October 2005
Issue 161

When it comes to doing detail routing, a small trim router makes the work a lot easier and hassle free. The Colt Palm Router (PR20EVSK) is available from Bosch Tools. Their contact information is below. You can also purchase this router from the Woodsmith Store.

I was able to find the Ridgid R2400 laminate trimmer at a local Home Depot. You can get more details, as well as ordering information, from Ridgid by using the information below.

Using a good honing guide makes sharpening your chisels and other cutting blades a lot quicker, easier, and more accurate. The Veritas Mk. II Honing Guide (#05M09.01) came from Lee Valley. It's also available from the Woodsmith Store. You should be able to find it for around $50.

You won't need anything in the way of hardware to build the marquetry box. But you will need wood for the inlay blanks if you don't have enough scrap pieces. A number of different wood species in a variety of thicknesses can be found at Inlay Product World or from Constantine's.

You may want to find patterns to follow for cutting the inlays for the marquetry. Pattern books and other marquetry supplies can be ordered from the same sources.

You won't need much hardware to complete the accent table, but you will need a piece of glass for the top. Since you can't cut tempered glass to size yourself, you'll need some help. I built the top first and then ordered the glass to fit. The ¼″-thick piece of frosted, tempered glass I used came from a local glass shop.

One thing that gives the tool chest a really authentic look is using the right hardware. Almost all of the antique-looking hardware I used for the project came from Van Dyke's Restorers.

This hardware includes the small, heavy-duty cabinet hinges (#02014884), medium black lifter handles (#02007188) for the outside of the chest, and the small lifter handles (#02007187) for the inside trays. I also used a heavy iron hasp (#02004558) and a black steel padlock (#02014191) to secure the lid. I was able to find the chain and screws needed at a local hardware store.

You can cut the dovetails used to join the chest by hand. But if you use a router you'll need an adjustable dovetail jig that can rout through dovetails.

Many jigs will work, but I used the D4 jig made by Leigh Industries. You can order it directly from them.

If you're going to build the rabbeted-case version of the tool chest from page 37, you may want to get some wrought head nails. The 1½″ nails I used can be found at either Lee Valley (#912240.03) or Rockler (#32379).