A Japanese Tool Box

The Japanese tool box is most notably known for its cleverly designed distinctive lid (top cover) which is explained below.  I read somewhere that this design had been around for at least two hundred years, if not longer. Most boxes of this type - there are as many variations as there are craftsmen who make them - are typically longer, perhaps twice as long as the one I made here.  Those boxes are usually made to carry tools to a job site.  I only needed one to carry tools from the work shop to inside or around the house.  For the construction detail please see preceding blog, "Anatomy of a Japanese Tool Box"

Unlike most of the designs, I made mine a 2-compartment tool box. The seam is barely discernible because the two compartments were saw-cut from a single box (there is a tip on its construction from the previous blog).  As it turned out, the only feature I adhered to was the wedge locking system - which is what makes it a Japanese Tool Box.

Secret to the lid locking system: Slide one end towards the right and under the wide board; then slide it back towards the left under the narrower board.  The lid is now completely over the opening.  The next photo shows the wedge lock inserted in between the channel created as the lid is moved to the left.

 The second variation is in how I constructed the wedge.  Typically, it is a flat tapered wedge.  I cut the tapered wedge with the saw blade tilted slightly so there is no chance for it to pop out, once closed. 

The lid is positively shut and will  open only by retracting the wedge completely out of the channel.

Most household chores, if there is any drilling required, will likely need only the "lady" Festool drill.  I know the German manufacturer will not want to call it a "lady" cordless drill because they believe it has more than enough power to do the job that some bigger drills may be hard pressed to do.  

But the box will accommodate two drills in one compartment and hand tools in the other (top compartment)

Extra batteries included

When on a ladder, a smaller/lighter cordless drill is safer to use so whenever possible it has to be the tool of choice.