| Project by Dorje | posted 574 days ago | 1608 views | 18 times favorited | 52 comments | ![]() |
![]() |
Here’s the completed Tansu style case I started a couple months ago, and blogged here ...this was supposed to be a quick, fun, little project – and although it took the couple months from start to finish, it turned out to be just the right “spend-some-time-on-it-here-and-there-project.”
This is an all scrap wood piece, made of cedar, pine, poplar, fir, and walnut
The case is mitered with walnut keys. The drawers are joined with drawer lock joints (a router joint). The vg fir back is simply rabbeted into the case and tacked with little nails…
Finish is 3 coats of a boiled linseed based mix, with a coat of paste wax.
-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA































52 comments so far
chamoruboy
home | projects | blog
128 posts in 887 days
posted 574 days ago
Very beautiful. I really like the use of the metal brackets on the face.
Fantastic that it was composed entirely of scrap wood.
Great job!!!
-- Greatness is not found in possessions, power, position, or prestige. It is discovered in goodness, humility, service, and love.
W1ngnu7
home | projects | blog
21 posts in 798 days
posted 574 days ago
Great design Dorje.
-- W1ngnu7
Eric
home | projects | blog
784 posts in 662 days
posted 574 days ago
Wow, it’s really beautiful. Well done.
And great photographs as well!
-- Eric at http://adventuresinwoodworking.com
GaryK
home | projects | blog
9496 posts in 867 days
posted 574 days ago
That turned out fantastic, Dorje! Great design and details!
The hardware is also very nice.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
Napaman
home | projects | blog
3421 posts in 956 days
posted 574 days ago
great result…love the design and the fact that you pulled it together with so many different woods…
i like the black metal…accentuates the overall feel…
-- Matt, Napa, CA...fun is beautiful...just trying to have some fun...
Blake
home | projects | blog
2715 posts in 753 days
posted 574 days ago
This came out beautifully, Dorje. It really looks nice with the hardware finally on. Great interpretation and execution. It was interesting to see the process. Thanks for blogging it in such great detail. Congratulations on completing it.
-- Check out my new website! http://www.blakeweberwoodworking.com
davidtheboxmaker
home | projects | blog
372 posts in 684 days
posted 573 days ago
That’s a really nice set of drawers. The hardware sets the whole design off really well. The blog is excellent – many thanks for sharing it with us, and well done.
Scott Bryan
home | projects | blog
20080 posts in 701 days
posted 573 days ago
Finally!!! I have been wondering where you were on this. I see that you changed your mind about the drawer hardware. Good. This looks better than finger pulls, (in my humble opinion of course). This is well designed and executed project. I especially like the hardware and miter keys. They add a lot of visual interest to the case.
Well done.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
cajunpen
home | projects | blog
5970 posts in 945 days
posted 573 days ago
Dorje I agree with all of the above comments. Your project came out very nice. Good design and execution.
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
Lee A. Jesberger
home | projects | blog
3709 posts in 858 days
posted 573 days ago
Dorje;
Don’t you have anything better to do than show up the rest of us? LOL
The is gorgeous! I love it.
Another example of no such thing as a quick and easy project!
Lee
-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com
trifern
home | projects | blog
7890 posts in 646 days
posted 573 days ago
That is one stunning case. Wonderfully executed design and details. Great job.
-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.
Critterman
home | projects | blog
545 posts in 689 days
posted 573 days ago
Great Job Dorje,
Great mix of metal and wood, then the different woods look great as well. Very nice.
-- Jim Hallada, Chesterfield, VA
Bob Babcock
home | projects | blog
1808 posts in 965 days
posted 573 days ago
Really nice…I love the look. Perfect blend of tones.
-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org
DAN
home | projects | blog
6402 posts in 862 days
posted 573 days ago
Dorje ! you have the best looking scrap material I have ever seen. Beautiful grain balance and orientation, crisp
-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever
Damian Penney
home | projects | blog
1022 posts in 870 days
posted 573 days ago
Looks great Dorje, I was wondering where you were with this too. So what’s going to go in it?
-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso
Todd A. Clippinger
home | projects | blog
5590 posts in 978 days
posted 573 days ago
I love it!
