Before I let the cat out of the bag and show you the vagabond tool [...]]]> I have finally finished my portable tool rack design.  It is a tool roll, rack and box, all in one.  Maybe not really a box, but then it may be better.  Read along, and you can be the judge.

Before I let the cat out of the bag and show you the vagabond tool rack,

let me give you the background on this project.

For three years I have been working on building a better tool box.  I really like my hexagonal one,

but the truth is, I only pull it out when I want to impress someone with it’s rustic splendor.  The problem is, that it take up too much space.  Unfolded it is about a yard square.  It covers a table.   On the floor it can be quite a reach to get a tool from where you are standing.  I love it, but it just isn’t convenient.

On my journey of exploring tool box methods, I became intrigued by the  Japanese Tool Box.    Essentially this is a very convenient crate.  A simple crate is less likely to be absconded with, so the crate was a better method of protecting tools, than a fancy box would have been.

Thinking about this, I came to a critical turning point.  No fancy box, instead the modern equivalent of the crate.  The perfect container, really, the pickle bucket.   It is nondescript, common, replaceable and air tight!  That is correct, it no only makes a good stool, it protects from weather like no other tool box can.  It is waterproof.

The only flaws to the pickle bucket are it’s difficulty in opening and closing and it’s clear lack of class.  since the lack of class, helps protect tools, I have to say, it is a very real advantage.

The Gamma Seal solves the opening and closing issue as well.

This lid holds liquids, but unscrews easily.  Makes a good sorting tray as well. Closed, the tools are safe from dust, and weather. With it open, the tools inside can be reached easily enough. Especially if they are on a nice rack.

My first thought was to build a rack that could divide the tools up in the bucket and protect them. When I took it out, I could then assemble the tool rack and put the tools on it.

This design works great, and fits together nicely with a few dovetails.

It, and all of it’s brethren still take a bit of time to put together and take apart. And the multiple racks end up, once again taking up a lot of table space. You also end up setting up and arranging a lot of tools that you don’t even use that day. Cute, but far from perfect.

Finally I came up with a rack that I liked, that also shielded the cutting edge of the saws.

It also had another great advantage, it was stable. The thing absorbs blows, that would knock over a ridged rack, and just flows with it. You can knock it over, but it takes a good hit to do it.

A lot of time went into drilling holes, until I realized, I was making pegboard. Silly me.

On the next model, I started using paracord, and decided that I really liked it. I tried a lot of different knot and stitching formations to try and get it just right.

I also found that barrel locks did a perfect job of tying down tools and still letting you get them out easily. I had planned to make a bunch of leather and wood fittings, and I still plan to, but the paracord and barrel lock combo does a really nice job and remains easy to modify. You can see the knit handle for lifting the tool rack out of the bucket. My brilliant wife knit this for me. It doubles as a bit of emergency cord, as it can be easily unraveled.

The final form, is simple and hold a lot of tools conveniently. The white board improves the lighting in front of it, so it is pretty convenient to have at the back of a table.

While I do think that a darker surface looks a bit cooler,

The advantage of improved lighting might make the white version advantageous.

Planes, scissors, spare paracord and barrel locks, a try square, and a scribe.

Marking knives, bevel gauge, bevel setter, two chisels, combination square and a sharpie.

Four more chisels an aluminum bronze mallet, screwdriver, pencil and strop.

A wooden mallet, scratch awl, lighter, flashlight, knife, and chisel.  All that is missing is the cutting gauge.   There is still more than enough room for a small one.

It can also be put together using cable ties. Very tight and stable, really nice. Somehow I prefer the paracord, even though the cable ties are much cheaper and easier to use.

Finished, the vagabond tool rack is stable and has lots of room on it.

And it fits nicely into a six gallon plastic pail!

It fits on the end of a worktable and still leaves room for tools, work and a cat.

Bob

The cross bar is made from ash.  The point has been shaped into a triangle.

This tool is pretty useful, it has even been borrowed by several people and returned damaged.  It still works fine.  You stick the point where you want [...]]]> Here is my giant dibbler.  Made from a pine 4×4.

The cross bar is made from ash.  The point has been shaped into a triangle.

This tool is pretty useful, it has even been borrowed by several people and returned damaged.  It still works fine.  You stick the point where you want to plant a small tree or such, and then step on the crossbar to push it into the ground.  Place the plant into the hole, and add some extra soil.  A bit of water helps.

The triangular point is to resolve issues with hard soil.  A round hole, can cause a plant put into hard soil, to make a spiral mess of roots.  A triangular hole will prevent roots from defecting along a smooth curved wall.  This makes for healthier and more stable plants.

Additionally this is a very useful tool to have when the giant vampires attack.

Bob

The main downside, is also an upside. There is no great appeal to the old pickle bucket. Just as the Japanese wooden [...]]]> Sadly, the ultimate tool box may be a five gallon plastic bucket. Hardly what one considers a timeless classic, but then again, I doubt future archeologists will consider them a rare find.

The main downside, is also an upside. There is no great appeal to the old pickle bucket. Just as the Japanese wooden tool box is a purely utilitarian crate, this is purely utilitarian. The plastic bucket does not attract attention and hardly announces that valuable tools are kept inside it. Another downside, is that in a hundred years, I doubt the plastic will be in great shape. Additionally the aesthetic does not really speak of refined tool work.   With a bit of grunge ground into the outside the aesthetic goes even further downhill.

On the upside however, these are tough, available, secure storage. They will survive a canoe trip, flood, or whatever and still keep tools in good shape. They keep weather and insects at bay, while making a pretty good stool.   Additionally there are slews of organizers available for them.   So for planning for emergencies, these may be the ultimate TEOTWAWKI tool box.

Personally I think I like the six or seven gallon better, a few tools are a bit longer and need the room.   In any case they should be equipped with a Gamma Seal, the best most secure and easy to use lid.

I will still be making and using wooden tool boxes.  Art matters.  Maybe I should make a wooden tool box that fits in a seven gallon bucket.

Bob