Jobtiel1 Posted June 17, 2022 Share Posted June 17, 2022 Hi all, I've put a coat of oil on the wooden chest I've been working on these past couple of weeks, and now I'm sharing the entire project in picture here. Like most projects, this started of with tool making and tool collecting, I have collected planes and chisels from flea markets for a while and restored them to working use, as well as setting up a woodworking bench. Since I haven't found a good vise for a woodworking bench, I went with some vise less work holding options, forged a planing stop and some holdfasts, and a "crochet" to work on the edges of boards. Ending up with a small corner to do some woodworking on. Some of the planes and chisels I've used for this project. A stanley no. 6 and no 4., and a "nooitgedagt" (dutch plane maker) rabbet plane and chisels. Now that the tools were done, I started making the hardware for the chest, I followed Alexander Weygers' technique for making hinges, namely splitting and forming around a mandrel. For the chest handles I followed a technique by DF in the shop, bending some round bar for the keepers. Some nails as well, since dovetails are a bit out of my league, next project I'm going to try some of those, since I found my grandfather's backsaw which I lost at some point in the move. Now that the forge work is done, It was onto the lid of the chest, it is the most difficult part, and I decided to make it first, if I had messed it up, I could've used the rest of the wood to make a slightly smaller chest. To make the top I cut rabbets to fit in the middle plate, which was laminated from some smaller pieces of meranti, and some decorative moulding on the outside. to hide endgrain on the top, I cut miters to have face grain on all sides. It would've been better to cut grooves to fit the middle plate to allow it to move around a bit, but at that point i didn't have the tools to cut that, so I opted for the rabbeted construction. The profile of the top edges: gluing up the middle plate in the top: The finished lid: Now only the body and bottom needed to be done, which were significantly easier and quicker to make. Also installing all the hardware in the chest: And finally, a bottom, also laminated, from the oak planks this time, and nailed to the rest of the chest, It has slightly chamfered edges on all sides. And now onto finishing, this is the chest after a coat of BLO, now I only need to do a second coat, a coat of shellac, and a final "polishing" with paste wax. It even fits all of the tools to make it, and maybe a bit more! So that is a (relatively) quick summary of the project, I'm looking forward to doing more of this type of stuff, especially getting into more ornate ironwork for chests and the like. I'm also still working on a lock for the chest, but that project is a bit on the backburner as I have some other stuff that needs doing. Hope you enjoyed! ~Jobtiel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lary Posted June 17, 2022 Share Posted June 17, 2022 Wow, That is impressive! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott NC Posted June 17, 2022 Share Posted June 17, 2022 That turned out very nice. I love projects that combine different materials. I have never driven a forged nail in so was wondering if there is danger of splitting wood with them? I read up on Nooitgedagt Company as well. Awesome project! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jobtiel1 Posted June 17, 2022 Author Share Posted June 17, 2022 Yes the wood is very prone to splitting, I pre drilled the holes before hammering them in, they also bend quite fast, so you are better of giving softer blows instead of heavy ones. I tested for the hole size on some scraps. ~Jobtiel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anvil Posted June 17, 2022 Share Posted June 17, 2022 Very cool! I love mixed medium,,, Iron and wood. And a super job on both. My preference on your beautiful hinges would be to have them top mounted instead of hidden under the lid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jobtiel1 Posted June 17, 2022 Author Share Posted June 17, 2022 I was debating myself in the design in what I wanted to do with the hinges, I opted for the lid to be overhanging a bit and thus the hinges were a bit easier to make going in the inside. After making I'm thinking the same, hinges on the outside would look way nicer! ~Jobtiel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George N. M. Posted June 17, 2022 Share Posted June 17, 2022 Jobtiel, very nice work. I now have tool box envy. Can you address your thoughts, pro and con, about a latch or hasp to secure the lid? GNM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted June 17, 2022 Share Posted June 17, 2022 10 hours ago, Jobtiel1 said: Hope you enjoyed! That my friend is an understatement. Your work is top notch in my book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted June 17, 2022 Share Posted June 17, 2022 Nice work all the way around. might I suggest looking at Rex Kruger’s YouTube site. He has a good video on an angled leg vise. If you want to keep with your DIY vibe (your a smith/ woodworker after all) a flea market barbell and a few pipe fittings make a fine pair of vise screws. Christopher Schwarz. has some great articles on his web site concerning toolbox tills and orginasation. I know Rex lurks here from time to time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted June 17, 2022 Share Posted June 17, 2022 The oil really brought out the wood nicely. One point in favor of the hinges you used, they look nice when it's open. Might as well show off your iron work whenever possible. