Open to suggestions, for a portable lap carving set up?

[squbrigg]

While while waiting in the car, in the mall, in hospital waiting areas or doctors office, I like to carve to pass the time, as you already know, and I am looking to "refine" my set up.

Basically, I have none at present! I have a large canvas riggers tote that I use when I travel, but I'm looking for something smaller to use as a "portable carving station" on my lap just around town, something to: 1) carry a few tools, 2) carry a couple of small projects, 3) has a flip out chip collector.

I am looking for something I can carry over my shoulder like a purse, laptop carrier or portfolio, that will open/fold open on to my lap and hold some knives/small (dockyard mini tool style) tools secured in individual loops, a strop, some files/sanding sticks, perhaps a pencil and eraser, and a pouch for some small projects/roughouts. A flap to flip out to use as a chip collector would be necessary, perhaps something in soft leather that will protect as well, cause you know how clumsy I am?

Just in the thought process at present, and will probably have to have something made, leather or canvas, not sure, or is there something out there, ready made that I can adapt? Come on folks, with all the experience in this group, I'm sure someone has considered this before? Ideas anyone, suggestions? Please! I'm getting tired of stuffing a couple of knives and a piece of wood in a pocket and carrying around a cloth place mat, I need something made to order for a carver.

Bob

[Just Carving]

Hi Bob

Interesting concept. As I was reading, the thought of a mason's canvas tool bag popped into my head. It can be carried around like a purse, there are several different sizes, and with some ingenuity and effort, it can be adapted to what you want. I think the canvas bottom ones could be collapsed down flat enough to catch your chips as you work, but the leather bottom ones might give you enough support to hold everything while catching your chips, too. Here's a link to what I was thinking of:

http://hardwareaisle.thisoldhouse.co...and_just_.html

Klein makes them but there are other manufacturers and styles as well. I saw a Klein which had a shoulder strap, too. There are a lot of different styles. I Googled on images of "canvas tool bags" and this is what I saw:

http://images.google.com/images?q=CA...n&start=0&sa=N

So, that should give you a running start. Look forward to seeing what you come up with.

P.S. As an afterthought, I sometimes use a small, cheap plastic tool box--maybe 5"X8". I took out the tote tray. I just keep a few tools--Gonzalez Hooked Skew, Murphy knife, and a palm gouge, a glove, a few blocks of wood, etc. But that's for carving small things like pins, small caricatures, etc. I also use a plastic food storage bag to hold all of the above, too. Either way, they catch most of the chips and do the job.

[RUssL.]

While I won't deny that they are way overpriced I have had this Filson bag for years as a place to carry flyfishing gear.

http://www.filson.com/product/index....entPage=family


It now holds a ton of my carving stuff.
Everything from a half-dozen (or more!) whittling/carving projects & ten or twelve knives and palm tools to photocopies of patterns, to measuring and writing tools, gloves, bandaids, etc.

With the bag placed in my lap or between my legs, with the large storm flap opened toward my chest it catches chips and dust quite nicely...though I admit I seldom use it that way.

When I amortize the cost I paid for this (somewhat less than it currently lists for) it has cost me about $15/year...and every year that goes down.

The bag will outlast my time on the planet for sure...and no doubt will be emptied and refilled with several other hobbies before I'm done. :-)

Filson's slogan is "Why not have the best?"
Indeed.

RussL.

[xsailer]

I bought a couple of canvas bags from Harbor Frieght that have two carrying handles and pockets on the outside that I use to carry my "temporary" tool kit and chip collector. I just clean out the chips periodically. Bag on sale I think was around $10.

Bob

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Here is one..... http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?familyid=5767 actually about 3! I bought one from woodcraft awhile back..14.00, I love it! but don't know the name and don't see it on woodcraft, it was open on top with a handle but also had a shoulder strap.....similar to the ones above but open on top...I take it in the RV great case! Geez...sorry about that! I hadn't looked at the prices! wish I could find the one I bought, you would love it!

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

OK, I found my bag...its in the regular hard copy Woodcraft catalog..in Sep 2007 issue, page 43..bottom left hand corner..."Project Tool Bag, number 147272...price now is 24.99...........but you might advise you saw it for sale for 14.00 and ask when they are going to put it on again. Great bag! Dave

[Claude]

Here's Dave's bag in the online catalog:
http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?familyid=5900

Claude

[Kenny_S]

Bought 4 Rubbermaid Leather and canvas tool bags from their second store in Winfield Ks several years ago for a buck apiece. Problem with them was their logo were sewn upside down. Each one had 10 pockets on the inside for tools and opened up wide to allow chips to fall in. Carried one for awhile till I gave it and the other three to different carvers in OK. I usually don't have the time when shopping to set and carve. Most of the local indoor malls don't allow you to carved in their malls anyway. Don't ask me how I know.

[Tom-H]

Hey Bob, At the risk of being called a smart (or not so smart) aleck; I use a pocket knife to carve with when I am "out". My tool carrier is one of my pockets. The wood goes into the other pocket. As for chip collecting, well the doctors office contributes a waste paper basket.

However, I like your idea, and will try to think up a plan for you. Perhaps a foldable lap board with a built in tray to keep multiple tools from falling off, and a bench hook with the strop. All folded up to a brief case size. Maybe a large brief case.

Tom H

[Tom-H]

Bob, Maybe something can be modified from this example of a lap carving board. Some hinges, and some covered compartments, who knows? Could maybe be made into a fold up brief case.

Tom H