Last year I started acquiring precision computing instruments and decided to build a box in which I could store them. Being pressed for time, I decided that instead of working with my hands, I would cut all the parts using a laser.
These instructions are for assembling a very durable DIY plywood toolbox, consisting of 9 compartments. Pull-out shelves are designed in such a way that they are locked in the drawer and cannot be pulled out completely, so you won’t be able to pull out and drop a shelf with an expensive tool, damaging it.
A lock can be built in to secure the drawers or to lock the top compartment. This tool organizer has withstood a year of rough handling as it moves between my apartment and a local workshop.
Step 1: Materials
Wood:
- 2 sheets of Baltic birch 150*150 cm and 0.6 cm thick
- 1 sheet of Baltic birch 30*38 cm and 0.15 cm thick
- Satin polyurethane varnish
Metal products:
- 4 screws per 1.3 cm
Foam earbuds:
Step 2: A few design notes
For better protection The box uses double-layer walls. While all internal parts are made from 0.6 cm Baltic birch, all external walls are made of double-layer. This allowed dust protection to be built into the top compartment, as well as a front wall to be added to cover all shelves during transport. In the instructions, the inner layer that holds all the shelves will be called the inner casing, and the outer layer, coated with urethane, will be called the outer casing.
Also pay attention to the notes embedded in the photos. Almost every photo has notes to help you understand how the box is made. These should help you a lot in understanding how to properly glue and assemble the parts.
Step 3: Laser cutting parts
The attached files contain everything necessary projects for cutting: *.ai files for Illustrator and *.dxf files. All wooden parts are cut from 0.6 cm thick Baltic birch. All parts were cut using a 150W GWeike LC6090 laser cutter with the power set to 80% at 10 mm/s. I also lightly sanded all the faces and internal surfaces 220 grit sandpaper. Pay attention to sanding and your drawers will slide out much easier.
Files
Step 4: Assembling the Inner Case
First we will assemble the inner housing. Start by making sure everything fits together, and make sure you understand how everything fits together. Depending on the glue you use, the assembly can be completed very quickly. There is no need to generously lubricate everything with glue - just drop one drop of glue on each tooth. Excessive glue will only cause trouble in the future when you have to clean it off.
First, assemble the two top shelves, which will house three drawers. Glue the dividers to the shelves and then glue the entire structure to the back panel of the inner cabinet. Then attach the three remaining shelf sections to the back panel. You can then attach the side panels of the inner case.
The easiest way to do this is if the glue on all the shelves is still wet, or at least movable. Finally, you can attach the bottom panel of the inner case and the front panel that runs across the top of the inner case (it forms the front of the top compartment). Use lots of clamps to hold all the pieces together while the glue dries.
Remove any excess glue from all joints before proceeding. Any lumps of dried glue will make it difficult or even impossible to insert the drawers when we get to this step. It's easiest to remove the glue while it's still soft, I usually remove it with a chisel or square file.
Sand the wood to remove any glue exposed on the outside of the cabinet. Also make sure that all the teeth are recessed into each other and do not protrude. This is necessary so that nothing gets in the way when we connect the outer and inner housings.
Step 5: Assembling the Drawers
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The assembly of the drawers is obvious. Sand the outer surface so they can easily fit into the inner housing. Please note that on the back of each drawer there is a small hole approximately 1mm thick. Small drawers have one hole, and large ones have two. The holes mark the location where you want to install the locking mechanism.
The circular mechanisms are cut from the back of the case to preserve the wood material. The locking mechanisms will hold the drawer in the box and you will not be able to remove it completely if you drop the equipment on the floor. Screw a small screw (4 pieces approximately 1.3 cm long) through back wall drawer into the locking mechanism. Tighten the screw enough that you can easily rotate the locking mechanism from a horizontal unlocked position to a vertical locked position.
This will allow you to easily lock the drawer in the box without having to take everything apart. The attached video shows how the drawers are locked in the inner casing.
Step 6: Assembling the lid
Assemble the inner housing cover and let it dry. The outer cover can then be assembled on top of the inner lid. Check that all the pieces are the right size and lay them out for gluing and quick assembly. Assemble the outer cover on top of the inner cover, apply glue to the surface of the inner cover so that both surfaces are firmly glued.
