robbo41

Michael: Fair enough points about Chris's chest. I do like that you are including drawers in your traveling chest. Will you set them (the drawers) up to be somewhat complete sets for certain tasks? For example, will you have all chisels in the same drawer that you can take out of the chest and place next to your current work-station? Also, it looks like each drawer may have an individual lock morticed into the front; I wonder if having a mechanism (auto or manual) that would unlock the drawers when the top was raised might be more secure, and would eliminate the need for multiple keys and locks? As to tools, throw in a set of dividers for laying out dovetails - they take up hardly any room and are handy to have. Best regards, Robert

Pick up a copy of the Anarchist's Tool Chest by Chris Schwarz. His tool recommendations for what to include in a chest are spot on.

looks like that could be a cool book.

Not much difference. They look equally banal.

Matthew:

This is how all my projects proceed. Idea, figure out what wood I have on hand, then make the idea fit the wood. I acquire lots of random wood at auctions, from Craigslist, neighbors. Speaking of which, I just acquired a stump from an English walnut, and a friend of mine sawed it into lumber in boule fashion. The grain and coloration on these pieces is really cool. Be great to use on some project someday.

Louroehm:

Ask around in your locale. I found an orchardist, an engineer, and a local retired guy that all have these types of saws. Also, if you live in an area with any Amish, often many members of those communities have saws, but you have to get the wood to them.

The older issues were much better. Fewer tool reviews. More craftsman interviews, quirkier stuff, great techniques and tips and making your own tools and jigs. Not just purchasing your way to proficiency. Take a look at your archive from the 1980s - that was great stuff.

Wouldn't it be much quicker and easier to stack it in the way that Lee Grindinger writes about in Tauton's "Selecting and Drying Wood" - page 107 has a nice illustration.

Pretty sure the founder of Fine Woodworking Tage Frid documents how to do this in "Tage Frid Teaches Woodworking Volume 1."

That would be great to win that book.

Essential Handplanes (Handplane Essentials) and now learning to use a draw-bore. You guys are doing a great job channeling Chris Schwarz. Good thing your subscription to Popular Woodworking has not run out...

Fine Woodworking used to be the great.

Very cool. Small issue: walnut leaves are compound leaves, the single leaflet on the walnut box is but a part of a larger leaf. Still, very nicely done.

Very cool topic for a book. Is the book also made by hand?

Looks like a good book to have.

Wow! Simply outstanding!