Dutch Tool Chest Begins

 I have a pegboard on the other side of my bench.  It swings so I can get to the back.  I have a stand with a magnet for my chisels.

To my right, I have a plane till with #3 - #6, 3 block planes, a scrub plane and an extra #3 and #4 planes. Underneath I made a rack to hang my 3 cordless drills. My #7 hangs from the ceiling on a rope.  

Also hanging are 3 brace bits, a ryoba saw, a folding dozuki saw, my 16" and 12" combination square, my bevel gauge, and 2 12" steel rules.  All my clamps are hanging or clamped to joists.

Behind me is a box with all my sharpening jigs, diamond stones, strop and other sharpening things.  I have wire basket drawers with files, plow plane, router plane, side rabbet plane, drawknife and some hatchets.  There are also some power tools, granite plates, files, jigsaw blades in some baskets.  On top of it is a set of plastic drawers with drill bits, dowel jigs, bolts, nuts, screws and other things.

Finally some tools are scattered across the bench, in the way when working or put away on the pegboard.  Usually at the end of they day so they're always in the way.

I need something different.  Something to protect my valuable tools from dust (which becomes rust).  If a pipe bursts, it will get the tools wet.  A dutch tool chest will fit my hand tools.  It's small enough I can mount it on the wall in place of the pegboard.

Here is the start.  I have leftover, salvaged plywood for the carcase.  For now, everything is screwed together to make it easier to add shelving to the bottom.

The front, lid are oak from my logs.  The dark wood is from a pallet.  I think it's walnut. The interior rack are bits are also oak.  Some pieces are pine from fallen branches.

I have all my chisels, screwdrivers and some other things in the rack.  My 12" combo is on the right with some hammers. A dead maple branch with holes holds my Miller Falls #5 eggbeater drill and a marking gauge upright. You can see my #5, #6 and #7 planes on the floor. 

Finally, a belt pouch with 6" double square, pencils, marking knife, calipers and a tape measure.  So I don't leave things on the bench while I'm working and always have them at hand.

So far, it's already been helpful in lessening the chaos.

The shelves in the bottom will be determined by the way I store my other tools.  I'm planning on:

• My #3, #4 and scrub plane on the bottom floor
• My speciality planes near them.
• Boxes for these planes
• A box with 2 sizes of braces and a set of bits.  The thickness will determine the shelf height.
• Saws on the lid underside.  Ryoba, folding dozuki, coping saw.  There will be room for other tools on the lid
• Marking gauges
• A sharpening station box instead of the cardboard one I have now.
• Small boxes that might have lids to hold grouped items together.

Just as important as what is in the chest is what is not:

• Mallets
• Clamps
• Power tools
• Hardware
• Consumables

I'm going to try to use the oak and pine from my logs as much as possible.  The lid will be pretty interesting and unusual.