If you can’t assemble things quickly, use glue that takes longer to dry, so you won’t ruin your workpiece. After gluing the two layers together, I placed the lid over the inner body and made sure that the lid fit well and did not require any additional processing.
Step 7: Assembling the Outer Case
The outer casing is glued on top of the inner casing. Apply glue to the back and sides of the outer case, and also apply glue to the inner case. Note that the outer casing is taller - extra bed the bottom will be used to store the front panel. To determine the height for the inner housing, install the cover and make sure the outer and inner housings fit well.
There will be two panels at the base of the box. The inner panel has a long hole that secures the front panel in place. Glue inner panel to the outer one and quickly glue the entire structure to the inner/outer body.
After everything is dry, put the drawers back in place. If necessary, sand the edges of the drawers - they will move more smoothly. Finish the step by sanding the front of the drawer so that all the drawers and shelves are smooth and even.
Step 8: Assembling the Front Panel
First, place the inner front panel in place and use the holes in it as guides to install the drawer handles. Then glue the two front panels together. You can install them in a drawer to align them with each other. Then carefully remove the glued panel and, if necessary, clamp it in a vice.
Once the glue has dried, sand the panel until it fits well. You can also round the bottom of the panel using sandpaper or a plane. This rounding will make it easier to insert the panel when you close the drawer.
After assembly, I discovered that the drawer handles were a little long and did not allow the front panel to sit flush against the drawers, so I had to cut them down a bit.
Now that everything is put together, sand the outside of the drawer to give it a neat look.
Step 9: Attach the Metal Pieces and Finish the Look of the Drawer
To install the lid, I used a piano hinge. The loop was too long so I cut it to fit the box. On top I screwed a handle from a Fender guitar amplifier. There were 4 fasteners screwed on the sides. Here I went a little overboard, since two fasteners on the front panel would have been enough (but if you are going to use the box to carry a heavy tool, then it is better to screw on 4 fasteners). The side handles were screwed on with short screws - this way I didn't touch the internal drawers. Brass corners were installed on the corners of the box; they will protect the wood from damage.
The lock is a regular lock from a desk drawer. I bent the tab of the lock so that it hooked onto the bracket screwed to the inside of the drawer. Lastly, I screwed a bottle opener onto the side because you never know when you'll need one. Once all these parts are installed, unscrew them to complete the wood treatment.
I applied 4 layers of satin polyurethane varnish. Allow the varnish to dry after each application and lightly buff it with 220 grit sandpaper. I only varnished the outside of the box, leaving the inside of the wood completely untouched.
Now put everything back together and think about what you want to put in your drawer.
Step 10: Optional. Cutting shapes in foam
NOTE: Foam used in movement boxes is a highly controversial topic. The main problem is that it can release neoprene, which can cause damage and rusting of appliances. Therefore, think about what devices and tools will be in your drawer and perhaps replace the foam with foam rubber. Also, if you want to cut holes in the foam using a laser, remember that it is flammable! To make it easier to get the tool out, make gaps between it and the foam of about 2 cm.
Big and convenient drawer for tools - the dream of any master. This is understandable, because in such storage you can compactly put all your tools. Today they are not so expensive, so one of the options is to purchase them in a store or create such a masterpiece yourself. Which option will be acceptable for you? Of course, the purchased one has certain dimensions, but there may be many more tools than can fit in it. But one way or another, you will have to put up with it or run to the store again and buy a new one. It’s a completely different matter to do it yourself: pick up required material and calculated for all available tools and even with the future. Comfortable? Most likely, you will agree with this argument. Therefore, in this article we will talk about how to make such a box yourself at home.
What should HE be like?
If this is a home box, then it can be a regular box with a handle. Well, if you, for example, are a plumber, then it is clear that you will need a box that is more functional, spacious and durable. The organizer will successfully fulfill this role. However, in this article, as an example, we will consider a simple home option- box with handle. So, we will assume that we have decided on the type of box where we will keep all the tools we need, or almost all.
