Hope Chest

[ejstefl]

Hello all,

I've purchased the plans for the hope chest here.

The plans call for cherry plywood panels, cut from 1/4" ply and laminated to 1/2" thick. However, I would like to use solid wood, and I'd like to line the inside with aromatic cedar. My plan for this is to laminate a 1/4" piece of solid cherry with a 1/4" piece of Cedar to use in place of the plywood panels. Additionally, the plan calls for a plywood bottom that I'll replace with a Cedar bottom.

Does anyone see a problem with this plan, or think there's a better way to do it??

Thanks for the insights in advance!!

[drumpriest]

My only worry would be if the cherry and the cedar expands at greatly different rates, you may have issues with cracks or delamination. Lining the bottom shouldn't be a problem so long as you use a method that allows for this wood movement.

[Popeye]

First I agree with Keith, I wouldn't laminate the cedar with the solid cherry for the same reason. I'd make the panels from 1/2" cherry. The plan probably calls for the panels to be glued in, you'll need to leave solid panels loose to float.
I'd line the inside with the tongue and groove cedar closet lining that they sell at the big boxes. I nail it with short brads through the tongues into the stiles. 1/2" brads at an angle will hold the lining and not come through the stiles and rails.
I'd continue to use the plywood bottom for strength. Just start at the bottom with the cedar lining.
Or use 1/2" cherry plywood for the panels. I was never clear on why Wood magazine did the laminate two pieces of 1/4" deal for the panels when they did this chest. That is a nice chest BTW, I like the lines and the general design. Good luck, Pat

[ejstefl]

I wouldn't laminate the cedar with the solid cherry

I was thinking that might be a problem. What If I just ran a bead of glue down the center of the panel, just to hold the two pieces together? This should leave enough play for the two woods to expand at different rates, shouldn't it?

I'd line the inside with the tongue and groove cedar closet lining

My only concern is that I don't want to give up the space on the inside...

I was never clear on why Wood magazine did the laminate two pieces of 1/4" deal for the panels when they did this chest.

I couldn't figure it out, either... the only thing I can think of is that if you laminate it, you use the whole sheet, while if you just get 1/2" you would only use 1/2 the sheet.


Thanks for the advice guys!!

[WoodButcher26]

I think the reason they called for 1/4 laminated together, was that cherry ply usually has one good face and one not-so-good (read terrible) face. That way you could hide the bad faces. Using 1/2 would still show the bad face somewhere, unless you happened to find a sheet that had a decent back side...