Cherry Blanket Chest

[John Moody]

Well for several weeks I have posted some pictures of this chest and I am happy to report to you that it is finished.

Just a recap.

Started with a visit to the Wood Stash and hand picked some of the best looking Cherry Boards from the stack.

 

 

Cut them to size, ran them across the jointer and then through the planner.

 

I then took the cherry boards and edge glued them together to make the panels for the front, back and both ends of the chest.

 

Then I put two of these panels together to make a four board panel.

 

Then I put the two four board panels together to make one large panel. Actually one of the panels had five boards..

 

 

Using my 50" Bessey clamps to hold the two panels together. So I had two long panels for the front and back and two short panels for the ends.

 

Then I started working on a sample for the trim or molding to go around the top and bottom.

 

After a few adjustments to the bits, I settled on the way I wanted to make the trim and started routing the pieces.

 

First a couple of passes with the curved bit in the router and the with the round top bit and then a 1/2" round over bit.

 

 

So I sanded the trim and then started on the feet for the chest. They are double boards so the chest actually sits on one board and the trim sits on the other board. There are blocks behind the feet to attach them to the plywood bottom.

 

So everything is now trimmed up, miters cut and ready to put together.

 

Now it is time to move it to the spray booth and put the water based dye on. I purchased an Antique Cherry dye and I really love the look it gave the chest. I sprayed it on and then took a damp paper towel and smoothed out the finish. If you get a bit much in a spot it is okay, you still have time to smooth it out. I put two coats on and then sprayed on five coats of General Finishes Enduro Var. It was them rubbed out with 0000 steel wool and Johnson's paste wax..

 

 

So there you have the Cherry Blanket Chest from start to finish.

[Harry Brink]

That came out really nice.

 

You do outstanding work!!!

 

[Ron Dudelston]

I told you this before John but it is one nice piece. You should bust your buttons over it. Now, take a week off.

[John Moody]

Thanks Harry!!

 

[John Moody]

Thanks so much Ron and thanks for letting me bounce things off you during this project.

 

[lew]

Really like the "reverse" trim at the top and bottom, John.

[Gene Howe]

Just beautiful, John. Echo Harry. Really nice.

[Larry Jenkins]

Very nicely done, Sir! Proportions are right on.

The rubout looks awesome.

 

 

Larry

 

[Adam Welker]

John,

What a beautiful piece. I love the design of the bracket feet. The trim is outstanding as well. Very balanced. I wish I had a stack of cherry to cull through like that! I have one question. Why did you decide to glue the panels up vertically instead of horizontally? I like the design. I am just curious about the panels. Was it a cosmetic choice? Wonderful piece, sir. Fantastic!

[Adam Welker]

Also, how did you cut the miters on the corners of the panels so perfectly? I would have cut them by hand them used a low angle plane to shoot them square. Did you use a table saw and sled?

[John Moody]

Adam the reason they are vertical is that was what my customer wanted. I didn't miter the corners of the panels, they are set in a rabbit. I thought it would let it move better and you can tell on the end the difference in the little bit of edge against the flat panel of the board. The feet are mitered and biscuit joined.

Thanks for you wonderful comments.

[John Morris]

John, it turned out absolutely wonderful. I believe the customer gave you creative latitude did they not? And you inserted some in there! And look how it turned out! The finish is so even it is almost paint like, that cherry must be very evenly matched and the grain very clean. It is an outstanding piece of American craftsmanship John, I am completely happy for you on this one.

[John Moody]

Thanks John. I spent a good deal of time picking boards for this chest. I am not sure how many Andrew and I moved but we looked at a lot of boards. I took a good bit of time lining up boards to match grain.

I used a dye called from W.D. Lockwood, www.wdlockwood.com

It is a water based dye and sprays great. The one I used was Cherry Natural Antique. One oz. makes two pints.

Thanks John.

[John Moody]

Thanks Lew, I spent a good bit of time playing with the trim. I thought it brought your eye to the middle.

John

[John Moody]

Thanks so much Gene.

[John Moody]

I appreciate it Larry. Thanks!

[John Moody]

Thanks Tony.

[John Morris]

I'll have to give them a whirl, thanks

[charles schmitz]

beautiful job. John you have one heck of a pile of cherry there. The project is very well done , useful and, beautiful as your motto says.

 

[John Moody]

Thanks very much Charles.

I try to keep several piles all drying out in the Wood Stash!

charles schmitz said:

beautiful job. John you have one heck of a pile of cherry there. The project is very well done , useful and, beautiful as your motto says.