just finished- English Oak Bachelors Chest 1730-1740

[joe maday]

Here is a look at my latest piece, It is an English Bachelor's Chest in English Brown Oak, Georgian period 1730-1740. It was derived from a photo in the Stevens and Whittington book, 18th Century English Furniture.. using "third phase construction" methods. Hand dovetailed poplar carcass, English Brown Oak Burl veneers from Ben at Berkshire Veneers, in Ma.... "Hammered" on with not hide glue. I made the feather banding from solid lumber as are the feet, the moldings are built up, cross grain, hand planed and molded on pine backing strips. Top, drawers are cross banded n English Brown Oak. The 3/16 cockbeaded drawer's, sides, back and bottoms are quarter-sawn white oak, again, all hand dovetailed. All using hot hide glue. Brasses are from Optimum Brasses in England. Finished with shellac and wax.

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[glenn bradley]

Beautifully done Joe. My personal taste runs a different way but, I am ever-thankful to my parents for raising me to appreciate beauty in many forms. That is one beautiful chest.

[Christopher Charles]

ShaZam! Great work!

Was the top veneer also hammered? That's a big surface for hammering if so!

C

[Yonak Hawkins]

Criminy ! I didn't know such beautiful wood existed. ..And the workmanship is marvelous. It's just beautiful and charming.

joe, there's something about pic 4 .. the one I really want to see. It isn't coming up for me. Is it only me ?

[John TenEyck]

Wow, is right. That is some very impressive work. Like Glenn, that's not a style I would build in, but I can certainly appreciate the leveol of craftsmanship it took to do it so well. And thanks for showing molding detail. Very clever.

[Kent A Bathurst]

Wow, is right. That is some very impressive work. Like Glenn, that's not a style I would build in, but I can certainly appreciate the leveol of craftsmanship it took to do it so well. And thanks for showing molding detail. Very clever.

Neither is it my style, but like the others, I can very much appreciate the craftsmanship and the beauty of the surfaces. Thanks for showin it.

It must be going somewhere with other period furniture...........any of those pieces, wherever they are, yours also?

[joe maday]

Thanks Christopher, yes the top is "hammered" using hot hide glue..in four separate book matched English brown Oak burl pieces, then they are trimmed to size to allow for the boarder, feather banding glued in place, then the oak cross banding is applied..then planed/scraped.

[joe maday]

Thanks Yonak, here is photo 4 and two more
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[joe maday]

Thanks John, I can not take credit for being "very clever". That is the method used during the "Georgian Period" to make the cross grained moldings.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Joe......what a stunning piece! Absolutely gorgeous!

[joe maday]

Glenn, Kent, Thanks for your kind words

[joe maday]

Thanks Ken

[Kent A Bathurst]

Thanks Yonak, here is photo 4 and two more
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OK, Joe - you got me here.......the horizontal trim piece, on top of the dovetails, is there because......??

Ohhh..on further review........do you have a photo of the inside of that drawer, showing how the front panel is attached? It is not dovetailed - it is attached to the drawer front, o?

[joe maday]

Kent, The drawer front is solid quarter-sawn white oak, with Quarter-sawn sides, and back, all dovetailed together. The Oak Bottom and poplar runners are attached into rabbets in the drawer sides and in a dado in the drawer front.
The drawer front is veneered with 4 book-matched pieces of English Brown Oak Burl,"hammred " on using hot hide glue, then trimmed, Oak feather banding and oak cross-banding was applied like the top of the chest. Then after the drawer is fitted to it's opening there is a 3/32 cockbeading around the sides, top and bottom edges, with the top cockbeading covering the full thickness of the drawer front. That hides the secondary wood (white oak) from view. The sides and bottom are not as wide. It is mitered at all four corners. Between the top and side cockbead it is "stop-mitered" Traditionally the cock-beading protects the veneer edges, and limits the exposure of end grain on the drawer fronts to help control moisture absorption. The use of cross banding is also a method of controlling/limiting damage to the field veneer. Over many years of use it was easier to repair /replace the cross edging veneer than the field.
I thought I had photos of the cock-bead rabbet cut around the drawer front but...no..Maybe these will help? Sorry for being wordy. Joe
Before Veneer or Cock-bead rabbets 309958

Drawer bottom at front showing bottom and drawer runner 309959



the same at the back of the drawer 309960

[Paul Murphy]

As far as I can tell that is a perfectly constructed chest. Your veneer work is beautiful!

[Andrew Hughes]

Thanks for sharing your work with us Joe,The chest is beautiful.Aj

[Mike Henderson]

Absolutely beautiful work. You're a real craftsman.

Mike

[Michelle Rich]

So glad I stopped into this forum today..such a treat to see your chest. Stunning work. I am totally in awe.

[Jim Matthews]

Spectacular. Smaller pieces are far more difficult - small misalignments are pronounced.
This piece is like a perfect golf swing.