-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com
SteveL
home | projects | blog
67 posts in 647 days
posted 573 days ago
I love it. The mix of “scrap woods” as you call them blend perfectly in a very functional Tansu case. The traditional case is made from Pawlonia to be lightweight, but the choice of cedar, pine and fir meet that objective nicely too. Guess all you’ve got to decide now is where is it going to go?
-- SteveL
blackcherry
home | projects | blog
712 posts in 702 days
posted 573 days ago
Great use of leftovers…the piece speaks volume in style and craftmanships…Blkcherry
jockmike2
home | projects | blog
7222 posts in 1125 days
posted 573 days ago
Dorje, you amaze me, to turn out something so delicate. My hats off to you Sir. Well done. mike
-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com
jm82435
home | projects | blog
502 posts in 621 days
posted 573 days ago
I just want to say amen to all the above. Stunningly beautiful. That straight grain fir is perfect, gives it a soft elegance. I can just about smell the pine. I really like this, thanks for sharing it. This makes me want to box up all my scraps and send them to you.
-- A thing of beauty is a joy forever...
Paul
home | projects | blog
607 posts in 971 days
posted 573 days ago
Love it!
-- Paul, Texas
SPalm
home | projects | blog
921 posts in 761 days
posted 573 days ago
That is just fantastic. I really like it. Good job.
-- Stevethepeeve -- I'm no rocket surgeon
Douglas Bordner
home | projects | blog
3415 posts in 943 days
posted 573 days ago
Beautiful “Northwestern Woods” suite. This really came off nicely. What will be it’s final resting place, shop or home?
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
CharlieM1958
home | projects | blog
7467 posts in 1097 days
posted 573 days ago
Beautiful job of design and construction.
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
Bob #2
home | projects | blog
2991 posts in 900 days
posted 573 days ago
I waaaant it! <vbg>
Nice job Dorje!
Bob
-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner
Dorje
home | projects | blog
1768 posts in 876 days
posted 573 days ago
Thanks for the comments and support! Truly appreciated!
-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA
ND2ELK
home | projects | blog
6065 posts in 653 days
posted 573 days ago
Nice design and beautiful case. Thank you for posting.
God Bless
tom
-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa
Robb
home | projects | blog
356 posts in 813 days
posted 573 days ago
Looks great, Dorje, congratulations on finishing a(nother) fine piece!
-- Robb
scottb
home | projects | blog
3391 posts in 1206 days
posted 573 days ago
This is exactly what I need for my shop – just the size for the space I have in mind. Very very nicely done.
-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/
Joe Brumley
home | projects | blog
63 posts in 661 days
posted 573 days ago
Great job, Dorje. I love the proportions and the hardware looks really nice. Your work is very inspiring.
-- Joe, Indiana, http://www.crookedshack.com
ChicoWoodnut
home | projects | blog
894 posts in 694 days
posted 573 days ago
Nice work Dorje. I really like the proportions. Looks like a study in joinery.
thanks for posting.
-- Scott - Chico California http://chicowoodnut.home.comcast.net
Thuan
home | projects | blog
186 posts in 697 days
posted 572 days ago
Beautiful! The use of pine for the back panel is very appropriate for the tansu.
-- Thuan
Dorje
home | projects | blog
1768 posts in 876 days
posted 572 days ago
Thanks all!
Thuan – the back is the vg fir…I should’ve said where the different woods were used from the get go…
Everything you can see is the cedar, with the exception of the fir back. Poplar was used for interior drawer divders and upper drawer bottoms. Pine was used for the lower drawer bottoms.
-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA
Bradford
home | projects | blog
783 posts in 702 days
posted 571 days ago
Truly a beautiful project.
-- so much wood, so little time. Bradford.
motthunter
home | projects | blog
2079 posts in 678 days
posted 571 days ago
beautiful and clean.
-- making sawdust....
Zuki
home | projects | blog
1219 posts in 956 days
posted 571 days ago
Favorited. Nice work D.
-- The significant problems we face cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them
Mike Lingenfelter
home | projects | blog
457 posts in 993 days
posted 571 days ago
A simple and clean design can be hard to pull off, but you have done it with this Tansu style case. The hardware really makes this piece. Love it.