Where do we start? First, let's select the material. It could be plywood, wood or even metal, then we will make the calculations. Only after this can you begin to draw up a detailed drawing. This can be done in the classic way, that is, on whatman paper using a well-sharpened pencil, ruler, compass, square, etc.
Non-classical method - using a special computer program. “Autocad” and “Compass” are precisely “sharpened” to make a professional exact drawing. The advantage of such programs is that they will help you avoid errors in calculations and, moreover, you have the opportunity to see in advance what you will get from all this.
These programs will only serve you well if you have certain skills in working with them.
The material has been selected, and now for manufacturing it remains to assemble all the tools that we will need. Of course, the types of tools are individual. It all depends on what kind of box you want. They are also different. But, one way or another, there are universal tools. They are always needed. This is the measuring tool:
- fasteners;
- hammer;
- screwdriver.
Let's start production
Let's take it traditional material – edged board coniferous species. As for processing, this is the simplest and available material, which also has good strength properties.
As planned it will be wooden box, and our task now is to materialize the drawing itself into material. For this task we will need a ruler and a pencil. After this, we mark the material and use a hacksaw or jigsaw to cut out the component parts of the product. If we planned a regular non-closing option, then we need to make five planes: four walls and a bottom.
When assembling, it is usually better to use wood glue. The joints must be cleaned, and only then glue must be applied, after which we firmly press the parts together. Be sure to let the glue dry completely.
After this operation, we can further strengthen the box with fasteners - self-tapping screws. Secured. Now you need to make a handle. It could be ordinary wooden slats, which we need to nail or screw to the upper edges of the side elements.
Organizer
Following the principle “from simple to complex,” let’s now talk about the organizer. It is clear that you can put a large tool in the open-top box described above: hand saw, hammer, mallet and much, much more.
Where do you put the little things? There are all sorts of screws, bolts, nuts, etc. These small fasteners tend to get lost or not be there exactly at the moment when they are especially needed. This is where we need an organizer.
As already noted, this type of box by its design is the most functional in operation. What is he? This is kind of like a box on a box, or rather, many drawers in one section for storing not only medium-sized tools, but also all sorts of small things. Of course, at first glance, it may seem that making such a structure would not be easy. But it only seems. Difficulties mainly arise in the manufacture of the sliding mechanism. Everything else is much easier to do. Now in more detail about the manufacturing technology.
- We start by making the main body. It must be open and deep in order for us to place various instrument medium-sized (hammers, spanners etc.). We can say that the design of this main body is quite simple, but in essence it is an ordinary box that can be vertical planes divided into several sections.
- The next stage is the production of 4 smaller boxes. You probably noticed that the number of these sections is even, and we mentally divide them into pairs, trying to adhere to the dimensions of their lower large brother when manufacturing. They will be installed on top of each other. One pair of boxes (top) will have lids. They will either be folding on piano hinges, or retractable like a Soviet school pencil case.
- Now all that remains is to connect these boxes together. We will do this using metal connecting strips. We will need 6 pieces. On one side, as well as on the other side, we hook one plate at a time (short) to connect the two lower boxes - small and large. Two more plates (long) will connect all the boxes together. And finally, the longest bar will serve as a handle, and at the same time connect the two upper floors of the organizer. As you can see, there is nothing complicated here, and sliding mechanism simplified to the extreme, as illustrated by the example of a metal organizer - the principle is the same.
Making a metal case for tools
Let's talk now about the metal case homemade. Don't immediately conclude that this is impossible. Of course, only an experienced mechanic can make an organizer out of metal on his own if he has special tools and the appropriate material. Factory-made metal boxes are usually made of lightweight metals such as aluminum so that the box itself is not heavy. Working with aluminum at home is difficult.
In principle, a metal box is a strong word. Rather, an ordinary box will be made of metal. The material needed to make such a box is ordinary soft galvanized steel (about 0.3 mm thick). The tools we need are:
- square;
- caliper (marking);
- sharpened small core or marker;
- ruler;
- hammer;
- anvil (wide metal bar);
- file;
- pliers.
