This project was made by Nick, AKA Lucky1406. Pretty impressive for a first project!! Here’s the story:
I just thought I’d send you this, I’ve been working very hard on it, and it’s been a great project for me. I’ve learned so much from it. My Mom and Dad wanted me to make them a wooden chest to display her quilts(she’s a big Quilter), and this is what I cam up with. I found the design online, and I changed it up a bit to make it a little nicer. The wood is Mesquite, 3/4″. With Stained aspen panels for the back and bottom. I used 1/4″ glass for the front and sides. The top was held together with 4 biscuits each and a lot of Tightbond III, and the frame is held together with Pocket screws with walnut plugs. The front and side frames are held together with screws(3 each) with walnut plugs as well. I put a 45 degree chamfer on the top edge to give it a finishing touch. Glass was held in with Liquid nails mirror adhesive. And the hinges are solid brass. I also installed the spring loaded hinges to help the lid lift up and down, and to keep it from over extending(worked out great). I ended up deciding to build two of them(just as fast as building one), so that my mom has some nice new furniture in her living room. And the will look great instead of her cheap stuff that she has now. They are finished in the photos, except for a few finishing touches like getting all the excess liquid nails off of the glass, and the bottom being yet to be placed inside the second one. I put two coats of tung oil, and three coats of poly satin on all the surfaces to give it a strong protection. I think that they came out just great. This was my first real project, and my first furniture project ever. I’ve never done any fine wood working before, and I think I did very well for my first time. All the edges are clean and smooth, and you can’t feel any of the joints or plugs. The top feels like one piece when you run your hand over it. No gaps or anything. Let me know if you have any questions about the project. I finished both of them in about three weeks worth of afternoons. I had work till 3pm Mon-Fri so I only had a few hours each day. I Finished up just in time for X-mas.
9 Responses to “Mesquite Quilt Chest – Viewer Project”
Yay, my project made it to the site! These two pieces are now residing in my parents living room filled with my mothers quilts. She loves them. The tops are perfectly flat, and the joints are flush to the touch. I can’t wait to work with Mesquite wood again. Wonderful stuff.
Nick
Nick,
Really fabulous work! Where did you get all of that mesquite? My guess is you live in Texas. I had seen some in a Woodcraft store down there but it was only a turning blank. I think Mesquite is a great wood too.
Anyway you really did a great job of grain matching on the top pieces! And the walnut plugs were really a good design/accent feature. Looks like you had fun.
Really Cool!
Gary
I’ll bet your mother is very happy with them. They should be perfect for displaying quilts. And three weeks of afternoons is pretty quick work. NIce job for your first furniture project. Sounds like you are hooked on woodworking now. Welcome to the asylum. :->
I’m really curious about two things:
1. I can’t tell from the pictures just how large they are. But with 1/4″ glass…how much do they weigh?
2. Where did you get the mesquite? Very cool wood, but not something one usually runs across in lumber yards. (at least not around here)
DD
They actually don’t weigh as much as you’d think. I can easily lift one up, and my mom has no trouble moving them around. In truth, I really wanted to get thicker glass, and maybe with a beveled edge, but it would have taken over a month to order, and this was an x-mas gift. As for the wood, there is a mill here in Texas(close to Bastrop) that sells Mesquite wood for $8 a BF. Not bad for the quality of wood. He has tons of it. The best part about the Mesquite is how stable it is. I loved this project.
Nick
Mesquite, what a neat wood to work with. I love all the shades of color in it. When I lived and worked for the Forest Service in Young Az I had the chance to build a mantel and a bench out some with the live edge. it came wonderful. I wish it was available here in Ohio, but I not going to complain since we have lots of cheap hardwood available, including eastern cedar.
Joey
I bet they look great with different colors of quilts stacked inside. I also like that you are proud of your work and are willing to say so. You are a “Man of Ability”.
Very nice first project.
Love your chests. You mentioned you got the plans from the web. I’ve been searching haven’t found them can you help. Thanks and keep on woodworking.
Your quilt chests look great, and exactly what my wife is asking for! Where did you find plans on the net, as I have not been able to locate plans. And secondly, how large are the two quilt chests you built? Really great work, especially for a ‘first project’. Congratulations!
Ivan