June 14, 20197 yr Popular Post A friend is making some Japanese tool boxes for his grandkids (I did a show and tell of these at the May club meeting). I suggested he use wood 1/2-5/8" thick to keep them from getting two heavy. I also suggested the following method that I've used before to get good wood. I buy 2x10 or 2x12 Southern Yellow Pine (SYP) meant for joists. It is relatively knot free. And if you get some with the pith down the middle you can saw out an inch or so and get perfect quarter-sawn lumber. Then you re-saw and you get wood just a fraction less than 3/4" that you plane down to desire dimension. Over time SYP gets as hard as oak. He came over yesterday and we planed down the sawn and factory surfaces. He's edge-gluing them today and I think they'll look great when done. If you've never seen one, they are pretty neat. The top slides one way to open and the other to close securely. Then end cleats make handles.
June 15, 20197 yr Looks like a nice project. Are his grandkid going to store tools in them! If you dont mind, what are the dimensions? And, I'm confused about the operation of the lid. Thanks, Keith.
June 15, 20197 yr 30 minutes ago, Gene Howe said: And, I'm confused about the operation of the lid. It was a long day, I too do not see it in the drawing.
June 15, 20197 yr Author 1 hour ago, Woodbutcherbynight said: It was a long day, I too do not see it in the drawing. Let's say on the lid that the left side the cross cleat is 1" from the end and on the right, it's 1/2" To lock it you slide it to the right and each end of the lid is 1/2" under the box end. To unlock it you slide it 1/2" to the left and the right end will lift up. Both cross cleats run over the side boards to hold the lid from falling in. Dimensions are up to you but I think mine are 12" h x 12" wide and 24" long (or whatever wood you have around or tools you have to tote). Google Japanese Tool Box and you'll find a bunch of articles on it. One was in FWW by Toshido Odate (sp?) You can get fancy and make proud box end joints and use "luxury" nails if you wish. I just used some 6d box nails.
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