Then everything follows the same scenario: drawing, marking. The most interesting thing is that all this can be done directly on a galvanized sheet using a sharply sharpened core (or marker), however you like. We then mark with a marker on the metal those places that we will have to remove.
After this, we proceed to trimming using metal scissors.
After cutting off all the excess we end up with something like this: geometric figure(“winged rectangle”).
Now let's work a little as blacksmiths. For this task, we have an anvil, and, tapping with a hammer, we carefully bend the edges of our workpiece. It is better to do this not chaotically, but in a certain order.
First we bend one side, and then we bend the other.
Now the side panels take turns.
After this, we will start bending the protruding petals. They will make the structure itself more rigid, and it will not “play”.
We can use pliers to wrap the protruding parts on the top of the box.
After such manipulations, you should carefully go over the entire product with a hammer, straightening it.
In this case, it turned out to be a small box. But using this principle, you can make a similar one - larger, and in the end you will get a metal tool box like this.
So, if you want, everything is possible.
We hope that this article will be useful to you, dear readers. If your tools are organized, then complement it by making a regular tool box. If your tools do not have a permanent “place of residence,” then think about building a two- or even three-story “transformable house” for it. Try to do this, and your tool will always be in place, and you yourself will be pleased to use a product you made yourself in your household.
Video
This video shows how you can make a toolbox from scrap materials:
See how you can make tool organizer cases yourself:
Any repair requires special tools. And the instrument loves order. As a minimum organization of the workplace, a tool box is needed. Similar designs are sold in stores, but it will be easier and more convenient to make a tool box with your own hands.
Today, a huge number of organizers have been invented. Let's look at the most popular options:
- Portable box. An ordinary wooden box without a lid with a handle. It's easy and convenient to carry tools without a motor on a long handle: hammer, screwdrivers, awls, open-end wrenches and adjustable wrenches. But such an organizer will always be a mess, since it is impossible to somehow organize the workspace of such a box. An obvious advantage is the ease of manufacture. More complex instrument It’s impossible to store an electric drill or a screwdriver in such an organizer.
- Drawer with departments. The same wooden box can be made with division of departments. Easy to place in small departments various kinds fasteners: bolts, screws, nuts, etc. Such an organizer can be either with a handle to make it easier to carry, or stationary. But most often the stationary version is performed. The organizer can be extended upward, then the drawer will take the form of a chest of drawers, with many compartments. You can also put power tools in such a place, although this is highly undesirable. The problem is that in order for such a box to support a heavy tool, you need to use thick-walled boards. Even thick plywood will no longer work, as it will begin to sag under the weight of the tools. Therefore, it is better to use a box on a frame to store the entire set of tools.
- Box on a frame with wheels. The main stiffening ribs of such an organizer are made of metal corners. And as shelves, boards are assembled or thick plywood is used. This approach makes the box extremely stable. As a rule, wheels are welded to it for convenient movement in space. A reel with an extension cord can be attached to the box on wheels to make working with a power tool easier.
- Fabric organizer. A fabric organizer is a good option for an apartment. A basic set of open-end wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers and a hammer can easily fit here. The organizer itself is a piece of fabric with pockets, which is rolled up after use and put away in the closet. In addition to the small number of compartments, the disadvantage of such an organizer is its short service life. The fabric quickly becomes dirty and begins to tear. Even purchased products are no different for a long time services, homemade devices, as a rule, “live” even less.
- Unusual models. It would be surprising if none of the masters began to invent all sorts of unusual models. Depending on the available materials, the place where the toolbox will be located and the composition of these tools, everyone can choose the basic version of the organizer and change it to suit themselves.
Design principle and materials of manufacture
Before making a structure, you need to clearly decide for yourself several questions about the future product. By choosing your own option at each point, you can get the design principle.
- The first question is the composition of the tools. If in stock a large number of fastening materials, then it is worth making a separate section for them. This immediately discards the option with a fabric organizer, since the fasteners will simply break through the walls. It is important to have a power tool. If the tools include a drill, screwdriver, hammer drill and other tools of this kind, then a single box will not work. For such an organizer you will have to make a large number of compartments for each of the tools.
