Latest blanket chest in progress

Jerome B · 08-03-2008, 08:38 PM

I'm in the middle of the last in the series of blanket chests. I hoped to have this one done by the SAPFM meeting on Wed, but I don't know if that is going to happen.
Anyway at this point it is alive and kicking my .... So far I have done 18 mortises and I have 12 more to go (stiles). I did double mortises on the rails, trying to follow Chris Schwartz suggestions.. I don't know if that was such a good idea. Extra time to cut and fit. Yuck.

Anyway off to chop a few more mortises. Actually I think that I need to clean up one or two first.

And why did I sign my self up for this???

Jerome

Jerome B · 08-03-2008, 08:45 PM

Here are two chests that I finished up earlier this summer. I'll never do a distressed paint technique again. Wow was that painful.

Jerome B.
Mebane, NC

sapwood · 08-03-2008, 08:55 PM

Great looking blanket chests, Jerome!
And the metal strap hinges are cool.
Did you make them or were they perhaps crafted locally?

Sorry, I had to search SAPFM (Society of American Period Furniture Makers)

to find out about the conference in Wentworth. You've been holding out on us

Roger

Jerome B · 08-03-2008, 09:48 PM

oops. I haven't been to a meeting in a couple of years, but there is a good bit of good learning going on there.
The hinges came from Lee valley. I don't like them. Won't do that again. Nice price ($12) but they have too much slop in them to keep the lid positioned for the lock to work. If I can get Chet to make them I will have the Blacksmith at Old Salem make the next set for me.

Jerome

TracyP · 08-03-2008, 10:01 PM

Nice looking blanket chest. I am getting ready to attempt one out of cedar. I hope mine comes out half as good as yours.

nelsone · 08-03-2008, 10:08 PM

Great looking chests! (I'm glad you but up several different ones, otherwise I'd have had to say "nice looking chest" and...., well, that would just have been weird!)

Please keep us posted with the build, I have something in the works for a neighbor!

TracyP · 08-03-2008, 10:10 PM

Originally Posted by nelsone

Great looking chests! (I'm glad you but up several different ones, otherwise I'd have had to say "nice looking chest" and...., well, that would just have been weird!)

Please keep us posted with the build, I have something in the works for a neighbor!

Gotta put the "blanket" in there. That makes it OK! and clean

Ozzie-x · 08-03-2008, 10:34 PM

Jerome,
Nice start on the chest. Is that walnut with cedar secondary wood? You may want to tell the group more about how you're building this, your other work and your website. Don't you build all of your work completely by hand using traditional hand tools and methods? The rest of the story is what makes your work so interesting.
My Best
Randy O

Jerome B · 08-04-2008, 04:52 PM

Randy you are not making it easy to luck in the background.

that makes it all complicated and stuff.

The chest is an almost exact copy of my favorite piece in the Old Salem Collection. I used cedar as my secondary wood where the original from 1690 used pine. the rest of the dimensions are exact duplicates. The folks at the museum were really great about letting me see the documentation on the chest. And I can't stop singing praises about their collection.

Anyway, this beast is walnut with cedar secondary wood. The Walnut came from a saw mill in Goldston. I can't remember Jackies last name, but he is a really great guy. The cedar came from another Goldston logger, Doug. He has a cool stash of cedar.

I make all of my furniture using hand tools. I gave away the dewalt planer and the table saw and the jointer. It was hard to wean myself off of the cordless drill. But stripping a few too many stripped brass screws solved me of that addiction.

Here is a picture from day one of chopping mortises for this blanket chest with my dedicated 1/4" mortiser.

It seems like every time I work on a big project I have to learn a new skill. List time I learned a lot about milk paint. This time the learning curve involved how to sharpen a 12tpi back saw. Boy was it painful. But it cuts nicely now.

When I am not working on the farm or having fun in the shop I get to do historical demonstrations things like that. I also get to do programs on Thomas Day. Here is my web site: jeromebiasfurnituremaker.com.

Back to work. I want this sucker done.

Jerome B
Mebane, NC

DaveO · 08-04-2008, 07:29 PM

Jerome now that's an intro! I just visited your website and I am so glad that you've joined. You have an outstanding outlook on woodworking and history. I really hope to learn a lot from you. It's also great to see that you are actually able to sell your work for very fair prices. It's good to know that there are folks out there (besides woodworkers) that appreciate a period styled piece and all the effort that goes into making it the way they used to.

Dave

nelsone · 08-04-2008, 08:07 PM

Jerome, didn't you mention a group blanket chest build at MWTCA? I was really interested when we talked, but seeing the pics has me even more interested! Sounds like a great way to spend a nice fall weekend!

Sawdud · 08-04-2008, 09:19 PM

All I can say is "AWESOME!!" Very nice work Jerome. I also enjoy this type of traditional woodworking. Looks like you do what I dream! Added your website to my favorites. I think you did a great job on the distressed finish. Why was it painful? The result looks authentic from here. Tell us how you started with wood.

Chris

Jerome B · 08-04-2008, 09:58 PM

I have been wanting to do a project with other people, sort of trying to get out of my own little bubble. Also I thought that it would be nice to see what things we could teach each other.

I had the bright idea that it might be fun to have a group of us do a project from start to finish with just hand tools. Oh yeah the wood comes from the saw mill. Hewing and splitting logs uhh (just say no). I gotta set a limit somewhere.
Doing a project from start to finish with just hand tools requires a different thought process from the power tool world.

Each of us would be doing the same project, say a chest. We would meet periodically at particular stages of the project, to learn techniques, figure out how to do things, show off our latest tool acquisition.
I thought that perhaps we could use the facilities at Old Salem. They have a room with a number of benches.
I don't know it sounds like fun.

Jerome

Originally Posted by nelsone

Jerome, didn't you mention a group blanket chest build at MWTCA? I was really interested when we talked, but seeing the pics has me even more interested! Sounds like a great way to spend a nice fall weekend!

Jerome B · 08-04-2008, 10:09 PM

Take the plunge. It is fun.
The paint on that silly thing is milk paint. I really like the stuff. I tried making my own this time around, but I had a dilly of a time with getting the right color. I just couldn't think while working with that UNC blue. Then there was the issue of how do I a distressed finish. A lot of trial and error.
It is amazing how stressing it is to distress a piece of furniture. Doing ta distressed finish is truly an art form.

Jerome Bias
Mebane,

NC

Originally Posted by Sawdud

All I can say is "AWESOME!!" Very nice work Jerome. I also enjoy this type of traditional woodworking. Looks like you do what I dream! Added your website to my favorites. I think you did a great job on the distressed finish. Why was it painful? The result looks authentic from here. Tell us how you started with wood.

Chris

nelsone · 08-04-2008, 10:53 PM

Pick a time! I'll do everything I can to join in!

Originally Posted by Jerome B

I have been wanting to do a project with other people, sort of trying to get out of my own little bubble. Also I thought that it would be nice to see what things we could teach each other.

I had the bright idea that it might be fun to have a group of us do a project from start to finish with just hand tools. Oh yeah the wood comes from the saw mill. Hewing and splitting logs uhh (just say no). I gotta set a limit somewhere.
Doing a project from start to finish with just hand tools requires a different thought process from the power tool world.

Each of us would be doing the same project, say a chest. We would meet periodically at particular stages of the project, to learn techniques, figure out how to do things, show off our latest tool acquisition.
I thought that perhaps we could use the facilities at Old Salem. They have a room with a number of benches.
I don't know it sounds like fun.

Jerome

Residency requirements