 IIn the 19th century, this might have been called a six-board chest. The top, bottom, front, back, and ends were made of single, wide boards. Today, it's rare to find wood that wide, so we glued up narrower boards to create the wide panels in our Dovetail Chest.
And we used the same dovetail joinery that the pioneers would have used -- as much for strength as for looks. We have included special step-by-step instructions for hand-cutting these dovetails. Or, if you prefer, we've also included instructions for a simpler butt joint with screws and plugs.
This plan also includes instructions for making the tray that sits inside the chest on rail supports.
The Dovetail Chest in the photo is made of clear pine. If you prefer a more rustic look, you can use a grade of pine with some knots to add more character. We finished our chest with three coats of shellac.
The overall size of the Dovetail Chest is 18-1/8" wide x 19-9/16" high x 38-1/8" long.
It was originally published in Woodsmith No. 100.
WHAT YOU GET. These plans are CUSTOM PRINTED FOR YOU and delivered by First Class Mail to your door. The Dovetail Chest is a ten-page plan. It includes complete, step-by-step instructions, over 40 detailed photos and drawings, a cutting diagram and materials list, and even an alternate joinery article if the prospect of hand-cut dovetails is just too much for you.
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