make it coopered-style, because I want to be able to flip the box open and get the tool I need without moving stuff. Sitting on it is OK. And, thanks for showing us all these old boxes.

[@GuildensternTube]

Excellent reasoning, why one should rather go for tool chests rather than building large french cleat tool walls. Love it. I try to go even for a 15th century look. Main reason is the additional feet. So I can use it on grass without worrying.

[@Tensquaremetreworkshop]

'Do not think there is any better way to work' (1:20). I would love to hear this justified. Having tools visible and within reach (shelves, hooks, cleats, WHY) gives the fastest access, drawers etc take an extra two steps (open and close), from there it gets worse. Delving in a toolbox adds more steps, which takes time, and is therefore less productive. Worse, a floor located toolbox involves bending and takes up floor space, the most valuable in a workshop. Having used a tool from the chest, do you work out it you will need it soon, so leave it out, or put it back? Can you remember which ones you put back and which are on the bench hidden by workpieces? You have to have a toolbox when working away from base- in the workshop they are an unalloyed bad idea. 'Dust contains salt'. Twaddle. If dust harms your tools, you have mighty strange tools. 'You can use it as a bench' - yes, and you have prevented access to your tools. 'If it does not fit in your chest you might not need it'. Or you might. This is an astounding way to choose which tools to own- it defies all logic.

[@venkatanarasimhamkadambari242]

Very Very Excessively Talkative and Non Stop

[@jamesblevins6078]

Thank you for adding some vids for us to watch.

[@RoyceJusticeJasmyn]

Very happy with item.

[@colinerusselle7490]

I have my great grandfather's chest made from a shipping case for a dozen 6ib canned meat tins from Argentina in late 1800's, works fine.

[@bighands69]

I have several of my grandfather, great grandfather and great great grandfathers chests. I have built several of them myself so my kids and grand kids can have them.

[@przybyla420]

I keep a lot of occasionally used tools in little boxes like the couple he has and tote them back in the house after using them. I like old kitchen cabinets for tool storage in the shop. Easy to find and stackable. Wouldn’t want to have to bend over when I need a tool and clear the junk off the top of that crate. I actually have one, can’t remember If anything is in it, it has a wood pile on top of it. I pictured them being intended for someone packing a bunch of tools up to load on a wagon, not for a workshop.

[@scottyoung1322]

Great video! I can’t wait to watch all the parts.

[@susanmercurio1060]

I lived in a duplex built in the 1920s and it had a kitchen cabinet that had handmade notched strips to change the height of the shelves. It was a cool solution for moving the shelves without modern technology. I want to recreate it in another house.

[@patmcguire2733]

Where can one go to get (beg, buy, steal or whatever) the cut list and perhaps a few sheets on how to assemble it. The video is awesome but my memory can't hold everything in it.

[@happydommo]

Thanks! This could be my lockdown project since I’ve not got the lumber to build a full ATC...

[@bighands69]

If you can try and do it out of solid wood and just spend a few weeks on building the project. You could make it as small as you desire. You can also buy wood online as there are companies active in that area.

[@dancody3025]

Awesome anarchist books. Just going off the bailed hay sign I would have to guess part of that chest was built in the 1920s. Bailed hay was available in the late 1800s. But hey balers were not readily available until the 20s or 30s.

[@vanislescotty]

Um, yes we would like to build one of the small tool chests too. Plus, that farmers chest built out of shipping wood, they were the original pallet wood builders. Looking forward to more.

[@bighands69]

Not a fan of pallet wood building. But you could use that pallet wood for outdoor projects rather than indoor.

[@danielgeng2306]

Hey Pop Wood, thanks for putting this up ! Love Chris and unfortunately I have the time to watch this :(

[@danthechippie4439]

Does anyone know what type of lock would work for this type of tool chest?

[@Ferndalien]

Not all of us would see the second function of a tool chest as a positive function. I set something on the lid and I find I have to open the lid to get a tool I forgot. So I have to take stuff off the lid. Better to leave it clear. Another tool chest to look at for function is the box so commonly found in the back of the pickup truck. It too is a tool chest, although they're most commonly made of steel or plastic. What features better serve construction workers and craftsmen who work on site?

[@cablemoross]

any one know if dvd is avalble in uk just need cutting list and sheet optimiser thx

[@jandops]

the video referes to an online companion link for a cut list and plans. does anyone know where to find those?

[@marvinbaker4260]

Yeah, my question too. I thought everybody got it except me.

[@68shiloh]

I always enjoy Chris's video. Thanks for sharing .Did they have hay balers 140 years ago?

