Cherry Blanket Chest

Tree Feller · June 30, 2012, 12:01:56 AM

This is going to a young lady who is a friend of ours. She's expecting her first child in September. We're gonna fill it with disposable diapers and LOML is gonna make a pad for the top so that it can double as a changing bed.

The wood is East Texas Cherry (not very common around here) that was given to me by the young lady's dad. It has a lot of mineral staining and an interesting look. He has a Woodmizer LT-40 and when the tree began showing signs of dying last summer, he cut it down and milled it up. He gave me a few planks and I had just enough to do the chest by patching some defects with epoxy. I didn't have enough to include any molding so I omitted it as I wanted all the exterior wood to be from their tree. The inside bottom is Eastern Red Cedar...two tongue & groove, 1/2" thick boards on top of 1/2" Baltic Birch plywood.

The carcase is 20 in. deep, 40 1/2 in. long and 18 1/2 in. tall, not including the feet which are about 4" tall. The lid with breadboard ends overhangs by 1 in. on the front and ends. The back edge is flush. The chest hinges are from Rockler and it's the first time I've used this type. I think I'll use them again, though. I like them even better than the torsion hinges I've used before.

Finish is 5 coats of Target Coatings' EM-6000, Satin, Water-Based lacquer on the outside. The final two coats, I scuff sanded to 600 grit to remove any nibs. The inside finish is Zinsser shellac except for the Cedar bottom which is unfinished.

Thanks for looking.

Lud · June 30, 2012, 06:02:19 AM

Wow, nice feet, nice panels, nice hardware.

Are those hinges non-slammers? Did you use the little balls in the raised panels?

Great work!

WDH · June 30, 2012, 07:13:14 AM

Cody,

That is one of the nicest things that I have ever seen posted here! I absolutely love that cherry. It screams custom made versus the vanilla furniture store stuff that looks like plastic. I also like the width of the styles between the raised panels, very pleasing and proportional design. Man, I love that cherry 8).

That young lady is lucky to have you for a friend!

Magicman · June 30, 2012, 07:31:46 AM

That is knock you eyes out awesome. The pride that you displayed in your workmanship will be enjoyed for many generations.

clww · June 30, 2012, 07:55:10 AM

A great looking, heirloom piece you created. Nice Job!

Norm · June 30, 2012, 08:25:02 AM

Very nice!

Texas Ranger · June 30, 2012, 08:31:10 AM

Outstanding work! 8)

Piston · June 30, 2012, 09:26:03 AM

Quote from: Tree Feller on June 30, 2012, 12:01:56 AM
...She's expecting her first child in September. We're gonna fill it with disposable diapers and LOML is gonna make a pad for the top so that it can double as a changing bed...

That is absolutely gorgeous, great work!

FYI, my wife and I are expecting our first baby in late August, I have some Walnut milled and ready for use. How should I ship you the lumber? ;)

metalspinner · June 30, 2012, 09:54:26 AM

8) 8)

Very nice, Tree feller.

The epoxy filled defects and mineral stain look really good, too. She will treasure that forever.

Tree Feller · June 30, 2012, 10:09:12 AM

Thanks for all the kind words, gentlemen. You certainly are complimentary and it's much appreciated.

Lud - No, the hinges are not torsion hinges. The lid will slam if it is dropped. I did use spaceballs on the long-grain sides of the panels...two per side. I don't use them on the end-grain side because the wood doesn't move in that dimension.

Piston - A blanket chest is really a pretty simple project. The first ones I made (we have four or five in the house) were from the plan off the New Yankee Workshop (Norm). I've since been tweaking the design since but it's still just a big box with feet. If you have even basic woodworking tools and skills, you can make one.

Thanks again to everyone for the nice comments.

jamesamd · June 30, 2012, 03:13:17 PM

A work of Art,from the Heart!
It don't get any better than that.I just Love it!!!
Jim

POSTON WIDEHEAD · June 30, 2012, 04:32:14 PM

TREE FELLER......You're work is just "down right NASTY". (that means COOL in the hood).

I am very impressed, you do great work.

