Retirement Trunk

Nice job, thank for your years of service.

First and most importantly, Thank you for your service to our country.
Now, down to business: beautiful build, great design, excellent craftsmanship. Besides all that, the shadow box is a really nice piece of work. Thanks for showing.

-- "I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The point is to bring them the real facts." - Abraham Lincoln

Nice chest! I am also retired military and have thought many times of building a retirement trunk. I really like the layout of this. Would love to see more pics. Excellent build.

Nice job, and welcome to Lumberjocks.

-- Eric

Awesome shadow box. You had a clever idea and executed it well! Congratulations on your retirement and thanks also for your service.

I retired in 2007, after 22 years, and decided to go “mobile” with part of my shadow box…

It’s neat to have kept the patches and other memorable items. The walls of this previously useless cubby contain all of my going away plaques. It’s in the back hallway, so I can grab my jacket on the way out the door.

-- Mark, Florida

Retirement trunk…......cool name.

Awesome box! It’s so cool, I want to see more.

We like to brag and show off here at LJ so don’t be shy with the pictures. In fact, you can add more pictures to this post if you want.

Details are nice too. Is it made of pine? Did you use a solid 3/4” reversed raised panel? Dowels, pocket screws or mortised? Do the drawers stack inside under the trays? Are they dovetailed? What kind of finish did you use?

It would be cool to see your uniforms and the items in the trays up close too.

I look forward to your future posts of all your work.

Welcome aboard Sir.

-- mark

Nice build… what a great way to display your momento’s from your service…Nice Job sir

-- Buster, Ocoee TN (Critics are men who watch a battle from a high place then come down and shoot the survivors - Hemingway)

Thanks to all for the great comments. I’m not certain on the type of wood I used. I acquired the wood over 13 years ago from a brother in law who had a lumberjack/land clearing business in northeast PA. In return for two days worth of help he gave me a truck load of lumber. I know he gave me Butternut, Hawthorn, Beech, Cherry. But unfortunately the names we marked on the boards have since worn off. I’ll post a few more pics of the building process and maybe one of you can identify the species of wood. The majority of the joints were dado’d. The sides and top panels were pieced together with biscuits. To keep the drawers simple I used 1/4 plywood for drawer bottoms and slides in one.

-- Tom

Great looking box, welcome to lumberjocks. Looks like you are on your way to a new career.

-- Bob, Lewistown, Montana. Kindness is the Language the blind can see and deaf can hear. - Mark Twain

This is a great project, I bet you enjoyed filling it with all of those very special items. Thank you for your service to our country, without your contributions the rest us might not be able to enjoy woodworking at all.

Very well done.

-Dennis

Welcome to Ljs and thank you for your service to our country.
This is a wonderful retirement chest,great job.

-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/

An awesome project well suited to honor your career. I am always appreciative of guys and gals who serve.

Welcome to LJs.

-- jay, www.allaboutastro.com

Thanks for posting more pics. This is truly awesome! The front view is my favorite. I gather those are challenge coins along the sides?

Jeff – Yes I have collected over 60 coins through various means. Most were presented by various commanders for performance above and beyond the call of duty.

-- Tom

Thank you for your service to our country. Great project. I love the idea. Very nicely done.

-- Wayne - Plymouth MN