Jim Becker
06-28-2014, 9:54 PM
Completed my latest tack trunk project last night. Unlike all but one of the others, this was not an outside commission...this one's for me. :) I gained a lot of insight from various design changes that came with each commissioned piece as well as my own use of the original prototype since late 2008. The one major design difference for mine is the incorporation of (another) drawer into the system. You see, this "box" sits on top of a 15" tall lower drawer unit. What that means is that in order to get to stuff in the "bottom" layer of the "trunk", one normally has to move/remove whatever is in the top layer. And since the whole assembly is pretty tall, it's not a comfortable reach. I have found that to be a bit vexing sometimes. So for my own trunk, I took the time and trouble to build a lockable drawer to eliminate the digging. :)
Now that had some implications around the overlay trim method I use for construction. The carcasses on my trunks are built from 1/2" furniture grade veneer plywood with glued and screwed butt joints. The corners are then covered with 1/4" thick solid stock, mitered and fitted to give the illusion of a frame and panel construction. With a drawer cut into the carcass, that meant careful measuring and cutting of the trim on the front because part of that trim is on the case and part of it is on the drawer. I had to account for the width of the blade as I fitting things together so that the cherry grain ran continuous on both pieces. I would surely charge an extra hundred bucks for this feature if anyone ever requests it!
At any rate, it's done (although I may add a decorative element to the front) and I can move on to the new trunk commission I just took on Thursday for one that's going to require a little extra reinforcement for mobility...all previous trunks just live in equestrian facilities and are not carted to horse shows. This new one needs to move around. 'Should be a fun project!
Brasses are all from Lee Valley...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v646/a-j-adopt/Woodworking/Tack-Trunks/IMG_2059_zps576f6199.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v646/a-j-adopt/Woodworking/Tack-Trunks/IMG_2063_zps4ae18e78.jpg
For reference, here's the original prototype sitting on the (prototype) lower drawer unit. The top portion becomes my daughter's personal trunk and my new one trunk takes its place on top of the lower drawer unit.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v646/a-j-adopt/Woodworking/Tack-Trunks/original-trunk_zpsc4ee499c.jpg
Now that had some implications around the overlay trim method I use for construction. The carcasses on my trunks are built from 1/2" furniture grade veneer plywood with glued and screwed butt joints. The corners are then covered with 1/4" thick solid stock, mitered and fitted to give the illusion of a frame and panel construction. With a drawer cut into the carcass, that meant careful measuring and cutting of the trim on the front because part of that trim is on the case and part of it is on the drawer. I had to account for the width of the blade as I fitting things together so that the cherry grain ran continuous on both pieces. I would surely charge an extra hundred bucks for this feature if anyone ever requests it!
At any rate, it's done (although I may add a decorative element to the front) and I can move on to the new trunk commission I just took on Thursday for one that's going to require a little extra reinforcement for mobility...all previous trunks just live in equestrian facilities and are not carted to horse shows. This new one needs to move around. 'Should be a fun project!
Brasses are all from Lee Valley...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v646/a-j-adopt/Woodworking/Tack-Trunks/IMG_2059_zps576f6199.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v646/a-j-adopt/Woodworking/Tack-Trunks/IMG_2063_zps4ae18e78.jpg
For reference, here's the original prototype sitting on the (prototype) lower drawer unit. The top portion becomes my daughter's personal trunk and my new one trunk takes its place on top of the lower drawer unit.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v646/a-j-adopt/Woodworking/Tack-Trunks/original-trunk_zpsc4ee499c.jpg