I recently picked this DVD up from Chris’s blog when he was blowing out his copies for blog readers, and wanted to throw up a quick review. Â By the way, if you’re wondering where I’ve been on the blog, it’s been a combination of really heavy work schedule and family summer vacations that have kept me out of the shop recently.
Short version: Well worth the pick up even if you’re not interested in power tool woodworking, and is a great starting point for hybrid woodworkers to dip their tow into the hand tool waters.
Longer version:
This 2.5 hour video starts out with a simple premise, to teach you how to build a traditional style tool chest in a short amount of time using a blend of hand tools and power tools with home center materials. Â And, in my opinion it does exactly what it says on the box. Â However, it also does something a bit more more than that. Â As a hand tool woodworker, I’m all about the traditional methods and sources. Â The value for me in this video is in the information he presents in addition to the construction details. Â He shows several old tool chests, and how they were constructed which was quite fascinating on it’s own. Â He also spends time talking about the choices he makes in construction which gives me great ideas on how I want to build my own. Â And at the end he shows off the “Dutch” tool chest, and talks about the benefits of both the traditional and “Dutch” style chests, including how to pack your tools and division of the insides. Â These bits alone are worth the price of the DVD for me with the information being presented well and easy to absorb.
The construction of the chest itself is well produced, and Chris and helper Ty do a good job of presenting the material. Â If you’re new to this stuff, it makes you want to build stuff and feel like you could actually do it. Â The really subversive part of the DVD comes in how he introduces some hand tools to the mix and starts you thinking down the path of how hand tools can be integrated into your shop.
All in all, worth price and worth picking up for the information and discussion on tool chest design.
Badger
Are you planning on building one?
Actually I am going to be taking the Chris Schwarz class in Port Townsend in September.
Badger, that class at Port Townsend should be great. Wish I could do that one myself.
Yeah, I’m looking forward to it.