| Project by HawkDriver | posted 535 days ago | 1048 views | 1 time favorited | 8 comments |  |
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I was commisioned to build this last month as a birthday present for a friends wife. I nearly missed the deadline which was November 21st. I learned entirely too many things on this project which were all rookie lessons. Not “oh that’s good to know” or “I will do this better next time” but lessons such as don’t let anyone else pick out lumber for you (especially the client). Additionally, I moved to a new house at the beginning of Novemeber, so the garage was a total train wreck while I was trying to get this thing finished up.
Anyway, It turned out well, my friend and his wife immediately fell in love with it and my new favorite finish is clear lacquer. The dimensions are 48”L x 24”D x 20”H. Built from Black Cherry and Curly Maple. No fancy joinery just lots of gluing, clamping, countersinking and plugging. By the way, the new self centering, tapered Hitachi plug cutter my wife bought me works great!
I plan on building another one of these for myself soon, so any advice on making it better would be appreciated!
Thanks for looking!
-- Patrick, Helicopters don't fly. They beat the air into submission.
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8 comments so far
woodworm
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14104 posts in 1763 days
#1 posted 535 days ago
Very nice looking blanket chest/bench. Great work.
IMHO, try a darker color for the base/foot, so it looks like the base/foot is stronger, just my 2cent!
-- masrol, kuala lumpur, MY.
dpwalker
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#2 posted 535 days ago
This is really beautiful. The alternating light & dark woods are a nice look.
-- I intend to live forever. So far, so good.
Ken90712
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#3 posted 535 days ago
Well done, and I agree the base being lighter in color draws your eyes to the base and not the great looking wood on the upper part of the chest. The grain and finish look great and I can see why she likes it!
-- Ken, "Everyday above ground is a good day!"
helluvawreck
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#4 posted 535 days ago
You did a really nice job on this. Congratulations.
-- If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away. Henry David Thoreau
JohnnyClem
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34 posts in 536 days
#5 posted 535 days ago
Once again, Im impressed. I would have never thought you would get in to this. Great job. Its Beautiful.
madwilliamflint
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#6 posted 535 days ago
Advice on making it better? Heck, I was going to ask you for advice on making mine.
A Slice of Wood Workshop
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#7 posted 535 days ago
How did you join your corners? Did you just glue them and using finishing nails, or screw and plug? It’s a great looking chest.
-- Tim- http://www.asliceofwoodworkshop.com; Twitter-@asliceofwood; Facebook-http://www.facebook.com/asliceofwood
HawkDriver
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452 posts in 806 days
#8 posted 535 days ago
Thanks for the comments guys. I like the color contrast, but you might be right about the base being a darker color. The corners are butt joints, glued, screwed and plugged. The hitachi plug cutter my wife bought me works great. In the pics you can’t even see the plugs, and in person you really have to look for them as well. It cuts tapered plugs to ensure a real tight fit.
-- Patrick, Helicopters don't fly. They beat the air into submission.
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