The Toolbox Book: A Craftsman's Guide to Tool Chests, Cabinets, and Storage Systems

by Jim Tolpin

In this guided tour of some of the world's best tool-storage solutions, you'll learn how the toolbox evolved as an essential tool and how the site boxes of today have their roots in long-ago journeyman's tool chests. But this book also provides practical advice on how to develop a tool-storage strategy of your own. Jim Tolpin guides you through creating an individual tool storage system best suited to your needs -- from planning, through selection of materials, construction and finishing (including special situations like waterproofing the lid of a box intended for a job site).

Genres: Woodwork, Nonfiction, Reference

208 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1995

Reviews

[Koen Crolla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Contains a surprising number of shockingly ugly and poorly constructed toolboxes as well as a few that are clearly just for looking at, but also a bunch that are good and wholesome and worth taking inspiration from. The crap ones are all modern ones and mostly made by people who are not woodworkers, so they're presumably included to pretend the book is a broad historical survey of major toolbox types from prehistory (the 18th century) through today (the 1990s), but I don't think anyone is really buying that—apart from anything else, the historical context Tolpin provides for the good toolboxes ranges from suspect to clearly bullshit.
I'm still not sold on the concept of working out of a tool chest in your home workshop—neither were most craftsmen historically, as Tolpin himself was confronted with in one of his anecdotes—but if you want to build a decent one, this book is as good a place to start as any.

[Kim Zinkowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational organization!

[Kevin Driskill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very diverse in scope. There is a little about a lot in this book. Fun and filled with ideas.

[Ezra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding!!!

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book about tool boxes with lots of eye candy and some projects. Book assumes you are an advanced woodworker.

For plans and instructions you can read: Make Your Own Toolbox: A Woodworker’s Guide to Building Chests, Cases & Cabinets

[Dan Carey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides historical perspective, great design considerations and ideas, and detailed constructions information for some particular examples.

[Additional note: There are some books that just keep popping up into my brain. This is one. So while I originally read a library volume (thank you, Inter-Library Loan!), I bought a used hardback version a few months later.]

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book for those woodworkers who have amassed a goodly collection of tools over the years and need intelligent storage solutions. I've read a good bit of Jim Tolpin, and I consider him a master craftsman as well as an experienced author. Recommended.

[Jeff Youngstrom]

My review from February 5, 2002