I've spent the last three weeks working on this blanket chest for my living room. It's my second major project and the first one I've done with walnut.
Some of you might remember that I was asking about doing glue ups with tapered stock for this project a few weeks ago. In the first picture you see the stock I started out with, it presented a bit of problem in glueing up the panels, as the pieces wanted to slide apart under the clamp pressure. Luckily the upward/downward friction from the LV panel clamps I eventually used seemed to counteract this enough to make it work. When I tried with just bar clamps it was a major pain. The stock was 4' long, 8" wide -4" wide and 3/4 (surfaced) thick. I got it for about $1 bf from a guy who got it as CNC router offcuts from the place he works. Panels ended up being just shy of 5/8 by the time I got them flattened out (jet drum sander).
The box is butt jointed (not ready for that many hand cut dovetails yet) with 4 pocket holes per end edge and 8 per bottom side. Each side piece has a dado 1" off the base (no feet) to accept a 3/4" piece of plywood, which is glued in as the structural bottom. To hide the plywood and side pocket screws (none visible on the long sides) I covered the interior base with sanded T&G cedar and the sides with 1/8" spanish cedar that I resawed myself (first resaw project).
The moulding strip around the outside is 2 1/4" walnut from left over pieces, tacked in with old fashioned nails for asthetic purposes. The nails only catch 1/4" of the case, so the moulding is also held in from the back (1" gap below plywood) with wood screws. I didn't use any glue here. The top is close to 3/4" walnut with figured big leaf maple breadboard ends. I debated pinning them but I haven't done it before and didn't want to risk it at that late stage.
Handles and lid stays (right term?) are from Lee Valley.
Let me know what you think, and please point out any design flaws you see. I'm posting it for fun but also (primarily) to learn to do a better job, so I welcome any comments even if it's "hey, that wasn't a good design, it's going to fall apart with moisture change because xyz..."
Thanks,
Andy
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