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Wooden Toolbox


A do-it-yourself wooden toolbox is an excellent beginner's project to dabble into the carpentry world of goodness. Today, I'm sharing how I built mine, while reminiscent of my very first wooden projects tackled a long time ago.

I've been asked many times how I began working with wood. Ha, I kind of forced myself to get there. 

But oh, well, as it happens to many of you, I love decorating my home, but I prefer to spend my money on something other than necessary.

I wanted to transform my home from a simple bare builder's grade to one with lots of moldings and details. My love for moldings and trim pushed me to get into wooden projects to decorate around the house.

The starting point was a sequence of baby steps, one project at a time.

As my skills improved, the projects got bigger. 

That's the case with my latest project, building a wall of bookcases in my bedroom. One project that has given me lots of headaches. 

Sometimes, I think I'm trying to bite off more than I can chew, but when the project is done, I'm always happy with the results and with all I learned from it.

A wooden toolbox is one of those projects where you can gain more confidence with your measurements and perhaps conquer the fear of using some power tools. It's such an easy project that it can be done with a regular saw, hammer, and nails.

Some scrap wood would work perfectly fine. You can go ahead and cut the bottom and long sides to your desired measurements. The one I made is somewhat big: 24"L x 9"W x 10" H. All the material was 3/4" thick.



The end sides are then cut to size, and you can draw the lines for the top "triangle" to be cut.



Again, you can do this with a regular saw. I did it using a circular saw, cutting both pieces simultaneously, which fastened the process.   

You need to clamp the wooden pieces to your bench and attach a guide for the saw to keep the line. Measure the distance from the blade to the side fence of the saw and that's where you need to clamp that guide. Then go ahead and cut it!



The next step is to open the holes where the handle goes.   

The handle I used was about 3/4" in diameter. I placed the drill bit point 3/4" from the top and attached some tape to mark how deep I wanted to drill. Both pieces were then sanded to round the sharp edges.


The pieces were all cut and ready to be assembled.



But first, some pinky-pink acrylic paint was applied.



A washout white was then applied.



After the paint dried, it was time to put it together. The long sides were attached to the bottom piece.


Then, for the end sides, remember to insert the handle before nailing the last side.



The toolbox is ready.



After lightly sanding the end sides and applying wax to the entire box, it was time to play.

 :)

These green bottles I took from my neighbor's recycling bin were awaiting a box!



I like the texture and the roughness of those long side pieces of wood.




I got so excited about my new "toy" that I went outside to take some more pictures! My lilies are still going strong. Remember them from my previous post?



I can't wait to set my Easter table now that I have the centerpiece.

Are you ready to build your own toolbox? Send me a picture if you do!





27 comments :

  1. What a great tutorial Cristina. And I would never have thought to use a toolbox for a centerpiece, but you managed to carry it off. It looks so pretty with the bottles and lilies. I love that you painted it pink underneath! Such pretty pictures. I'm sure your Easter table will be beautiful. Have a great day!

    Debbie

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  2. Cristina, que hermosa caja, te felicito! además la explicación clara, y el paso a paso, da ganas de ya ponerse a trabajar con madera!
    Cariños desde Argentina,
    Victoria

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  3. Cristina me encanto tu trabajo ... Tu después que lo lijas para que se vea la pintura de abajo que cera le pones??. Y para que es la cera ??.

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  4. I love it! I think it would be great as a planter, too. I love all the woodwork you do and I know my house wouldn't be half of what it is without the woodwork.

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  5. This seems like a great beginner's project! Thank you for the tutorial. If I ever get a hankering for woodworking I will start here :)

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  6. one of those is on my list...just haven't gotten around to do it yet. great job!

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  7. Such a great tutorial Cristina! I love your tool box the way you finished it is so fun too! It gives me hope that if I continue to take off "bigger bites" than maybe someday I will be able to do amazing projects like you!

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  8. still not quite yet Cristina, but I bet my hubby can do this for me, hehehe!;-)

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  9. Thanks for the great tutorial... my Father was the woodworker in our family! He made us beautiful rustic furniture and since he's passed his saw has sat unused in his garage. I am inheriting it and look forward to using it, this would be a perfect first project for me!
    Hugs,
    Pendra

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  10. How very cute, Cristina. I love your tutorial, too. GREAT job all the way around- xo Diana

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  11. This is a great tutorial! I have wanted one of these for a long time and never thought of building it. There are so many good places to use a box like this.

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  12. That is adorable and it looks so vintage, honey. You did a great job on that.
    xoxo,
    Connie

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  13. Great way to use up wood scraps, heaven knows I have a ton, but I bring myself to throw them out cause I use them so often.

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  14. This is gorgeous. I am less than a beginner but I'll get there! Thanks for sharing.

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  15. My classroom is next door to the shop class. I think I need to go over and use the machines during my free period. I think I could actually make the tool box.

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  16. Great tutorial! I invite you to join my link party too.

    Goedele

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  17. I love it, it looks so authentic. Thanks for the tutorial, I've pinned it. I've always wanted an old tool box but they are so expensive. This is doable!
    Saw you linking at the DIY Blog Link Party.
    Debbie :)

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  18. Beautiful project and such a great tutorial. I love how you styled it with the green bottles and pretty flowers. Thanks for linking it up to Monday Funday!

    Kelly @ View Along the Way
    www.viewalongtheway.com

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  19. What a great idea, Cristina. The tool box looks like it is from PB or another high end store and those bottles make it even better.

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  20. Wow, you are a wizard with the circular saw. I love tool caddies so much, I might try out these instructions. The distressed white over the pink is a great finish.

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  21. Awesome instructions!! I really like that toolbox.

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  22. That turned out really good and love your tutorial. Would you consider linking with me? I have a link up on Wednesdays. Hope to see you there! http://www.familyhomeandlife.com/

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  23. Would love for you to come share your beautiful work over at What Mama Loves, new party going on now! http://whatmamaloves.blogspot.ca/2013/04/what-mama-loves-wednesday.html

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  24. What an excellent project and so cute. You can use this for so much more than a toolbox. Bet it looked really cute on your Easter table. Such fun figuring out what to put in it to dress it up.
    I'm printing this out for my hubster altho he knows how to make one, but maybe he'll follow your excellent tutorial and I'll get what I want the way I want for once, lol. He likes to ad-lib on the projects I ask him to do.

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  25. I always wanted a vintage tool box but have never been lucky enough to find one. Pinned this and definitely making one. Thanks for the how to instructions.

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  26. Fabulous and such a great tutorial. I love it filled with the bottles. Thanks tons for linking to Inspire Me. Hugs, Marty

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