| Project by Tommy | posted 682 days ago | 956 views | 0 times favorited | 16 comments |  |
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I finished this on April 14. Many folks have written very gracious comments about the dovetails. Thanks, ironically, given that I’m figuring this out as I go, they turned out to be the easiest part. What drove me crazy was getting the lid right. Since the hinge isn’t external and the lid is heavy (although lighter than lid #1!), it was a bear.
One thing I pulled off (that isn’t visible) is that instead of screwing braces to the lid, I made a sliding dovetail for both and pegged it near the front of the lid with one 1/4 dowel.
As my grandmother would say, “There’s no rest for the weary.” I’ve already started prepping the lumber for daughter #2’s chest.
Pics from the whole project are at http://web.mac.com/tallen
I’m getting close to the “finish” line.
A few years ago, while reading a story on “hope chests” to my three girls, they asked if I’d make one for each of them. I naively said, “Sure, how hard could it be? It’s just a box.”
The truth: At the time, I barely knew the difference between an airplane and a hand-plane. I went to the library and happened upon a book by Krenov in which he said, among many other things, that he didn’t let his apprentices use power tools until they’d mastered the hand-tool that the former replaced. I thought, “Well if that’s good enough for them…”
That catapulted me into the world of “old-school” woodworking, antique stores, ebay and, of course, a garage that is full of tools and sans cars.
This chest, for my oldest daughter (turning 13 soon), is the result of about a year’s work (30 minutes at a time, when I could find the time) and about 2 years, before that, of late nights practicing dovetails (cut a pair, see where I screwed up, saw them off, start again…lather, rinse, repeat).
I’ll post a final pic, I “hope” soon.
-- "Will preach for wood."
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16 comments so far
dennis mitchell
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3048 posts in 852 days
posted 682 days ago
Welcome aboard Tommy! You have some pretty lucky girls. That looks like a wonderful labor of love.
-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com
Shawn
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226 posts in 691 days
posted 682 days ago
Beautiful man, just beautiful, welcome abord my fellow jock.
-- Cheers
MsDebbieP
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12282 posts in 698 days
posted 682 days ago
and do they know how much you love them?
wow – that’s quite the commitment you have made
can’t wait to see the final product
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
jockmike2
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4497 posts in 784 days
posted 682 days ago
I’ve been working on one for my daughter since August, and it does’nt have any dovetails so good luck. It will be worth it to see their faces light up when you give it to them. Mark C. gave me some good advice, which was to write something mushy on the bottom for them to remember you by, great idea, and welcome to the lumberjocks. jockmike 2.
-- Mike. Profisher50@yahoo.com
Obi
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2157 posts in 774 days
posted 681 days ago
Wow… dovetails by hand. Very Nice Work. And Welcome to the Shop
-- http://ye-olde-cabinet-shoppe.com/
Karson
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13640 posts in 938 days
posted 681 days ago
Very nice welcome to Lumberjocks
-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com
oscorner
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4573 posts in 848 days
posted 681 days ago
Where’s the router and dovetail jig? Three of them, all with handmade dovetails. What a Dad!
-- Jesus is Lord!
Don
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2586 posts in 714 days
posted 681 days ago
Tommy, this is a wonderful undertaking. Your daughters may never know what an expression of love this is.
Without stealing your thunder, it’s something very much like this that also got me into woodworking. My father built a cedar lined chest for my first daughter as a wedding gift. My second daughter was married three years later and my dad had started one for her also. But unfortunately, he became ill and never finished it before he went home to God.
I just didn’t have the necessary skills, or tools at that time, so commissioned a man to finish the work. He as a cabinet maker and commented to me that “your dad was an old-world craftsman”. Looking back on this, I would say it was this experience that motivated me to learn the skills my Dad had.
Thanks for showing this. Please keep posting work-in- progress hots.
-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.canterburybaptist.org/
darryl
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986 posts in 864 days
posted 681 days ago
I have to hand it to you Tommy, I have three daughters and one of my goals is to make a blanket chest for each one of them. I went out and bought the Leigh dovetail jig to do the job though. So far, you are way ahead of me! I should follow your lead and learn to cut these dovetails by hand.
-- ~ www.darrylmasterson.com ~ www.woodworkingdungeon.blogspot.com ~
Tommy
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6 posts in 682 days
posted 646 days ago
Hey guys…
Thanks SO much for all the comments and encouragement.
Tommy
-- "Will preach for wood."
Obi
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2157 posts in 774 days
posted 646 days ago
O.K. So now I guess Iit’s my turn to do that hand made dovetail thingy, huh? I made a 24” jig out of 2 (two) 1/4” pieces of mahogany plywood glued together, so I think I can figure it out.
-- http://ye-olde-cabinet-shoppe.com/
MsDebbieP
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12282 posts in 698 days
posted 646 days ago
isn’t this beautiful (in more ways than one).
Bravo.
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Bill
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2524 posts in 699 days
posted 646 days ago
Wow, hand made dovetails! That is truly a work of art. I am sure they will appreciate the chests for years to come.
-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com
Dick, & Barb Cain
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5395 posts in 837 days
posted 646 days ago
Beautiful work, your daughters will love these forever.
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
David
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1830 posts in 676 days
posted 646 days ago
I like the comment “how hard could it be? It’s just a box . . . “
I really enjoy making chests so this struck a chord with me. I like the dovetails and the inlaid cross. Looking forward to more photos. Very nice work!
Can you share details of the inlay?
These will be real treasures for your daughters to enjoy.
-- http://foldingrule.blogspot.com
Andy Rockhill
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13 posts in 637 days
posted 614 days ago
Tommy, Holy cow! (Pun not really intended until I wrote it :)) Nice dovetail work. I am brand-new to the lumberjocks website and have been surfing around the projects. This one really stands out to me. I have been trying my hand at hand-cut dovetails as well. I made a knitting basket for my wife (ooh, I should post that one) that features hand-cut dovetails. I’m getting better at them.
I’m also learning how to fix my mistakes, which is invaluable when you are working with such a large piece.
Thanks for the inspiration!
-- Andy from Madison,WI -- A student for life...