84 – Duane’s Steamer Trunk (3 of 4)

Video - March 19, 2009

In this episode, I go over some pre-finishing tips and finish the inside of the trunk. I then go through the entire assembly and glueup process from start to finish. I then discuss the trunk’s lid, which is different from the original plan. You can download a Sketchup plan for the lid below. Once the lid is glued up, I realize that rushing through this project has resulted in a number of errors. So I fix them. I know how you guys love it when I make mistakes so you won’t be disappointed in this one, haha.

For the Sketchup File of the new revised top, click here. For a PDF version of the new top, click here.
And if you would like to donate to the cause, please check out the following links:
American Cancer Society
James Cancer Center

Resources

Rockler Steamer Trunk Plans

Discussion

Marty March 19, 2009 11:05 am

Marc, this was one of your best episodes! It’s good to see that even the best ones err. The reason I loved this though is that you showed how to fix it! When I first started trying to make furniture, stuuf like that happened to me all of the time and the only outlet I really had was Norm and all of his stuff was perfect every time. It was very frustrationg to say the least.
Your attitude about screwing up but being able to fix it is very refreshing. Thanks!!!

Reply
velbloud March 19, 2009 12:52 pm

Hey Marc,
another great episode.
What was the finish you sprayed on the inside of the box?
Thanks.

Reply
Michhes March 20, 2009 6:15 am

Hi Marc–love the show. I’m new to woodworking and a bit taken back by the cost of dressed lumber here in Australia (don’t yet have the gear for prepping rough stock). Would it be rude to ask how much the raw materials for a project like this would cost in your neck of the woods?

Ps. thanks for doing this mini-series on the steamer trunk for a great cause.

Reply
- thewoodwhisperer April 12, 2009 3:31 pm
  
  Not rude at all. Problem is, I can’t even give you a ballpark number. It would vary dramatically depending on the choice of wood and the location in the US. The quarter sawn white oak I used for this project was an old stock I purchased years ago while still in California. I believe I payed about $5/bf. I haven’t priced the stuff in AZ yet.
  
  Reply
Rob Horton March 20, 2009 6:29 am

Bravo, Marc.

You’ve found a real niche here, one that shows us an important side of woodworking and one that usually gets edited out of a half-hour network TV show.

Keep up the good work.

Reply
mike March 20, 2009 8:36 am

hi marc

very nice episode. i like the fact that you admitted to a mistake. just for fun sometime you could maybe run a poll to what percent of project finish without any mistakes.
keep up the good work.

mike h

Reply
Ken March 23, 2009 7:08 am

Hi —

Great video — wish it came out about 6 months earlier. I am a relative newbie tackling a similar trunk project and found myself with the identical challenges — but not the identical set of tools (no jointer or #7). Ultimately, I found solutions that worked, but none as fast and effective as yours.

Thanks for helping struggling (i.e.), real world newbies.

Reply
BCB March 31, 2009 9:16 am

Great Job on the trunk and the fixes, What type of glue is that you use? Really Enjoy the videos. Keep them coming.

Reply
- thewoodwhisperer April 12, 2009 3:28 pm
  
  The primary glue for this project was Gorilla Brand PVA glue. Its very similar to Titebond.
  
  Reply
Steve April 12, 2009 3:17 pm

Hey Marc!

Well done on the save. As stated by others, it’s stuff like that that really makes the show stand above. That and the fact we can all drool over you’re amazing collection of tools.
Speaking of which, I’ve never seen a straight edge like that before. Do you mind me asking what brand it is?

Thanks!

Reply
- thewoodwhisperer April 12, 2009 3:27 pm
  
  Thanks Steve. That’s a Lee Valley straight edge. Check it out: http://www.jamestowndistributo.....ar+Varnish
  
  Reply
Alan April 13, 2009 7:11 am

Hi Marc!
I love watching your videos! Thank you so much for sharing your wealth of knowledge with us!

You mentioned in the video that your bench wasn’t designed for heavy-duty hand tool work. What specifically is lacking in it and what would you change? Thanks!

-Alan

Reply
- thewoodwhisperer April 13, 2009 7:42 am
  
  Hey Alan. The bench is lacking in three major areas: weight, stability, and work holding. Those are some important detail in a bench, lol. So any new bench I build will be much more functional with more work-holding options, a thicker top and a 4-legged base.
  
