Hope Chest Completed

[Chris Dodge]

Some friends of ours asked me to build a hope chest for their daughter who was turning 16. She wanted the lid to be curved like a pirate chest, wanted it made of maple and lined with cedar, and wanted two of her favorite buildings laser etched into the front of it. I wasn't real pleased with the laser etching but they were happy.

It was a fun project and I was able to learn from some helpful posts here on Sawmill Creek how to make the curved lid. Thanks for the help!

There are more pictures (that are much bigger) of the hope chest on my website if you are interested in seeing more details.

7778277783

[Jim Becker]

That coopered top is awesome, Chris! Lucky "customer"!!

[Bill Huber]

That is really beautiful work to say the least.

I do agree with you on the laser work, I think it would look better without it.

[Thomas Knighton]

Very nice! I'll be starting a hope chest project for my sister-in-law in the next few months (June at the latest), though I'm going a bit of a different direction. Still, yours is beautiful and will make someone very happy :)

Tom

[Dan Barr]

The cedar on the inside is great! the top is great too.

very nice

dan

[Bruce Page]

Beautiful work. I love the top!

[David Duke]

Cool looking chest Chris, nice job.

[scott spencer]

Wow! That's really nice Chris. Beautiful job on a unique design.

[Bob Genovesi]

Chris,

Absolutely gorgeous!

While you did a splendid job building it I fell it would look much better in my home! ;) :D ;)

[Ralph Okonieski]

Looks great, Chris. Very well done!

[keith ouellette]

That is beautiful. I love the maple and how you oriented the different shades of the wood on the lid.
Is it clear coated or are you going to stain the wood?

[Mike Cutler]

Beautiful work Chris.

The Pic's of the chest on your website show a lot more detail. You have some other very nice work displayed on your website too I see.

Once again. Very well done.

[Dennis Peacock]

Beautiful work Chris..!!!!! My daughter wants one with a curved top too. So I guess I'd better get busy!!!!

[Tim Malyszko]

Excellent work on the chest. The laser etchings really add a nice, personal touch. I love the pirate chest shape - ARRRR ye Mattie!!!

[Rick de Roque]

Chris,

Great job. Love the curved top.

Rick

[Chris Dodge]

That is beautiful. I love the maple and how you oriented the different shades of the wood on the lid.
Is it clear coated or are you going to stain the wood?

I sprayed on three coats of General Finishes High Performance Water based Poly and sanded with 320 grit between the first two coats.

Thanks for the kind remarks everyone and have a merry Christmas!

[Dave MacArthur]

Really nice chest Chris. She'll treasure that forever.

[Dave Shively]

Chris that looks fantastic! I have done dozens of laser projects and have found Maple is not a good wood for the laser engraving. For photographs of
peoples faces or of scenery the wood is just to hard and the laser settings must be set just right. Cherry lasers nice but the gain gets in the way. The best wood is Alder because it is soft and for the most part the grain is not a problem.

The chest turned out great! I DO like the use of Maple too! You did one great job! Love you website too.

Dave

[lou sansone]

very nice indeed

lou