This is a simple blanket chest I made from spruce (I think) boards I had laying around. I'm afraid this stuff was so soft and spongy I would never want to make something from it again unless I had to. Even with very sharp tools, I would still end up with a fuzzy surface after planing, and just pushing the plane over the surface with the blade retracted would leave tracks from the body of the plane compressing the wood.
I just used cheap zinc plated hinges that I soaked in vinegar to remove the zinc plating. I made the lid support from some 1/8" mild steel bar and just flame blued. It has no friction, so it does nothing to keep the lid from slamming shut. It just keeps it from opening too far.
Certainly not fine furniture, but functional.
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