Tennessee Red Cedar Chest #1.

Comment

Comment by Jay Boutwell on December 22, 2013 at 9:49am

Keith, here is another well known woodworking teacher host of the popular TV series "Rough Cuts" who just recently made a pine chest using the same grain configuration as I did in the cedar chests.

http://www.thomasjmacdonald.com/content/season-4-episode-guide/pine...

If you will look closely at the end panels in his chest they run identical to my cedar chests.  Happy Holidays!!

Comment by Jay Boutwell on December 22, 2013 at 12:34am

 Keith,  I do not have a concern about it splitting.  It is not going to be exposed to drastic climate changes and the wood grain will not move that much.  I have two of my own that I built several years ago, one about 2o years ago and the other was made shortly afterwards.  Neither has split or acted adverse to any climate change.  I also built three of these about 3 years ago.  The only difference in the design is the style but the grain configuration of the ends and front panels is the same.  There  has been no problem with these either. 

 I am fully aware of the cedar salts in the wood and it reaction on finishes.  That is why they were finished with a hand rubbed oil.   Thank you for your concerns but how long have you been working wood?

Comment by Keith Mealy on December 21, 2013 at 4:05pm

I have two concerns about this.

The end and front panels have a cross-grain construction.  there is a good chance that your front panel will crack when it contracts across the grain (vertically) and the end panel does not.

Aromatic red cedar is notorious for not being friendly to most finishes.   The resins will soften finishes applied to them.   Shellac is the exception and would be what I would use, if just as a barrier coat under something else.

But I hope this works out for you.

Comment by Jay Boutwell on July 23, 2013 at 3:21pm

Hi Claude,  I appreciate the nice comment, it is appreciated very much.

Comment by Claude Bradford on July 23, 2013 at 2:08pm

Great looking chest! Great build and design especially the rose carving and the heart inlays, very pretty details, make it special. Great job!

Comment by Jay Boutwell on July 21, 2013 at 9:46am

Hi Jimmy, Thank you for your nice comment, it is appreciated.  Yes these chests are something that every lady seems to want.  My customer wants two now.  I have the other one in the progress now and maybe two more by Christmas.

They are fun to build and actually a challenge as the grain patterns are so varied from board to board.

Your idea of a family portrait as an inlay would be very nice.  I'm sure your build will be great.  Thanks again.

Comment by James A Williams on July 21, 2013 at 8:56am

The chest looks great I have one on my honey due list now but need time to get  it done. I plan on put the family portrait as the inlay, I hope my chest turns out as good looking as yours did.

Jimmy

Comment by Jay Boutwell on July 21, 2013 at 12:40am

Thanks David, one of the " do as you find time but can it be done tomorrow lol"  I'm working on the second one now in between other jobs.  It will be a little different.  I was told today that there will be two more before Christmas and then all the customers daughters will have one. 

Comment by David Dean on July 21, 2013 at 12:30am

sweet looking chest and the rose is a nice touch to.