tool box progress

woodworking
Originally uploaded by bluepupae.

thursday, the last lab class day, came and went. surprise, surprise, i misjudged how long it would take to finish my tool box.

some of the mistakes i made delayed progress --- e.g. i cut the handle shape out before deciding how i would connect it to the sides, so when i decided to make mortise & tenon joints, i had to make a jig of sorts with some double stick tape and flat boards to square up the handle.

i should have held off on sanding the outside of the box until after gluing it up as i had to do it again. i did a poor job sanding the pieces for the tray, causing them to no longer be square, and having to recut to correct. it seems like a lot of the learning i did had to do with correcting mistakes.

i haven't decided yet if i will sign up for another lab to finish the tray or try to do it on the table saw at home. i wish i had learned to do rabbit joints. the inserts fit a little loosely, but i like how they compartmentalize the box. they are also a little too high, so the tray will not fit very snugly.

there's still some sanding to be done around the glue joints and then the finishing, but then my tool box will be complete for the most part...at least usable.