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D.McDonnel "Mac"
12-23-2005, 1:36 PM
Well it's finally finished only about 1.5 years late! My daughter asked for the blanket chest for her wedding in June of 2004. With all there is to do for a wedding I knew that wasn't going to happen so I made a heart shapped box for her with a promise for the chest in the future. I took my time getting the details right, working on it between other projects.
<img src="http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c166/indymac24/ClosedFront.jpg">


It's made of curly cherry with bookmatched pannels, retained in mortice and tennon frames. The finish is a shellac sealer covered with many coats of blo/turp/varnish mix. Here you can see how nice the figure is accented by the finish. <img src="http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c166/indymac24/FigureWithDecentPannel.jpg">
The Design is a Wood Magazine download with much modification. I changed the top case moulding to a cove with the top getting a bullnose treatment.



<img src="http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c166/indymac24/Knot.jpg">
I had a little problem with a knot in the underside of the lid. I filled it with black epoxy.



<img src="http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c166/indymac24/OpenFront.jpg">
As you can see the chest is completely ceader lined, I even bookmatched the cearer planks as I resawed them to a 1/4 inch thick and then made 1/4 inch quater round to go in all the corners and along the bottom edge. You can see that in the next pic and also the chain stop and brass hinges I got from Lee Valley. Really nice extruded brass hinges! I chose not to use the no mortice hinges so I had to mortice them into both the lid and case but I'm glad I did because they look very traditional.
<img src="http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c166/indymac24/ChainStop.jpg">



In the next pic you can see the opened chest. I put some fairly large battens on the underside of the lid as it was trying to warp as soon as I took it out of the glueup clamps. I shaped the ends where the sides and top are rounded to a point sort of like the old weavers shuttles. They are made from a darker piece of cherry and stand out nicely on the lighter cherry of the lid.
<img src="http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c166/indymac24/OpenFront.jpg">



Lastly Here it is wrapped and ready for opening Sunday. I hope my daughter likes it as much as I liked making it for her!
<img src="http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c166/indymac24/Wrapped.jpg">


Thanks for looking and Merry Christmas everybody!!

Mac
Doug Shepard
12-23-2005, 1:44 PM
That is one fantastic looking chest. I love the curly cherry. Bet it took some doing to get that monster wrapped though.
John Branam
12-23-2005, 1:44 PM
That looks great I am sure she will love it.
Donnie Raines
12-23-2005, 1:46 PM
Super job!!!
Todd Franks
12-23-2005, 1:47 PM
Very nice Mac. Nothing beats the look of cherry IMO, especially curly cherry. What kind of varnish did you use in your triple cocktail? I'm sure the wait will be well worth it to your daughter.

-Todd
D.McDonnel "Mac"
12-23-2005, 1:54 PM
Todd,

I used Helmsman's Spar varnish (gloss), turpentine and Park's BLO.

It's the first time I used the first coat of Shellac before the triple coctail finish. (Rude & Crude from the WWA forum). It won't be the last as it came out shinier (spell?) than straight triple cocktail. I like it!

Mac
John Miliunas
12-23-2005, 2:09 PM
Well, Mac, me thinks your plan of "getting the details right" worked beautifully!!!:) Very, very nice and matching up all that curly does indeed give the impression that the details certainly are right! Wonderful job and I'll be that's the best Christmas present she gets this year!!!:) :cool:
Bernie Weishapl
12-23-2005, 2:11 PM
Mac superb job. She is going to love it.
Dick Parr
12-23-2005, 3:05 PM
That is a wonderful piece of furniture Mac!:) I bet she really loves it.;)
Jason Tuinstra
12-23-2005, 3:11 PM
In life, the best things are worth the wait and this is a perfect case in point! That is a fantastic looking blanket chest! From the beautiful wood to the simplicity of design, this is first class. I'm sure you daughter will be pointing this out time and again with great pride in knowing her father built it for her. Excellent bookmatching as well.
Jim Dunn
12-23-2005, 3:12 PM
Great work Mac. What daughter, or son:eek: for that matter, wouldn't love it!

Jim
Peter Stahl
12-23-2005, 3:20 PM
Very nice Mac!
tod evans
12-23-2005, 3:22 PM
mac, my favorite wood done well! very nice,
Ken Fitzgerald
12-23-2005, 3:54 PM
Mac.....beautiful chest! I hope you signed and dated it somewhere! Generations to follow will want to know what relative made it!
chris toomey
12-23-2005, 4:03 PM
man, that is beautiful!
Josh Goldsmith
12-23-2005, 5:09 PM
I am a very picky guy but i have to say that looks AWESOME! Very nicely built. ;)
Jim Becker
12-23-2005, 5:17 PM
That would look absolutely lovely in our home...when will it arrive? Err...oh...you made it for your daughter. Oh, well! :)

Seriously that's really outstanding! Great job!
Vaughn McMillan
12-23-2005, 5:22 PM
Great job, Mac. Looks like it was definitely worth the wait. I'm sure she'll be very pleased.

- Vaughn
Steve Stube
12-23-2005, 5:32 PM
I think she'll forget any wait time when she sees the finished article. Fantastic execution on all points.
Mark Singer
12-23-2005, 7:36 PM
A really great job Mac! I am always amazed at the woodworkers at SMC!
Mike Deschler
12-23-2005, 8:00 PM
Mac:

That chest is a real class act. Your daughter will be very proud of it since daddy made it for me. Let's hope generations following will enjoy it also.

Great work!!
Peter Pedisich
12-23-2005, 10:39 PM
Mac,

That is an awesome chest, great design, details & craftsmanship.

Pete
Pete Harbin
12-23-2005, 11:11 PM
Really nice work Mac! Sure to be an heirloom!

Pete