Who taught you to make drawer slips so well?

[Rick Moyer]

Spectacular. Smaller pieces are far more difficult - small misalignments are pronounced.
This piece is like a perfect golf swing.

Who taught you to make drawer slips so well?
Yeah, both unattainable by me despite my efforts! :)

[Pat Barry]

Fabulous work. Such high attention to detail. I really can appreciate the efforts you put into this.

[Mel Fulks]

I always like to see those earlier style pieces, and this is a great one finely done. Wish you had mentioned the desk slide.
Never seen any pierced brasses quite like those, perfect touch.

[Jim Becker]

Wow, that is magnificent craftsmanship!

[joe maday]

Thanks Mel, The brush or comb slide is quarter-sawn white oak. the front of which is veneered with sections of English brown Oak, hammered with hide glue, then cock beaded ....same as drawers fronts. The Brasses are hand cast from originals by Optimum Brasses in England using the correct brass alloy. Londonderry Brasses here in the US carries much of their line but these needed to be obtained from Optimum directly. And thank you for your comments.
Joe
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[Mike Henderson]

That "arrow" or "dart" banding - did you make that yourself? I assume you would make it by cutting the wood on the bias (about 45 degrees) and putting two pieces together. Is that correct?

If so, how did you cut it? Table saw? And how did you get it to the same width across the whole length?

Mike

[joe maday]

Mike, I used a miter jig and stop for the table saw, cut some quarter-sawn English Brown Oak at 45 deg. 1/8 thick. the chalk marks keep the parts oriented correctly. the glue the small beveled edges end to end. giving several 1" x 30-36 " thin strips 1/8 thick. They are stacked on top of each other to make the feather pattern, glued and clamped. Then cut into aprox. 1/16 thick bandings on the band saw
miter sled with removable stop to cut 1/8" 310027
cut offs arranged then glued end to end to make strips 30-36" long310028
1/8" strips glued together to make the feather pattern 310029
the resulting thin "boards" are ripped 1/16 thick on the band saw310030
Walnut feather banding from another project310031

[Ron Brese]

I'm not easily impressed......and I'm impressed.:)

[Scott Hearn]

Stunning, just stunning. Your patience and attention to detail is remarkable.

[Scott T Smith]

Stunning was also the first word that came to my mind. Fantastic execution and craftsmanship Joe. Thanks for sharing.

[Mark Stutz]

Breathtaking! I would love to have this in my bedroom, but sadly not sure I could ever rise to that level of craftsmanship. Well done!

[Jim Tobias]

It is hard to decide which is most impressive........the piece or the skill it took to make it!! I'll have to go with the "skill it took to make it".
All I can say is your skill, thoroughness, patience to turn out a piece like that is to be commended by all.
BEAUTIFUL!!! English Brown Oak Burl is one of my absolute favorites!


Jim

[joe maday]

Thanks every one for taking the time to look and post so many positive responses! I do appreciate them all!
Now time to pick out the next piece.......Thanks Again...Joe

[Brian Holcombe]

Gorgeous work Joe!

[Dennis Hawkins]

I'd love to get my hands on some of that English Brown Oak !

[Michael Peet]

Very handsome piece, Joe, and beautifully executed.

Mike

[Jim Becker]

I'd love to get my hands on some of that English Brown Oak !

Yea, I've used it once and would use it again in a heart-beat, despite being a "cherry" guy. Bought mine from Hearne Hardwoods in Oxford PA (the "candy store") and it was also the first project I ever did primarily with hand tools outside of certain cuts on my slider for sizing and the bevels on leg components. Very workable and amazing color.

[Bill McNiel]

I just realized why I don't make pieces like yours, LOFT! Lack Of Frickin' Talent. Magnificent piece.

[James Combs]

I just realized why I don't make pieces like yours, LOFT! Lack Of Frickin' Talent. Magnificent piece.
Couldn't have said it better about myself.

[Peter Aeschliman]

Joe, sorry if I missed it, but what is your intention for the finished piece? Are you a professional and was this a commission? Or do you get to keep it?

[joe maday]

Peter, I'm not a full time maker. I make period furniture to supplement my pension...Have made and sold and gifted many pieces from William Mary, Queen Anne, Shaker to Federal . I also do work for local Clock and furniture dealers, and many consignments. This Chest was made to explore the English Georgian style and its particular construction methods. They'll be more........I get to keep this one! Thanks for taking the time to look.

[Leo Passant]

Congratulations on completing a wonderful piece of Georgian furniture. I hope to see many more from you.

(Your friend Down Under)

[Tom Giles]

Mighty fine work

[Harold Burrell]

Very, very, VERY nice!!! Definitely an heirloom!

[Will Boulware]

Every once in a while, a piece comes along here that causes severe jaw-droppage. This is one of those pieces. Incredible design and execution. Thanks for sharing this!