Next Project--Walnut Blanket Chest

[Chad Johnson]

I am thinking about my next project and plan on building a walnut blanket chest. I figure after building a dovetailed chest that I can handle the frame and panel construction in the chest. I have enjoyed learning about different styles of furniture and it will have a lot of elements of mission style. Thrww things about the chest confound me: 1) I am thinking about making the legs more or less square with a taper at the end, but is they are square there will be some odd corners with the legs protruding inside the chest, alternatively I could place a dado on the inside corner of the legs to avoid the odd corner; 2) can I get by just grooving in place cedar in the bottom without lining the entire chest?; 3) would a solid wood lid with breadboard ends look odd on a mission style chest?

[Winton Applegate]

Ah, Chad,
There you are.
I was hoping you would respond about the next project you are working on. I kept looking in the previous thread.
It will be interesting to read the responces to your questions.

I guess i will start them off . . . with my trade mark myth busting . . . cedar doesn't keep moths away.
How about that ?
So if you like the scent, as i do, why not line the lid only?
If you don't like the scent leave it out entirely.

? There will be wool things stored in this chest ?

I will stay away from the rest of the questions and give some body else a chance.

[roger m lance]

Chad....I made a blanket chest years ago in QSWO but used through dovetails on the sides instead of legs.....I only lined the bottom of the chest with cedar as I liked the smell but built the chest in such a way that I could also line the sides in cedar later if I wanted....but just the bottom has proven sufficient for the cedar smell....Derek Cohen recently completed a chest with a solid top and breadboard ends....I'm sure he posted pictures here....take a look and see if you like it.

[Tom Scott]

Chad,
I did some frame and panel blanket chests about 10 years ago, so will offer up my thoughts:
1. Yes, the square legs will protrude into the chest. I did not see this as an issue with my build, but added a cap around the top of the case so it was not immediately obvious.
2. Cedar is not really a requisite unless you just like the smell. I have not added to mine, but considered using the T&G packaged pieces you can buy at home stores to line the bottom.
3. Your choice on the top. It really depends on what you think fits the design best. On the frame and panel chests I did not use breadboard ends, but used cleats on the bottom to keep it from cupping. On another shaker style dovetailed chest I used breadboards.

Good luck with your build. It's a fun project.

Tom

[Derek Cohen]

would a solid wood lid with breadboard ends look odd on a mission style chest?

Mine is not a frame-and-panel construction but, as Roger mentioned, it does have a solid top.

If you are interested, my recent build pictorial is here: http://www.inthewoodshop.com/Furniture/Kist.html

http://www.inthewoodshop.com/Furniture/Kist_html_m143e34e7.jpg

The novel feature of this kist/blanket box is the hidden drawer in the base ..

http://www.inthewoodshop.com/Furniture/Kist_html_645c34aa.jpg

http://www.inthewoodshop.com/Furniture/Kist_html_29df4688.jpg

The hard work in figuring out how to do it has been done, and explained in the article.

Regards from Perth

Derek