Elizabeth Johns Project 1: Building with Hand Tools

 Process

For Project 1, we were assigned to make a tool tote that was rectangular in shape and featured a handle. The tote was to be first drafted in Fusion 360 before being physically made in the woodshop with a plank of wood that was 11 ¾” x 96” x ¾”.
Going into this project, I first planned the intent of this tool tote. I knew I wanted this tote to be something I could feasibly use in a studio space and had a decent idea of what kind of items I would want it to carry for ease of access. Namely, I wanted the tool tote to have compartments to carry items like rulers, pencils, tape, glue bottles, and drafting triangles, all while still having room for little knickknacks procured for whatever project I would be working on at the time. As a result, I started by first outlining the sizes of each compartment of the tool tote before trying to figure out the best way to orient these compartments so that the tote would be evenly distributed in weight while still being easy to use.
After several iterations of designs and talking with my peers about potential aspects of my design, this was what my final CAD model looked like:




Result

The actual creation of the tool tote went fairly smoothly for the most part. However, I had a few issues early on, especially with the transferring of my measurements from my computer to the wood itself. The ruler I was using wasn’t perfect, forcing me to start measuring at the 1” mark and having to add on 1” to the measurement, a fact I forgot on the very first measurement, resulting in my first attempt at a tool tote base being an inch too short. However, this proves that it is important to always measure twice before cutting wood, and I am extremely fortunate that I took the time to do so.

  

My second greatest mistake involved the ruler holder on my tote. My tote features a notch along some of the walls, which creates a nook to hold a ruler. This ruler holder is my favorite part of my design as it allows the ruler to be easily accessed without reaching too far inside the tote. It also ensures that the ruler does not stick outside of the tote haphazardly and fall out. As great as I thought this design would be, the CAD model had its notches too far apart to actually be able to hold the ruler, forcing me to move the walls closer together by 1 ½”. However, upon actually implementing these changes, I accidentally made the walls too close together, making it nearly impossible to place a ruler there. I ended up needing to chisel the notch to be slightly deeper in order to get the ruler to fit on the notch comfortably.



Other than those two issues, the project went along smoothly, especially with the assistance of Ryan and Josh, who both offered great insight into problem solving and showed me how to use some new tools in the woodshop, particularly the handheld sander and the wood router. 


Reflection

  Overall, I am quite pleased with how my tote turned out, despite some of the problems that arose during its creation. However, these mistakes and problems are simply just another part of the design process. It's impossible to get everything right about a project on the first try. Mistakes will always occur. What matters is that we take the time to problem solve and work our way through it. Our finished product might not be exactly what we had in mind, but it will be better, because it is real.
    It's often said that art is never finished, only abandoned, and the same is true for design. There is always room for improvement. I know the goal of this project was to only use tools from the woodshop, but I know there’s ways for this project to evolve, especially through the usage of laser cutting or 3D printing. For example, I really want to laser cut and assemble a removable wooden tray that can be moved in and out of the tote and carry smaller items that would typically get lost at the bottom of the tote. I also think it would be neat to try 3D printing accessories for the tote to allow it more storage capabilities, such as hooks or tool holders. The possibilities of design are as endless as the imagination.
    This tool tote is something I made with my own two hands and is something that fits my needs and my expectations of a tool tote perfectly. The tote is very sturdy and is able to hold everything I wanted it to and more! Because of this, I am proud of myself and my accomplishments.

  

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