[@susanmercurio1060]

Yeah, they were called "hired hands." 😁

[@RobertoFischer]

How much these did really last? Has it been in storage for 200 or more of those 250 years? Has it been moved? Those would be good to know because banging against a thin dried nailed panel might make it fail sooner than later.

[@creedsexton296]

Chris I have a question, I found a really nice traditional tool chest in an antique store and bought it. it is in really good shape but has tills made with plywood. It looks very old but plywood is a modern material . Do you know how early plywood would have been used?

[@normferguson2769]

Creed Sexton plywood was patented in about 1868 but became available in the USA to the public around 1928 in 4x8’ sheets.

[@MrD300]

I have The Anarchist Tool Chest book but instead of building the version in the book I think I will build this take on the chest

[@tonyennis1787]

The tool chest looks nice, but just the thought of bending over to gets tools out makes my back hurt.

[@jordwutts]

great video, but why is this video uploaded with such poor resolution. It makes a difference.

[@crossbaer7945]

👍

[@deezynar]

Watch this video he put up years ago on how he uses his chest. kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJykqHmCl9qHeZI Now, ask yourself if you want to be forced to work that way. I promote tool storage on open shelves that allow you to grab the tool at any time from its permanent storage location. I also advise that the shelves be mounted at heights that don't require bending over. I strongly agree with him about keeping your tool collection under control. The idea that 'more is better', was invented by advertising agencies. Mr. Schwarz is a very skilled woodworker, he has spent years gracing us with vast amounts of great information, and I would never take anything away from that. And from what I've seen, he's also a really good man. I merely disagree with him on what is the best way to store tools. I think his advice about the perils of dust are appropriate for people who live in areas with high humidity, or don't have humidity control in their shop. But there are vast areas where the issue is not a problem. If you live west of Tulsa, and don't live on the Pacific or Gulf coasts, you probably don't have problems with rust on your tools as long as you store them out of the rain. But check this map. eldoradoweather.com/climate/US%20Climate%20Maps/Lower%2048%20States/Other%20Elements/Mean%20Relative%20Humidity/Gallery/mean-relative-humidity.html I store the hand tools I use the most on a tool board that's mounted on wheels. The tools are out in the open, at the perfect height to be grabbed, and I can roll the thing anywhere in the shop. I live in an area with low humidity, but if I didn't, I would seriously think about getting a dehumidifier.

[@SvenDepennis]

That big chest seems like a lot of wasted space in order to slide the drawers back and forth to reach the bottom, or you have to put bigger tools in the empty space that will have to be removed every time you want to slide the drawers. Either way, it doesn't seem very efficient to me.

[@scottm9605]

Nah. It works really well. There is never anything tall you put in these things

[@SvenDepennis]

To access something in the bottom drawer, you would have to have 1/2 the box empty in order to slide the drawers above it over, or you would have to remove the top drawers to get to the bottom drawer. That's all I meant. I guess for storage of something you rarely access it would be OK.

[@scottm9605]

@@SvenDepennis the bottom drawer doesn't sit on the bottom. There is space underneath for planes or saws or whatever. Each till is about 1/2 inch smaller than the one above and rides on runners that stair step up 1/4 inch for each lower till.

[@patmcguire2733]

Then don't put shelves in it? The choice is yours.

[@D4u2s0t]

But i like going on the tools....

[@handcraftedworkshop]

I really like your videos but they always come across blurry or fuzzy.

[@noisepuppet]

That's because Chris is fuzzy IRL

[@susanmercurio1060]

"thrown in the back of the wagon", not carriage

[@MrAidanfleming]

480p wtf lol

Aidan 91 this was a DVD. Probably early 2000’s.

[@noisepuppet]

He built the camcorder using only hand tools

[@FrissOderLassEs]

All the woodworkers on KZbin have a special fetish. For one it's the dovetail-jig they sell, for someone else it's a lowangle plane, for someone it's a nail shooter, another one just "corrects" everyone elses knowledge ... whatever. But Schwartz has unique fetish: Being reasonable.

[@brisco4072]

Is it me or does it seem that most hand woodworking channels are moving to electric tools and plywood? I have nothing against it, its just that that isn't what I do. Even Paul Sellars is sporting power drills etc.

[@1pcfred]

What do you have against electricity?

[@susanmercurio1060]

@@1pcfred : What if you have an emergency and the power goes out? What will you do when our society collapses under its own contradictions? Much as I love power tools, it's nice to have an alternative. Then, too, the guys in the 17th century weren't using power tools to make the originals.

[@tomjones3680]

Why do you yell when you say DUST /

[@rabboyce4770]

Too much talking I’m bored n I haven’t seen u cut a piece of wood bye bye yawn