The Woodshop Shed

Tool cart

Furnished content.
(from Lumberjocks.com)


One of the first steps on my woodworking journey was to organize our garage. Otherwise, I had nowhere to work! We have a large two car garage, but it was stuffed with… stuff. I moved everything around, found space for a bench and got to work.Now that I've worked in the space for a year-plus, I realize it's not working. I also have realized that while I like the idea of putting all of my tools out and open on shelves, that's not a good solution for a space that is routinely covered with sawdust. I needed a tool cart or cabinet.I looked at dozens of plans and came up with a simple design. The biggest challenge was that I decided I wanted to use only supplies I already owned. I would save money for more interesting projects and make a dent on the scrap pile. That meant using a collection of plywood that ranged from “Good, if a little shopworn and slightly warped,” through “Eh, OK” to “Lordy what happened to this stuff?”I made So Many Mistakes. The worst was completely miscalculating the width of the drawers and cutting my very limited supply of plywood for the drawer bases too narrow. I realized this just AFTER gluing and nailing the cabinet carcase. I frantically pried out the nails before the glue dried and took it apart, thank goodness. Then I recut the back, base and top so the drawers would fit.I also realized, after two drawers were complete, that the sides were bowing out partly because they were already warped and partly from the weight. So I turned one drawer base into a part of the carcase and glued and nailed it in place.That means I'm short one drawer base and will have to break down and buy plywood! That's OK, I won't need a full sheet. And anyway I think I'm going to put some kind of thin plywood facing on the drawer fronts. I don't mind it looking functional, but the contrasting plywood is a bit much.I worked very hard on the dividers for the top drawer, and while it's in no way perfect, the tidy little spaces bring me great joy.In the next week or so, I'll buy drawer pulls and locking casters and finish the last drawer. It's not glamorous, but it will make my space much more functional.

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