"Man is a tool-using animal... without tools, he is nothing: with tools, he is all" - Thomas Carlyle

HANDMADEFew things give children greater satisfaction than working with their hands. Creating something from raw materials and a few tools. Although we live in an era when giant machines produce endless wonderful items to fill our lives, satisfaction in the use of hand tools is remains deeply embedded in our minds.

DIMINISHING OPPORTUNITYChildren’s training for working with their hands is usually cut short around the third grade after a brief try at painting, paper cut-outs, and popsicle-stick houses. However, the necessity for working skillfully with their hands does not end in grammar school.

WHO CAN “FIXIT”?Who hasn’t experienced the weekend project gone wrong for lack of the right tool, the necessary skill, or both? You know how it goes, "assemble easily at home, few tools required". Your children will face the same challenge the first time the chain comes off their bicycle or the desk in their college dorm room needs repair. To a greater or lesser extent we all need to be craftsmen.

TOOLBOX 1.0Since we will be using tools of one kind or another in all of our future “start-ups” we decided to begin with a toolbox. One of our partners has been a carpenter for over twenty five years so we chose to use a down-sized replica of his own tool box.

INSTRUCTIONS AND SOURCESSince the goal of our “start-ups” is to get to the deliberate practice part as quickly as possible, in all of our site pages we will provide sources, plans, videos and offer a kit we have developed for people who do not have the time or tools to start from scratch.

PROJECT KITSIn kit form, the toolbox can be assembled with a screwdriver, screws, and glue. To make the smaller toolbox easier to assemble, we used several woodworking techniques that are not in the original but make it more durable and elegant. It is designed to hold a square, an adjustable wrench, a 4 in 1 screwdriver, and pliers in the front holder. A retractable tape measure, 7oz. hammer, and pencil fit inside the box. Beyond this initial set of the tools the possibilities are endless and we will discuss many possibilities as we move ahead. You will no doubt have many favorites of your own.

DELIBERATE PRACTICEMost of the practice in this project is visualization (how the parts fit together) and developing a skill for working with a screwdriver. So we suggest that you might assemble the entire box without glue. Then take it apart, and re-assemble it another time or two until the process becomes comfortable. Since the screw holes are predrilled it is relatively easy to do.