- The second criterion is the ability to move the organizer. He comes out of the first one. If the tools include only the most basic set, then it is better to make the box portable. This will allow you to keep the instrument in your apartment. In addition, it is convenient to bring the tools directly to the place of work. The stationary organizer is convenient due to its spaciousness. Here you can place everything you need, starting from simple tools, ending with a grinder and an electric saw.
- The next and final question is the materials used. Plywood cannot support the weight of heavy tools, but it is suitable for creating the top shelves of a stationary organizer. It is best to use boards. This is a material that is fairly easy to fasten and is strong enough to withstand the weight of heavy tools. To give additional rigidity to the box, metal corners are used. Using a metal frame, you can create a fairly stable structure and even put it on wheels for easy movement in space.
Instructions and steps for making a tool box
A step-by-step analysis of the manufacture of basic versions of boxes will help you create your own unique project. In each of the options, you can add additional compartments, use existing materials instead of those specified, and also make any other changes within the design.
The simplest portable box
The simplest portable box was invented back in the Soviet era. It is quite simple to make. There are no compartments for fasteners, but you can make them yourself. The box itself is an open box with a triangular top and crossbar.
There is a tray in the upper part of the structure for small items. There are two mounting options for the box. The parts can be glued on or self-tapping screws can be used. Any board can be used as material. The handle of a shovel or other metal or wooden detail round section. The main thing is that the future box is comfortable to hold in your hand.
You can use thick plywood instead of boards. All parts need to be cut out, it is advisable to process the edges with rough sandpaper. Then, by driving self-tapping screws at the intersection of the parts, fasten all the elements. There's nothing complicated about it, full cycle Making a box will take less than 2 hours. After the organizer is ready, it is advisable to cover it with paint or varnish. Inside, you can make a division using additional partitions, dividing the box into sections.
For small items, you can make a separate section, or you can attach a tray to the top of the drawer. The tray is an open rectangular gutter, which is also attached with self-tapping screws.
Tool box on wheels
A tool box on wheels is already more a complex system storage It can be used to hide heavy power tools. At the same time, the organizer can also accommodate fasteners with the rest of the set of small and medium-sized tools.
Before making a box, you need to estimate the dimensions of the project. First of all, decide on the number of boxes. Keep in mind that you cannot put more than 1-2 electric tools in one drawer. Taking into account the dimensions of the drill or hammer drill, you need to select the depth of the boxes. It is possible to provide open shelves for welding machine and other large equipment.
Another point that you need to decide is the number of drawers in width. As a rule, the design has only one drawer in width, so it is easier to assemble all the elements together. Only the number of drawers in length and their depth change. After assembling the parts, each box is divided into separate storage areas. But if there are too many tools, then the organizer may turn out to be too high, which is very inconvenient. Therefore, for such storage places it is possible to provide a width of two drawers, but between them an additional frame of metal corners is required as a stiffener. It is advisable to make handles on top in the form of curved metal pipes or welded corners. Handles are necessary for easy movement of the organizer.
The material you will need is metal corners as the basis of the structure and plywood as filler. Boards will also work, but they will take up a lot of usable space.
Once the number of drawers has been determined, you can calculate the length and width of the future organizer. The corners are fastened together by welding. The seam should be neat, on the outside of the box. The scale must be knocked off with a hammer. Once the frame is ready, you can immediately weld wheels onto it for moving.
If the organizer is more than 1 drawer wide, you will need more than 4 wheels: 6 or 8 for 2 and 3 drawers, respectively.
The boxes are assembled separately on the floor, after which fasteners from the corners are welded under them, where the boxes are installed. The boxes should be as large as possible; division into sections is done later, immediately across the entire depth of the box using pieces of plywood. You can make your own compartment for each type of tools and fasteners. It all depends only on the preferences of the future owner.
The metal box for tools has a long service life and is convenient for long-distance transportation. To make a box you will need a caliper and a tape measure for measurements, welding and a sheet of metal. It is advisable to use welding as little as possible, most bends must be made using an anvil and a hammer.
