Handy Don 12,217 #51 Posted July 20, 2022 23 hours ago, formariz said: I will using a method used in earlier ones from the late 1700s with a little bit of a twist to it. Pretty sure that method was to delegate the task to the apprentices. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formariz 11,987 #52 Posted July 24, 2022 (edited) As I find time I continue to add to it. Utilizing every available square inch in a convenient and efficient manner. Made saw till which is light and easily removable . Edited July 24, 2022 by formariz 2 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formariz 11,987 #53 Posted July 27, 2022 The two lid system although convenient is a bit precarious. That is specially so when one needs to remove a till from well. Support chains are always in way and snagging one means that heavy tool filled lid will come crashing down. It is evident by all the pulled and blown out hinge screws that box had when it came to me that previous owners had lots of problems with it. Had already resorted to a very old method on top lid and solution to second lid had to be the same system where lid is stopped and supported by a fixed stop using the chest and it’s weight for leverage. Introduced also adjustment for open angle of second lid placing this way all weight of it bearing straight down onto floor. Was trying to avoid all the extra exterior parts but this is the only safe way. 1 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formariz 11,987 #54 Posted July 28, 2022 Made a removable tote to carry a couple more planes and two odd tools. 2 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formariz 11,987 #55 Posted August 7, 2022 Started work on the tool tills . Three are missing from chest so that is what I am making. Making them from a Sapelle board with the ends out of Mahogany to use some short leftovers. They will be dovetailed together. Sapelle board Resawn on bandsaw Final trim to size Squaring ends on shooting board End grain shavings about 1/64” thick Ready for dovetail layout. 4 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formariz 11,987 #56 Posted August 9, 2022 (edited) Completed the three tills except for dividers which will get placed according to tools stored in them. Till sides are dovetailed for strength . Tedious precise work on 3/8” thick material . Dovetail layout. First step scribe line on every end marking material thickness Dovetails lay out Completed dovetail layout Cutting dovetails . Mirror used to see kerf in back so as not to go over scribe line Tails cut Chopping waste between dovetails out Marking pins from completed dovetails Saw used to mark pins Marked pins Each two mating pieces have to be clearly marked Cutting pins Mirror used again to watch back kerf Chopping waste between pins Fitting bottoms 3/8 thick pine Bottoms get nailed in. Sapele sides are extremely hard and brittle . Pre-drilling is a must. Panel nails used since they are hardened and ribbed holding much better than a regular nail. A tiny counter sink needs to be done to sink head due to the very hard Sapele. Completed tills Edited August 9, 2022 by formariz 2 5 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elcamino/wheelhorse 9,297 #57 Posted August 10, 2022 How long did it take you to make the three tills ? I wish I lived in your neighborhood so I could watch you work. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formariz 11,987 #58 Posted August 10, 2022 41 minutes ago, elcamino/wheelhorse said: How long did it take you to make the three tills ? I really didn’t keep any time on it but let’s see. I really only go into shop at about 11AM. Then there is lunch and multiple expresso breaks during which some I sit watching and feeding fish in pond as I sip the expresso. Many times also sitting on my Viking chair answering texts , emails, checking the news and of course checking out Redsquare. I get the mail and occasionally check on the little woman. Many times she also checks on me if she doesn’t hear the usual tap tap. So taking all of that into account looks like one day was deciding sizes , digging out the sapele board ( it had been buried deep for the last 10 years) and preparing all the parts. With exception of ripping and resawing on band saw everything else is always done by hand. Then a little bit on Sunday evening just laying out the dovetails ( always hard deciding how many and how small). Today was all the dovetail cutting ,fitting and assembling. Probably the longest day . So it looks like about two and a half days and countless expressos. I thought they were done but now I am thinking a shallow till inside at least one of the tills to utilize more space. Ahhhh, the joy of unlimited time and no pressure. No restraints on the imagination.Nothing like it. 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rjg854 11,361 #59 Posted August 10, 2022 You truly do some handsome work 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formariz 11,987 #60 Posted August 10, 2022 Decided then to make till for inside till. Doubles available space since most tools such as chisels require only a shallow space. 1 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formariz 11,987 #61 Posted August 20, 2022 (edited) Today feeling like making handles for chest . Using 3/4” four strand natural fiber rope. Short end to end splice 12” on each side. Approximately 12 times thickness of rope. Unwind strands and tape ends so they don’t fray. push ends together alternating strands First half spliced Splice completed total of 24” Completed handle . Next installation on chest. Edited August 20, 2022 by formariz 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formariz 11,987 #62 Posted August 20, 2022 (edited) That is it. Handles now completed . Entire rope goes under chest . Cleats and rings are only to keep rope in place and aligned and have no influence on lifting . Rope can be used by two men on each side in two different positions depending on height needed. Chest now is still a bit from being full and at this point two men alone can barely get wheels off