In Quest of the Perfect Tool Storage Solution
From Chaos to Order
Some of you may remember that in the sunset of 2023 I had a flood in my shop. At that time I committed to finally moving my fine hand tools from pragmatic and hastily constructed open shelving, to something more appropriate to their station. Well, I haven’t begun building better storage yet. The truth is, I’m having difficulty settling on something I’d be happy with.
Years ago, I built a version of the now famous Anarchist’s Tool Chest, as described in Chris Schwarz’s book of the same name. At the time I didn’t commit to building the dovetailed chest from the book, but rather a quicker plywood version that I found on YouTube around 2012 or 2013. My thought process was that I wanted to test working out of a chest for some time, to see if I even liked it, and if I did, to refine the interior until I had something I was perfectly happy with. (You can watch the video series and build your own quicker version of this chest by watching this youtube repost of the instructional videos I found a decade ago, here.)
I’m glad I did that, because as much as I loved the idea of a large chest that could protect (and even transport) my most important tools, it didn’t work out. After using it for a year or two, and after tweaking the interior several times, I gave the chest to my father. He keeps carving tools in it. I decided I didn’t like working out of that chest. The problem wasn’t all of the bending over (although I did find that annoying sometimes), or the real estate it took up on my floor (though floor space has always been at a premium in each of my small shops). My biggest issue with that particular chest was as much an issue with my process as is was with the chest itself.
Creative Chaos
My creative process is chaotic. It usually starts with an idea that mills around in my head for a long period, slowly coalescing into something more like a dream than a plan, and then finally bursting forth in a flurry of manic action. And then, when the initial inspiration subsides, a project may sit for days or weeks (years?) before the cycle repeats itself. I may hit an impasse and need to let the project sit on the back burner of my mind for a while, slowly building steam and inspiration again, or I may suddenly be distracted by another project, and enter a phase where it becomes the consuming force in my shop. Sometimes practical requirements such as repairs or client deadlines will sideline one project while I am forced to deal with another.
For whatever reason, there are often several projects (often across several disciplines) rattling around in my brain, and bumping into each other. The physical manifestation of that somewhat chaotic process is that there are often several projects in various states of completion (or otherwise) floating around my shop, and frequently bumping into each other
So when I introduced a tool chest to store the bulk of my fine hand tools, the inevitable happened. A closed tool chest is basically a low table, and a low table is a convenient place to stack workpieces that aren’t currently being worked on. And when you stack workpieces on your tool chest, suddenly your tools are unavailable, and then no workpieces are being worked on. In order to restart the forward momentum of the shop, it is required to play a game similar to that slide game where you need to move those little plastic tiles around, with only one empty slot available, in order to form a picture from a jumbled bunch of mixed up squares. For me, that slide game was a momentum killer.
Order From Chaos
I don’t love chaos. I dream of a shop, and a life, that is orderly and organized. Every new year I seem to make some sort of resolution to order the jumbled corners of my shop, and by extension, of my life. But perhaps the secret isn’t to eliminate the chaos, but rather to organize the tools I use to shape chaos into order, so that when inspiration strikes, they are close at hand and easy to access. And isn’t that the whole point of cabinets, of cases, of drawers?
And so, knowing that I both love the idea of an organized tool storage solution that is portable if necessary, and houses all of my most important tools, it becomes necessary to research how other woodworkers have stored and transported their tools. There is of course the Dutch toolchest, which seems like a possibility, but are there other configurations that may suit me better? I bet there are.
The Greatest Tool Storage Solution of all Time
Those of you who read about woodworking at all already know exactly which cabinet we’re going to look at today. It is the pinnacle of tool storage; it exemplifies order in a way virtually no other cabinet or chest does. It is, of course, the Studley Tool Chest. The legendary Studley Tool Chest is not just a famous piece of woodworking history; it's an exemplar of craftsmanship and organizational genius. Crafted by Henry O. Studley over the course of his lifetime, this tool chest is more than a storage unit—it's a masterpiece
The Studley Tool Chest is renowned for its intricate design, compact size, and the sheer number of tools it contains. Measuring approximately 40 inches by 20 inches when closed, it remarkably houses over 300 tools in a space that seems to defy the laws of physics. The chest is a testament to Studley's ingenuity, demonstrating how a well-thought-out design can make the most of limited space.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then this video has to be worth at least a couple dozen pictures.
Henry O. Studley (1838–1925) was an American organ and piano maker, carpenter, and mason known for creating one of the most famous tool chests in history, the Studley Tool Chest. His work has fascinated woodworkers, historians, and craftsmen for generations due to the chest's intricate design, efficient use of space, and the high level of craftsmanship.
Studley was born in 1838 and worked for the Smith American Organ Company, and then the Poole Piano Company of Quincy, Massachusetts. Over his lifetime, he developed his skills across various disciplines, but it is his work as a piano maker that provided the backdrop for the creation of his legendary tool chest. The chest, which he built over several decades, was designed to hold his collection of more than 300 tools used in his trade. What makes the chest remarkable is not just the number of tools it holds, but how Studley ingeniously arranged them in such a compact space, with each tool having a precise, custom-fitted place.
The chest itself is a work of art, constructed from mahogany, rosewood, walnut, ebony, and mother of pearl, showcasing Studley's mastery over materials and his attention to detail. It is adorned with custom-made hardware and features intricate inlays and veneers, reflecting Studley's skills and aesthetic sensibility.
After Studley's death, the chest remained in private hands, and its whereabouts were often the subject of speculation among woodworking enthusiasts. It has been displayed on rare occasions, each time drawing attention for its exceptional craftsmanship and inspiring design. Notable owners have included Donald C. Williams, Ron Hock, and Jay Van Arsdale, all recognizable names in the world of tool collection. Most recently (I believe), the chest has been in the possession of Fine Woodworking Magazine.
A Chest or a Cabinet?
I love the idea of building a tool chest. I want all of my tools in one place, and I want to be able to transport them in a compact container, when I need to. But I also love the idea of a tool cabinet. I want my tools off the floor, and easily accessible without bending over, or having to move workpieces.
Studley’s chest is really exactly that. It’s a chest that’s designed to be hung on a wall. It’s a cabinet that can be taken down and carried without the tools inside rattling about and falling out of their ordained position. What I want is for Studley to design a tool chest for my tools.
Reality Check
I am not going to build a tool chest that rivals Studley’s. I’m not even going to come close. My tools are bigger, and different, and my skills are decidedly more limited. I am going to build something, though. I just need to figure out what it’s going to be. We’ll look at a more traditional toolchest next week.
For interest’s sake, here is a cabinet (but not a chest) that was inspired by Studley. I love this cabinet.
" ... that slide game where you need to move those little plastic tiles around, with only one empty slot available ..." That's just like living aboard a small sailboat :-)
In my neck of the woods, the traditional solution to tool storage and transportation would be a fairly small wall-hung cabinet that you could fit shoulder straps to and carry like a rucksack - when as a journeyman you would move from one workshop to the next - so not that often ... My impression is that this was more of a notional concept that a practicable solution, because your workbench (also part of your personal tools) would be carted on a (probably rented) wagon, and why would you not let your tools ride on that too?
I used to work for an old master who told me how he got fed-up with his old master because the old git made him carry the tool-cupboard on his back all around town all the time :-) He quit and started his own shop - as one should! This was Oslo in the 1930's ...
The path of designing and building an orderly workshop is perhaps another rite of passage after "the bench". I managed "the bench" but I am currently failing hard at "the orderly workshop".
However, it sounds like you now where everything should go and what everything is, so I suspect you will complete your journey and arrive at your next challenge with a the tool storage solution you desire.
Good luck!