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Thread: Vintage Suitcase Toolbox build
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12th November 2012, 04:29 PM #1The Russel Coyte of Woodworking
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- Brisbane, Australia
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Vintage Suitcase Toolbox build
A few years back I came across a wooden suitcase style box that turned out to be a very old carpenters toolbox. I liked it so much I threw the lady a $20 and took her home. It has been gathering dust for an awfully long time so I got my butt into gear and started the replica build.
After planing and joining four boards together for the sides I cut and dimensioned everything. Next I used my Leigh super 18 dovetail jig to whip out the joinery and very quickly the box came together. Unfortunately life got very busy and the boards lay for a few weeks, on my return I found they had bowed quite badly........ After leaving them for a further few weeks they had mellowed a bit, I skim planned them and glued them straight up but I have to admit I do have a bit of a wonky box.....I will have to live with it.
So last night I marked everything for the lid, I proceeded by cutting the first curf which went ok, but then I had a brain fart and flipped the box on its side and did a full cut all the way through, leaving a fantastically straight cut however as you can see the photo on the side I was going to cut it at 45 degrees so everything was going to be nice and neat.
The lack of sleep due to children is stunting my latteral thinking so some advice would be great......
Do I proceed with a 45 degree cut or should I alter and go for a 90 degree cut for the lid/door? 417156_10151137059871662_924719285_n.jpg230182_10151137060021662_494767885_n.jpg
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12th November 2012, 05:11 PM #2
Hi Milo
Can you be more specific how you want the lid?
I have a similar thread up, which may give you some ideas (or which may be too late at this point).
https://www.woodworkforums.com/f11/ho...id-box-161383/
Regards from Perth
DerekVisit www.inthewoodshop.com for tutorials on constructing handtools, handtool reviews, and my trials and tribulations with furniture builds.
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12th November 2012, 06:17 PM #3The Russel Coyte of Woodworking
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Hi Derek!
Daaaaaaamn, I should have researched things a bit more before taking the plunge! Its too late now I have to go forth......
So if you look at the first picture of the whole box the lid is going to open outwards with a quarter of the front face and sides staying put, think of a suitcase but instead of cutting the lid off all the way through you leave about approx a 200mm lip in the front.
The person who built the original vintage suitcase toolbox then lined the front lid with 15mm strips to give the hinges something to sit on and give the box strength. I am going to reinforce the front face with a solid 200mm strip glued to the inside of the face so the hinges have plenty of beef to sit on.
My issue I guess is now that I have cut the front face curf at 90 degrees there is going to be a very large gap........and should I bother with a 45 degree side cut or just go a square cut on the sides?
Mic-d lovely 3d drawing gives me an idea, by cutting a 90 degree curf I could introduce that zig zag step? mmmmmm maybe?
I hope I have explained it well enough?!
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6th December 2012, 11:03 AM #4The Russel Coyte of Woodworking
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- Brisbane, Australia
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Well DISASTER has struck!!!
I am really confused and quite frankly very off!!!!
I cut the door off succesfully a week ago and everything has been looking terrific, all I need to do was get some brass hinges as I was planning on using one long brass piono hinge but it just didn't look right so the door has been sitting for a bit. I walked into the garage last night and the whole door of the box has warped out of control........I am stunned!!!!!
The wood I used was a species called Amora - its an Indonesian hardwood I bought from Moxons over two years ago, it was kilned dried and has been sitting in the rafters of my double garage for two years. So it was well seasoned, I jointed and planned it twice so it had plenty of time to move before I made the box.
The weather in Brisbane has been stinking hot and humid over the past week or so but I never expected this........
Its a throw away job....no salvaging this project.
This is not the first time this has happend with this wood....but is it the wood, is it the weather?
Do other woodworkers in Brisbane have problems with panels warping out of control????
I haven't taken a pic of the warp but rest assured it is stuffed!!
ian wilkie saws.JPG
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6th December 2012, 11:12 AM #5
Hi Milo
You have nothing to lose .... wet the lid, clamp it into shape (square), allowing air to circulate around it, and then leave it to dry out.
Regards from Perth
DerekVisit www.inthewoodshop.com for tutorials on constructing handtools, handtool reviews, and my trials and tribulations with furniture builds.
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6th December 2012, 11:44 AM #6
Hi Milo.
I agree with Derek.
Wet the lid, clamp it flat for say 48 hours to let it dry and see what happens. Sometimes these things can be salvaged.And my head I'd be a scratchin'
While my thoughts were busy hatchin'
If I only had a brain.
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6th December 2012, 01:02 PM #7The Russel Coyte of Woodworking
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Ok....ill give it a go.....
Thanks guys......
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7th December 2012, 02:07 AM #8Retired
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Need pictures of the devastation!
I had the same happen to some redbox. Made some lovely 6mm panels at night, came back in the morning and I had some bananas!
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7th December 2012, 08:23 AM #9Skwair2rownd
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- Dundowran Beach
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Years ago when I lived in Coffs Harbour I acquired some Sally Wattle
to make a unit for the stereo gear. It gave me all sorts of problems
with movement.
I consulted a local cabinet maker and he advised the judicious use of
damp towels and sunlight. Worked a treat!
Mind you everything had to be assembled quickly, but the process worked well.