My wife has /does collect artwork and she is always in need of storage chests. I decided that my next chest would have 12 raised panels, be painted, and made to her specifications(to fit some artwork). I selected poplar wood because it works/planes well and I have a few 100 board feet of it. The construction was a combination of power tools and a finished surface with hand planing of all of the surfaces. The chest is made of solid wood.... nothing plywood. Mortise and tenons were used to join the frame members and then pinned together. A half mortise lock secures the contents. The photos show the parts of the construction from beginning to end.

 

 

 

 

 

Fantastic piece! Love your shop!!!

That's a chest I'd be proud to have in our home for sure! What a wonderful piece of work you did here Frederick, a nice combination of machining and hand work, and I love those nailed tenons! Very traditional. The color schema is beautiful, and your work is superbly clean.

 

I might have to do a chest similar in design for a hand tool chest, I love the panels. Thanks for posting this here, and your shop is nice and cozy, I love the warmth of it, I could curl up in a corner of that floor and dream off.

 

What kind of paint was used?

Oh yes, and the bench, where in the world did you get that bench?

Awesome chest and great job on the raised panels. I too love the shop and like John I really love the work bench. 

 

Wow!  

Beautiful chest. M&T joinery makes a great, long lived piece. And that paint job is gorgeous. Those colors really are complimentary.  

BTW, thats neat old bench.

That's one gorgeous chest!  Hope my wife doesn't see this.

Jim

Beautiful work.  Excellent craftsmanship, what more can be said?  

 

The colors really compliment this piece.  Never have seen a piece with a raise panel on top, looks great!

 

 

1 hour ago, John Morris said:

Oh yes, and the bench, where in the world did you get that bench?

Thanks, the workbench from a tool dealer named Ben Alexander, near Carlisle, PA. I was told, and found evidence, that it was from a defunct woodworking company in Hanover, PA. The bench has some "waves" in it from someone trying to level it with a belt sander. I keep an assortment of shims that use to level out any boards that I'm working with. The paint is some "Old Strubridge" paint that I have.... oil based. This "box" is one of the more simpler pieces that I've done over the years. I'll try to find photos of some other pieces that I've done and post them here.

3 minutes ago, FrederickH said:

The bench has some "waves" in it from someone trying to level it with a belt sander.

Ayeye

4 hours ago, lew said:

Fantastic piece! Love your shop!!!

You are welcome anytime!!!!

Well, there aren't any words left to describe that piece, it really is awesome!

Spectacular piece Frederick, thanks for posting up the pics

 

And welcome aboard to TPW, glad to have you here.  Hope you will share a bunch more pics of your work!

Edited October 5, 20196 yr by Cal

I like coming back to this topic, and just looking at the pictures. It makes me feel warm inside.