The workshop in the box
Some people who enjoy working with wood lack a suitable space in their cellar or garage. Not everyone can or wants to set up a permanent workshop. Often the space is also needed for other things, so you would have to constantly put your tools away again and a fixed workstation would be a nuisance. Others would like to take their hobby with them, for example to work together with friends or to take part in courses with their familiar tools. In these cases, it is practical if your tool kit is compact and mobile. In this blog post, we give you a few tips and suggestions on how you can set up your "workshop in a box".
Which tools belong in the mobile workshop?
The tools you need will of course depend on your hobby or the projects you have planned. If you only want to carve a small figurine from time to time, you will certainly need a different selection of tools than someone who likes to carry out repair work on their holiday home while on holiday.
You can find solid basic equipment for woodworking in the beginner's set for carpenters or the standard beginner's set for carpenters, for example. These sets, equipped with two Japansaws, four chisels and various marking tools, can be customised to suit your individual requirements. The DICTUM© tool carrier offers a well-organised tool set for carpentry and interior fittings with a small footprint. All tools have a fixed place in it. The tool carrier fits perfectly in a Sytstainer3, which you can also use as a mobile work surface or seat. You can expand the tool set with additional pliers, drivers, saws and measuring tools using the "Special" tool extension pack.
All tools are stored safely and compactly in the DICTUM© tool carrier.
Carving is a creative hobby that you can also do on holiday. For smaller carvings, minimal equipment consisting of one or two carving knives and a folding saw is sufficient. The 5-piece DICTUM© carving and paring knife set is the ideal basis for your "carving workshop in a rolling bag". All the carving tools included are well stowed away in the leather roll-up bag and can be transported safely. Add a folding saw for cutting, such as the Robusuta folding saw, Kataba Super Hard, and a pair of cut-resistant gloves and you have everything you need to get creative on rainy days or carve new toys for children.
Tips for the improvised workstation
When travelling, it is often difficult to find a suitable and, above all, robust work table. You cannot usually use a dining table for working without further ado, as it could get dirty or damaged by manual activities. To protect the worktop, you can take a cutting mat with you, for example. This protects the table top, you can work safely on it and it can be easily cleaned of paint stains or glue drips. You can improvise a small workbench on almost any stable table using a pair of pliers with a pliers spanner. The top clamp is attached to the table top with two simple screw clamps and then offers a wide range of options for clamping workpieces. When clamping narrow workpieces on one side, a set screw inside the pliers prevents the pressure jaws from jamming. Many jobs, such as cutting sheet material to size or surface treatment of furniture, can also be carried out on trestles. Folding trestles (e.g. Stanley metal trestles) are easier to transport than a table or fixed trestles. Stanley folding trestles can bear loads of up to 340 kg and with a few wooden planks, an old door leaf or chipboard, you can turn them into an improvised work table or a long table for your barbecue party.
Selection criteria for the mobile workshop
- Versatile tools, e.g. a No. 62 planer
- Compact tools, e.g. a block plane
- Integrated storage space for accessories e.g. a screwdriver with bit set in the handle
- Folding/foldable tools e.g. a folding Japanese saw
For many tools, there are variants that are significantly smaller than others and alternatives that fulfil more tasks than "specialists". Also remember that, if possible, every tool should have a fixed place to be stored, for example in a tool bag. This protects the tools, ensures safety during transport and makes tidying up easier.
