Apprentice chest WIP

[Thumbthumper]

I thought I'd post some pics of a WIP on a little apprentice chest.
It's an 19th Century English/Australian style chest made from Australian Red Cedar.
About 7" high, 6" wide.

Mostly hand tools, but the bandsaw has been getting a workout.
Hand cut mortice/tenons and dovetails. I'll be turning little knobs and bun feet.

Who knows, I may be able to use it as a reference for an apprenticeship if I decide on a career change later in life

Front frame and molded base.

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Bottom drawer runners added.

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Back frame with tiny mortice and tenons.

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Putting the back and front together.

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Drawer runners and guides added. Sides attached.

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Fitting the drawer fronts and adding the groove for the drawer bottoms.
The slot was too small for any of my plough cutters, so they were made with a tenon saw kerf and widened with a side rebate plane.

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Here's where I'm up to now.
Cutting tiny half blind dovetails.

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I'll post some more pics when I get some more time in the shop (unless you tell me to stop )

[AlexS]

Keep going!

[Opelblues2]

what he said, so far it looks way better than I had when I started out in the real world

[wheelinround]

[Christos]

Really nice to see this come together.

[CADScott]

Fantastic work, very interested to watch this develop!

[Thumbthumper]

Thanks for the comments ....

Things have been a bit slow as it's cold and dark when I get home from work. So the workshop's not so appealing

I'm heading away this weekend, so not much more may be achieved in the near future.
There is a lathe where I'm heading, so I may be able to turn the knobs and bun feet.

[johnredl]

Sorry I'm a bit confused. It's only 7" High (175mm) x 6" wide (150mm)? It looks bigger than that.

[Thumbthumper]

Sorry I'm a bit confused. It's only 7" High (175mm) x 6" wide (150mm)? It looks bigger than that.

It was only a guess whilst sitting behind a computer screen . The larger drawer fronts are 160mm wide.
So maybe closer to 8" x 7"

[Thumbthumper]

I managed to turn some knobs and bun feet this weekend.

I'm a bit out of practice with the lathe. This took some time and I ended up breaking about four for each one completed.
The tools need to be very sharp, and a soft touch is needed.
I think there's one knob that I'll redo.

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[Thumbthumper]

I found some time today to assemble the top drawers.
This is fiddly business

Cutting out the back of the drawers and a dry fit.

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The glue-up. I left the runners over sized so that I can trim them down for a good fit.

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I also dimensioned the cedar board that I'm planning to use for the top. I looked for something with a bit of figure.

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[Thumbthumper]

Finished the top drawer bottoms and set the top drawers.
Took a bit of tweaking with chisels and a bull nose rebate plane for the runners, and block planes for the sides.
They're sitting well now. I'll put drawer stops at the back as there's not much room at the front.

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The larger drawers are now made and are just waiting for the glue up.

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Not far to go now.

[Andy Mac]

Hi Thumbthumper,
Looks great, and nice photos

Cheers,
Andy

[Thumbthumper]

A few more things were achieved this weekend.

I decide to make some glue blocks to strengthen the side panels. I'll use them for the top too.
The sides (and eventually the top) are only glued on because I didn't want any nail holes.

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I've assembled the middle and bottom drawers, tweaked them, and given them their first coat of shellac.

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I've trimmed the dowels on the bun feet and checked the fit in a strip of cedar.
I cut the strip into four blocks, rounded over the front blocks and glued them onto the base.

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I shaped the molding on the top with a narrow shoulder plane and a small hollow plane.

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Not much more to do now.
I need to glue on the top, set the drawer stops, glue in the bun feet and drill the drawer fronts for the knob dowels.
I'll fit the back panels after this.
I'm presently polishing the drawer fronts. The case will get it's first coat of shellac soon.

Thanks for looking

Stu

[wheelinround]

Coming along nicely

I hope the tea towel cleans up well or could be dishes will not be dried for a while. They do make good work area covers don't they