We are coming around 3rd base and heading for Home now on this Cedar Lined Walnut Blanket Chest for my Grand Daughter Nori. After Part 2 wrapped up down at John Moody's shop in Florence, Alabama, we moved up north to Hartford City, Indiana to Ron Dudelston's shop to deal with the final assembly.

After Ron and his wife Dorothy dropped off Tami and I at the Ace Rental Car in Indianapolis on Monday night to get our rental car, they headed home to Hartford City which is about an hour north with the chest in the back of their van. Over the next couple of days Ron got the chest all sanded down through multiple grits to get it ready for the final assembly. On Thursday (yesterday) I drove up to his place and we got it all completed so I could bring it back to my kid's house to put on the finish.

 

 

When I got there about 9am Ron had made up the cleats that would go on the underside of the chest lid to keep it flat an not bow and was finishing the final milling of the 1/4" cedar boards to line the inside of the chest. He milled the cedar boards with a small rabbit on the edges so that the boards would overlap so they would all lay flat and there would be no gaps as the walnut moves during the seasons. Before putting the cedar in, he sprayed the inside of the chest with shellac to seal it. Then Ron started with the bottom first, then the ends, and then the front and back. He wrapped it up with vertical 3/4" strips on the seams in the corners to make all look clean. The cedar boards are just held in with brads so there is no glue and the walnut can move with changes and the cedar will move with it without gaping.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After we got the base trim mounted, Ron is putting on the hinges so we can mount the top.

 

 

 

Here is a shot of some of the trim detail. While Ron did the cedar, I made up the the trim using a template from John Moody to trace out the end designs and then scroll saw it and sand it down to final shape on a spindle sander and finish it up with a random orbital sander.The last thing that was done at John's shop in Alabama was to have Ron and John sign on the bottom. Ron's signature is on the other end. Ron and I mounted the trim together and then attached the 3/4"x3/4" trim under the lip of the lid to seal out dust from getting into the chest.

 

 

 

Here are an open and closed shot of the completed chest. Ron wiped it down with a bit of Mineral Spirits to show off the grain. You can see the difference in the "open" photo as the underside of the lid did not have the Mineral Spirits wiped on it.

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a shot of the completed cedar lining. It sure looks and smells great!

 

After Ron and I carried the chest from his shop out back, we got it loaded in the back seat of my rental. Good thing that I upgraded to a full size car as I would have had to make another trip up to Ron's house in my son's truck.

 

 

 

Here is the chest in my kid's garage after Tami and I unloaded it from the car waiting for me to do the final sanding and finishing before we head back home to California on July 31st.

 

 

That's one gorgeous piece of work. Y'all do good work. The cedar lining is beautiful and I just really admire the foot piece. And, the box joints are fabulous, too.

 

 

Gene, I really like the trim design as it is a bit more contemporary than a lot of the more traditional designs. The dovetails were really easy to do a John Moody has the dovetail jig from Peachtree woodworking. Once you get it all set up you just line it up, clamp it and route. It was a cool set up.

 

Love that lip detail around the lid! Bet the entire shop smelled great after cutting/installing the cedar.

 

Wow Allen, you and Ron did an outstanding job finishing it up. I love the way it turned out. I am really looking forward to seeing the chest when the final finish is applied.

I hope they love it. I truly enjoyed working with you and Ron in the shop. That a Walnut has such a warm color.

The three of you really out did yourselves. That is a mighty fine looking chest!

Good job!

 

 

Nice Chest! (somehow, that didn't sound quite right..) Now, when are you people going to show up at the Dungeon Shop? Maybe THEN I could get a New Tool Chest built? Of course, someone would have to make some trays for all the hand-tools to sit in..

 

Most of my chests were made with Frame & Panel style builds. Never tried a solid wood one. never got that much lumber in one spot before...

 

Had to enlarge the picture to see that they are indeed dovetails. Nice!

Nice job guys!

 

Next time I'm up to see Ron, I going to get him to take me over and see you Steve. He may have to get Ohio clearance. Each time I've been there we just yo to the State line. I'm starting yo get curious.

Truth be know, the reason I can't go into Ohio is that I single handedly wrecked the Ohio economy in the 60's. You could buy 3.2 beer there at age 18 and I drank my fair share of it.When I turned 21, I could buy it in Indiana so I wrecked their economy. The chest really did turn out well and yes, the shop smells great.  Steve, I'm not sure the dungeon could take the overload of testosterone.