I have a question. Is the CHERRY out your way anything like the CHERRY in S.C.?

Thanks, David

Axe Handle Hound · June 30, 2012, 05:27:55 PM

Beautifully done! I love all the color and staining in the wood. I'll bet the recipient is going to be speechless when she gets it.

Migal · June 30, 2012, 05:34:23 PM

Very sweet. Got to love a fine friend that has awesome talent. I live in Hawkins we should hook up some time.

Tree Feller · June 30, 2012, 06:34:18 PM

Quote from: POSTONLT40HD on June 30, 2012, 04:32:14 PM
I have a question. Is the CHERRY out your way anything like the CHERRY in S.C.?

Thanks, David

It's Black Cherry, the same as most everywhere else I suppose. As I said, it's not real common around here, especially large trees. However, it looks like Cherry in log form, smells like Cherry when it's cut and it will burn easily like Cherry (from sawblades and router bits).

The last time I worked with Cherry I bought it from a local lumberyard at ~$8 per bft. I was almost scared to cut it since it was so expensive. I was a lot more relaxed working with free wood. ;)

Cody

WDH · June 30, 2012, 09:30:10 PM

I can't remember if I have said this, but, I love that cherry :D.

I am making a cherry hutch for a kitchen. I was going to use pine for the secondary wood, but got aggravated with how it looked in comparison to the cherry. This morning, after seeing your chest, I scrapped the pine idea as a secondary wood, and this hutch will be 100% cherry through and through

.

Cody, when I need something very nice built, I am going to call you ;D.

Tree Feller · June 30, 2012, 09:36:32 PM

Quote from: WDH on June 30, 2012, 09:30:10 PM
Cody, when I need something very nice built, I am going to call you ;D.

It's a wonderful wood to work with isn't it. That particular tree had some very uncommon-looking wood, too, with all the mineral streaks and what not.

Hey, I'm in the book in Tyler, Texas. I do this stuff as a hobby, too. I'm working through the list I had of projects I promised people. You would be about No. 4 right now. :D

Seriously, thanks for the compliment, Danny. I appreciate it.

WDH · June 30, 2012, 09:50:44 PM

Cody,

I used to work a good bit in Texas. I aggravated the Texas Ranger and tcsmpsi when I over there. If I had known, I would have aggravated you too ;D.

SwampDonkey · July 01, 2012, 05:21:15 AM

You did an excellent job on the chest. Amazing work. I've never tried panels before.

Cherry always makes a nice project, doesn't it? ;D

Bill Gaiche · July 02, 2012, 12:22:03 PM

That is a very nice piece of furniture. They will be proud to own it. bg

Dodgy Loner · July 02, 2012, 12:22:34 PM

Wow, that's beautiful. I love the feet! Heck, I love the whole thing, but the feet really make it stand out!

Texas Ranger · July 02, 2012, 01:45:15 PM

Cody, WDH's aggravation generally centered around burned meat and stump water. The boy does good.

Clam77 · July 02, 2012, 08:21:16 PM

WOW!! That's a beautiful piece!! She might cry when you unload that into her house.. :D

POSTON WIDEHEAD · July 02, 2012, 09:13:33 PM

Quote from: Clam77 on July 02, 2012, 08:21:16 PM
WOW!! That's a beautiful piece!! She might cry when you unload that into her house.. :D

I cried when I saw it.....I thought I was gonna get it for a late birthday present via FED-EX. You have a talent Cody!

Tree Feller · July 03, 2012, 11:05:02 AM

Thanks again fellas for the compliments. The recipient of the chest saw it yesterday. She didn't cry but she was duly appreciative, especially when she learned that it came from a tree on their property.

I've sold a few pieces of my work but it's a lot more fulfilling to give the stuff away to people who truly appreciate it. Thankfully, I can afford to do that sort of thing. Sawing my own lumber helps a lot.

Patty · July 03, 2012, 05:13:18 PM

WOW!

The blanket chest is beautiful! Good for you for brightening up that young friends day....heck you probably brightened up her whole year with that fine piece!