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In the above video you’ll learn how to make a simple dovetailed tool box that I designed a couple years ago for Christmas presents for my two sons. This is a great starter project for anyone wanting to get started using hand tools…and a great place to store your hand tools!

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In the video I reference my dovetail tutorial videos (in case you need a tutorial). You can find it here at this link.

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I designed this dovetail tool tote to be cut from one pre-dimensioned 1x8x8 tulip poplar board, which can easily be found at your local home center (like Lowes or Home Depot…here’s what I bought). Want advice on how to choose your board? See my video “How to Choose Lumber for Woodworking“.

Obviously you can use other types of wood. If you want to learn how to dimension your own board from rough lumber, refer to my tutorial for squaring boards.

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A 1x8x8 board’s real dimensions are 3/4″ thick x 7 1/4″ wide x 8′ long. Of course, you can make this dovetail tool tote any size you like. Here is the cut list for my panels:

  • Two longer boards: 3/4″ x 7-1/4″ x 18″
  • Four shorter boards: 3/4″ x 7-1/4″ x 10″
  • The handle just needs to be longer than the assembled box, and can be cut from the leftover wood.
  • 1/4″ thick wood for the box bottom. If you can’t find real wood this thin, then you can easily find small 1/4″ plywood panels for a good price.

© Joshua T. Farnsworth

After you’ve joined the rectangular box together with dovetail joinery, then you can take it apart and glue on the angled top. You would then cut the handle and mortises, plow the grooves, cut the bottom, and finally glue it all together…don’t worry, the video covers it all.

© Joshua T. Farnsworth

TOOLS THAT YOU’LL NEED

Even though I’ve written a nice hand tool buying guide (here), I’m still often asked for links to the tools that I use in my videos, so here is a list of tools that I used (or mentioned) in this video:

WORKBENCH:
HAND PLANES:
HAND SAWS:
CHISELS:
MARKING & MEASURING:
MALLETS & HAMMERS:
BRACE & AUGER BITS

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