Stewmac Luthier Toolbox Plans

[Steve Holt]

Looks like Stewmac has unveiled plans for a DIY toolbox that you can build and store your neat tools in.

The cool thing is they include files for a ton of their tools to be able to laser cut foam outlines and keep everything nice. It's probably too organized for me, but I got the plans and saved them on my computer for a someday project. Might be just as easy to go buy a harbor freight toolbox and throw the foam inserts in that.

Looks like they'll someday sell the plans for $99, but right now they're letting you download for free. So you might wander over there, download the plans and save them for a rainy day before they start selling them.

 

[backwater]

Link : https://www.stewmac.com/video-and-i...tures/free-plans-ultimate-luthier-tool-chest/

 

[Steve Holt]

Link : https://www.stewmac.com/video-and-i...tures/free-plans-ultimate-luthier-tool-chest/

Oh yeah, good call offering a link! Missed that part.

 

[Dan Miller]

I started building this tool chest, and unfortunately have found a number of problems with the plans. Here is what I just wrote to StewMac support:

I am building the Ultimate Luthier Tool Chest from plans offered by StewMac, and have encountered a number of problems with them. Sadly, these errors (especially the first two listed below), have cost me a couple days work, and I expect I will have to buy another sheet of 1/2” plywood.

Here are the issues I’ve encountered so far:

1. The CutList Optimizer printout for the 1/2” plywood has little basis in reality. The dimensions given for the drawer pieces don’t match the ones in the cut list (page6), nor are all of the pieces required accounted for.

2. The dimensions for the drawer sides and front/back pieces are incorrect on the cut list (page 6). The front/back pieces should be 17-1/2” (16-7/8” given). The side pieces should be a maximum of 16-1/4 inch long, allowing for 1/4” applied facing). These are given as 17-1/2” on the cut list.

3. The instructions put the drawer bottoms in a rabbet; the construction drawings show the bottoms in grooves. This is an inconsistency.

4. The upper left drawing on the Drawer Layout plan has incorrect dimensions.

 

[Dan Miller]

Just an update to acknowledge that StewMac has acknowledged my support request and that "it is taking a little longer than expected to reply to your message."

 

[Dan Miller]

Latest from StewMac was they forwarded my comments to the authors of the plans. Have heard nothing more.

Here, after several more hiccups, is the rough carcase. The shells will probably get painted - I have plenty of milk paint and marine paint left over from other projects, so will probably go one way or the other. The drawer fronts and front edges will get trimmed with cherry - there is a board in attic just waiting to do this.

I plan to overlay the top with veg-tan leather, so as to double as an auxiliary work space for my guitar and amp benches.

 

[Dan Miller]

Another update:
Progress made on my StewMac tool chest. Exterior painted with dark green milk paint and a coat of tung oil, top covered with un-dyed veg tan leather. I also started milling the black cherry for the drawer facings and face frame.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, there were a number of problems with the plan set from SM. They have revised it based on my feed back, but there are still uncorrected issues (notably the width of the uppermost shallow drawers that don't use extension slides.

Oh, and on top of the chest, demonstrating its utility as a workstation, is todays arrival - a (non-functioning) Traynor amp that I purchased specifically to help develop my amp tech chops.

 

[eallen]

Now you know why there were free! They were looking for free labor to proof the plans.

 

[Dan Miller]

Now you know why there were free! They were looking for free labor to proof the plans.

That thought had occurred to me

 

[schmee]

Looks like Stewmac has unveiled plans for a DIY toolbox that you can build and store your neat tools in.

The cool thing is they include files for a ton of their tools to be able to laser cut foam outlines and keep everything nice. It's probably too organized for me, but I got the plans and saved them on my computer for a someday project. Might be just as easy to go buy a harbor freight toolbox and throw the foam inserts in that.

Looks like they'll someday sell the plans for $99, but right now they're letting you download for free. So you might wander over there, download the plans and save them for a rainy day before they start selling them.

