Shaker blanket chest

[Keye]

One of the things on my list to do some day is make a shaker blanket chest. I have made several similar chests but not the four drawer chest in the latest American Woodworker mag. This is the chest I really want to make.

As I was looking at the pictures of the chest something really caught my eye. Unless I am really losing it the boards on the sides of the chest run horizontal. I have made many chests of drawers and other chests and none of the plans called for the side panel boards to run horizontal. I guess I should clarify I am talking about case construction.

I am sitting here scratching my head wondering why I have not seen this before. It sure seems to resolve some of the wood movement problems normally associated with case construction.

Does this cause other issues I just can not think of? Have I just not been paying close enough attention and this is a common way of making blanket chests?

I was taking a break from trying to relearn all the confusing stuff about Euro hinges and I just confused myself about something else:gar-La;.

 

[ptt49er]

I wonder if the cases weren't verneered...that just sounds like a lot of wood movement to have to deal with.

 

[Keye]

I wonder if the cases weren't verneered...that just sounds like a lot of wood movement to have to deal with.

I only use solid hardwoods and the plans I am talking about were not veneered. Like I said maybe I am really missing something:slap:.

 

[fergy]

Was that design the "Five board chest" design?

 

[jlwest]

I have made several cedar chest which are used for blanket chest and always run the sides and front horizontaly. If you are making raised panels you can go either way but allow room for expansion with your panels. I am not sure what a shaker chest looks like however I have rarely seen a "solid" chest with grain running vertically although it could be interesting. I always try to hide end grain where you will look at it.

Jeff

 

[DaveO]

Running the grain horizontally around a solid wood box, especially a large one like a blanket chest is very typical. The reasons being wood expands along it's width more than it's length. So the chest would change in height, and not so much in it's square/rectangle-ness, which would mess with the fit of the bottom and top.
Boards are generally longer than wide, and blanket chests are generally wider than tall.

If you are doing frame and panel things are completely different and you have a different type of wood movement to deal with.

Dave

 

[DaveO]

Typical Shaker banket chest construction -

Dave