Let's restore some dignity to this cedar chest

Getting very close now.

I planed off the drawer sides, and squared them up.
Pic 3 is marking out. I'm a tails first guy. I also need to make sure the groove in the drawer front for the bottom was hidden in the dovetail.

Attachment 293950Attachment 293951Attachment 293952

Cutting out the tails

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Marking out and chopping the pins and sockets.

Attachment 293955Attachment 293956Attachment 293957

The result was actually better than it looks in the photo. I was able to clean out some material in the socket and it pulled together a lot tighter.
I forgot to take a picture :doh:

Attachment 293958

Cutting the groove for the drawer bottom in the back of the drawer front.

Attachment 293959

The dovetails in the back of the drawer are a lot less involved.

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I glued the drawer stops into the case while the drawer was apart.
I drilled two 5/8" holes for the knob and escutcheon with a brace and bit. I'm not going to install a lock.
The drawer's now together.

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While the glue was hot. I trimmed the dowels on the bun feet and glued them in.

Attachment 293964

I need to put the drawer bottom in and glue in plow strips.
Almost time to start polishing.

Not much to see now.
It's the polishing stage.

Tools of the trade.
The clear liquid is paraffin oil, used for a bit of lubrication if required.

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Rubbing the drawer face.

Attachment 294875

Everything's just starting to pick up a bit of shine.

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A few more days of polishing to go.

Top work!

Looking seriously good now, and think back to what it looked like when you first got it. Such a superb transformation. You might find you really like it, that it will simply have to stay rather than be sold on ! :2tsup:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Horsecroft88

Looking seriously good now, and think back to what it looked like when you first got it. Such a superb transformation. You might find you really like it, that it will simply have to stay rather than be sold on ! :2tsup:

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I have grown quite attached to it, but I have no room for another chest.
I do need to sell it for some pocket money :C

Polishing polishing polishing.

Starting to build a good shine now.

Attachment 295365

I temporarily added the escutcheons and knobs to see how things were looking.

Attachment 295368

I also trimmed the bun feet to stop a bit of rocking.

Attachment 295369

Back outside for some more polishing :(

Drum roll please ......

All finished. Waxed and buffed.

We've come from this ...

Attachment 295914

To this ...

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A colleague at work saw the WIP pics and said "mine", so it's off to it's new home on the weekend.
This has had it's good moments, and the result is satisfying, but a complete rebuild like this is going to be only for stuff I really want to keep for myself in the future.

Next projects are more card boxes and a martial arts dummy (go figure) for commission.

Thanks to all who had a look.
Until next time.

Cheers,
Stu

Great work Stu. Really enjoyed the thread. Good to see things being rescued rather than just thrown out.

Rickey

Hey Stu such a great result. I am certain the new custodian of the chest will have many years of enjoyment of it. But I agree with you re such future full restorations. Much nicer to be able to keep them. Well done, have enjoyed your thread on this

that's some great work & it turned out to be a lovely piece.

Hi Stu,
Your piece seems very similar in style (particularly the top) as the piece I'm looking at starting work on. Id be interested if anyone gave any advice on the style/possible maker?
Cheers
Matt
I'll be stoked if mine looks as good as yours ended up!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by restoration

Hi Stu,
Your piece seems very similar in style (particularly the top) as the piece I'm looking at starting work on. Id be interested if anyone gave any advice on the style/possible maker?
Cheers
Matt
I'll be stoked if mine looks as good as yours ended up!

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Hi Matt,

I've had a look at your dutchess and it looks Edwardian/Federation. I'm guessing early 1900's.
The plinth base can signify an early piece, but the mirror finials and headboard carving scream federation to me.
A lot of dutchesses had the mirror and top drawers removed, and were used as a normal chest of drawers.
I've restored a few of this type that met the same fate.

These were made these in the thousands by many makers. It is very rare to find a makers mark (especially in early pieces). A lot of them had paper trade labels which fell off after a few years.

Good luck with the resto.

Cheers,
Stu