How to Build a Storage Chest
A nice chest to keep blankets warm always gives you a place to put away your covers. In case you do not have any shelf or convenient place good enough for blankets, a storage chest always has room. When arranging the home, you can find the supply secure in the wooden box. If you want to use your own hands to craft a piece, make a storage chest from wood and posts. The furniture piece lasts a lifetime.
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Things You'll Need
- 3/4 inch by 4 and 1/2 inch by 5 foot board
- 5/8 inch by 2 and 1/2 inch by 4 foot board
- 1/2 inch by 2 and 1/2 inch by 4 foot board
- 1 inch by 1 and 1/4 inch by 8 foot board
- 1 inch by 3 inch by 4 foot board
- 4 medium hinges, around 1 and 1/2 inches
- Saw
- Drill
- Screwdriver
- Clamps
- Wood screws
- Small wood screws, for hinges
- Wood glue
- Sandpaper, 80, 120 and 220 grit
- Stain
- Finish, lacquer or varnish
- Brushes
- Ruler, yardstick or tape measure
- Pencil
Instructions
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1
Measure the storage chest body pieces and posts on the 4 boards. Begin with the 3/4 inch thick 5 foot board to measure four box pieces: the front and back each at 37 inches wide by 21 inches tall, and the two sides each at 24 inches wide by 21 inches tall. On the 5/8 inch thick board, lay out the measures for the 38 inch wide by 25 inch deep bottom. Mark out the top piece on the 1/2 inch thick board at 39 inches wide by 26 and 1/2 inches deep. For the corner posts, mark off a 21 inches tall post 4 times on the the narrow 8 foot board.
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2
Use the saw to cut out the body pieces and posts as marked on the boards. Along the bottom edges of the front, back and sides, make a dado cut 1/2 inch high by 1/2 inch deep. On the inside bottom corner of the posts, make a rectangular cut 1/2 inch high by 7/8 inch on the wide side and 5/8 inch on the narrow side.
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3
Make feet using the saw and the 1 inch by 3 inch board. Choose a foot style you like, and make sure to support the chest with at least a 3 and 5/8 inch wide foot. Sand all chest pieces with 80 grit, then 120 grit sandpaper.
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4
Assemble the storage chest body. Add a corner post to the two ends of each side. Set a post to the side so 1/8 inch of the narrow width post side is in front of the side and 3/8 inch is on the inside; use wood glue and 8 wood screws to attach the post. Join the back to the sides by setting the back piece flush against the side posts so 1/8 inch of the post is behind the back. Attach the front to the sides.
Place the bottom in the dado cuts. Secure the bottom on with wood glue and 8 screws along the front and back edges and 4 screws along each side edge.
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5
Place the feet on the bottom. Glue on the feet, and secure with a screw in a countersunk hole, if needed. Fill in all the screw holes in the entire chest with wood filler.
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6
Put on the top with hinges. Screw on the four hinges evenly spaced along back edge of the under side of the top. Align the top on the top edge inside the chest back, and screw on each of the hinges. Sand the entire chest smooth with 220 grit sandpaper.
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7
Stain and finish the furniture.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Stand the corner posts straight up each time you attach a post to a chest piece.
When the posts stand straight up, the storage chest stands straight.
Choose even boards or else the chest will not close tight.