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jobtiel1 Posted June 18, 2022 Author Share Posted June 18, 2022 Without Rex's YouTube channel I doubt if I could've made this thing, his videos have taught me a lot on woodworking. The nailed rabbet construction came from one of his videos as well! I'm on the lookout for a good screw to make one of those leg vises on the flea markets, but haven't found one yet. Concerning a hasp latch, I think it's a nice way to keep the top closed, and with a padlock can also offer some security. If the lock in making doesn't work out like how I want it to I'm definitely making a latch to keep the top closed. Kind of like Torbjörn Åhman on his YouTube channel, the hasp latch to keep the door closed. I think I want to take this chest with me on demo's and stuff, also as an eye catcher. Having a very simple lock on it is a nice way to keep people out of the chest. ~Jobtiel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted June 18, 2022 Share Posted June 18, 2022 As mentioned, threaded weight lifting bars work well, as dose scaffolding leveling legs, screws salvaged from cheap woodworking vices and the stews from old car jacks. they all have fairly fast (corse low thread counts) acme threads. Regular threaded rod works as well, but generally are not as fast and are not designed for repeated treading in and out. Thus they wear out and eventually will strip. wood screws are a classic, and the tap and die needed can be home built but it is a real PITA. Expect to spend all weekend building and adjusting half the set. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 23, 2022 Share Posted June 23, 2022 Is the bottom inset and nailed in from the outside edges; or is the box resting on it with nails going from the bottom into the sides of the chest? Basically: nails __ __ __ or | | | ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jobtiel1 Posted June 24, 2022 Author Share Posted June 24, 2022 The chest is resting on the bottom with the nails holding it together. ~Jobtiel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anvil Posted June 24, 2022 Share Posted June 24, 2022 Another suggestion would be to put rags on your nails. It helps keep them from backing out over time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 24, 2022 Share Posted June 24, 2022 I like my nails to be oriented 90 degrees to the direction of stress in a wood joint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jobtiel1 Posted June 24, 2022 Author Share Posted June 24, 2022 Fair point, didn't think of that really, I'll definitely keep it in mind for the next project. A rabbet around the bottom and the joint will look nice and tidy as well. Thanks for the tip! ~Jobtiel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 24, 2022 Share Posted June 24, 2022 Take a look at how the mastermyr chest is done also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted June 25, 2022 Share Posted June 25, 2022 Do not forget to attach a plaque of some nature stating your name as builder and the date. You should be proud enough to sign YOUR work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 25, 2022 Share Posted June 25, 2022 Woodburn it into the bottom of the lid so it shows when the lid is opened. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goods Posted June 26, 2022 Share Posted June 26, 2022 If you don’t want to burn you touch mark in, hit me t with a light tap. Then you can paint over it and then sand the paint off the surface. Black paint would look good, but you could pick any color… Keep it fun, David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jobtiel1 Posted June 26, 2022 Author Share Posted June 26, 2022 Those are all good ideas, I got a very cheap wood burning pen a while ago, so I'm gonna try that on some scraps, it's either that or my initials stamped in the hinges. ~Jobtiel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 26, 2022 Share Posted June 26, 2022 Or *both* to show that both the metalwork and the wood work was done by you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anvil Posted June 26, 2022 Share Posted June 26, 2022 Or you could make a small plate from brass or copper and stamp your logo into it and use small nails ot tacks to hold it into place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted June 27, 2022 Share Posted June 27, 2022 I vote for a brass, copper, etc. plaque with your logo stamp, and year. Stamp the iron directly. It's a beautiful chest, you'd be remiss not putting your mark on it. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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