I built an anarchist tool chest many years ago. It replaced a wall mounted chest that I actually hated. I found that keeping my tools in a tool chest on the floor works much better for me.
One thing that did not work well for me was handsaw storage. I had a saw till, but nothing for back saws. Another issue was the bottom till still got a little in the way when pulling out moulding planes. I needed it to move forward at least another inch of till movement to improve access to those planes in the rear.
I have been contemplating how to modify it for improved storage. I ended up removing all the tray brackets and making some changes. The saw till was shortened and narrowed a bit. I made new lower till brackets to go the entice depth of the chest, and positioned a tool bracket in a position that would hold the backsaws just below the top till so it could be slid all the way to the front. I also made a spot for the mortise chisels.
There was a solid panel dividing the saw till from where the bench planes are kept. Following some changes that Chris Schwarz, I removed that solid panel and replaced it with two strips. Now I can reach down under the saws in the saw till without removing them. I keep the saw sets, files, and guide blocks. I am also going to move the smaller speciality planes under that section to get them out of the way. The winding sticks in the right corner act as a till stop for the middle till.
I keep a #5 and a #7 under the bench, but there is room for them on the chest floor.
I also need to get that bottom till better organized. That small wooden 22 ammo box holds gimlets, spoon bits and other small drill bits.
One thing that did not work well for me was handsaw storage. I had a saw till, but nothing for back saws. Another issue was the bottom till still got a little in the way when pulling out moulding planes. I needed it to move forward at least another inch of till movement to improve access to those planes in the rear.
I have been contemplating how to modify it for improved storage. I ended up removing all the tray brackets and making some changes. The saw till was shortened and narrowed a bit. I made new lower till brackets to go the entice depth of the chest, and positioned a tool bracket in a position that would hold the backsaws just below the top till so it could be slid all the way to the front. I also made a spot for the mortise chisels.
There was a solid panel dividing the saw till from where the bench planes are kept. Following some changes that Chris Schwarz, I removed that solid panel and replaced it with two strips. Now I can reach down under the saws in the saw till without removing them. I keep the saw sets, files, and guide blocks. I am also going to move the smaller speciality planes under that section to get them out of the way. The winding sticks in the right corner act as a till stop for the middle till.
I keep a #5 and a #7 under the bench, but there is room for them on the chest floor.
I also need to get that bottom till better organized. That small wooden 22 ammo box holds gimlets, spoon bits and other small drill bits.