You can get a nicely crafted wood toolbox at Harbor Freight for $89 ready to use. $69 when there's a sale. Green felt lined, solid wood. Mine's great.
Fuggitaboudit.

8 Drawer Wood Tool Chest

Amazing deals on this 8 Drawer Wood Tool Chest at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

 

[mandoloony]

This must be the only episode of The New Yankee Workshop I haven't seen.

 

[Duggo]

I'm hoping to win the free one.

 

[Steve Holt]

You can get a nicely crafted wood toolbox at Harbor Freight for $89 ready to use. $69 when there's a sale. Green felt lined, solid wood. Mine's great.
Fuggitaboudit.

8 Drawer Wood Tool Chest

Amazing deals on this 8 Drawer Wood Tool Chest at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

Yep! I've got one and wouldn't give it up. If I had a good spot to put the stewmac box, I'd probably make it as well.

Funny story on that toolbox was I saw a Craigslist ad someone had posted where they were selling 10 guitars and one of those toolboxes for like 1200 bucks. But it was all or none and local pickup only 2 states away. I was so excited about that toolbox, perfect for guitar tools, that I was really considering buying 10 guitars and driving to Iowa or Illinois (can't remember) from Kansas just for that toolbox.

I figured I could sell all the guitars individually and at least make my money back, even if it took some time. They weren't very nice guitars though, so it's not like it would have been a steal.

Anyway, a few minutes of research and the term machinist toolbox popped up and I found the little devil on harbor freight.

 

[moosie]

@Dan Miller, those wide bottom drawers.... about 36"? With ball bearing full extension glides, one per side? How are you keeping the drawers from racking? I have trouble with those, when they get that wide.

 

[Tarkus60]

You can get a nicely crafted wood toolbox at Harbor Freight for $89 ready to use. $69 when there's a sale. Green felt lined, solid wood. Mine's great.
Fuggitaboudit.

8 Drawer Wood Tool Chest

Amazing deals on this 8 Drawer Wood Tool Chest at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

I have one also love it!

 

[Havins]

when I was looking for a new (to me) tool chest, I simply started looking at Marketplace, Offer Up, and Craigslist. For about $125 I wound up with a much better set up......

 

[trapdoor2]

I'll be gutting this old Victrola and converting it into my Luthery toolbox...

Probably 3 or 4 drawers behind the bottom doors, several thin drawers behind the upper doors. Under the top will be a nice well (after the motor, platen and tone arm are removed.

 

[Dan Miller]

You can get a nicely crafted wood toolbox at Harbor Freight for $89 ready to use. $69 when there's a sale. Green felt lined, solid wood. Mine's great.

Yeah, I have one of those, and also a really nice mahogany Gerstner (in photo below), and a metal Kennedy. I've tried to love them, but I don't. They take up too much real estate, the drawers aren't deep enough or wide enough, and you need clearance to lift the top.

@moosie - Seems pretty rigid so far. The inset plywood bottom really stiffens the drawer.

Here it is with (unfinished) cherry drawer facings and pulls installed. Note how it cleverly is at the same height as the electronics bench .

 

[moosie]

Nice looking shop space.

Seems pretty rigid so far. The inset plywood bottom really stiffens the drawer.

I didn't mean the drawer itself racks (goes out of square). But it won't stay straight in the opening. One track gets slightly ahead of the other because the force is not exactly the same on each side. It's been a problem for me with drawers over 30" wide. The "solution" is to operate them carefully, with equal force on both tracks. That doesn't work for me, as these are shop furniture, used repeatedly throughout the day.

Here are my mainly-used shop drawers. Plus another bank of nine under construction that'll slide in under my secondary workbench. The white oak ones are nearly 20x20. Operation is flawless when pulled and pushed carelessly from any angle.

 

[Dan Miller]

@moosie Nice cabs! Mine was supposed to be a quick and dirty build without needing to think... As to the wide drawers - time will tell I guess.