Blanket Chest/Tack Trunk

[Mike Cutler]

Over the past few months I've been working on and off on a blanket chest/tack trunk for LOML to store all of her horse blankets and such in.
I was derailed for about six weeks due to a hellacious work schedule. I've finally had a chance to get back to it, so it for all intensive purposes finished. ( The bright lights ,and camera revealed a few areas that neede a little touching up).

The chest is a copy of the frame and panel chest that appears in the book "In the Craftsman Style" by John McAlevey, and featured on pages 96-103. The author provided more than enough detail to replicate his original work. The chest I built deviates only in size, and the joinery at the legs. I utilized double though tenons, that were shouldered and haunched into the posts. They were subsequently pinned through from both sides. Other than that, the original was a beautiful piece, and I certainly couldn't improve on it.

The materials in the chest are a wenge frame, with brazillian cherry panels, and a spanish cedar interior.

[Steve Beadle]

A wonderful project, beautifully executed! I need to make a blanket chest also, and this one will provide a good example.

Steve

[Jim Becker]

Wow...that's really beautiful!! Nice work.

[Mike Cutler]

Thank you Steve, and Jim. Here are a few of the joint details I used if you decide to make one.

This pic shows the pinning of the joint externally. Both through tenons were blind pinned.
51347

This pic shows the internal pinning.
51348

This is a pic of the mortise detail from the top. Originally it wasn't intended to be exposed this way. It was an error on my part. I measured, marked and cut 4 tenons exactly 1/8" too close to the ends of the posts. Oh well, It worked out in the end.


51349

[Jerry Strojny]

And I thought I had reason to be proud of a couple blanket chests I made...I have much to learn, much to learn.

I love it. It looks great. Wenge, cherry, cedar....great combinations.

[Rennie Heuer]

I'm blown away! Really nice work.

[lou sansone]

hi mike
great looking chest. very impressive. I like the choice of the tone of the woods.

lou

[John Shuk]

Very nice work and a very contemporary look.

[John Branam]

Wow, that is very nice.

[glenn bradley]

Mike, That's a beauty! Very well done.

[Steve Wargo]

Very sharp. I know the exact chest you copied from and you did a wonderful job. Nice execution. congrats.

[Bob Reda]

Mike,

Thats a really sharp project!

[Jerry Olexa]

Nice results!!! Looks good...

[Andy Hoyt]

Great chest, Mike.

And thanks for pointing out John McAlevey. He's an active member of my turning club, yet I had no idea he was a writer.

[Mike Cutler]

Thanks for the compliments and the feedback folks. Sometimes I get so immersed in a project that I really can't see the whole thing when it's complete. I just see the details that went into it. Thank you.


Great chest, Mike.

And thanks for pointing out John McAlevey. He's an active member of my turning club, yet I had no idea he was a writer.

Wow. John McAlevey is a member of your turning club. Very cool.
I bought the book that featured his a chest a few years back. I bought it specifically for his chest and a bookshelf by C. Michael Vogt. In my opinion they were the nicest featured pieces in the book. (I hope he won't be offended that I copied his chest)

Lou. As much as I would like to take credit for the wood selection, my wife actually selected the raw materials, and layed the boards out into each panel after I milled them. She has a pretty good eye, if you ask me. Thank you for the compliment.

[Roy Wall]

Mike -

That is beautiful!! I just turned that book back into my local Library-- had it for 2 months.......and I know the chest you speak of. What a great book with some super projects!

Tremendously well done! Your joinery is super.....Congrats to you!

[John Timberlake]

Great choice of woods and craftmanship. Love it!