Blanket Chest - Part 3

The chest has been completed, including a piano hinge. Finish will consist of several coats of Waterlox (tung oil and varnish) followed by a few coats of wax.

Blanket Chest - Part 2

The chest is mostly done. The box has been completely assembled; the top has been cut to size and routed with a stepped roundover profile; the base (plywood with a solid oak border) has been routed with a bullnose that matches the top; and the legs have been cut and glued up (the masking tape holds the mitered corners together while the glue dries). A dry fit of the entire chest is shown below:

Blanket Chest - Part 1

Last week I started work on a frame-and-panel blanket chest. The wood is red oak. The chest is 34.5" long x 18.5" deep x 15.5" high. The rails and styles are 2.25" wide.

Shown below is a dry fit of the front frame (without the panels):



This is a dry fit of all of the frame panels that make up the chest:




Now it is time to put the panels into the frames and start the glue up. The front and rear panels are shown. The panels have been cut so that the grain will run continuously around the chest:


The top (not shown) has been glued up and is ready to be cut to size. Next week I will work on the top, the bottom, and the base.

President Obama With His New Best Friend (Not His Dog)

President Obama shares a moment with his new best friend, Hugo Chavez. Makes sense when you think about it. They have similar views about imperialism, capitalism and the role of the state.




All smiles here. You can feel the love.