| Project by Loogie | posted 264 days ago | 3376 views | 9 times favorited | 38 comments | ![]() |
When I found out that my wife was pregnant I immediately decided that I wanted to build a dresser for my new child. I wanted it to be something that they would/could use for generations. My wife wanted something that we could use as a changing table, so that dictated the height. By the time I actually got started on the project, my wife had already purchased a birch crib (she wouldn’t let me make that – something about the fact that she wouldn’t need it anymore by the time I finished it). So I decided to build it out of Birch – my first time working with that wood. The moulding technique was inspired by an article I read in Fine Woodworking. My goal was to use as much joinery as possible and the minimum amount of hardware. I was very happy with the way it turned out. I hope you enjoy it.
I can’t believe I don’t have any pictures of it finished. I’ll see if I can take one soon.
-- Mark
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38 comments so far
schroeder
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478 posts in 615 days
posted 264 days ago
Beautiful! – Wonderful workmanship! and an instant heirloom! thanks for posting the process too!
-- The Gnarly Wood Shoppe
Bruce
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61 posts in 264 days
posted 264 days ago
nice job on the dovetails!
Karson
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12925 posts in 890 days
posted 264 days ago
Nice job. I like the molding clips. Some nice birch. I assume that it got finished in time?
-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com
Loogie
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34 posts in 269 days
posted 264 days ago
No, I was about a month late! But you can’t rush this stuff! That’s what i keep telling her at least :)
-- Mark
cz29
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14 posts in 276 days
posted 264 days ago
Great job! excellent work on all of the joinery….I can’t wait to see it finished.
Bob A in NJ
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335 posts in 488 days
posted 264 days ago
Wow, those Leigh jigs are great. Cool way you made the sliding moldings for seasonal movement. Excellent work!
-- Bob A in NJ
DAN
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3236 posts in 472 days
posted 264 days ago
double nice …. a treasure chest
welcome to lj’s
-- ..... art for lifes sake ... danwalters@lumberjocks.com
Dorje
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1745 posts in 486 days
posted 264 days ago
That turned out super! Isn’t that Chris Becksvoort’s molding technique from FWW?
Again – outstanding work on this!
-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA
TomK
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381 posts in 364 days
posted 264 days ago
Beautiful! Your daughter’s daughter will probably be using it too!
-- North Texas
Chris
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1236 posts in 481 days
posted 264 days ago
Wow… Great Work!
-- Chris
sjdickey
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64 posts in 288 days
posted 264 days ago
Beautiful. I am sure it will be in use by your children your grandchildren and…...for generations to come. nice work.
Napaman
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1812 posts in 566 days
posted 264 days ago
wonderful!!! thanks for all the pictures…i love it when people post with lots of pictures…greeat job! And…welcome to LJ’s!!!
-- Matt, Napa, CA...142 days to sanity...
rikkor
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7720 posts in 364 days
posted 264 days ago
Very well done. Great craftsmanship.
-- Maplewood, MN
cajunpen
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5348 posts in 555 days
posted 264 days ago
OUTSTANDING PROJECT. The joinery is perfect and should last for many generations. Your wife should be proud – and you too :-))
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
Dadoo
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1536 posts in 480 days
posted 264 days ago
A real nice one Loogie! I really like the way you’ve added the moulding to the top and retained the dovetail details. This will look super when finished. Toss us a final pic so we can see. OK?
-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!
Jiri Parkman
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559 posts in 302 days
posted 264 days ago
Perfect dresser. Nice wood. Perfect details.
-- Jiri
toyguy
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453 posts in 327 days
posted 264 days ago
You sir are a true draftsman. Great job.
-- Brian's Table Top Toys http://home.mountaincable.net/~bgraham/
Critterman
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482 posts in 299 days
posted 264 days ago
I saw the same article and love the design, looks like you did it to perfection, great work. And the leigh jig….’sob’.....I want one so bad! LOL So, is all they say about it true? Is it as easy to use as they say? I definitely did some awesome dovetailsfor you [smile]. An absoluely beautiful project that will last several lifetimes. Well done.
-- Jim Hallada, Chesterfield, VA
EdC
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420 posts in 330 days
posted 264 days ago
Very nice detail, love the dovetails, well done, a dresser that your great grand children will enjoy!
-- Ed Collinge- Edmonds, WA.
SPalm
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728 posts in 371 days
posted 264 days ago
Very fine. Too many details to praise. I am impressed.
