A few weeks ago, I ordered Christopher Schwarz’s book, The Anarchist’s Tool Chest. Once I got it, I found it a quick read. It was clear and concise and more importantly inspirational. I found Chris’s discussion of his woodworking journey especially touching. Some of it even paralleled my own journey though mine wasn’t often reported on the pages of a woodworking magazine.
I think the important point of Chris’s book was to be inspired by the desire to create. My path is different. I’m ok with getting rid of different power tools while retaining others. I prefer wall hanging tool chests to floor standing chests. I love tradition but I understand my needs and desire so I may find other traditions to move me.
It’s not much of a review but there are many glowing reviews out there already. Go read the book and be inspired by Chris’s story in your own way.
I’ve been holding on to a few power tools that I know I could live without. My small shop really needs me to be disciplined enough not to be a tool collector so I decided it was time to get rid of a few. I may decide to replace the machine thickness planer but I will attempt to do this activity by hand for a while before making the choice. I’m keeping my bandsaw and my router table and my selection of Festool tools (especially the circular saw and track system) for some wood prep.
I’m making my bench the center point of the shop. I hope to build or buy a better bench in the future but this will tide me over for a bit. I’m inspired by Chris’s story about placing his workbench in front of his only window. I actually have 2 windows though they are both in doors. I decided to block one door with my bench and use it for some natural light on my bench. Brilliant though I’d like to know why I didn’t think of it sooner.
On the left side of the door/window, I am building a saw til which is roughly inspired by Shannon Rogers Hand Tool School’s Season 1 Saw Til Project. I will post more about the saw til in the near future.
On the right side of the door/window, I have a quickly built (read plywood) hanging tool chest. I am going to rebuild this based on many pieces found on the internet though it will not be elaborate and instead will be designed to fit into the space I have.
I am putting my guitar projects aside for a few weeks to accomplish these 2 builds. I’ll post on both.
Here are some shots of the reorganization.
You can see my bench in front of the door and the bare location which will hold the saw til when I’m finished. My saw till will likely be oversized but I’m still figuring out which saws I want and need so it’s the one area I may expand my tools.
Again, see the bench and above it is the existing hanging tool chest. You can also see my saw benches which now have plenty of room to be used. My goal with rebuilding the tool chest is to make the internal space more optimized so that I can have all my planes, spokeshaves, cutting and marking, measuring, and such in it. I’d like to keep the outer doors clean too even though it does provide simple access to some tools.
Above you can see what’s on either side of the door that will stay a functional door. These are the 2 power tools I plan to keep at this point. Next to the router is a jig for routing out neck attachment to guitar bodies. This is only it’s temporary home. It’s spot could be where I put a new power thickness planer if I choose to add it back to my shop. I’ve found that I beginning to get the hang of flattening but thicknessing can still be challenge.
You can see my sharpening station and all the storage I have in my shop. Sharpening is something I may change up after reading more (from Chris’s book and other sources) about oil stones. It sounds like oil stone maintenance is a simpler task. I will still keep the Tormek for grinding but most sharpening (I’ve found) is stone work and not grinding.
I find it actually fun to go into the shop again. That is what inspiration should do. Thanks Chris!
