Hey everyone,got a good question?how do fix warped cedar,I have an old cedar chest my parents left me and the top got wet an warped the wood top,now it looks like a pirates chest LOL,need ideas on how to un warp it 

Twisted warped, cupped warped?  How is it warped?  We need to know.

You can spend the rest of your life fighting it and in the end it will still be warped. I would suggest every time you go in to the room where it is sitting ,,,,,,, just look the other way or replace the top. Good luck on what you choose to do!!

As stated before...warpy wood just gets warpier.

couple of pictures would help show the level of damage...

Hey Ron, like others have stated, pics would be wonderful for us to see, we are visual bunch. We can see where the warp is, and how badly, and we can suggest accurate fixes, or replacements if necessary.

And, thanks for coming back to visit us Ron, appreciate it much!

Sorry forgot about pics,so here they are each pic is from each side,but I notice there is a thin vaneer under top maybe if I cut it out ,I can just move wood strips around

 

Appears as though the glue joints are compromised and there are side pieces missing.  I would remove the veneer from the bottom and take the top boards apart, rejiont them and glue it back together adding a piece for loss while sawing/jointing.  In other words the top needs redone and cannot just be straightened.

Ron, pictures does help but the problem of trying to warp it all back to the right shape I think is almost impossible...but spending half of your life trying to prove it can be done...I think each one of the slats have slight bevels cut on each side of each board and when glued together gets that nice curved top. I still think it would be quicker to build a new top and and all you need is a table saw that the blade can be set a very few degrees cut on each side of each board so get after it. I wood also use two slats underneath for something to glue it up on and these would be needing a band saw to cut the gradual curve in each side of each slat.. And I think more of a curved top would look much better....

  Also the two slats could be left under for more support for not warping later or the two slats could just be used for the gluing only...either way.. I would leave them under with glue and screws... So there.

Yep, separate the boards Ron, run them through the table saw or jointer, take just a little bit off the long grain edges, and re-glue them together. The boards themselves look pretty good, it's the sheet underneath that buckled and heaved.

 

@Smallpatch, those boards aren't beveled at all, that top used to be flat.

Thanks guys will do that,so next time will have refurbished top

Definitely doable, Ron.  Just takes time and equipment.

thanks for all the Advice,I know I can do this,but since SEARS has gone away,trying to find new blades for my Band saw is a PAIN,have ordered blades and all are too long,thinking of looking at a different type,unless Yall have a differnt plan for me lol

 

19 hours ago, Ron said:

Thanks guys will do that,so next time will have refurbished top

This picture shows a rounded top. Why not embrace it put some finishback on it and work with the hinges and locks until it starts working again.

After all a chest with rounded top is good and then you just scab in some fitting fillers on the side.

 

Don't you try to tell John Morris for he said it had a flat lid...…. with no bevels  anywhere!!!!

there are any number of places on the web that sell band saws to just  about any size you need (and tooth combination).   i suspect even with the virus thing that some of them are open for business (tools  and all).   You only need your make and model and if you use a riser, etc.

11 hours ago, p_toad said:

there are any number of places on the web that sell band saws to just  about any size you need (and tooth combination).   i suspect even with the virus thing that some of them are open for business (tools  and all).   You only need your make and model and if you use a riser, etc.

What he said^^^^^, don't think Sears is the only source. In fact if it's a real unusual length, many places weld them to size and the price is about the same.

yes John was right TOP was flat,this used to be my Moms,well here is what it looks like now,also got chest sanded down,should I leave it alone or put something on it ?

It's beautiful as it is. But, for protection, maybe a few coats of oil based satin poly. Oil based will mellow to a nice soft yellow hue, over time. Dunno about the top. You could veneer it again or, leave it alone. 

I am with @Gene Howe  protect it, but no real need to put another sheet of veneer on it.  Looks good just as it is.  

 

Unless you really like shiny finish, use the satin poly.  Clear Gloss will make it look like a mirror.