Yeah, it's been that long.  Not since I built Rockler's 3-in-1 crib for my first daughter have I started (and finished) a project.  Since then, it's all been lathe work, as there aren't too many ancillary tools required to turn a chunk of wood into a bowl or a pen.

My fiance's b-day is coming up in June.  I decided I'd make something that would blow away any other b-day gift she's received...especially from past boyfriends.  Call me jealous.    She had been talking about getting a blanket chest for months, and when she saw a recent issue of Wood magazine I had, she saw the blanket chest in it and mentioned that she liked it.  A couple weekends later I went and bought the cherry plywood and rough lumber to get started.

Here's the goal:

I work full time and go to school in the evenings, so free time is at a premium.  I'm lucky to get an hour or two a week to hit it, but I've finally made some progress.  Two weekends ago I finally got the carcass screwed and glued together, and this weekend I got all the parts rough cut and labeled.  I'm hoping tonight to plane them all down to thickness and then start gluing them up this upcoming weekend.

It this rate, I *should* have it done by 9pm the day before her birthday...

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Semper fi
www.swearingen-turnings.com

Heck, I haven't been able to use my lathe since November.  Life really gets in the way of fun sometimes!

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Semper fi
www.swearingen-turnings.com

You can't rush quality!

I understand your pain with the working/school schedule. Sometimes you have to even schedule bathroom breaks!

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Lew Kauffman-
Wood Turners Forum Host

Time traveler. Purveyor of the world's finest custom rolling pins!

That will be a nice gift and project Jason. We look forward to following along with you on it. Take lots of pictures, she will like that also.

Sometime life just seems to get in the way of our hobby, but I am sure you will work it all out.

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John Moody
Site Administrator


John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

Great looking project Jason, I better not let the wife see this or I'll be doing that instead of building a shed over the next few weeks and then a glider for the back patio. I look forward to seeing the finished project and of course progress reports.

Jason,

Don't feel to bad, I'm retired and still can't find enough time to get things done.

I'm sure she'll love the chest.

 

Larry

OWWM Forum Host

Looks like it will be an item that will be treasured for many years. Can't wait to see it finished.

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Greg
Scroll Saw forum host

http://www.thesawdustfactory.net/

On this project, there are three thicknesses for the parts:  3/4", 1/2", and 1/4".  I got all the 1/2" pieces planed to .51" last night, leaving enough for final sanding.  They're all cut over sized.  I'm hoping that tomorrow I can rip and crosscut them all to proper size and start gluing them to the carcass.  The pieces I planed are the legs, the runners, and the stiles for the fake "frames".  Because I don't have a huge stash of clamps, it'll probably take a week or two to get them all glued up.

I need to start buying more clamps.

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Semper fi
www.swearingen-turnings.com

Ah, yes, the way to a woman's heart is making something special that you KNOW she wants.  As the years go by, it's harder and harder (my opinion of course).

We will be interested in seeing the progress.

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Fred
aka Pop's Shop
www.pops-shop.com
EX-21
'Soooooo many patterns - sooooo little time'

A month later and I'm not much further along, but after explaining to the missus that if she didn't allow me more time (haven't touched it in two weeks) she wouldn't be getting anything from me for her birthday, because this wouldn't be ready and I was no longer going to stress about getting it done on time.  AND since I've spent so much on it in lumber and parts, I wasn't about to drop another dime on her for it.

She quickly said she'd allow more time.  I still don't know if it'll be ready in three weeks, but I'm not worried about it; it's not my fault if it isn't!

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Semper fi
www.swearingen-turnings.com

Starting to look good!!  Can't wait to see the front!!

Got a few hours to work on it today--the missus' best friend "stole" the baby for a b-day party, so I've been home alone and surprisingly haven't injured myself...

Got the front and rear legs glued on and have started adding the rails; hopefully will get the stiles on tomorrow:

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Semper fi
www.swearingen-turnings.com

The case is almost done.  Still gotta cut out the inlay pieces and glue them on, then sand it and fill in the noob gaps.

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Semper fi
www.swearingen-turnings.com

Jason,

Looking Good Man!

 

Larry

Got the case completed today. I decided to leave the inlay pieces out; Jessi likes the way it looks without them, and it removes a HUGE bit of complexity and time--time to make the pattern, then the jig, then cut, shape, and sand curves on 16 identical pieces.

I had to do a bit of liberal 100grit sanding with the ROS to level some pieces that weren't set up correctly, and then worked through to 220grit on all sides. I'm waiting for some hide glue to come in so that I can make a filler for several gaps between pieces, but one end was fit well enough that I sanded it, blew the dust off with my compressor, and applied a liberal coat of wipe-on poly to get an idea of how it'll look. I'll probably put a total for four coats on, sanding with steel wool between each coat.

Here's the side with one coat on it.  Doesn't show much, but I'm pleased with the way the wood looks with the poly.  After it's done I'll set it out in the sun to "stain" it.

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Semper fi
www.swearingen-turnings.com

I love that design!  It's going to be gorgeous!  You are making great progress!

SQ

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Happiness is wood chips flying!

Thanks a bunch!  I'll have ALL the cutting and gluing done tomorrow.  Just two more stiles to glue onto the lid.  It won't be done on time, as I figured, for two reasons...the hinges are on back order until three weeks from now and she told me she wants the bottom lined with cedar, so I have to order that, too.  I'm also waiting on the hide glue to come in for mixing with sanding dust to fill in a few gaps.

Then onto what will probably be a whole can of poly!

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Semper fi
www.swearingen-turnings.com

Just about done.  Waiting on the hinges and cedar stock for the bottom.  Still gotta install the handles.  Three coats of wipe-on poly; need two more.

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Semper fi
www.swearingen-turnings.com

Jason,

That chest is looking just beautiful! Great job you've done. 

Have the cedar and hinges arrived, yet?

How you going to lay in the cedar on the bottom? 

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Gene
'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton

The hinges aren't due for another week or so.  I need *ahem* to order the cedar still...I'm just going to cut it down to about 1/4" thick and glue strips to the bottom of the case.  I'm not worried about them fitting perfectly; I'll bevel shadow lines into their edges to help hide any imperfections.  I don't know if I mentioned it yet, but the missus says she wants a keyed lock built into it.  Gonna have to figure that out!

Thanks for the compliment!

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Semper fi
www.swearingen-turnings.com