This one has been a long time in coming. On May 31, 2020, I announced here that I was writing a book on Dutch tool chests. Today, November, 8, 2024, “Dutch Tool Chests” is finally in our warehouse and available for order. (Surprise! – the cover is blue.)
Inside the book, you’ll find in-depth instruction to help you build your own slant-lid chest, from soup (choosing the wood) to nuts (and bolts – which I suggest you use to attach the chest handles). There are plans and cutting lists for two different chest sizes, as well as for a rolling base that adds storage and convenience for moving it around the shop.
I love these chests – and have built more than a few! I find them to be great additions to the workshop and for hauling tools hither and yon when I drive somewhere to teach. (And, thanks to the fun of the “hidden” bottom compartment, these also make excellent toy chests for kids!) But more valuable in the long term (if I do say so myself) than the chest are the detailed lessons on some fundamentals of hand-tool woodworking: dados, rabbets, through-dovetails and more. My intent is that in building this chest, you’ll learn skills that will serve you well in all your hand-tool projects to come.
Plus, you’ll find a foreword from Roy Underhill, and a gallery of chests from 43 other makers (my favorite part of the book) that shows clever interior (and a few exterior!) modifications. Unique solutions that set them apart, and can be adapted for your own tool storage needs.
“Dutch Tool Chests” is 192 pages and is printed on 8-1/2” x 11” #70 matte-coated paper in Tennessee. The pages are folded into signatures, sewn, glued and reinforced with fiber-based tape to create a permanent binding. Enclosing the signatures are heavy (98-pt.) blue-fabric-covered boards. The cover and spine are adorned with a silver foil die stamp.
The book is $39 and comes with a free pdf if you order it from us by December 11. And all copies ordered direct from us will have my illegible scrawl of a signature in the front of the book. (We don’t know which of our retailers will carry it; I and my cats sure hope they all do! For complete information on that, click here.)
Note: Orders placed today (Friday, Nov. 8), will ship on Tuesday, Nov. 12 because of the holiday.
Table of Contents:
Foreword 1
1. Let’s Go ‘Dutch’ 5
2. Materials 11
3. Parts Prep 23
4. Dovetails 29
5. Dados 49
6. Shelves 57
7. Top Angles 61
8. Assembly 65
9. Lock & Batten Notches 71
10. Bottom Lip 75
11. Front 79
12. Fall Front 83
13. Backboards 91
14. Lid 97
15. Hardware 111
16. Paint 121
17. Interior 127
18. Mobile Base 133
19. Gallery 139
Acknowledgments 185
– Fitz
p.s. Because someone always asks: Fully loaded with my tools for any given class, my white pine chest weighs less than 50 lbs. For now, I can still get it into the back of my car by myself (though it was easier for me four years ago when I first began writing “Dutch Tool Chests“).
The book cover looks beautiful. I am planning to come by LAP on the open day (23rd Nov) and wondering if this book might be sold out by then. Should I take a chance or order it now? Thank you.
Huzzah!!!! I’m very happy to order this. I’ve got this build penciled in for January, after the Christmas woodworking rush.
Sadly, this leaves a void. I have no idea with what we can pester Fitz.
Reading the pdf is my dinner and dessert plan tonight.
Seems there’s a problem logging on for digital content. The Captcha seems stuck on a loop, and I can’t verify I’m a human.
I swear, I am.
I made it in the gallery. Only a tool nerd can appreciate my excitement. I’m ordering this book right away.
Congratulations, that is awesome!
I made it, too! I like your spoke shave solution,
I made it, too! Tool nerds of the world, unite! You have nothing to lose except … uh, nothing, really.
Your spoke shave solution is brilliant.
I notice the cover is blue… Order placed, super excited.
Congratulations on completing the book and I love the colour of the cover . I tried to place my order but the option to ship to Canada doers not appear to be working anymore ? thx
I will be traveling to Montreal this xmas. If you are in the area, I will be happy to bring you a copy if you haven’t bought one by then. wabash2023 @g.
Congrats! I like the little detail that you chose ‘Megan Blue’ for the cover color. It’s a nice finishing touch to the project.
Congrats!! I’ve been so excited for this to come out. Any chance we could get a gallery of the images from the last section and maybe any extras that didn’t fit the layout posted online? It would be nice to zoom in and look more closely since they are on the small side in the book.
Congratulations on your book, Fitz. I’m jealous. I’ll be picking it up soon.
Yea!! Letting my wife know she can get it for mr for Christmas! Or my birthday two days later…
So happy for you Megan, congratulations!
Does it come in any other shades of blue?
Congratulations, now just have to patiently wait till I can get a copy in canada
Bought, PDF perused, and it is very special. I half expected it to be sold out by this morning.
very exciting news! congraduations!
Just bought it and flipped through it. Looks really good. I think I might pick up a few tips/techniques when reading through it, and it will help my daughters when I start teaching them.
And thanks for including me in the gallery! Just flipping through it I got a few ideas on how to modify mine. 🙂
Right on time. Finished a Swedish tool chest on top of a roller cabinet with doors just this week. Holding off on the interior until I could see the dozens of examples in this book. Got the pdf. It’s perfect if for only seeding others work. Excellent job Megan. The hard copy will have a place on my bookshelf.
regards,
Les
Congratulations!
Just ordered mine for Christmas.
Here’s hoping you have to do multiple printings!
Congratulations Megan on getting this book across the publishing goal line! I like the blue cover and looking forward to picking up a copy soon.
Mine arrived today. It’s fantastic! There’s nothing like the smell of a fresh, brand-new book. The size, the color, the binding…all top notch. And it’s signed. Thanks Megan. I’m never disappointed with the books I purchase from LAP.