Simple and Handy Toolbox

To build the toolbox, you should have a planed 13x60x450 mm alder board.
To ensure integrity of your end product, it is recommended to use unicolor edge-grain parts.

Select work-pieces by color and number them. It is imperative that you read grain direction. Mark out face sides.

Before gluing parts together, smooth joint surfaces with a hand plane; shape work-pieces in couples and keep them face to face. To avoid tear-outs, retract the iron to the minimum position.

When you have smoothed the work-pieces, glue them together into small boards. Remove excess glue with a damp sponge. Wait for the glue to dry.

When the glue dries completely, smooth one of the sides using a simple tool. Mark the surface with a marker or pencil to control cuts. It is important that you do not shave off more than 1.5-2 mm. Mark this side as front.

Plane the work-pieces down to 10 mm thick on a thickness planer.

Adjust width using a circular saw.

Trim the work-pieces down to the needed size using a miter saw.

Cut a template out of a piece of paper. Outline side walls using the template. Mark the center point of the future 20 mm hole. Cut out side walls with a jigsaw power tool and sand the edges.

Cut grooves for the bottom using a handheld router tool fixed on a router table and equipped with a circular groove cutter. Cross-cut grooves for inside partitions using the miter saw. Cut handle holes with a 20 mm drill.

Fit the parts together without using glue and trim them if necessary. Polish all the parts with a polishing tool. Prepare the toolboxes for gluing.

Smear the parts with glue and clamp them together. Do not use glue when inserting the bottom and inside partitions. It is absolutely imperative that you leave expansion gaps to allow for wood movement. Remove excess glue with a damp sponge. Wait for the glue to dry.

When the glue dries completely, scrape joints with a hand scraper. Trim the side walls’ edges using a flush trim router bit featuring a R5 cutter. Cut a hole for a 5x30 mm loose tenon using a Domino tenon joiner.

Carve handles out of 22x22 mm work-pieces. Drill 8 mm dowel pin holes. Polish your toolbox.

Finish your toolboxes with white wood oil.

Now your portable toolboxes are ready. A durable toolbox is a staple in any garage or workshop by keeping all your parts and tools organized in one portable unit. This simple portable toolbox will help you in the kitchen and garden.

It is spacious, durable, and easy to craft.