First you need to estimate the required volume of the box, put the parts on the sheet and cut along the lines. After this, bend the box and weld the necessary seams. The handle is attached to the drawer with bolts. The resulting design will be in many ways similar to the first wooden version. In order to create additional space for storing tools, you need to attach guides to the bottom for a metal box, which can also be made by welding.
You can make several boxes, securing them with rivets, as shown in the figure. This will make the box more compact and practical. Allows you to store a large number of necessary small items and tools.
Interesting ideas for tool repositories
There are a lot of interesting ideas for tool storage. Let's look at the most popular options:
- Wall cabinet. The slatted cabinet is built above the workbench. It is convenient to store various kinds of keys and tools that may be needed when working at a workbench. In an apartment, such storage is not very convenient, but if the plan includes a wardrobe, then you can hang a wardrobe in it. All tools are stored here in a suspended state, so it is not possible to use the cabinet for storing power tools.
- Box with inserts. Inserts refer to regular pieces of pipe built into a wooden box. It is convenient to insert pliers, blades, wire cutters and other tools with long handles into the scraps.
- Shapes cut out in foam. This is an option for the most pedantic users. A strict shape is cut into a sheet of paralon for each tool, into which the stored tool ideally fits. The foam itself can be placed on any horizontal surface.
There is nothing difficult about making a tool box with your own hands. The main thing is to clearly imagine the end result and the requirements. The most important requirement for an organizer is user convenience. It is better to make a box from what is at hand in order to reduce the cost of the design as much as possible.
The various designs of tool boxes discussed in the article are united by the ease of doing it yourself. Choose a suitable project and, guided by our drawings and photographs, make yourself a convenient portable storage for the tools and equipment used in your work.
Simple open box
This box is good because the tools in it are located in their places and are in sight. You can’t put a lot of accessories in it, but there is room for the main ones. An open box will come in handy at home, when you need to repair something outside the workshop: you put in the box what is missing and go to work.
A wooden tool carrier is heavier than its factory counterparts, so you shouldn’t plan it to be too bulky. The box will not hit your knees if you make it narrow. The high handle also adds convenience - you don’t have to bend low to pick it up.
Select suitable pieces of plywood and scraps pine boards. Mark and cut out the box parts. Select grooves in workpieces using a hand router or make circular saw two cuts and clean out the recess with a narrow chisel.
Details of the box body: 1 - wall (2 pcs.); 2 — sidewall (2 pcs.); 3 - bottom; 4 - groove along the thickness of the partition and a depth of 1/2-1/3 of the thickness of the material
Sand the surfaces and assemble a rectangular box from the blanks. Coat the ends with wood glue and fasten the parts with small nails.
Cut out a central partition from 5 mm plywood, the width of which should be 1 mm less than the distance between the grooves in the walls of the box. Mark the location of the arm cutout, drill an entry hole for the saw, and cut the plywood with a jigsaw.
Partition drawing
Apply glue to the grooves and install the partition in place.
Make two linings for the handle from a block with a cross-section of 20x45 mm, rounding the corners of the blanks with a plane. Prepare holders from slats for hand tools: in one, cut out recesses for pliers and pliers with a jigsaw, and in the other, drill holes for screwdrivers with a drill. Using glue and screws, secure the parts to the partition, placing them at different heights.
To prevent surfaces from getting dirty for a long time, coat the box with varnish.
Tool box in stool
In this upside-down stool, you can carry the tool to any place in the house or yard, and by placing it on its legs, you can reach a shelf or hammer a nail where your height is almost insufficient.
Using plywood or OSB with a thickness of 10-15 mm, cut out the cover (item 1), longitudinal drawers (item 2) and sidewalls (item 3) according to the dimensions indicated in the drawings.
Make a handle and four legs with bevels at the ends at an angle of 15° from bars with a cross-section of 40x50 mm.
Assemble the stool, fastening the parts with screws.
Box assembly diagram: 1 - lid; 2 - drawer; 3 - handle; 4 - leg; 5 - sidewall
Round the edges of the lid and the oblong cutout in it, and apply a finishing coating.
Box for a young master
If your child enjoys tinkering or tinkering, work with him to create a small toolbox for his favorite tools.
