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I’m working on the interior of my “Anarchist’s Tool Chest,” and I’ve decided to slightly rearrange the storage from what’s shown in Christopher Schwarz’s book. Instead of a saw till all along the front wall at the bottom of the chest as Chris suggests, I’m attaching my two panel saws (crosscut and rip) to the underside of the lid. Four backsaws (two dovetail saws, a tenon saw and carcase saw) will go in a shorter saw till at the top left front corner. (I’ll write about the rest of the storage as I get to it.)

Today, I made “keepers” for the panel saws – and it was easy. So easy, in fact, that I had time for a little shop fun when I was done fitting the inserts on which the handles hang.

First, I surfaced my lumber to the exact thickness of the handles (the two were, naturally, different thicknesses). Then, I simply simply ran a pencil around the insides of the handles to trace the shapes onto the stock.

After cutting them out on the band saw, the spindle sander made quick work of removing the saw marks and smoothing the curves of the inserts. I’ll use a rasp, files and sandpaper to ease the top edges for a pleasing look – which to my eye means they’ll mirror the eased edges of the saw grips (plus that will make it easier to slide the handle in place once the inserts are attached to the lid). The inserts will be screwed in place, once I decide what “in place” is.

The toe end of the saw slides into a narrow U-shaped piece, before the handle is slipped over the insert. (No, I didn’t mistakenly attach it to the outside of my chest – that is simply the only clean, flat surface in my shop at home.)

So what keeps the handles from slipping off the inserts when the lid is closed? Toggles – and that was my fun for the day. Go ahead and scoff; they make me smile.

— Megan Fitzpatrick

p.s. Before cutting the tiny kitties on the band saw, I made sure the machine was running in tip-top shape (and I used a very narrow blade and lots of caution). The best book I’ve read on band saw tune-up and use is Mark Duginske’s “New Complete Guide to the Band Saw.” Would I have been better off using a scroll saw for these small bits? Possibly…but it’s in our storage room, and I couldn’t get it off the shelf and into the shop by myself.


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Showing 25 comments
  • MikeyD

    I can’t help it. I hate cats. Sorry.

  • ronhowes

    So, this is how it’s going to be, tiny kitten silhouettes…

  • Clay Dowling

    Since my shop cats frequently inspect my work, I think a set of cat toggles would be perfect for my chest, when it gets built. Besides, people won’t trifle with a man bold enough to put kitty cat toggles in his tool chest.

  • pmcgee

    A Simonds and a #16 … Very nice, Megan.

  • armerlo

    It looks like the panel saws are only supported at the handle and the tip. If so, won’t that open up the chance for the longer blades to bow downward due to gravity when the lid is closed?

  • jcferrell

    No names? By the way, gigs have owners, but cats have staff. Nice toggles.

  • granolajohn

    Just curious, what is the weight of this tool chest fully loaded?

  • Bill

    Those toggles are great.

  • gumpbelly

    Megan

    I`m glad you said kitties, first glance and I thought they might be fish. Evidently I failed abstract shapes 101 🙂

  • sharper802

    Ok the one on the left looks like a dress without the spaghetti straps and the one on the right looks like a pair of boots with a broken heel.
    Was this post meant to be a psychology experiment?

  • muthrie

    Anarchist kitties!! Love it! 😀

  • psanow

    Kitties…Only because hearts make lousy toggles? Need to inlay little whiskers and cat eyes – THAT would be special.

  • switzforge

    Little cat toggles. Gives me an idea for a current project 😉

  • Jonathan Szczepanski

    While cats aren’t allowed in my toolchest, I think they are fantastic. It’s a way to show your personality with your passion. I hope all woodworker’s take the chance to do something like that.

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