It’s been a few weeks since I had enough time or energy for writing about woodworking, let alone doing any actual woodworking. But those few weeks ago I managed to advance my tool chest project quite a bit, by adding the lower skirt.

It doesn’t seem like much, but it’s a huge part of the project.
Fitting a skirt is never easy. A goberge (seen below) was enough to close the gaps on the front and back skirts. But I somehow managed to mess up one of the shoulders on the back lower skirt, resulting in a decent gap at the back left corner. I don’t think there is a structural issue, but I plan to drive some slotted screws at each corner through the end skirts, just in case.

Also, don’t make a goberge from soft wood. It’s a nightmare to fit.
I’m trying to make this thing entirely with materials on hand, so the tray runners are a mishmash of hardwoods. The bottom runner is ash, leftover from the sitting bench project. The middle runner is home center hobby board red oak that was once upon a time going to be a floorboard for another till. The top runner is some re-sawn 4/4 red oak from another lumber yard. I forgot how gross and unstable kiln dried red oak is.

This stuff curled right back up once re-sawn from 4/4.
The runners are glued flat against the inside wall, so the cupping after re-sawing turned out to be a good thing. A de facto spring joint closed up nicely with some screw clamps.

O! to own more screw clamps. This had to dry completely before I could do the other side.
For the top tray, I will add a fourth runner: some drawer tape. It’s just ultra-high molecular weight, low friction plastic with adhesive backing. But it does work wonders to prevent wear on the soft pine walls.
Next up, if I ever find the time, is the top skirt, following which I will paint the carcase and attach the chest lifts. I’m going ultra-lazy on this one and making a plywood raised panel lid. Then it’s just tills, tool racks, and sliding trays.
Sounds easy, right?
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Glad to see some progress – wish I could say the same. All I seem to make is tools and jigs. Maybe 2018. Happy holidays and thanks for the posts.
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Thanks! Happy Holidays!
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