Take planed 16mm boards and cut out the parts according to the drawings. Prepare a round birch stick for the handle.
Drawings of drawer parts: 1 - side panel; 2 - bottom; 3 - handle; 4 — handle stand; 5 - holder
Draw lines parallel to the edges on the sides, corresponding to the positions of the handle posts, drill between them through holes under the screws.
Remove any burrs with sandpaper and begin assembling the box. First connect the bottom and sides using glue and screws, then install the handle stand along the marking lines.
Now replace the second post while inserting the handle into the blind holes. Screw on the screwdriver holders.
Paint the box a color of your child's choice.
Wooden box with lid
The required set of tools varies depending on the hobby or profession, respectively, and internal organization box may be different. The next option for carrying tools is suitable for any equipment and is distinguished by its solidity and reliability.
Use light wood for the box: pine, linden or poplar. Optimal thickness planed boards - 12 mm, thinner ones are more difficult to fasten, and thick ones will increase the weight of the structure.
Required accessories:
- Pen.
- Corners - 8 pcs.
- Latch - 2 pcs.
- Loop - 2 pcs.
Mark the lumber according to the drawings and cut the blanks.
Cutting blanks for the box
Table. Parts List
Make sure the cutting is correct by folding the blanks into a box. Sand all parts one by one with 220-grit sandpaper and mark them. Assemble the bottom and lid of the box using clamps, corner clamps or mounting brackets to secure the pieces. Apply wood glue to both joining surfaces.
Drill guide holes for the screws and countersink them for the heads, and after fastening the parts, wipe off excess glue with a rag.
Fasten the body blanks of the portable part. Replace the partitions by screwing them on the sides and bottom.
Screw the carrying handle in the middle.
Install support rails inside the box at a distance of 30 mm from the top.
Use fine sandpaper to clean off pencil marks and burrs near the screws, and blow off dust from the surface.
Cover the box with a layer of polyurethane varnish, after drying, remove the raised pile with a “null” and repeat the finishing.
Align the hinges with the gap between the body and the drawer lid. Mark and make guide holes for screws 10 mm deep, secure the hinges.
Screw the corner covers using small screws.
Install the handle and latches on the lid.
Fill the finished box with tools.
If desired, place containers with dividers or cassettes for storing small items in the large compartment of the drawer.
If you decide to add partitions inside the box, make them removable so that you can change the free space for a new tool.
Household tools have an amazing ability to get lost at the most inopportune moment. If hammers and screwdrivers are used periodically, they are stored anywhere: mezzanines, cabinet shelves, balconies.
Therefore, when the wife asks to hang a shelf, remembering exactly where the drill and screws are located will be problematic. It is much more practical and efficient to store tools in a special box, which can be purchased ready-made or made with your own hands.
What to choose
Let us immediately note that the tool box can be different, and the shape and dimensions directly depend on what is supposed to be stored inside the case.
For hand tools. Usually this is a rectangular design with a handle, where the internal space is divided into one large compartment and 2-3 smaller compartments. It is convenient to store hammers, screwdrivers, and fasteners here.
For power tools. Such cases are usually produced by the manufacturer of the instrument itself. Standard option: a portable box, where one cell is reserved for a power tool and exactly repeats its shape, the rest are intended for equipment: drills, batteries, etc.
Organizers. This modular designs consisting of several boxes various forms and sizes. These options are suitable for professionals and home craftsmen; they are easy to store and transport, and help you quickly find any small item.
When the problem of storing a tool arises, the first thing that comes to mind is to purchase a ready-made tool box in a store. However, this is not the most the best option. The fact is that factory designs are aimed at the average buyer, so they may not be suitable for specific model grinders or drills. In addition, the number of tools usually increases and the internal space becomes small.
To avoid these problems, you can make your own tool box with a little effort and creativity.
From boards
If there are few tools, they are used periodically and only for home use, there is no point in manufacturing a complex structure. It is enough to make an ordinary wooden box from boards so that screwdrivers, hammers and screws are simply in one place and not lying around the entire apartment.