Steve
-- Stevethepeeve -- I'm no rocket surgeon
Scott Bryan
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9150 posts in 311 days
posted 264 days ago
Very nice project. You simply rush good craftmanship. I don’t blame you for taking your time on this one. I love all the dovetails.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
GaryK
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8489 posts in 478 days
posted 264 days ago
Fantactic job!
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
Loogie
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34 posts in 269 days
posted 264 days ago
I took a few pictures of it this morning. I completed this project about two years ago. For the finish I used Bartley’s Gel stain followed by Minwax wipe-on polyurethane. Like most woodworkers, finishing is not my favorite part of the job. I have found that this combination works very well for me. I’m planning on getting into spray finishing in the very near future.
-- Mark
Mario
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714 posts in 541 days
posted 264 days ago
Great work, nice job picking and using the wood. that is so often overlooked but you hit it on the head.
Very nice.
-- Hope Never fails
CharlieM1958
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4211 posts in 708 days
posted 264 days ago
That is one FINE dresser. It really seems you took no short cuts on this one, and you got everything right down to the smallest detail!
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
kjwoodworking
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146 posts in 376 days
posted 264 days ago
The dresser is beautiful and you do some great work. The attention to detail is awesome.
Thanks for sharing the process, it shows me some ways of woodworking I’ve never tried. I’ve got to get one of those jigs. I built a dresser to use as a changing table a while back but it doesn’t compare to this one. You have got my woodworking wheels turning, I’ve got to try the way you installed the molding on something.
Thanks!
-- Kirk H. -- http://www.kjwoodworking.com
che
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123 posts in 515 days
posted 264 days ago
OK, This may be a stupid question but how do the sliding dovetails allow for expansion?
This is a great piece. I love the lines and the exposed dovetails on the top
Thanks,
-- Che.
dalec
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458 posts in 378 days
posted 264 days ago
Mark, you have done it. I can see this piece of furniture becoming an heirloom. Great joinery, clean lines, and very nice finish.
Well done.
Dalec
CedarFreakCarl
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370 posts in 543 days
posted 264 days ago
Beautiful! I really like it.
-- Carl Rast, Pelion, SC
Popintraining
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109 posts in 327 days
posted 264 days ago
Sweet!
-- Illegitimis nil carborundum - Don't let the bastards grind you down http://woodworkingtipsfrompop.com
Loogie
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34 posts in 269 days
posted 263 days ago
Che said: “OK, This may be a stupid question but how do the sliding dovetails allow for expansion?”
I assume you are talking about the sliding dovetails holding on the edge molding. The molding slides onto the dovetail keys without any glue and then it is glued to the case at the very front and to the molding on the front. That way as the case expands and contracts front to back, the molding will just slide on the keys. During the winter the molding extends about 1/16” past the back of the case and during the summer it is flush with the case. We have a central humidifier so there isn’t much seasonal movement. I hope that answers your question.
-- Mark
martin007
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42 posts in 265 days
posted 263 days ago
Very Nice, I am planning on making one for my girl too. I was thinking on using finger joints for the carcase instead of dovetail as I am not experienced or equipped for dovetails and I can easily do finger joints on my table saw. What do you think.
thanks
-- Martin, Gatineau, Québec
Dadoo
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1536 posts in 480 days
posted 263 days ago
Beautiful! Thanx for updating the photos!
-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!
shaun
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362 posts in 395 days
posted 262 days ago
I don’t even know where to start. Everything about it is fantastic.
-- I've cut that board three times and it's still too short!
mot
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4837 posts in 526 days
posted 262 days ago
This is an awesome example of casework! The detail that you have done and your construction methods are just fantastic. I like the way you’ve done the trim work to reveal the joinery on the carcase. I don’t know that I can add anything constructive to the comments already posted. Just a great job and favorited!
-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)
Paul
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588 posts in 582 days
posted 261 days ago
Excellent! A true future heirloom!
-- Paul, Texas
Patrick Jaromin
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232 posts in 322 days
posted 261 days ago
It’s pretty much all been said, but let me just add my voice to the chorus. Impressive. Thanks for sharing the detailed pics.
-- Patrick, Chicago, IL www.TenonAndSpline.com
jeanmarc
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1753 posts in 206 days
posted 66 days ago
Fantactic job!This is a great piece.
-- jeanmarc manosque france