The document provides instructions for building a hope chest or blanket box as a beginner woodworking project. It includes a cut list and materials needed, as well as step-by-step instructions and diagrams showing how to assemble the basic box structure, attach the lid with a piano hinge, and add finishing touches like handles and a restraining chain. The finished chest can be used to store belongings and moved from relationship to relationship.
The document provides instructions for building a hope chest or blanket box as a beginner woodworking project. It includes a cut list and materials needed, as well as step-by-step instructions and diagrams showing how to assemble the basic box structure, attach the lid with a piano hinge, and add finishing touches like handles and a restraining chain. The finished chest can be used to store belongings and moved from relationship to relationship.
The document provides instructions for building a hope chest or blanket box as a beginner woodworking project. It includes a cut list and materials needed, as well as step-by-step instructions and diagrams showing how to assemble the basic box structure, attach the lid with a piano hinge, and add finishing touches like handles and a restraining chain. The finished chest can be used to store belongings and moved from relationship to relationship.
The document provides instructions for building a hope chest or blanket box as a beginner woodworking project. It includes a cut list and materials needed, as well as step-by-step instructions and diagrams showing how to assemble the basic box structure, attach the lid with a piano hinge, and add finishing touches like handles and a restraining chain. The finished chest can be used to store belongings and moved from relationship to relationship.
Anything I Can Do DVD Volume 2 – Beginners Woodworking
The old fashioned Hope Chest updated for the modern
girl - light enough to carry from relationship to relationship, but still packs a whack of silk.
For today's rambunctious woman, building a hope chest, blanket box or tickle trunk is a great way to learn basic box construction.
Materials: Tools
• Lumber (see cut list) • Saw
• 30" piano hinge (cut a longer hinge to • Countersink bit length using a hacksaw if you can't find a • Drill 30" pre-cut hinge) • Jigs cut from plywood or cardboard 2"x • 12" piece of steel chain ¾" and 2"x 1 ½" • 58 - ¼" hardwood plugs (or size that fits • Hammer the countersink bit you're using) • Knife • About 3' of heavy nylon rope for handles • Lighter or matches • Food-grade beeswax polish for non-toxic • Clamps finish • Sandpaper and/or electric sander • 1 ½" wood-screws • 1" wood-screws • Small 3/4'" brass wood-screws to attach piano hinge • Two ¾" steel screws to attach chain
Cut List:
• Bottom: 1"x 6" cedar decking - 3 pieces • Sides: 1"x 8" pine - 4 pieces 16 ½" long 28 ½" long - Make sure the cedar decking • Front and back: 1"x 8" pine - 4 pieces you buy is the typical milled dimension of 30" long 1" by 5 ½" - otherwise the rest of your cut • Corner posts: 2"x2" pine - 4 pieces 13 list must be adjusted to fit the bottom ½" long dimension, because your bottom will be • Lid: 1"x 10" pine - 2 pieces 31" long too big or too small. Nobody's ever • Lid strapping: 1" x 2" pine - 2 pieces satisfied with their bottom. 14" long
Chest Do It! - Page 1 of 4
Steps:
Three one inch thick cedar Measure the width of the Cut the length of the side decking boards make the bottom boards and cut a side boards to match the width of bottom of the chest. board to fit. the three bottom ones.
Lay out the bottom boards and measure across the width of your three boards to make sure that it adds up to 16 ½". If it doesn't, STOP BEFORE YOU CUT the rest of your lumber. You've got to cut the side pieces to match the exact dimensions of the bottom, so account for this in the rest of your cuts!
Attach the sides to the corner Put the bad side of the board Tip - Reload your palm sander posts allowing room for the to the inside. with several layers of paper bottom boards.
Build one of the short ends by laying two 16 ½" 1x8 pine boards on top of two of the corner posts.
Chest Do It! - Page 2 of 4
Make a jig to help locate the Use a counter sink bit to allow Use the jig to locate the screws evenly. the head of the screw to set position of the screw for deep enough for a plug. drilling.
Drill the hole deep enough to Attach the sides, front and Build the sides first then attach allow for the wooden plug to go back to the corner post with the front and back. in. screws.
Using a countersink bit, pre-drill for the screws, boring a 3/8" deep countersink channel so that the screw's head will sink deep into the hole. Use a jig to help you space the screws evenly. Build the other end in the same manner.
Make a new jig for the front so Attach the piano hinge to the The overhang on the lid should that the screws go into the box first. be even on the front and sides. corner posts.
Balancing the ends using idle body parts, pre-drill and countersink the long facing boards, attaching them to the corner posts at both ends. Use the larger jig to space the screws accurately in the corner post. Now you have the basic box. Slip the box over the three bottom boards. Attach the bottom boards to the box using six pre-drilled, countersunk screws on each end of the trunk ½" up from the bottom.
Chest Do It! - Page 3 of 4
Make a jig to help hold the lid Use the jig to help hold up the The finished piano hinge. while attaching the hinge. lid while attaching the hinge.
Build the lid by laying out the two 1x10 boards and clamping them together. Lay the 1x2 pieces across two large boards and center them, then sink four 1" screws in each piece of strapping. Bingo, you are lid-enabled.
Set the lid aside and drill two ½" holes in each end of the trunk to hold the rope handles. Tie knots on the inside of the trunk to secure the handles in place, and cauterize them using a lighter so they won't fray and undo themselves.
Attach the 30 inch piano hinge to the box along the back rim. Then use a jig or a pile of books to support the lid while attaching the hinge to the lid.
Use wooden plugs to cover the The attached lid with restraining Choose a chain that is strong screw heads. chain. enough for the weight of the lid.
Use a food grade wax like bees
wax to insure the finish is non toxic.
Hammer in the plugs to cover the screw heads. Take your length of steel chain and screw one end to the inside of the trunk, the other end to the lid of the trunk. Sand and finish the chest's exterior surface with beeswax polish. Load it up with dainties and be on your chest behaviour.
