Description
A DIY kit to bring out the craftsman in you.
The DIY 2609 MasterCraftsman Kit is an excellent project, a creative gift, and when it’s all put together, a high-quality chest for your most delicate and precious items or your go-to tools.
We dug into the archives for this kit’s inspiration. The design comes from the Style 72 MasterCraftsman chest, which was the first chest designed by Jack Campbell when he became Gerstner’s President in 1976. The chest was a big hit back then – and we think it will you’ll enjoy building it. Slightly smaller than the 2610 Journeyman it still boasts plenty of room for large collections.
The DIY 2609 MasterCraftsman Kit is easy to build, endlessly customizable. DIY kits like this have really taken off because they are a memorable experience that can be done in a weekend. All the joinery is pre-machined, so a beautiful box can be achieved, no matter your skill level. We learned from over 100 years in the business; woodworking is a great stress reliever. It improves dexterity and stimulates the imagination. Besides, building something with your own two hands that is both functional and great-looking leaves you with a wonderful sense of accomplishment. It feels great to be productive.
NOTE: We utilize some computer‑generated images to help show standard views.
Martin Justis (verified owner) –
I was able to add the Master Craftsman chest to my collection of DIY kits from Gerstner. I thoroughly enjoyed building this chest. There is quite a bit more work to be done on this than there is on the smaller boxes, but it is well worth the time. As with all other DIY kits I’ve done, everything just fit and fit perfectly. All the joinery is superb and there isn’t much work involved in getting everything square and true. If you have some clamps and a little time there is no reason you can’t have a beautiful chest ready to work in your shop. I spent some extra time working on the finish on my box (cherry wood with brass hardware) and it was worth every minute of time put in to get the look I wanted. As with all the other DIY kits, you can do the most simple rub on finish and it will look amazing, or go the extra mile and really make it stand out. It’s up to you how you want to finish it. I personally think the DIY is the way to go as I know my chest is just a little different than any other one out there, but it’s still a Gerstner at the end of the day and anyone can take one look at my box and know it’s a Gerstner. My only complaint on this box (everything can’t be perfect, right??) is that you can’t pick the hardware, I would have preferred the nickel hardware with the cherry wood. I understand that’s just the way it is and I’m okay with that. The brass does look amazing with the cherry, but I would have liked to see a choice there. I understand that may drive up the price somewhat though. If you check their website often you can catch it on sale and really save some money. I keep checking as I may just purchase another one, can’t have too many you know. Everything that is included is top notch and fits perfectly. All the felt is cut exactly to fit and all you need to do is glue it in.
As with all the other DIY kits I really enjoyed doing the easy work with my own hands but leaving the difficult joinery to the experts. They really do an excellent job of it. If you are in the market for a nice tool chest to last a lifetime and that can be passed down I would highly recommend this kit as it doesn’t get much better than this!