Considering that we are talking about an elementary product, you can do without a preliminary drawing. The main thing is to decide on the size of the sides. For the manufacturing material, it is better to choose edged coniferous boards: this is the most affordable option, which is easy to process.
Consists of homemade box from 5 parts:
- 2 side walls;
- 2 end walls;
The elements are cut out in accordance with the planned dimensions, treated with sandpaper and fastened together with self-tapping screws. For greater reliability, the side parts can be fixed with metal corners.
This homemade wooden box is inconvenient to carry, but it will help you store your tools in one place and not have to look for them throughout the apartment. It can be placed in the trunk of a car, on a pantry shelf or in the garage. Sizes vary depending on what exactly is supposed to be stored inside.
From plywood
DIY plywood tool boxes are eye-catching interesting design. They are easy to use and emphasize the professionalism and qualifications of the home craftsman.
A convenient plywood box with a handle will consist of the following elements:
- bottom – dimensions 450*200 mm, a shallow groove is cut in the middle for a transverse partition;
- walls - cut out in the amount of 4 pieces. A groove is also cut in the middle of the end elements;
- cross post - recommended height 400 mm, length adjusted to the width of the bottom, taking into account the sidewalls. The upper corners of the rack are cut down to create a trapezoidal shape.
The assembly is carried out according to this scheme. To begin with, the body elements are glued together, pressing tightly against each other. While the glue dries, a hole is cut out in the transverse post, which will serve as a handle; wooden dies can be glued to the upper part for ease of grip. Next, the stand is installed in pre-prepared grooves and fixed with glue.
After completing the work, you get a plywood tool box, convenient for carrying. However, you can make the design more functional. To do this, wooden dies are glued to the transverse partition with pre-fabricated drilled holes, where you can place screwdrivers, pliers, side cutters and other necessary for performing homework tools.
To prevent the box from drying out, it is coated with several layers of varnish. For greater reliability, if desired, the bottom is secured to the walls with corners.
Transformation into a stool
From plywood and wooden blocks you can make a portable box for storing tools, which, when turned upside down, will turn into a simple stool or stand for performing work at heights. This is being manufactured universal design according to this scheme.
The bars are cut according to the specified size. They will serve as legs and be located at an angle. To make the stool stable, the upper and lower ends are cut at an angle of 15 degrees.
Sheets of plywood are nailed to the legs, which will become the end walls. The recommended width is 360 mm, the height is selected in such a way as to completely hide the legs without protruding beyond their limits.
The side walls are cut out of plywood and occupy approximately half the width of the block. The edges of the rectangle are cut at an angle to exactly match the angle of the legs.
The cover is made rectangular and attached to the ends of the racks with self-tapping screws.
After the work is done, turn the resulting stool upside down, turning it into a deep box for storing tools. To make the structure convenient to carry, cut out wooden block, which in length will correspond to the distance between the walls. Round off sharp corners, screw the block with self-tapping screws and get a comfortable handle, which additionally serves as a stiffener.
Organizer box
It's more complex design but it's perfect for storage big tool and additional little things: fastening elements, corners, nails and much more. At first glance, such boxes seem to be a complex mechanism, but in fact they can be made independently by spending a little free time.
The manufacturing process is conventionally divided into 3 stages:
- We assemble the body. This is a deep plywood box with an open top, which is intended for storing large tools, such as an angle grinder, a screwdriver or an electric drill. However, you can do the opposite: divide the internal space into several sections wooden dies and store bolts, nuts and screws here;
- additional boxes. There will be 4 of them, and they are installed on top of the main box, which must be taken into account when determining the dimensions. Additional drawers should not extend beyond the boundaries of the base. To give the structure a complete look, the upper boxes are equipped with lids;
- individual elements are combined into a single whole. To do this, the organizer is assembled in finished look, markings are made on the walls for installing metal plates: 3 pieces for a group of boxes on each side. Then, in accordance with the applied markings, holes are drilled where the bushings are installed.
To make the organizer easy to carry, the top drawers can be additionally equipped with handles.
Note that here are the most simple options. With a little effort, you can turn an ordinary toolbox into a work of art that will become a real decoration for your garage, country house and a city apartment.
