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Thread: Pennsylvania spice chest

  1. #1
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    Mar 2006
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    Pennsylvania spice chest

    This is my second try. The first time it turned into a jewelry chest. A friend of mine gave me enough walnut that was too bad to make a larger project because it had a lot of knots. I started cleaning up my shop after completing this one and before I knew it I was cutting out more bracket feet. Now all I like is the door and drawers on number #3 but I want a real narly piece of walnut for the tombstone door. BARRY BRUNER
    Attached Images Attached Images

  2. #2
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    Extremely nice, Barry. Hard to believe no one has commented yet but week-ends are not the best time to post pictures and more will see it latter.

    In the first picture my first thought was the upper molding under the top was a bit massive... but in the second picture it looks balanced? I think this is not un-common for forum pictures as they seem to give illusions since most of us are not professional photographers for sure.

    Well done and pleasing results...

    Sarge..

  3. #3
    Looks like great attention to the finer details. Lars

  4. #4
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    Very nice work!

    Dewey
    Dewey

    "Everything is better with Inlay or Marquetry!"


  5. #5
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    Like Dewey said, very nice work...

  6. #6
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    Pennsylvania Spice Chest

    Quote Originally Posted by John Thompson View Post
    Extremely nice, Barry. Hard to believe no one has commented yet but week-ends are not the best time to post pictures and more will see it latter.

    In the first picture my first thought was the upper molding under the top was a bit massive... but in the second picture it looks balanced? I think this is not un-common for forum pictures as they seem to give illusions since most of us are not professional photographers for sure.

    Well done and pleasing results...

    Sarge..
    John, I accidently posted it on the design forum originally and they got it moved to woodworking projects. The only two spice chest I could find in books had a good bit wider molding, so I went back to three that was posted on this froum earlier and tried to get close. Thanks to each one of you for your replies. I would like to see a few more of you make one, I need some more ideas. Barry Bruner

  7. #7
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    Barry,
    I am finishing up a run of five (lots of hand cut dovetails - 60 drawers!)
    But here are some pics.

    The 5shells shows the five carcases.
    Cherry01 and 02 show the first finished chest
    Cherry 03 shows a concealed compartment in the bottom of the center drawer
    Cherry04 shows the hidden drawer accessed from the back after removing the bottom drawer and releasing a key which lowers the back revealing the hidden drawer.
    Mike

    5boxesshells.jpg

    Cherry01.jpg

    Cherry02.jpg

    Cherry03.jpg

    Cherry04.jpg
    From the workshop under the staircase, Clinton Township, MI
    Semper Audere!

  8. #8
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    Pennsylvania spice chest

    I was making two at a time and never thought of making five at a time. That would be neat if a drawer was too snug for one chest, it might fit another. I will try your drawer configuration on the next one. I like making these because any piece of wood that is three inches long can be used somewhere. The hide-away drawer is a neat idea. I would like to ask what height and width are yours? Everyone I have made is a different size. Thanks for the pics I enjoyed them. Barry Bruner

  9. #9
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    I think Barry, that when you shoot a shot from off-center right or left... it will distort the big picture somewhat. Therefore good balance in the front shot and the side shot having an optical illusion. I was getting barrel effects until Jeffery told me about getting on the same level as the piece before shooting.

    I am not much of a photo-grapher and pretty much what I take is pure pot luck with some being much different in actual viewing than what appears in the picture. But... that's the way it is and I just roll with the punch.

    Sarge..

  10. #10
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    Barry,
    The carcases are roughly 14 inches wide by 19 inches tall, depth varies from 9 to 11 inches depending on the board. The plinth adds about 3 and 3/4 inches to the height.
    Drawers would NOT be interchangeable between carcases because the drawer fronts are cut from two boards, the bottom three drawers from one and the top eight from another, allowing the grain pattern to flow uninterrupted across the drawer fronts.
    It is a subtle thing, but adds a lot to the looks.
    About the top molding, it is about 1 and 1/2 by 1 and 1/2 inches. The lower molding is 3/4 by 3/4 and is an inverted version of half of the upper molding. The additional overhang at the top is balanced by the ogee feet on the bottom. If I had used bracket feet, the upper molding would be smaller.
    Mike
    Last edited by mike holden; 07-07-2008 at 4:09 PM. Reason: added response to a question
    From the workshop under the staircase, Clinton Township, MI
    Semper Audere!

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by mike holden View Post
    Barry,
    The carcases are roughly 14 inches wide by 19 inches tall, depth varies from 9 to 11 inches depending on the board. The plinth adds about 3 and 3/4 inches to the height.
    Drawers would NOT be interchangeable between carcases because the drawer fronts are cut from two boards, the bottom three drawers from one and the top eight from another, allowing the grain pattern to flow uninterrupted across the drawer fronts.
    It is a subtle thing, but adds a lot to the looks.
    Mike
    Mike... why so many? Are you selling these?

    Dewey
    Dewey

    "Everything is better with Inlay or Marquetry!"


  12. #12
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    Frankfort KY
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    Guys- those are really nice! Thanks for sharing!

    Barry- love that good ol' Kentucky walnut!!

    Mike- nice work keeping the grain flowing across the drawer fronts!! Neat effect. Love that cherry, too.

    Just curious but where do you put one of these chests? On the floor? Countertop? I haven't seen one in it's final placement and just wondered.
    Mark


    "Diplomacy is the art of saying "Nice doggie" until you can find a rock."
    Will Rogers

  13. #13
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    Clinton Township, MI, United States
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    Mark,
    Thanks for the kind words.
    The ones I make are to be put on a counter or atop a dresser. The spice box form also comes in freestanding style - usually with cabriole legs. Or smaller and much less ornate - I really like this oak one with the hinges held on with clinched nails!

    The one on legs is by Gene Landon and can be seen at the Olde Mill
    Shoppe, the oak one is from an antique catalog.

    Mike

    oldemill spice box.jpg

    Spice Box 42.jpg

    Spice Box 43.jpg
    From the workshop under the staircase, Clinton Township, MI
    Semper Audere!

  14. #14
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    Dewey,
    Not for sale - NOT!
    At the rate I work, I would be in the poorhouse before they were done.
    No, they are Christmas presents. There is a story behind this and when I have all five done, I will post pics and the backstory (and what happened to the sixth -teaser)
    Mike

    PS - your marquetry post has me considering adding some to these chests, mh
    From the workshop under the staircase, Clinton Township, MI
    Semper Audere!

  15. #15
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    Pennsylvania Spice Chest

    Quote Originally Posted by Mark Hulette View Post
    Guys- those are really nice! Thanks for sharing!

    Barry- love that good ol' Kentucky walnut!!

    Mike- nice work keeping the grain flowing across the drawer fronts!! Neat effect. Love that cherry, too.

    Just curious but where do you put one of these chests? On the floor? Countertop? I haven't seen one in it's final placement and just wondered.
    Mark, the jewelry chest ended up in the bedroom and I had to put the spice chest in the dining room. It did not look right in the kitchen and it looks a bit large in the dining room the first one was a more suitable size, it was 18 inches high. Thanks for the reply. BARRY BRUNER
    Attached Images Attached Images

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