Preview: Sharing Custom Toolbox Ideas; A Guest Post Hosted by OffCenterHarbor

Hosted by OffCenterHarbor.com co-founder Maynard Bray

This first installment of our what will be an ongoing blog on custom toolboxes comes from our friend Bob Thayer who we met a few years ago at The WoodenBoat School. Here’s Bob’s description of his carefully-thought-out toolbox:

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boat builder's custom toolbox finished

After working out of the previous box, I wanted as many tools to be as readily available as I could manage, but I wanted everything to have its own home.  With my previous box, I had to reshuffle and reorganize tools just to be able to close the silly thing.   I found an article in WoodenBoat #206 by Gary Williams featuring the toolox he built to go to the

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12 Responses So Far to “Sharing Custom Toolbox Ideas; A Guest Post Hosted by OffCenterHarbor”

  • Richard W. Jacks says:

    Beautiful work. I’ve tried having a tool box where there’s a place for everything and everything in its place but it just doesn’t work for me. I console myself by thinking there’s always room for that next must have tool in my mostly open box (hasn’t been true for years). Oh well.

    • Bob Thayer says:

      Hi Paul,
      Sorry, but I didn’t do proper plans since I figured it out in the mock-up. All I ever did were a few sketches for some of the fussier details.
      If it’s any help here are some basic dimensions, etc.: The box measures 27-1/2″w x 9-7/8″d x 8-1/4″h at the ends. The low point of the front is 7-1/8″h and the high point of the back is 9-1/8″‘h. The height dimensions all include 1/2″ oak runners on the bottom. The drawers are 2″h. The front and back are 1/2″ cherry and the ends are 3/4″ cherry.
      Since the box ended up quite heavy, if I were to do it again, I’d definitely consider going with chest handles or something similar on each end instead of the tote-type handle. Just a thought…

  • Tom Barclay says:

    Beautiful design and construction. Thanks very much for the process photos – these help me to understand how insightful this design is in truth.

  • Maynard Bray says:

    Hi Dave,
    This is a work in progress that somehow went public. But it’s now complete and the photos are there.
    Maynard

    • Maynard Bray says:

      Hi Richard,
      This is a work in progress that somehow went public. But it’s now complete and the photos are there.
      Maynard

    • Charles Barclay says:

      Beautiful! What a wonderful selection Bob to have you do this for Off-Center Harbor.

      I’m particularly impressed by the yellowing of your engineer’s rule. Though over ten years old now, mine is still white.