Small Chest of Drawers

This is a small chest of drawers of 3/4”pine, with 3/8”cedar and 3/4” pine drawers. The drawers are through dovetailed front and back, and have cedar beveled-block handles.

The top and base of this piece are rebate joined and nailed through the top (three per side). Supports for the top and center drawer are bridle jointed (I think?) front and back, with a half-lapped connector between them (visible at the front).

Finish is three layers of tung oil finish with some sanding to 320 grit. No power tools.

Total dimensions: 10”x7.5”x12.75”h

Overall I’m pleased with the piece, but there were some problems I encountered:

- The cedar I used was 40 or so year old tongue and groove paneling, and despite being quite knotty, was also quite brittle, which was to be expected I suppose. It lead to a good amount of chipping which I was only partially able to repair using a glue/sawdust mix.

- The half-laps visible from the front, and the drawer handles, should have been better composed so that they related at least in width. But I wanted to use cedar for them, and I literally had nothing left from the one scrap piece I started with.

- Some addition to the piece, such as stout legs or a heavier base may have added to it by distinguishing top from bottom; as it is, it could be presented upside without being too visually different. That being said it’s currently being used for pens and other stationery, so using the drawers upside would be a messy reminder as to which way is up!

Thanks for looking, comments welcome.

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