Leslie Mitchell's Page

I did :)   What do you want to try first?

My 1st project was the chest that I built. It can be done in a weekend if you wanted to.

Not sure if this is what you want to try, but here's how to do it if you want to.

If you get hung up just shoot me a message and I'll get right back to you.

I went a bit over board buying lumber, which is not necessarily bad on the first run (a lot of oops pieces) but this is what I got

8-1x6 (still have 4), 5-1x4 (still have a full one and a bunch of scrap), 2-1x12 (the wonderful man at Ace cut them down to size for me).  Use 1 1/4 inch screws so that you don't pop out the other side (trust me it does not do good to go with 1 1/2).

Cut 6 pieces of 1x6 to the same length for the long end of the chest (7 inches shorter than you want it to turn out).

Cut 6 pieces of 1x6 to the same length for the short end of the chest (7 inches shorter than you want.

Put your pocket holes every 6-8 inches on the same (long) side of each board and 2 on the short ends, but not closer than 2 inches from the edge on the long side - go for 2 1/2 to avoid overlap if you are going to plug the holes.  Don't forget holes on the bottom board to hold it to the base.

Using clamps (important if you want them to line up and not push apart) screw 3 like sized boards together. Sand the edges flat. This gives you the main panels for your chest.

Once you have 4 panels line up the 1x4 with each piece, this will be the outside corner edge of each side. Use the panels you have made already to measure how long they need to be (you can leave a bit if you want it can be sanded down later to be flush).

On each edge piece put 2 pocket holes on the bottom. On each left side piece (you'll see what I mean when you lay them out), put 3 pocket holes facing to the outside.  ONLY on the left side piece or you will spend the same hour that I did (and a big pile of extra pieces) trying to figure out why it doesn't go together right. 

Join the edge pieces to your main panels making sure that the one on the right has just the hole on the bottom and the one on the left has 3 more holes pointing to the left.

Put a bit of glue in each hole and plug it. - The plugs will stick out a bit, but sand flush in no time.

The glue (depending on what kind you have) will be dry enough to sand in about an hour.  Clean any excess glue off because it does not stain.

Sand everything!! Use (in this order) course / medium / fine / extra fine grit.  When you are done, wipe it all down with a kind of damp rag.  Let it dry. 

Stain.  At least 2 hours between coats (read the directions on the can).  Some stains want you to sand between coats, some say don't.  Steer clear of Polystain.  Yes, it cuts out a step, but it is a pain to work with and takes 6-8 hours between coats.

Once your stain is dry put your frame together. Left side in joins to right side out.  Do all 4 corners.

I got a pair of "squeeze corner clamps" from Menards for $8 to help with this.  It made it so very much easier because they come in a set of 2.  I used one on the top of the panel and one on the bottom.  Held it together nicely.

When you get your box together, measure the outside dimensions of the box and add 1" all the way around.  This tells you how big your top and bottom will be.  Use the 1x12's (that fit my dimensions, it may not fit yours). I joined 2 1x12's together that I had cut to length (again thank you to Dan at Ace Hardware) and stained them the same as the panels.

When they are dry throw it all together.  I used "chest hinges" that I bought at Menards for $3, but think I may still go and get a chain stop so that the lid will only open so far.  Another option are "soft-clos