LumberJocks

Oxbow chest

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Project by acanthuscarver posted 1856 days ago 1963 views 2 times favorited 16 comments Add to Favorites Watch

This chest is made of cherry with poplar secondaries. As with all my pieces, it is a commissioned job. The best part of a piece like this is that it entails so many different aspects of woodworking. The pics here show the piece in the shop either while finishing is going on or just before the piece is cleaned of dust, waxed and delivered. If you’re really interested in seeing the piece made in a step by step tutorial, check out my blog.

I’ve made half a dozen or so oxbow chests. They derive their name from the “reverse serpentine” shape of the front which is similar in shape to the yoke of an ox cart. These chests are always fun to build because of the added challenges of the beaded case and the shaped drawer fronts. Since I really enjoy woodcarving, it takes an otherwise straight forward chest design and adds a sculptural aspect to the job. I hope you enjoy it.

-- Chuck Bender, period furniture maker, http://www.acanthus.com




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16 comments so far

View Dusty56's profile

Dusty56

10720 posts in 1885 days


#1 posted 1856 days ago

Beautiful craftsmanship ! What is a piece like this selling for ?

-- When did quiet and quite become the same word ? I'm guessing about the same time as your and you're did.

View GaryK's profile

GaryK

10263 posts in 2185 days


#2 posted 1856 days ago

That must be a real money maker. Not super diffcult and relativly quick to build.

The finishing part is what slowes me down. It’s the part of woodworking that I don’t like.

How do you do the drawer fronts? Bent lamaination or cut from a solid piece?

Great chest!

-- Gary - Never pass up the opportunity to make a mistake look like you planned it that way - Tyler, TX

View CharlieM1958's profile

CharlieM1958

14933 posts in 2415 days


#3 posted 1856 days ago

Another fantastic piece, Chuck!

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

View ND2ELK's profile

ND2ELK

13495 posts in 1971 days


#4 posted 1856 days ago

Nice looking piece as always. Thanks for posting.

God Bless
tom

-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa

View runngt's profile

runngt

120 posts in 1936 days


#5 posted 1856 days ago

Very nice work!!

runngt

-- It seem's I just make scrap wood and saw dust most of the time !

View daveintexas's profile

daveintexas

365 posts in 2073 days


#6 posted 1856 days ago

Now that chest has nice curves !!
Thanks for posting.

Dave

View Bigbuck's profile

Bigbuck

1347 posts in 1860 days


#7 posted 1856 days ago

Very nice!!!

-- Glenn, New Mexico

View jockmike2's profile

jockmike2

10635 posts in 2443 days


#8 posted 1856 days ago

Super cool, man do you ever do good work. mike .........right up there with Norm

-- (You just have to please the man in the Mirror) Mike from Michigan -

View Scott Bryan's profile

Scott Bryan

27253 posts in 2019 days


#9 posted 1856 days ago

Chuck,

This is a gorgeous chest. I am sure this was a challenging project. You did well with this piece.

How did you finish it? I am sure that you used shellac as a top coat but, to me, this has an aged appearance.

Thanks for the post.

-- Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful- Joshua Marine

View Woodhacker's profile

Woodhacker

1138 posts in 1920 days


#10 posted 1856 days ago

Chuck, that is a beautiful piece! I agree with Scott…it looks like it has an aged appearance. I’m curious about your finish technique.

-- Martin, Kansas

View trifern's profile

trifern

8131 posts in 1964 days


#11 posted 1856 days ago

This is simply outstanding. I love the sculptural qualities you add to it. Thank you for sharing.

-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.

View darryl's profile

darryl

1789 posts in 2523 days


#12 posted 1856 days ago

nice looking chest of drawers. I like the finished color. The shape looks fantastic.

View acanthuscarver's profile

acanthuscarver

259 posts in 1909 days


#13 posted 1855 days ago

Thanks everyone for the compliments. I’ll try to answer the questions in turn.

Dusty, the current price is around 6K but it is not for sale since it’s sold, delivered, etc. I just don’t want anyone thinking I’m advertising my furniture through my gallery posts. While I’m sure there are plenty of LJs who can afford that kind of money for a chest, why wouldn’t they build their own first? They are lumberjocks afterall.

Gary, after having built so many it is a fairly easy project to build. The drawers, as you’ll see if you follow my blog, are sawn from the solid. To say more would just give away a future blog post. :)

jockmike, Norm? I don’t use my nailgun enough (or my biscuit joiner at all)...

Scott, orange shellac is the finish of choice for my furniture. As to the “aged” appearance, I’m not sure how much of that is just an over abundance of dust on the piece when I took my picture. The color, and again this will be somewhat explained in the blog, is achieved through the use of a custom made water based analine dye. The color we were shooting for was similar to 200 year old cherry. I think we did pretty well. My wife is a whiz at those mixing those colors.

Woodhacker, all I can say is stay tuned to the blog and I’ll share a bit of the technique. I think, once you see it in action, you’ll be surprised at how easy it is.

Thanks again to eveyone for the comments. Keep the questions coming, it’s why I’m here.

-- Chuck Bender, period furniture maker, http://www.acanthus.com

View BobR's profile

BobR

135 posts in 2182 days


#14 posted 1855 days ago

Another beautiful piece of work. Now I’m off to the blog.

-- Bob

View Kerry's profile

Kerry

159 posts in 1987 days


#15 posted 1855 days ago

Gorgeous chest. Your work is always impressive and I appreciate your sharing info in your blog.

Kerry

-- Alberta, Canada

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