The Toolbox Book: A Craftsman's Guide to Tool Chests, Cabinets, and Storage Systems [Paperback]

Jim Tolpin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1998

Winner of the 1996 Stanley Award for best how-to book. "Ideas and inspiration galore".--"Wooden Boat Review". 190 color photos. 100 drawings.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

In this guided tour of some of the world's best tool-storage solutions, you'll learn how the toolbox evolved as an essential tool and how the site boxes of today have their roots in long-ago journeyman's tool chests. But this book also provides practical advice on how to develop a tool-storage strategy of your own. Jim Tolpin guides you through creating an individual tool storage system best suited to your needs - from planning, through selection of materials, construction and finishing (including special situations like waterproofing the lid of a box intended for a job site).

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Jim Tolpin has been a pro cabinetmaker and woodworking journJim Tolpin has been a pro cabinetmaker and woodworking journalist for 30] years, during which heas discovered many trickalist for 30] years, during which heas discovered many tricks and secrets for better ways to work. Heas the bestselling's and secrets for better ways to work. Heas the bestselling author of many woodworking, home building, remodeling, carpeauthor of many woodworking, home building, remodeling, carpentry, and tool books.

Len Churchillas illustrated many bntry, and tool books.

Len Churchillas illustrated many building, tool, woodworking and furniture-building books. He uilding, tool, woodworking and furniture-building books. He also does work for magazines like Popular Woodworking, Canadalso does work for magazines like Popular Woodworking, Canadian Woodworking and Canadian Home Workshop. ian Woodworking and Canadian Home Workshop.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Taunton Press (September 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561582727
• ISBN-13: 978-1561582723
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #66,457 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #6 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > How-to & Home Improvements > Hand Tools
  • #8 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > How-to & Home Improvements > Power Tools

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fine Bookmaking about Fine Woodworking, February 10, 2005

By 

Marc Ruby™ "The Noh Hare™" (Warren, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Toolbox Book: A Craftsman's Guide to Tool Chests, Cabinets, and Storage Systems (Paperback)

I turn into a box-making junkie during the winter. Every time I see a chunk of wood I start resawing it in my mind thinking of neat things I could do with it. One of the side effects of this compulsion is that you accumulate a lot of odd tools that seem to meander all over the shop. Guaranteed not to be in the place they should be when you reach for them. After looking at the prices for good commercial tool chests it occurred to me that building one wouldn't be all that more expensive. Even if it took 400 hours of work rather than a quit drive to the nearest discount store.

A quick trip to the local woodworking store turned up several books on the subject, but one, Taunton's Toolbox Book, stood way out from the rest. Even though this is the one book that has not one detailed plan in it. It is, however, the most exhaustive study of toolbox making I've seen so far. Author Jim Toplin blends history and technique together to give you a real understanding of how the toolbox has developed and changed as woodworkers first came to the colonies, then adapted to the rising use of machinery, and finally then met the space age head on. It is carefully and clearly written, and a host of sketches makes up for the loss of detailed, paint-by-the-numbers plans.

In fact one of the things that Toplin makes abundantly clear is that you make a toolbox to hold YOUR tools. Too many of us buy a toolbox and then set about filling it with new widgets that we aren't even sure we will need. And this book is about assessing your needs, laying out the best way to meet those needs, and then building something that is often the showpiece of a woodworker's skills. One glance through the book and you will see many fine photographs of work that is both functional and beautiful. I wasn't kidding when I said a toobox can take 400 hours to make.

As usual, Taunton has made every effort to turn a how to book into something you would be proud to have on your coffee table. This is a very well made paperback with heavy, glossy paper, fine design and layout work, and well-written text. And a very accessible price for a massive amount of information.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not a wealth of practical ideas for beginners, March 27, 2008

By 

Matt Skuegler (Philadelphia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Toolbox Book: A Craftsman's Guide to Tool Chests, Cabinets, and Storage Systems (Paperback)

I'm setting up my first workshop. I bought Scott Landis' Workbench Book for guidance on building my workbench and this book for guidance on workshop tool storage. I found Landis' book extremely useful, but this one did not really have what I was looking for.

This book is called the Toolbox Book for a reason. While the subheading is "A Craftsman's Guide to Tool Chests, Cabinets, and Storage Systems," the focus of the book really is (often spectacular) handcrafted toolboxes. Only one chapter -- 14 pages -- is devoted to "Designing In-Shop Tool Storage," and much of that is about the generic design process (how to make a story stick, how to draw your design first, etc).

So if you're a novice like me looking for practical workshop tool storage ideas, I don't think this book is worth the money. I definitely didn't learn any more here than I have just browsing woodworking sites on the internet.

None of this is a knock on the book, really. It's a beautiful, well-written book that's gotten glowing reviews from other readers for a reason. But I think its audience may be more limited than the subheading, and some of the other reviews, might lead you to think.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The toolbox is a tool, too, January 28, 2000

By 

J. G. Heiser (Sunninghill, Berks) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Toolbox Book: A Craftsman's Guide to Tool Chests, Cabinets and Storage Systems (Hardcover)

This is a beautiful book--attractive enough to be a coffee table book. But it is much more than that. It is informative and interesting. It discusses the history of toolboxes, the different types of toolboxes, how they are used, how they are constructed, and what they are made from. The author has found an amazing variety of fascinating toolboxes in use by contemporary trades people. Although perhaps not to the level of detail that a novice would appreciate, Tolpin's book also includes plans, instructions and construction techniques.