Lonnie Bird Inspired Toolchest

comments (14) May 22nd, 2009 in Reader's Gallery

Diviner Diviner, member
thumbs up 161 users recommend
There is plenty of room for everything. The lower level holds powertools that dont get used much. All the little storage racks took several weekends to get right.
Simple double bevel marquetry resawn in the shop and drum sanded to thickness. The top crown was frankensteined together from leftover decorative trim from other projects. The frugal woodworker.
A few secret compartments. One in the pullout column, and 8 false drawers above the nooks.
This project was a study in joints. The doors have through tenons with a spline, and the feet feature through dovetails. The project also has half blind dovetails as well.
These handles were fun. Lots of little curves. They are made of tulipwood, maple dowels, and paduak. Amazingly, none have broke off after all these years.
There is plenty of room for everything. The lower level holds powertools that dont get used much. All the little storage racks took several weekends to get right. - CLICK TO ENLARGE

There is plenty of room for everything. The lower level holds powertools that don't get used much. All the little storage racks took several weekends to get right.
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This is a cabinet was inspired from a feature article and video clip in FWW about a secretary that Lonnie Bird built. This furniture style doesn't match the rest of my house, so I decided to make it for the shop. It features my first attempt at inlay work and various different types of joinery. All the inlay veneers were resawn in the shop. I had a very large piece of figured mahagony (2'x12'), which had a few twists that I worked through. That mahagony, plus tiger maple, tulipwood, and paduak compliment each other well.


Design or Plan used: My own design - Gregg Novosad clickdivine.com
posted in: Reader's Gallery, workshop, cabinet, period interpretation, dovetails, tenons, turning, mahogany, frame and panel, veneer, inlay, tool chest, marquetry
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Comments (14)

pastorjonward pastorjonward writes: I love the constant learning evidenced in this piece, and i quote, "this project was a study in joints". Thank you for sharing your passion with us.
Posted: 11:44 am on July 13th

bduffin104 bduffin104 writes: wow! Very nice. I work at jobsites mostly where tool boxes are subject to damage so I made them from plywood and must be portable. I designed them to stack on top of one another then snap together with draw latches. The bottom one has wheels so I can roll the whole thing around like a hand truck
when they are stacked together.
Posted: 9:34 pm on January 9th

slhstang slhstang writes: Wow, I'm speachless. I'd love to see this in person.
Posted: 9:52 pm on December 30th

Fishbone73 Fishbone73 writes: TRULY! TRULY! AMAZING! Thank you for taking the time to build such a wonderfully inspiring piece and presenting it to us!
Posted: 11:03 pm on December 29th

oletucker oletucker writes: Jaw dropping
Posted: 12:49 pm on August 10th

skipz skipz writes: Gregg,

That is a beautiful piece of furniture, that just so happens to be for holding your tools. Bravo!

I noticed your mentioning that the Tulipwood/Maple/Paduak handles have held up for "all these years". When did you make the cabinet?

Enjoy your SawStop. You certainly deserved the win.

Regards,

Lee
Posted: 12:09 am on July 17th

ezduzit94514 ezduzit94514 writes: You're a rock-star! I could only wish I had the time (and
talent) required to create such fine work. Awe-inspiring.
Love it.
Posted: 5:02 pm on July 12th

JerryWatson JerryWatson writes: Excellent piece of work. I wonder how long this project took?
Posted: 9:20 am on July 8th

edpeters edpeters writes:
THIS TOOL BOX IS A FINE SHOW OF CRAFTSMEN SHIP AND DESERVES WINNING WITHOUT QUESTION. CONGRADULATIONS TO THE WINNER.
Posted: 7:34 am on July 8th

Dlewis Dlewis writes: Honestly this "Tool Cabinet" belongs in the Smithsonian. I hope some day it ends up there. Not only because it is a fine piece of furniture, it also reflects the passion wood workers have for their craft.
Posted: 3:21 am on July 4th

jonnieboy jonnieboy writes: This is a well-deserved win for an excellent tool cabinet. Congratulations, and enjoy your new saw!

jonnieboy
Posted: 11:24 pm on July 1st

B.L. Zeebub B.L. Zeebub writes: Yowza! That's one gorgeous toolbox. Bravisimo!

always,
Lurking
Posted: 10:02 am on June 10th

Sandtazam Sandtazam writes: Lonnie, you sir are an inspiration. I've seen your work and video's and all I can say is you are incredibly talented. Good luck.
Posted: 7:53 pm on June 5th

JazKat JazKat writes: Beautiful! Exceptional work.

I live in a house with 4 women & girls. They were browsing over my shoulder and all thought this cabinet was amazing, but were dumbfounded when they found out it made for tool storage. My wife thinks tool cabinets like these are like hauling lumber in a limousine--you can do it but why would you?

She obviously (even after 19 years) doesn't understand the relationship a woodworker has with his/her tools. No cabinet could be fine enough to house a genuine No.4 Stanley Bedrock, or a new Lie-Nielsen bronze #5.

I aspire to building a tool chest as fine as this. A fitting home for fine craftsman quality tools.

Keep up the excellent work.
Posted: 8:12 pm on June 2nd

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