  Reply
Dan L December 9, 2009 2:43 pm

Thanks for the great tips. You did mention that the case or the lid may not be square. i was wondering why you chose to glue one corner at a time and not all together and check for squareness (cross corner measure) at that time?

Reply
- thewoodwhisperer December 9, 2009 3:04 pm
  
  Hey Dan. I just get better results when I do one corner at a time. Worrying about 4 corners at once is a little stressful for me, personally. And doing one corner at a time doesn’t necessarily contribute to the possibility of it being out of square any more than gluing it all up at once. In fact, I find that my glueups always turn out better if I take my time and focus on one corner at a time.
  
  Reply
  - sjeff70 December 27, 2013 11:41 am
    
    I was wondering the same thing as I watched, why not square up the 4 corners together? I guess there’s no other way, other than to measure from corner to corner. A story stick seems better than a rule.
    
    When designing anything with a lid I’m thinking it best to make the entire box and then cutting off the top for the lid. Then there wouldn’t be these issues. But I’m sure it’s not as easy as that.
    
    Reply
Ed March 31, 2010 9:17 am

Marc –

I just watched all 4 episodes of Duanes steamer trunk. Geat job! I had to show part of the glue up video to my wife; she keeps making fun of the number of clamps I have, and then she saw yours. Now she’s making fun of you instead! Can you hear her laughing all the way from PA?

Thanks – Ed

Reply
- thewoodwhisperer March 31, 2010 9:31 am
  
  Hey if it results in you getting more clamps, I’ll gladly take the ridicule off your hands. :) She can join my wife in a chorus of laughter at the things we do.
  
  Reply
Tony Harmon December 19, 2010 4:38 pm

Given that every project will have a flaw can you add a segment, not necessarily Nicole, that will try to find flaws. I find myself stressing out where my wife looks at it and says what are you talking about.

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Richard Reynolds January 11, 2011 7:33 pm

Great job. I just watched all 4 videos and learned alot. I also see some areas where is have made some mistakes and did not know what to do with them. I enjoy the fact that you show different ways to make the jointery for us wood works who do not have all the high end tools and not very much room to work.

Reply
Darcy Posein March 27, 2011 6:07 pm

Hey Marc, just watched the 4 vids on the chest. I am doing 2 chests that are similar for a friend in the SCA. It has a very Elizabethan styling to it. Just wanted to say I love your work both with wood and with the videos. Keep it up.

Reply
Ludovic March 31, 2011 2:35 am

Hi Marc,

On this project, you did finish the inside of the tkunk before the glueup, with a dry-fit.

Why to do so ?
Why don’t you glue-up all the parts, then finish ?

Reply
- thewoodwhisperer March 31, 2011 6:46 am
  
  Because I find it much easier to finish parts when they are nice and flat and there are no inside corners to contend with.
  
  Reply
Mike November 8, 2011 2:38 pm

This looks like the url for the Lee Valley Straight Edge.
http://www.leevalley.com/US/wo.....38;p=50074
Mike

Reply
Jay April 8, 2012 2:25 pm

Another great video Marc. Your honesty in showing a mess up is appreciated. Showing that though it was easy to move on and become absorbed in the fix. I’m also happy to see the tools in this month’s give away being demonstrated in a way not commonly used. I thought my Mag 77 and straight edge were doing a good job breaking down stock, but I see a use that only the precision of the track saw can accomplish. It’s definitely on my future tool list! Having said that, it’s a great looking project. I think the square lid was a great design choice too.

Reply
Andrew Levine August 7, 2012 9:56 pm

So…the main question. Are you a NY Giants fan?

Reply
- thewoodwhisperer August 8, 2012 6:47 am
  
  Absolutely!
  
  Reply
  - Andrew Levine August 8, 2012 1:46 pm
    
    Nice – I live a mile from Giants training camp. Just went this past weekend!
    
    Reply
    - thewoodwhisperer August 8, 2012 2:18 pm
      
      lucky dawg! I only had a chance to attend one Giants game at home a few years ago. It was a classic Eagles/Giants matchup. I do get to see them play here in Phoenix once in a while. Much warmer. :)
Alex January 20, 2013 11:15 pm

That #7 plane is nice!

Reply

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84 – Duane’s Steamer Trunk (3 of 4)

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