Got the hinges in and the lid installed on the Cedar Chest this week. Got the first coat of BLO rub on. Hope to get to this completely finished by this next weekend.

I had this at the craft show last night and may have picked up several orders. Customers are to call this week. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Sweet John! I just noticed the cool skirt on the chest, the classic colonial cutout that is a definite 1700's look. I love 100% cedar chests, a big plus to these chests, is they don't have to be lined with cedar! 20 percent of the work was eliminated from that step. I hope those orders come through for you John.

The chest look fantastic. My only critique and please don't take offense as this is just my personal taste and nothing to do with you work. I find the large amount of sap wood in the skit somewhat distracting. When I look at it my eye goes directly to the sap wood and not the chest as a whole. As you already know by John C reply some people like that so it's just my personal opinion.

Richard I do agree with you, but I am using the customers cedar that came from a couple of old barns that were on their family farm. They wanted knots, holes and the sap wood. I have had a difficult time with this cause it's not what I am really used to doing. I did fill a couple of knots on it with epoxy and coffee cause I couldn't stand the holes.

A lot of what they brought me has tunnels in it from the carpenter bees. Anyway, you are very correct about the sap wood, but I did do it on purpose for them.

Don't apologize for critiquing as that is a way we are learn to look at things from a different view.

They think these barns were built in the late 1700's.

The workmanship on that chest looks nice John.

Although many people like the look of all cedar chests I personally don't care for the look. Don't get me wrong, I like red cedar and have all my closets lined with the stuff and have made 2 cedar lined chests myself.

It's nice that you were able to salvage old barn boards/beams for the family.

I understand that John. I think I would rather have something else for my self. I would rather have one from Cherry or Walnut and then line it with Cedar.

But this is what they wanted and I want to make them happy. I am to build seven of these and this is the second. I am sure I am going to be tired of Cedar when it is over but right now it is fun and I like working for these folks.

My shop sure has a Cedar smell right now.

John Hechel said:

The workmanship on that chest looks nice John.
Although many people like the look of all cedar chests I personally don't care for the look. Don't get me wrong, I like red cedar and have all my closets lined with the stuff and have made 2 cedar lined chests myself.

It's nice that you were able to salvage old barn boards/beams for the family.

If you have that many more to build be cautious with wearing a dust mask and gloves. Cedar can be a sensitizer wood. thus the more you're exposed to it the more likely you could have an allergic reaction.

Thanks for that advice John. I do wear a respirator when sanding but probably ought to wear it more often.

John Hechel said:

If you have that many more to build be cautious with wearing a dust mask and gloves. Cedar can be a sensitizer wood. thus the more you're exposed to it the more likely you could have an allergic reaction.