Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I think this, along with "The Workbench Book" and Roy Underhill's fine offerings, ranks at the top tier of woodworking books to come out in our generation. The lowly toolbox often gets short shrift in our thinking, and frankly most modern woodworkers don't need the sort of boxes our grandfathers had, but nothing displays pride in your trade quite as quickly as a beautiful tool box. And that's what we get here - loads of gorgeous tool box ideas. Starting with the (probable) first American toolbox, a sea chest brought over with the first settlers, we ascend to the glories of the 18th century cabinet makers like Chippendale, and then on into the modern era where all bets are off. Some are rough and cabaple for taking on real job sites, others are fine furniture and too nice to really use. But any woodworker worth his salt will find inspiration in this enough to build a proper house for his tools to live in.

This book is fantastic. I've owned a couple months and I refer to it all the time.

This book does a good job of surveying different ways people store tools. It provides excellent examples, pictures and sample projects in just about every classification. Some of the chests at the beginning of the book are amazing.

As I'm building up my shop I constantly look through this book and the other Taunton books (such as The Workshop Book) to get ideas about how other people store these things.

Jim Tolpin's book is JUST what I wanted; it's a book with page after page of GREAT IDEAS. Not wanting a PLAN, but rather something to get the mind in gear and get me going. Just a quick glance through this book told me it was what I wanted.

The read is easy going, very interesting, too. I recommend it wholeheartedly.

Bob Beecroft
Fallbrook, CA

This book is a great overview of different philiosophies and methods of making boxes for tools. No, there are not many plans contained in it. You show me a serious woodcrafter who usually builds things from plans and not designed by themselves, and I'll show you someone 'pretending' to be a serious woodworker. I read the book cover to cover many times and used it to build my toolbox from many of the ideas in the book suited to my tastes. I plan on getting to other books in this series.

If any book on toolboxes could be thought of as sexy, this would be the one. While not a how-to book in any way, it is just full of ideas for those with an interest in the topic. If you want to build a classic tool box, are interested in this history of these things or just want to look at some great pictures of masterwork boxes this is the book for you. It is a very well put together text that would be at home on the coffee or in the shop (it would be a shame to get such a good looking book dirty though...)

. . . But it will not take you by the hand. This book is written for those with the inclination, and experience, to design a solution based on the suggestions it contains. It contains wonderful examples of toolboxes from the plain old box with a pipe as a handle, to the ultra extravagant. The pictures are beautifully done, and the book does contain some renderings from various angles and some building tips. However, it is assumed that the reader will contribute a great deal to the design process. Afterall, the author has no way to know how you will use your toolbox, or what tools you plan on storing.

If you are looking for detailed drawings and plans and procedures, this may not be the book for you. However, if you are looking for an outstanding source of inspiration and ideas, you can't go wrong buying this book!

Tolpin does a great job of providing photographic and scale drawings of tool storage ideas. From tool totes to cabinet style storage - great ideas and solutions for your consideration.