| Project by Robw | posted 764 days ago | 1026 views | 9 times favorited | 9 comments |  |
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I built a blanket chest out of cherry for our son a number of years ago and when he moved into a smaller place without room for it we had it in a bedroom for a year or so. We liked it so when he took it back I built one for us. This chest is built from a piece of salvaged mahogany that was reported to be sunk in a river in Belize for almost 100 years. My dad ordered it on line to do some turnings and gave me a piece that was about 12”X5”X5 feet. It is very heavy and hard. I started this project in October of 09 and did not finish till last spring. It took a long time as it was fairly complex with several techniques I had to figure out for myself. I also put it aside for some other projects. The chest is 47” wide, 24” deep, and 27” high. The trim is some quilted maple that I had and purple heart, lined with aromatic cedar. I don’t usually use more than 2 types of contrasting wood as I think things get rather busy looking, but in this case it worked well. The Mahogany sides are about 5/8 thick with ¼ cedar inside, the top is 3/8 plywood with 1/8 mahogany/ purple heart on top and 3/16 cedar on the bottom and 2X2 maple frame with mitered corners reinforced with 2 biscuits and 2 splines each. The bottom is ½ plywood and the box corners are ¼ maple with varying size and thickness splines. I used a lot of screws at the corners, base, and the bottom that are all covered that make things quite strong (usually I only use screws for hardware). I finished it with Minwax satin wipe on poly (6 or 7 coats). It was a lot of work but it came out very nice.
Rob
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9 comments so far
Nikki in VA
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163 posts in 800 days
#1 posted 764 days ago
Let me be the first to say what an eyecatcher this chest is! Love the curves and quilted maple.
-- Nikki in Virginia
Occie gilliam
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#2 posted 763 days ago
Yes an eyecatcher, nice work Rob
Occie
-- OC down in Costa Rica. come down and see me some time. I'll keep the light on for you too-oc@hotmail.com mail.com
RS Woodworks
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#3 posted 763 days ago
Very very nice! I’ve favorited it and gonna steal some aspects of your design for an upcoming toy box I’m building. I recently made similar but slightly more complex feet on a project, how did you make yours?
Thats fantastic work Robw… you should be proud.
Ryan
-- I restore the finest vintage tools! If you need a nice plane, saw, marking tool or brace, please let me know!
OutPutter
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1194 posts in 2162 days
#4 posted 763 days ago
Very nice design and execution. Thanks for posting it.
-- Jim
a1Jim
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#5 posted 763 days ago
Wow this is amazing top to bottom.great build, fantastic wood. This is fit for a king. three thumbs up…
-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/
Roger
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#6 posted 763 days ago
very nice. the wood combo is really nice also, including the splines
-- Roger from KY. Work/Play/Travel Safe. Kentuk55@bellsouth.net
saddletramp
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#7 posted 763 days ago
Totally captivating. Wonderful wood choices, expertly concieved and executed.
-- ♫♪♪♫♫ Saddletramp, saddletramp, I'm as free as the breeze and I ride where I please, saddletramp ♪♪♪♫♪ ...... Bob W....NW Michigan (Traverse City area)
Maddhatter
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#8 posted 763 days ago
Amazing work, well done, I just priced some of the Belize Mahogany Yesterday at “Hearne Hardwoods”http://hearnehardwoods.com/hardwoods/pricelist/pricelist.html in Oxford PA. One of the yard attendants told me they had just sold over 1500 BF to Fender Guitar. They are currently selling it for $60.00 a BF. To see the wood up close and personal, it is truly amazing, over 150 years old and a very tight (old growth) grain pattern.
Your choice of display for such a fine product is awesome.
Congrats and thanks for posting.
-- Norm (AKA - The Maddhatter), Middletown DE
Robw
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45 posts in 863 days
#9 posted 761 days ago
Ryan, the feet are fairly easy. Start out with a square frame (this case about 12X12 out of 3”X2” stock) with mitred corners reinforced with 2 biscuits each. Then cut into 4 pieces and shape with band saw, router table and sander. They are attached with long screws and glue.
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