I forgot about the electrical outlets! It is something I will add. It is a good idea to use the handle to mount worklights. I had not considered that.

I built my carcase out of 3/4″ plywood and noticed you built yours from 5/8″ pine. I am thinking that 1/2″ ply for the carcass would be sufficient and would reduce the weight of the box. What do you think? I am just bringing this up for others to consider if they build this box.

Now you have a step ladder and a tool box that will only be heavy when you load it into your truck and when you carry it upstairs but it will go very easily over steps and curbs.
Thanks for keeping us informed and let us know how it works out for you once you start rolling it around.
Don’t be surprised if your hear nicer words for your tool box than for your work.
I went through that many times.
Thanks for keeping us posted and stay in touch.
Al

I ended up making a handle out of maple. I think the design will make it easy to pull around, pull up stairs or over thresholds. I think it will also serve as a place to hang an extension cord or hang clamps while working.

[img]http://www.thisiscarpentry.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Toolbox_complete (Medium).JPG[/img]
[img]http://www.thisiscarpentry.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Plane_cubby (Medium).JPG[/img]
[img]http://www.thisiscarpentry.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Notebook (Medium).JPG[/img]
[img]http://www.thisiscarpentry.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Handle_close (Medium).JPG[/img]

I like Al’s tool box because of its size. I have been thinking of a new tool box for some time. About a year ago I built one that was too big. I tried to make it fit too many things and therefore it did not get onto the job site very often. This box is well sized and has plenty of room for the essential and often used tools.

The other nice thing about the size of Al’s box is that it uses up many of the small scraps of wood I had lying about. So this box is a combination of plywood, Alder, Chery and Maple

I kept the size the same as given in the Sketchup drawing.

I added some hangers in the upper compartment to hold tools that I do not like having banging about. These include my small square, bevel gauge, folding ruler, coping saw and nail sets. This also allows me to see if a tool is missing. I also made a cubby space for my plane.

You will also see that I have a small slot for a small notebook. I like to carry a pocket size notebook with me for measurements and shopping lists etc. The problem is that I often leave the notebook in my pockets and so I forget it the next day. I hope the clear notebook slot will remind me to leave it behind.

I also added a holder for my large framing square on the side of the box. I do not use this tool often, but mounting it on the box is fairly unobtrusive and it is there if I do need it.

I added a drawer under the floor of the upper compartment for drill bits, driver bits and pencils, I am forever looking for these things and wanted to make them easily accessible. Since this drawer makes the opening to the lower compartment smaller, and thus, harder to access I made the depth of the drawer narrower than the box. This allows the drawer to be pushed back into the tool box and give better access to the lower compartment.

I did not mount the first step with hinges. I made it removable. Cleats glued to the bottom of the step keep it in place and if I remove the step and turn it over, the cleats act like a tray to keep small parts on while working.

I still need to work out a good place for a small 2′ level and some clamps. I would like to add extension cord storage. I cant do it as Al did since I intend the lower back compartment to be used for Glue and sandpaper storage. I need some wheels too. Would like to repurpose some (AKA, find used ones)

I am happy with how this is turning out. It is a great project that I think will make me more eficient. This box is a quick build, the dificult and time consuming part is thinking about what tools you want to carry and how you want to carry them in the box.

Thanks again for the box design!

[img]http://www.thisiscarpentry.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/toolbox-right-withsquare (Medium).JPG[/img]


[img]http://www.thisiscarpentry.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Drawer-closed (Medium).JPG[/img]
[img]http://www.thisiscarpentry.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/drawer-open (Medium).JPG[/img]
[img]http://www.thisiscarpentry.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/drawer-back (Medium).JPG[/img]
[img]http://www.thisiscarpentry.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/toolbox1 (Medium).JPG[/img]

Your box really was inspirational. I had been thinking about a new box for some time. I have looked at many ideas and even built one last year that turned out to be too big.

I found that if the box is too big it does not make it into the job site. So one needs to think about the core set of tools that are commonly needed. It turns out that your box has plenty of room in it.

I am adding a small drawer under the first step for drill bits, pencils and other small things. I made it only about 2/3 as deep as the box so that it can be pushed back to give easy access to the lower portion of the box.

I will post some pictures later as it may give other ideas on how to configure their version of your box.

Thanks again Al.

Carl

I used plywood for the sides and this makes it a quick build.

I am including a photo or two of the start of the box.

Your EXCELLENT tool box has my mental gears spinning ever since I saw this earlier page this week.
I’m fantasizing a lot about how I’ll make mine.

I can’t believe the fluorescent light! Wow!
And I like the idea of screwdrivers etc being vertical for fast access.

How are the wheels attached?
Is there an axle going though a horizontal pipe?
Is each wheel bolted on seperately into the wood?

And how does the hammer stay in place when you close it’s lid?

Gary
[file]http://www.thisiscarpentry.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Als Toolbox[WTM].skp[/file]