Art In a Box

I finished my toolbox yesterday and gave it the colour is deserved by applying my favourite wood finish, clear shellac. Despite what anyone say about shellac, it's still the best surface treatment and protection I can find for many if not most projects. People tell me it's no good for dining tables and I might agree there -- somewhat at least. It doesn't do well in careless or super-busy households where no cleanup or a fast cleanup is required for an emerging family and neither does it do well with spirit alcohol because spirits like whisky dissolve the surface in a heartbeat. It is such an easy finish to repair though, so I have no issue with it. I use coasters for hot drinks and I never liked spirit alcohol anyway, so no issues for me.

I enjoyed closing out the series of videos yesterday. Today I will reinstall the hardware and wax the finish. My journey into the past was very enjoyable and I now must decide what to do with two more toolboxes I have no specific need for. Perhaps I will load the oak version with some of my special tools and enjoy that. Because of the pandemic I now have set aside an area above the workshop for me to enjoy cooking and a little rest in my lengthened days. I have several pieces I made in the previous years in use there. The toolbox will be a nice fit I think.

Even though I use mainly the Aldi chisels in my daily use, I still love looking at the vintage Marples and Wards ones with their shellacked boxwood handles and brass ferrules that served me well through the previous decades. Some things never grow old. In truth, this toolbox could sit on a table in my lounge with a few favourite tools inside and it would look as decorative as a fine oil painting or art piece. I imagine a small table at chair height with a cup of hot tea on one of my oak coasters there in front of the toolbox too. Just another work of art! Maybe now is a time I will design a specific table to fit the toolbox and my cup of tea!

Oh, and no, I am not retiring and have no plans to. I love what I do too much and I have a houseful of furniture to design and build for our Sellers Home project. My new design rocking chair is underway alongside my Brazos rocker and so too a couple of other pieces as well. Don't worry, I want you with me on this exciting journey. I'll be keeping you by my side as I build!