Japanese toolboxHere we are part three of the build.Last blog we made the drawer lock parts and other stuff, now its time for drawer parts and the nailing of the box.

This was where we left last, right there on the floor.

Drawer parts ready, front with wood lock made.

And here is the drawing I made for the drawer, following traditional Japanese cabinetmaker ways.

The drawer back gets its rabbet.And I get to test my Veritas mini shoulder plane (it works fantastic).

Marking, app 3 parts.

Score with the knife.

Cutting the joint.

Chopping out the wood.

Paring the rest.

Neat

Marking the sides now, using the back to make sure we get that tight fit.

Like this!

Saw and pare.

And we got some decent fits.

And so we actually have a drawer now.And I am happy for my knob lock.

The handles need a little work to become more comfortable to carry.

So I round them with a chisel and a knife, but just on the hidden inside.

Ok this is not wood but fun.My new Japanese square was just too big to fit in the boxSo I had to cut it!Measure once cut your square

Now it fits.

So here we are back to the working area.Now with a set of Japanese saw horses to rest the toolbox on while nailing it together.

I know that traditionally the toolboxes are nailed with cheap black nails, but I decided for beauty and for the carpentry learning to go for Moku Kugi (melawis wood) nails. Before buying them I thought they were made from bamboo.These are quite expensive on this side of the world so others who want to do the same go and buy BBQ sticks and a pencil sharpener and make your own.(You can buy them in Germany: http://www.mehr-als-werkzeug.de/product/717310/Japanese-Precision-Wooden-Nails-Moku-Kugi-300-units.htm ).As you see I mark carefully with a Japanese bamboo ruler and make sure that there are at least two nails in each board the pieces are made from.This for maximum strength and beauty.

The drill is made for the nails and are tapered.Notice that I change direction on the holes to make them wedge in, this box will last forever.

And in goes the wood nail.

Porcupine

And the drawer too.This time I drill with a traditional Japanese kiri hand drill, they are surprisingly effective.(I will blog about these in a later blog).

This should do.

Once glued in the nails are cut off.

Here you can get a look at my work set up.Notice the shoes

And the bird.

So back to work.The box with the lid and back for the drawer.

Plenty of white glue.

Also on each of the nails.

And here upside down before nailing the bottom to the box.

In the inside of the box I cut out a square of wood to hold some cross bars.And these are made so they can be taken out easy.

Like this.

Here looking down the box.The cross bars are at the same height as the drawer lid in this way it is like a second level of the box.

I also create some hangers that can be put on the tool box lid when the box is open.

And a little fixture that locks the lid to the box when open.

This gives me a small board for hanging the saws and other stuffAs you can see the Japanese planes are traditionally hanging on the side of the box.

Thats it!My Japanese tool box, and work space.A little portable work shop.