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7th November 2014, 12:39 AM #1
Journey Chests for three brothers.
Hi all,
I recently began a large project making three chests. One for myself and one each for my two brothers. I intend to show the build for the three separate boxes here. It was not my intention to show the boxes here initially, but I have changed my mind.
All three of us are in our sixties and a couple of us have had some problems of late that have made me decide that it would be a good thing for all of us to have a receptacle into which we can put mementos of the stages of our journey. In this way I hope to strengthen our family bond and create a legacy which we can all be proud of and which marks our place in the world.
The boxes will be made from timber that I feel best represents the character of each of us. They will probably vary in form and final structure, but all will be about 0.75 metres in length x 0.6 metres tall x 0.5 metres deep. These are approximate and will ultimately be determined by the feeling I have for each piece. They will all be originals and of the finest timbers I can lay my hands on.
I have finished the first chest and the next few posts will tell of it's growth. Someone once said that one step starts the journey of a thousand miles....
Regards,
Rob
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7th November 2014, 01:01 AM #2
The first chest is for my oldest brother, who has several ties to Queensland. Therefore this shall be made in Queensland timbers. I have selected QLD Walnut, QLD Maple and Northern Silky Oak for the construction
Step 1. I have used Dovetails cut on a Leigh D4R for the joining of the sides. I could have used finger joints, but I finally decided that little DT's would look better.
Figs 1-3 show the set up and final result of the process as performed on a Leigh D4R DT jig.
Figs 4 and 5 show the sides locked together (dry) with the dovetails. I'm pretty happy with the result.
The next thing I needed to do was to make the floor of the box. The idea of using Ply wood or MDF with felt on it didn't appeal. I felt it would cheapen the final appearance, so I cut 7 x 6 mm strips of the figured Maple which will be glued together to make the base. In addition, they will have two 20 mm deep braces put across them on the outside of the bottom.
Fig 6 shows the QLD Maple box floor.
Fig 7. shows the a piece of the Northern Silky Oak which will be used for the internal cabinetry.
Regards,
Rob
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7th November 2014, 01:22 AM #3
Next was the preparation of the timbers and finishing the box sides and base. The two timbers really look spectacular under Hard Burnishing Oil
Pic 1 Queensland Walnut under oil.
Pic 2 Burnished Walnut
Pic 3 Queensland Maple sanded to 400g prior to oiling
Pic 4 Maple under oil
Pic 5 Burnished Maple.
Regards,
Rob
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7th November 2014, 01:35 AM #4
Fig 1 and 2 are the of the box with the outside surfaces burnished. The Walnut has a shimmer to it in amongst the various stripes of colour.
Fig 3 shows the top tray sides, the top frame and the shelf for the top tray all sitting on the floor ruminating. (The tray base is being glued up.)
Fig 4 and 5 show the tray base sitting under the tray. The base has been burnished. The tray is yet to be finished.
Regards,
Rob
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7th November 2014, 01:44 AM #5
Now the box is beginning to take shape. The carcass is now burnished completely and the the box is glued up. The base is really showing the figure in the Maple.
Now I have finished the first tray. The one that sits on the rails at the top of the box. It is Silky Oak with a figured Queensland Maple base. The SO has taken the oil and given a reddish brown colour and with it's typical Honeycomb pattern grain looks quite sensational.
I have also been working on the lid and it's panel. The frame is QLD Walnut with Maple inset panel. Again the figure and colour of the Maple are exceptional. This view down from the top of the box gives a good idea of the strength of the colours in all three timbers.
It is my hope that my brothers (and I) will place objects and documents important to us into these boxes and that they will be handed down to their (and mine, if they will accept it) heirs. There is so much stuff we do just living, that we tend to forget what milestones we achieve and how we achieved them. It is my ernest hope that we will all review our lives in a different light and that our children and their children will be able to use the boxes for doing the same thing. Reviewing their lives and the successes they achieved, thus allowing their descendants to better understand what was done for them during their fathers' lives.
Regards,
Rob
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7th November 2014, 01:52 AM #6
So...this is it, mostly. I may put handles on the sides and also a chain to hold the lid open and take a bit of stress off the hinges. Hope you like it.
Regards,
Rob
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7th November 2014, 01:56 AM #7
Rob,
Very nice! Do you have any type of corner protectors on the bottoms?
Cheers,
Rob
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7th November 2014, 01:58 AM #8
The next box is for my elder brother and will be made from Tasmanian timbers. Blackwood, Black Heart Sassafras and Figured Tasmanian Myrtle.
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7th November 2014, 07:37 AM #9
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7th November 2014, 08:16 AM #10
What a great Idea, and a great project to undertake. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Brad.
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7th November 2014, 08:18 AM #11
Hi Rob, and thanks Alex,
Rob, there are no protectors on the bottom of the chest. The whole thing is mounted on wheels. Once it has some stuff inside it, lifting probably won't be an option.
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7th November 2014, 09:56 AM #12Skwair2rownd
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Great project sire!!
The selection of timbers to match each person is a master stroke.
Love the work so far.
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7th November 2014, 09:02 PM #13
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7th November 2014, 09:05 PM #14
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7th November 2014, 09:55 PM #15regards
Nick
veni, vidi, tornavi
Without wood it's just ...
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