October 15-17, 2021
This handsome and portable tool chest is a great three-day introduction to several bedrock hand-tool joinery techniques: dovetails, dados, rabbets and shiplaps. Plus you’ll learn rules for carcase construction (and when to break them), how to cut a fingernail moulding, raise a panel, use cut-nails and install either butt hinges or strap hinges (your choice!). By the end of Day 3, you’ll be able to pop all your tools in your new chest (which fits in the back of almost any car) for your drive home. Better yet, you’ll have learned the joinery skills to build many future projects!
Beginners are welcome.
Participants need to bring a small kit of tools for the class (list provided and we’ll have extras of tools if your kit isn’t complete). Materials wise, the wood and fasteners are included in the class. Students select and bring their own hardware.
Dutch Tool Chest Class Tool List
- Cutting/Marking Gauge (I prefer a wheel marking gauge, such as the Tite-Mark, but any will do)
- Dividers (two pair if you have ‘em)
- Marking knife (Ideally, one that has one flat side, but any will do)
- Dovetail template/marking gauge or bevel gauge**
- Dovetail saw
- Coping saw
- Bevel-edge chisels (ideally 1/2” and 3/4” – but bring whatever you have)
- Mallet
- Crosscut-filed sash saw (or other large-ish crosscut backsaw) or panel saw
- Large router plane
- Hammer
- 3/32” drill bit
- Countersink
- Screwdriver (slotted)
- Block plane
- Smooth plane
- Ear plugs/ear protection
- Double square (a.k.a. diemaker’s square or machinist’s square) – but only if you already have one. I’m happy to share.
- And any other tools you just can’t bear to be without. For me, that includes my waterstones and honing guide, a 6” adjustable square, and multiple .5mm mechanical pencils.
Strap hinges or Butt Hinges
The 9-1/2” x 3-1/2” spear point unequal strap hinges here
http://www.leevalley.com/US/hardware/page.aspx?p=41912&cat=3,41241,41262
These are, in my opinion, the best butt hinges for the price. You can buy cheaper, but…
https://www.horton-brasses.com/PB-409.asp
Lifts
http://www.leevalley.com/US/Hardware/page.aspx?p=40222&cat=3,70806,43566,43570
Full hardware kit
By the time this class takes place, Horton Brasses (https://www.horton-brasses.com/) should have a blacksmith-forged hardware kit available for this tool chest, as I’m working on it with them for a book. It will include strap hinges, lifts and a hasp (the hinges and hasp are visible on the unpainted chest shown above)
Megan Fitzpatrick
Dutch Tool Chest
October 15-17, 2021
