1st project blanket/toy chest

[Mike McCann]

I am a new woodworker and have two young girls 3 1/2 and 18 months. I wanted to make them toy chests for their bedrooms. I used Norm Abrams plans for a blanket chest and used toy box lids so the girls will not pinch their fingers. Mortise and tenon was a little beyond my skill and tools so I used pocket screws and biscuits. I like the way they turned out the white one is red oak painted with milk paint and the polycrilic over that. The walnut one has red oak stain to match her current furniture and 3 coats of shellac.

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o223/mackel40/P1010098.jpg
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o223/mackel40/P1010002-1.jpg
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o223/mackel40/P1010001-1.jpg

[Todd Burch]

They look great Mike! Ever since I first saw that chest 13+ years ago, I loved it. Now you have two!!

(My favorite is the walnut)

Todd

[Matt Campbell]

Mike, those look great. Reading that you used pocket screws made me realize that I've never used screws in walnut. Does it hold screws well?

[Mark Carlson]

Mike,

I made the same chest as my first project. Yours looks great.

~mark

[Louis Rucci]

MY first project, when I get my shop finished, is to build a toy box for my granddaughter. Yours looks great and will be an inspiration.

Louis

[Mike McCann]

Thanks for the kudos.

Matt as far as I can tell the pocket screws are holding very well.

Louis you can find the plans for the blanket chest in the The New Yankee Workshop by Norm Abram. I actually got the book from the library and made used the plans from there.

[Ralph Okonieski]

Mike,

Love the chests ! Very nicely done ! I'm partial to the walnut one but the other is great too. I recently completed an oak one (with walnut panels) using Norm's plans. Didn't have enough walnut for the entire chest so settled for just the panels. Your girls will love and appreciate the chests I'm sure.

[Don C Peterson]

Very nicely done!