Project: Bench Cabinet for Adjust-A-Bench

[Jim Becker]

After communing with lots of mortar for most of the long holiday weekend, I finally got started on the tool cabinet that is destined to live under my Adjust-A-Bench setup. (threads: A B C ) The intent is to get all of my hand tools and layout stuff in one central location...under the bench as well as to stiffen up the whole shebang and add mass. I already made the feet for this project a couple weeks ago; today marks the beginning of the cabinetry.

This project also marks the first really concentrated use of the Festool MFT/ATF55 combination. While I still ripped the sheet of plywood on the table saw, virtually all other through cutting was done at the MFT...and I really enjoyed the ease of material handling and accuracy, especially since this cabinet has the "top" corners mitered to show continuous grain.

This is not a big piece...width is 48", depth is about 18.5" and the height is 20.5". It cannot be taller as it needs to allow the bench-top to be lowered to the top of the legs when that configuration is desired. There will be three sections; likely the center one with drawers for chisels, etc. and at least one open cabinet. I haven't decided on that yet...and am building this project by evolutionary method...starting with the external size and figuring everything else as the project progresses. Today, I completed the carcass and back. Next weekend, I'll work on the "business end" of the cabinet.

Obligatory Pictures:

1. Of all projects, I get a piece of inexpensive birch plywood from the 'Depot and have a nice 18" strip of very figured stock in just the right place to make the sides and top with continuous grain. Yea, a lot of it will be somewhat hidden, but I'll know it's there!
2. Cross cutting of the panels was done at the Festool MFT. (Multi-Function Table) In this picture, I'm cutting a 45º bevel to allow the sides and top to have a continuous grain wrap at the corners since they will be exposed.
3. Once the bevels were cut, the sides were cross cut to final height with the ATF55 plunge saw using the fence stop to make them exactly the same length.
4. The bottom of the cabinet sits in a rebate in the sides which was cut at the table saw using a dado set. Note the sacrificial fence and feather board in use to protect the fence and keep the stock flat on the table during the cut. Dados were also cut in inside of the bottom and top panels to accommodate two partitions.
5. Said partitions were installed first into the bottom panel with glue and a rubber mallet for "persuasion" and then the ends were installed using glue and a few finishing nails. A couple screws were also countersunk in the middle of the joint...they will not show once the cabinet is between the Adjust-A-Bench's leg sets.