2019-04-16T15-34-21

When it comes to planing stock to thickness, I really like starting the job with my scrub plane; it can take really heavy shavings and still is easy to push; once it gets me to about 1/16” of the line, I switch to a regular bench plane to finish the job. BTW, this is a quick, new project made from a small piece of what I thought was Butternut, that has been lying around for about 22 years; once I started planing it, though, I felt it was way harder than Butternut, so I will have to call it a mystery wood. #WorkbenchTote #Tote #Tray #Butternut #MysteryWood #HandToolsOnly #Woodworking

2019-04-17T13-20-37

Now that all the pieces are dimensioned, you can easily guess what this is going to be ;-) #WorkbenchTote #Tote #Tray #BrownOak #Oak #MysteryWood #HandToolsOnly #Woodworking

2019-04-25T10-19-19

The lap joints for the workbench tote are ready and I am working on the grooves that hold up the bottom; rather than use the plow plane and plug the ends, I have decided to chop a stopped groove just like I would for a shallow mortise. After levelling the bottom with the router plane, the result is pretty clean. #WorkbenchTote #Tote #Tray #BrownOak #Oak #MysteryWood #HandToolsOnly #Woodworking

2019-04-25T11-31-20

The lap joints for the workbench tote are ready and I am working on the grooves that hold up the bottom; rather than use the plow plane and plug the ends, I have decided to chop a stopped groove just like I would for a shallow mortise. After levelling the bottom with the router plane, the result is pretty clean. #WorkbenchTote #Tote #Tray #BrownOak #Oak #MysteryWood #HandToolsOnly #Woodworking

2019-04-25T11-33-58

The lap joints for the workbench tote are ready and I am working on the grooves that hold up the bottom; rather than use the plow plane and plug the ends, I have decided to chop a stopped groove just like I would for a shallow mortise. After levelling the bottom with the router plane, the result is pretty clean. #WorkbenchTote #Tote #Tray #BrownOak #Oak #MysteryWood #HandToolsOnly #Woodworking

2019-04-25T12-10-12

The ends of the groove in the side pieces of the workbench tote are hidden behind the joinery of the end pieces, so I could make them really quickly with the plow plane; the problem is, these grooves are a bit narrower than the ones chopped in the end pieces and here is where I really appreciate having a side rabbet plane; two or three shavings on each side solved the problem in no time at all! #WorkbenchTote #Tote #Tray #BrownOak #Oak #MysteryWood #HandToolsOnly #Woodworking

2019-04-26T12-02-49

Here is the current state of the workbench tote; the grooves for the bottom are done and the bottom edges are beveled to fit in the grooves; the stopped dados for the middle divider are ready as well. Now it is time to start shaping the divider/handle and wrap it all up. #WorkbenchTote #Tote #Tray #BrownOak #Oak #MysteryWood #WesternHemlock #Hemlock #HandToolsOnly #Woodworking

2019-04-29T16-33-14

Lots of little steps to shape the handle piece for the workbench tote. I started with circle templates and French curves, drilled the holes with a brace and Auger bit and joined them with a keyhole saw, sawed the outer profile with a bow saw, got down to my lines with a carving knife and a chisel, then moved on to a couple of rasps, small files, and finished with sandpaper. #WorkbenchTote #Tote #Tray #BrownOak #Oak #MysteryWood #HandToolsOnly #Woodworking

2019-04-29T16-34-06

Lots of little steps to shape the handle piece for the workbench tote. I started with circle templates and French curves, drilled the holes with a brace and Auger bit and joined them with a keyhole saw, sawed the outer profile with a bow saw, got down to my lines with a carving knife and a chisel, then moved on to a couple of rasps, small files, and finished with sandpaper. #WorkbenchTote #Tote #Tray #BrownOak #Oak #MysteryWood #HandToolsOnly #Woodworking

2019-04-30T16-08-18

Being overly prudent when it comes to glueing, I have decided to glue up the workbench tote in two steps: (1) glue the divider/handle to the bottom; (2) glue that assembly to the side and end pieces. #WorkbenchTote #Tote #Tray #BrownOak #Oak #MysteryWood #WesternHemlock #Hemlock #HandToolsOnly #Woodworking

2019-05-01T10-31-02

With decorative nails and a first coat of varnish oil, the workbench tote is just about ready for service; many thanks to Jim Tolpin for his design and inspiring “The New Traditional Woodworker” book. My only regret is that by mistake I made the hand-hole way too long (I centered the drill bit where the end of the hole was supposed to be) and hope this will not weaken the handle too much. #WorkbenchTote #Tote #Tray #BrownOak #Oak #MysteryWood #WesternHemlock #Hemlock #HandToolsOnly #Woodworking

2019-05-01T10-31-45

With decorative nails and a first coat of varnish oil, the workbench tote is just about ready for service; many thanks to Jim Tolpin for his design and inspiring “The New Traditional Woodworker” book. My only regret is that by mistake I made the hand-hole way too long (I centered the drill bit where the end of the hole was supposed to be) and hope this will not weaken the handle too much. #WorkbenchTote #Tote #Tray #BrownOak #Oak #MysteryWood #WesternHemlock #Hemlock #HandToolsOnly #Woodworking

2019-05-01T10-32-11

With decorative nails and a first coat of varnish oil, the workbench tote is just about ready for service; many thanks to Jim Tolpin for his design and inspiring “The New Traditional Woodworker” book. My only regret is that by mistake I made the hand-hole way too long (I centered the drill bit where the end of the hole was supposed to be) and hope this will not weaken the handle too much. #WorkbenchTote #Tote #Tray #BrownOak #Oak #MysteryWood #WesternHemlock #Hemlock #HandToolsOnly #Woodworking

2019-05-01T10-34-11

With decorative nails and a first coat of varnish oil, the workbench tote is just about ready for service; many thanks to Jim Tolpin for his design and inspiring “The New Traditional Woodworker” book. My only regret is that by mistake I made the hand-hole way too long (I centered the drill bit where the end of the hole was supposed to be) and hope this will not weaken the handle too much. #WorkbenchTote #Tote #Tray #BrownOak #Oak #MysteryWood #WesternHemlock #Hemlock #HandToolsOnly #Woodworking