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Project Information

Gerstner inspired, and loosely interpreted, this chest is of African Mahogany, and flecked, spalty oak which was salvaged from a jobsite, and landfill bound. The drawer faces were originally dunnage for steel sprinkler pipes.

Hardware, from the web, thanks to FWW giving the source for their handles in the "Essential Tool Chest" essay, and ebay for the knobs. Tremont nails for the rose head cut nails on the back panel. (Shoutout to The Old Fart on that source)

Speaking of the back panel, it was also salvaged, and I believe it is sweet gum. (Also very poplarish, but harder to work, and a different looking grain). Some of the pieces were really twisted, but I'm confident that they had ample time to accommodate. I planed those down from 5/4 to 3/4" by hand. That was a chunk of work, in and of itself. Also, you may have noticed some paint on the Mahogany. I left that intentionally as an homage to the guys who felled and milled the lumber. (It was on the rough lumber from the mill. (Presumably a batch identifier or some such). I realize most people won't like that part, but I really do, so I kept it.

This box is another example of design on the fly, inexperience, and attrition. I can't begin to muster the energy to document all the trials, errors, and successes in this little chest. My first foray into hand work alone, but not entirely. I used to router to form the dado for the drawer bottoms. (I did not have a proper plow plane, so I used what I had)

So there she is. The amount of hours I put into this, I can't really say. It was a lot. Most of those hours, were a real joy.

Thanks for looking!

Gallery

Comments

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Bucket, very nice work on this project! And I like the markings on the back, for what it's worth. Good choices made in the hardware, wood, design, etc. etc. etc. Congrats, and may the tool chest be enjoyed for many, many years to come!
 

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Mr. Bucket, a real fine example of skilled workmanship. DT's, grain direction, and proportions all work for me. Glad you found the rose heads. Also I'm with Smitty, I do like the heritage markings on the back. May you enjoy it for years to come and pass it on to the next generation.
 

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Bucket I like the wood choices. The oak and mahogany suit my eye fine. And the DTs look mighty fine. Good job!
 

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Very, very nice craftsmanship! Great wood choices, they compliment each other quite well. Nice grain kept after finish applied Bottom line I certainly like it. Wish I could cut dovetails so nicely..
 

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Thanks fellas! *blushes.

I know its customary to give the compliments, but I like em anyway!
 

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All-in-all a great looking tool chest! And I too like your saving of the board's history.
 

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Outstanding and very attractive-very nicely done.
 

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Nice work Bucket. Very stout looking. How thick is the case mahogany?
 

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Nice! I'm currently building a 6-drawer chest that has roots in Gerstner and Jim Tolpin's toolbox book's designs. Mine is mostly plywood and poplar because I haven't built a case like this in a long time, and I'm going to paint it for that reason.
 

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Woodcox, it is a shade below 5/4 thickness. It started out at 6/4, but flattening plus fixing tearout took a good bit by the time I was done.

Thanks again, everyone. Love the kind words!
 

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Whoa, this is a fantastic looking box. Everything turned out great. Wood, design, and execution are all outstanding. You should post some pics of it stocked up some day too.
 

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Thanks Shane, I plan to give that a go. After seeing Kevin and Terry (and others) make such phenomenal inserts and bins, I think I need to give that a try. Plus I want to make a single drawer chest with a larger footpirint that this one will sit on, which will have a deeper, wider drawer. (I've just enough of the same oak left over to do it.)
 

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Great looking tool chest! Nice job on it!!
 

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This is a very impressive looking chest,it will look awesome when it is displayed in the dining room where you obviously will store your fine china and silverware!!!(LOL) just kidding around, this is a great project and the experience you must have taken from the build is priceless I am sure, thanks for sharing!
 

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Great work.
You will look back at this as your benchmark hand tool piece.
As you improve you may look back and smile but I think you've started out well up the ladder.
 

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Ya, the self-critiques are lost on me. That thing looks fantastic. Nice job brother. Your learning fast.
 

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Great job a real beauty. What the the demensions?... Great wood combo.
 

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Busy woodworkers need busy boxes, yes? Nice work Bucket!

DanK
 

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That is ridiculously nice bucket. Whatever challenges you had you were either hustling us or you overcame them with style. I like the marks on the back to since it's the back after all.
 
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