ground. Cleat keeps rope aligned on bottom Top position of rope for general moving using wheels or low lifting. Bottom position of rope for higher lifting Edited August 20, 2022 by formariz 3 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Heatingman 971 #63 Posted September 7, 2022 On 8/9/2022 at 6:03 PM, formariz said: Completed the three tills except for dividers which will get placed according to tools stored in them. Till sides are dovetailed for strength . Tedious precise work on 3/8” thick material . Dovetail layout. First step scribe line on every end marking material thickness Dovetails lay out Completed dovetail layout Cutting dovetails . Mirror used to see kerf in back so as not to go over scribe line Tails cut Chopping waste between dovetails out Marking pins from completed dovetails Saw used to mark pins Marked pins Each two mating pieces have to be clearly marked Cutting pins Mirror used again to watch back kerf Chopping waste between pins Fitting bottoms 3/8 thick pine Bottoms get nailed in. Sapele sides are extremely hard and brittle . Pre-drilling is a must. Panel nails used since they are hardened and ribbed holding much better than a regular nail. A tiny counter sink needs to be done to sink head due to the very hard Sapele. Completed tills Thats a very unique multi jaw vise. Curious why you used that instead of one of the wooden vises. Very handsome workmanship. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formariz 11,987 #64 Posted September 7, 2022 12 hours ago, Heatingman said: Thats a very unique multi jaw vise. Curious why you used that instead of one of the wooden vises. Very handsome workmanship. Thank you. Vise is a rare pre-patent Emmert Machinists Vise with a very low serial number. One of the first batches of such vise. The reason I used it for that particular operation rather than vises at bench, is due to its height. It allows me to stand straight while cutting the dovetails rather than haunching over the work at the bench. Vise has set of jaws clear and smooth so as to not mark material. It is already at that location and at that height intentionally to save my back in many tasks. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Freightliner Guy 1,327 #65 Posted September 13, 2022 Looks beautiful @formariz great job Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formariz 11,987 #66 Posted September 16, 2022 Finally box is complete and pretty much full. Been working out of it already. Needless to say it weighs a ton. 1 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeff-C175 7,202 #68 Posted September 16, 2022 1 hour ago, formariz said: it weighs a ton. Might wanna replace the rope with WIRE rope! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formariz 11,987 #69 Posted September 17, 2022 4 hours ago, Jeff-C175 said: Might wanna replace the rope with WIRE rope! Lol. Rope is really only for pulling it around or going up a small step perhaps. To lift it entirely off the ground any substantial amount it will have to be a forklift. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rjg854 11,361 #70 Posted September 17, 2022 Nice job Cas. I kinda knew it end up being HEAVY. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formariz 11,987 #71 Posted June 16, 2023 (edited) So it has been one whole year since I got the Civil War era chest. Except for a few things restoration and retrofitting has been completed since about September. I have been working out of it since and continued to add compartments such as another till and small removable till with door. Key and strike for main lock were missing , so I fabricated them from a brass bar, lock now being complete and functional. It is pretty much full . I have grown very fond of it and really enjoy using it. It feels like it was always here. It was also typical for these chests to have some “artwork” or such on the inside of lid. I continue that tradition by adding hand photos of current and future owners. Fabricated missing key and strike lock is finally functioning Hidden pivoting compartment keeps keys with chest. new small removable compartment with door for small loose items Narrow center tills when removed allow wide tills to slide back and forth allowing access to bottom of chest. pretty much every tool is able to be removed without disturbing others. My favorite and prized extremely rare type 5 Stanley 45 also made it into chest. One year only production 1893 in 99% mint condition . Hands of current and future owners. Edited June 16, 2023 by formariz 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oliver2-44 9,747 #72 Posted June 16, 2023 (edited) Amazing work and love the Pride that goes into your work. I certainly try to share lessons of pride of ownership to my family. But it getting harder with our throw away world Edited June 16, 2023 by oliver2-44 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sailman 1,291 #73 Posted June 16, 2023 Just read this thread for the first time and have to say...I am speechless... Absolutely an amazing job of creativity, authenticity, dedication, etc. Really impressive! One grandpa was a blacksmith back in the day. The other grandfather was a cabinet maker so I appreciate craftsmanship. Its unfortunately a dying art. Thanks for keeping it alive for future generations. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elcamino/wheelhorse 9,297 #74 Posted June 16, 2023 @formariz i only see one problem with that beautiful chest. It is going to take 2 men and boy to lift it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formariz 11,987 #75 Posted June 16, 2023 37 minutes ago, elcamino/wheelhorse said: @formariz i only see one problem with that beautiful chest. It is going to take 2 men and boy to lift it. LOL. It’s actually not possible . We tried it. Two man can lift it off the ground by about one inch for a second or two. It’s not meant to be transported such as from job to job. Those were much smaller. This one will require a truck with a lift gate or ramps it can be pushed up on it. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
