Another Blanket Chest

[Michael King]

Hi,
Just finished this for a scholarship auction at the school I work for. Cherry with curly cherry raised panel in the lid, lined with cedar, cherry till with a false bottom compartment. I left the iron hardware out in the rain for a few weeks to develop some patina (rust :D). The finish is garnet shellac and waterlox.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a191/mking143/DSC00402.jpghttp://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a191/mking143/DSC00399.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a191/mking143/DSC00391.jpg

[John Michaels]

Very nice! Nice job on the chest, I like the dovetails alot.

[Dennis Peacock]

Very nice indeed!!!!! I really like it. Details man....details!!!!!! Dimensions especially. :D

[Paul Johnstone]

I really like what you did with the top.. I may steal that idea..

[scott spencer]

That's really nice Michael. Your design?

[Tom Cowie]

Beautiful Michael ,

I build a lot of hope (blanket) chests , but your design steals the show. The hardware and finish really compliment the quality cherry that you have used on this. Great job!!!

Tom

[Roy Wall]

Cool chest!! Nice work!

[Mario Lucchesi]

WOW that is awesome!! nice work, let us know how much it goes for.

[Michael King]

Thanks for the compliments.
Dennis- approx 26x16x16.
Scott- The basic design goes way back, I couldn't take credit for that. The chest design is similar to a tool chest that Chris Goshnour made in FWW a year or so ago, but it is a timeless machinist's chest design. I made one for my chairmaking tools and soon found out it was way too heavy, so I lined it with cedar and gave it to LOML. This design is similar, a little bigger, and uses curly cherry for the floating panel in the lid.
Originally when I decided to do a blanket chest for this auction I was thinking of going with something much simpler, similar to what Jim Cress does at Logan Creek Design...
http://www.logancreekdesigns.com/images/newpix/new13.jpg
The Robert E Lee camp chest. I loved it for its simplicity and straight forward good looks. This picture is from his website.
In the end though, I added some design elements that made it more like the tool chest- the top and bottom trim and raised panel lid, but kept the dovetails and found some iron hardware. Then started getting goofy with the hidden spaces- that helps to sell the piece. In the end it took $850 at auction, a real deal, but I was happy with that number. It goes to a good cause, they treat me well. When I get home from work I'll post pics of the 2 hidden compartments (you just can't tell anyone though:D )
Mike

[Eugene A. Manzo III]

Mike very very nice job. What did you cut dove tails with ? Did you drink the Dasani or the Carona when you built this (I see it on your bench :D )

[glenn bradley]

As others have said; very nice indeed. Dimensions, hardware and the design details all come together wonderfully.

[Richard Bistline]

I believe I will try your finishing methods on my cherry headboard. The color seemed very natural--the way I feel that cherry should look. Just my opinion though.

[Gail O'Rourke]

Absolutely gorgeous, the wood, finish and design. I love the hardware and love that is was for a charity auction.

Awesome!

[jason lambert]

Nice Job, what did you finish it with besides stain? Love the dove tail joints.

[Zahid Naqvi]

You did good man, nice workmanship.

[Tyler Howell]

Well done. Love it