Project by buck_cpa | posted 03-25-2015 07:57 PM | 2050 views | 4 times favorited | 6 comments | ![]() |
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Poplar wood. I used the wood whisperer’s g&g blanket chest as my inspiration – from popular woodworking magazine. The router template he suggests makes the process very simple. I used ebony stained oak dowels instead of square plugs. It was easier and more approachable for my experience level.
I sealed the poplar with amber shellac. Then applied a cherry gel stain, followed by three coats of blo/spar/mineral spirits and buffed with some dark wax. No mortise hinges on the lid. Gave it to my mother.
6 comments so far
siavosh
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#1 posted 03-25-2015 09:18 PM
Love this style, great execution.
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gsimon
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#2 posted 03-25-2015 09:47 PM
this turned out really nice! – especially for poplar – the finish really makes it stand outy
i have some poplar and might make something like this – thanks for sharing
-- Greg Simon
bannerpond1
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#3 posted 03-25-2015 09:53 PM
That’s good clean work, Buck. Well done. You are ready for mahogany and more fingers in the joints.
-- --Dale Page
exelectrician
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#4 posted 03-26-2015 06:01 PM
Every time you Mom looks at it, she will think of you.
-- Love thy neighbour as thyself
crashman
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#5 posted 03-27-2015 06:36 PM
Buck, I am working on one of these now but took a break for a while on this project. I am making mine out of cherry with the square Ebony plugs. I am curious, did you make the “secret drawer” in the bottom? I haven’t decided if i am going to add that or not…...........................................Jack By the way nice build I did not know Poplar could look that good!!!!!!!!!!!!
-- Jack R. Ellis
buck_cpa
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#6 posted 03-27-2015 06:46 PM
hey crashman – I did not incorporate the secret drawer. I considered it, but it would have added considerable time to the project and my wife has a long list of furniture she wants built. It also might be difficult to open if the chest sits on thick carpet.
I bought a few hundred board feet of poplar a year ago to “learn” on… especially for larger projects. I quickly learned that poplar does not finish well or easy. I saw the shellac and gel stain method in fww. It seals the wood and prevents any and all blotching. I’ve had poor results with wood conditioner on poplar and pine. I think shellac provides more consistency. I used an amber shellac to add some color. the blo mixture adds some protection, and the dark wax adds some depth and luster.
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