Blanket/hope Chest pics in a book or magazine?

[Howard Henderson]

Hi All -

I'm going to build a hope chest soon and have been pondering design ideas.

I saw a magazine article or chapter in a book several years ago with a beautiful walnut (or black walnut) chest that a fellow had made. The grain in the pictures was striking, as was the design and the finish.

As I recall, the old tree had been growing on family land for years, but had either come down in a storm or old age and the fellow made the chest from some of the wood.

I've searched high and low for that story since and can't find it anywhere.

I could swear I saved some pictures from the story on my PC somewhere (so I think it might have been digital at some point), but between all the office & home & laptops I've had over the last few years, I can't find the pics, if I did.

Does that ring a bell with anyone?


Thanks for any information,
Howard

[Jerry Wright]

Maybe this one:
[woodworkersjournal.com/black-walnut-cedar-chest]

[Howard Henderson]

Thank you, Jerry, but that’s not it.

That one is beautiful, but the one I’m thinking of had more of a rounded, sculpted top with a bit of chip carving in it (as best I recall).


Howard

[Steve Demuth]

I unfortunately can't help with the article, but just for show and tell, here's a walnut/cedar Chest I made for my daughter. Pictures aren't very good, sadly. Cell phone had a bad lens.

(45 minutes on the iPad to get those photos to upload correctly. Going to draw a bullseye on this thing one day and use it for target practice)

[Al Launier]

Steve, after looking at your design it gave me an idea for when I'll eventually build one for my grandson. And that would be to enable the box to not only be lifted as you have shown, but to also figure a way to slide it from one end to the other., if for no other reason than just to say it's different. I love the cedar inside with the walnut outside - best of both worlds.

[Izzy Charo]

Hi Steve,
I like your blanket chest! I'm in the process of designing/building one as well. Could you tell me about the panels... are these veneered onto a backing, or are they solid wood (and if so, what thickness did you use?)
Thanks,
Izzy Charo

[Steve Demuth]

Steve, after looking at your design it gave me an idea for when I'll eventually build one for my grandson. And that would be to enable the box to not only be lifted as you have shown, but to also figure a way to slide it from one end to the other., if for no other reason than just to say it's different. I love the cedar inside with the walnut outside - best of both worlds.

I thought about making slides - obviously very easy to do. In retrospect, it would probably be an improvement.

[Steve Demuth]

Hi Steve,
I like your blanket chest! I'm in the process of designing/building one as well. Could you tell me about the panels... are these veneered onto a backing, or are they solid wood (and if so, what thickness did you use?)
Thanks,
Izzy Charo

They are essentially plywood. A 1/8" plus mdf core, with a vertical layer of 1/42" red oak veneer on each side, followed by a horizontal layer of walnut (outside), and oak inside. So, 4/42" of veneer plus a bit more than 1/8" of mdf, and voila, 1/4" plywood.

It's not obvious from the crappy picture, but the walnut is a central slice from a single bole with continuous grain wrapping all the around the chest.

I have sketchup plans if they'd be of any use to you.