Chests for Blankets and Storage

Two drawings of a Kentucky Sugar Chest. May be used to store items other than sugar. DWG & DXF Formats.

Small storage chest with locking lid. DXF Format. Pictures online for viewing.

A blanket chest with dovetailed sides. DXF Format.

Australian Woodsmith is a practical magazine for all woodworkers. From Issue 43. As you can see in the photo, the elegant shelf added to the top of the chest looks right at home. The secret is that all of the design elements used on the shelf mirror those on the chest below. The result is a shelf that is a perfect complement.

Another nice chest design from Virgil (also see Sugar Chest). DXF Format.

This beautiful maple and birds-eye maple veneer chest might seem a little intimidating, but as with all projects a step-by-step approach makes the job easy. You will find that the joinery and the assembly are really pretty straightforward. The cutting diagrams and materials list are available to download in this Online Extra.

This free woodworking projects plan information is courtesy of Â2003 Dale Austin, Mr. Wizard at U of Michigan.

Arch top steamer trunk. DXF Format

This is the materials list and cutting diagrams for the hobby chest as it appears in Australian Woodsmith Magazine Issue 55.

This wood storage chest is made of solid oak, is easy to make, and is a convenient way to store houseware items where space is limited. Its portability allows it to be moved from room to room with ease when needed. The design and beauty of the chest will compliment other furniture items wherever it is placed.

This is a link to a Google 3D SketchUp drawing for a wooden storage chest. You will need the SketchUp software to download this drawing and its freely available online. We do not provide support for this software. Not all drawings have the measurements displayed but you can use the measurement tool in SketchUp to easily and accurately determine the dimensions of each lumber part. Most drawings do not have instructions, its assumed you can build it based on the completed drawing provided.

Hope Chests have been one of the premiere woodworking gifts for hundreds of years. They were given to young women to use to store all then things they collected in preparation for marriage.

In the case of this Tansu step chest (called kaidan dansu in Japanese), the stepped design allows the homeowner to access loft space while incorporating storage.

Australian Woodsmith is a practical magazine for all woodworkers. From Issue 33. Material, sheet cutting and supplies list only.

Australian Woodsmith is a practical magazine for all woodworkers. From Issue 33. The bracket feet that I put on the blanket chest are really distinctive, but this simpler, ogee base makes a great alternative. It is just a mitred frame that is set in 8mm from the edges of the bullnose base frame.

If you prefer the look of bun feet, you will need to add trim around the bottom panel to hide the plywood edges. You can mail-order the feet, or turn them yourself. The patterns are available to download in this Online Extra.

Several years ago, Masters Robyyan Torr d Elandris and Terafan Greydragon developed plans for a knock-down panel chest. Why would someone want a box that breaks apart? you might ask.

This is a link to a Google 3D SketchUp drawing for an Early American blanket chest measuring approximately 44 W X 26 H X 20 inches D. You will need the SketchUp software to download this drawing and its freely available online. We do not provide support for this software. Not all drawings have the measurements displayed but you can use the measurement tool in SketchUp to easily and accurately determine the dimensions of each lumber part. Most drawings do not have instructions, its assumed you can build it based on the completed drawing provided.

This is a link to a Google 3D SketchUp drawing for a Shaker Blanket Chest with one drawer and turned legs. You will need the SketchUp software to download this drawing and its freely available online. We do not provide support for this software. Not all drawings have the measurements displayed but you can use the measurement tool in SketchUp to easily and accurately determine the dimensions of each lumber part. Most drawings do not have instructions, its assumed you can build it based on the completed drawing provided.

This is a link to a Google 3D SketchUp drawing for a Stickley Bridal Chest. You will need the SketchUp software to download this drawing and its freely available online. We do not provide support for this software. Not all drawings have the measurements displayed but you can use the measurement tool in SketchUp to easily and accurately determine the dimensions of each lumber part. Most drawings do not have instructions, its assumed you can build it based on the completed drawing provided.

I offer these simple dimensioned drawings of some of my projects free of charge. Donations are certainly welcome, as is feedback.

This article is a survey of chest construction and decoration techniques in the hope of inspiring woodworkers to build more medieval chests.

Each piece is a seperate component that can be manipulated and measure individually. This Hope Chest was based on the plans provided by American Woodworker.

The casual bead board chest in the drawing has the same basic structure as its more formal cousin. But a few simple changes give it a very different appearance. The cutting diagrams and materials list are available to download in this Online Extra.

Old-fashioned joinery with a clean, modern look. This blanket chest features mortised frame-and-panel construction

This is a link to a Google 3D SketchUp drawing for a Shaker blanket chest. You will need the SketchUp software to download this drawing and its freely available online. We do not provide support for this software. Not all drawings have the measurements displayed but you can use the measurement tool in SketchUp to easily and accurately determine the dimensions of each lumber part. Most drawings do not have instructions, its assumed you can build it based on the completed drawing provided.

What immediately draws your attention to this paneled blanket chest is all of the detail the sculptural bracket feet, the layered molding at the base, the chamfered corners, the balance of the molded panels and the drawers, and the bullnose lid with its narrow shadow line. All these elements combine to give this piece a really impressive, graceful look. The cutting diagrams and materials list are available to download in this Online Extra.

Material and hardware list only.

If you decide not to tackle the bracket feet, the ogee base makes a nice alternative. Also, we have put together some helpful tips for cutting the chest hinge mortises. This alternate design option is available to download in this Online Extra.

I used to struggle with mortise and tenon joinery. I tried every new system that came along, but they all seemed way too complicated. One day a friend of a friend walked into my shop, said Throw away those fancy jigs! and showed me an elegant way to make these classic joints. This blanket chest is the ideal project to showcase this technique.