-- http://theinquisitivewoodworker.com/
Jeff
home | projects | blog
996 posts in 973 days
posted 561 days ago
Dorje – I had a double post somehow. I must have submitted one by accident when editing. I’m always hitting the finger pad with my palm. whoops.
-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN
Jeff
home | projects | blog
996 posts in 973 days
posted 561 days ago
Dorje, I’ve been meaning to stop here and post some Kudos since I got the notice of the posting. This came out spectacular!
Are the the keys on the miters trimmed on the inside of the case at all? It may just be an optical illusion. (I’ll go back through your blog.)
I’m even more inspired to do some of these! I have an idea to do a series of them that can be set in varying arrangements on the side of our stairs up to our loft in the condo. I need to research Tansu a little more too I suppose. Again, nice execution and use of scraps!
-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN
Jeff
home | projects | blog
996 posts in 973 days
posted 561 days ago
Question answered. The third pic was throwing me off. I forgot about the rabbet in the back for the panel. Sure does look nice for scraps.
-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN
Dorje
home | projects | blog
1768 posts in 876 days
posted 561 days ago
Thanks Jeff Jeff Jeff- funny to see your mug shot three times in a row! I’m guilty of my share of double posts!
I definitely want to do more in this style in the future – but bigger hardwood cases!
-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA
Davesfunwoodworking
home | projects | blog
259 posts in 754 days
posted 561 days ago
Dorje, very nice job. I really like this one. Just something about it. Sure would make a great tool chest.
-- Davesfunwoodworking
Mark Mazzo
home | projects | blog
343 posts in 791 days
posted 556 days ago
Dorje,
I had not seen the completion of this until now. Excellent job on this. I really love the design of this piece. Any sources of inspiration for a set of Tansu box-on-box? There’s a spot in our house that’s begging for something like that.
Well done!
-- Mark, Webster New York, Visit my website at http://thecraftsmanspath.com
David
home | projects | blog
89 posts in 594 days
posted 556 days ago
“SWEET” very nice!
Dorje
home | projects | blog
1768 posts in 876 days
posted 556 days ago
Mark – sources of inspiration for me have primarily been looking at old cases in shops, on the web, and in books…
BUT, If I’m reading your question right – you may want to check out the following:
http://www.finewoodstudio.com/cabinets.htm
http://www.sodergrenfurniture.com/collection/index.html
http://www.mckinnonfurniture.com/tansu/menu.htm
-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA
bfd
home | projects | blog
413 posts in 686 days
posted 554 days ago
Dorje,
This is a beautiful piece man! I love tansu chests but have never made one. I love the fact that you used all scrap wood to do this. Your craftsmanship is stellar.
-- Brian, Folsom, CA http://www.brianfullerdesigns.com
Karson
home | projects | blog
25279 posts in 1279 days
posted 554 days ago
Dorje; A beautiful case. A nice job.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
Jarrod Zion Murphree
home | projects | blog
347 posts in 602 days
posted 543 days ago
Phenomenal. Great looking piece; very authentic. The grain characteristics on the top/sides looks like some of the Japanese originals you see in books and on the web. Great eye for detail…
-- Jarrod, Taos, NM http://jzmurphree.wordpress.com/
gizmodyne
home | projects | blog
1658 posts in 969 days
posted 533 days ago
I missed the post somehow. Well done. I love the natural look and the hardware. Now you just need to make a few different styles and get to stacking.
-- -John "Do I have to keep typing a smiley? Just assume it's a joke." www.flickr.com/photos/gizmodyne
Dorje
home | projects | blog
1768 posts in 876 days
posted 533 days ago
Thanks guys -
Jarrod – Thanks for your comment – I had known that I wanted to build a little tansu, and when I had that cedar board left over from work on the house last summer, it screamed tansu…
-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA
SteveKorz
home | projects | blog
2030 posts in 593 days
posted 262 days ago
Wow, this is gorgeous. I really like this.
-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †
azwoodman
home | projects | blog
60 posts in 260 days
posted 250 days ago
Favorited. Thats all I can say!
-- -Spencer, Gilbert Az (http://www.azwoodshop.com)