Thread: Wanted: Plans for small cabinet makers toolchest

Not plans but have a look at this site for some ideas.

http://www.gerstnerusa.com/

They make beautifull chests but only obtainable in the States and somewhat expensive. Lots of interesting configurations though.

I was lucky enough to get my hands on a 52 Journeyman chest when they made them as a kit. They stopped doing this as they apparently had no demand for them.

Strangely enough I use mine for all my steam bits and bobs and it is worth it's weight in gold.

Those Gerstner tool cabinets look wonderful but the £450 pricetag is a little high! I could buy a lot of tools for that!

I also found these plans by veritas:

Alan, one thing to be carefull of is any form of cheaply produced item, usually wth a far Eastern origin.

I had a very bad experience when I bought a toolbox of exactly the same configuration as the one I now have from a tool supplier in Birmingham. After about 10 months the wood started to split and warp and I had a very lengthy experience trying to get my money back.

Eventually I did but it made me realise that, as with everything else, you get what you pay for and the most important consideration with such an item is that you use quality seasoned timber from a reliable source.

I have even bought stripwood for my boat and noticed that one or two planks are not as straight as they should be. The problem is that proper controlled seasoning of wood is time consuming and expensive. Consequently manufacturers cut corners and we end up with wood that is still drying out. When it does it will warp.

I agree the Gerstners are very expensive but they are extreemly good quality and I got mine for half price as a kit. The advantage was that I could finish it exactly as I wanted.

I am not quite sure why but the Americans have the toolbox business sprted and there are a wide range of varying quality boxes available through many outlets. Here there is absolutely nothing apart from the odd cheap crap Chineese unit.

I noticed how all the sites selling this style of toolbox are American.

It's a shame Gerstner still don't sell their items in kit form, I noticed on their website they have two ranges and also sell under the name: "Gerstner International" and offer a cheaper Imported version.

Those sell on ebay and even in Sears Hardware stores...probably a little cheaper made than the other items but a similar toolbox sells for approx £150 pounds which seams quite good value for money.

They also have an authorised seller on Ebay and one of their items is here:

Ebay Item. No.: 190055416936

Alternatively the plans are a fiver and the saving would pay for a pile of tools to load it up with too.

If you have the time, materials and wherewithall you won't do better than make your own and save a lot of money.

I am desperately short of time nowadays so shortcuts sometimes appear attractive.

It might be worth dropping Gerstner an e-mail. They may have an old kit left they couldn't get rid of. I found them to be very accomodating and very friendly when I dealt with them.

The school I work at still has a reasonable stock of hardwoods, most of it is what we reclaimed when the caretaker was throwing out some unwanted furniture.

It's a travesty what goes in the skip, last year an Oak Plans chest and about £10,000's worth of steel framed Flamefast low voltage electronics benching.

Plus we sold off some Boxford CNC lathes and mills for peanuts that where in almost new condition.

I pulled out a fair amount of Beech from the old school desks it's always a pleasure to run it through a planer and plane off 25 years of graffitti...

Although last year the Head of Department ripped down a stack of wide (200mm approx) 20mm thick beech boards to make small battens for a kids project...£20's worth of softwood from Wickes would have suited it fine...Really nicely seasoned too...UGH



I'll give Gerstner an email and see what they say.

my wife is a cabinet maker and she has a whole stack of magazines and stuff that gather dust, i will ask her tonight when i get home is she remebers a paln for such an item in the stack of magazines and journals... cant promise but you never know !