How to Make a Wooden Chest

Make your own wooden chest of almost any size.

Wooden chests are an ideal first-time woodworking project, offering a challenge but within manageable limits. You can make wooden chests in many different dimensions, from large blanket-box-type chests to firewood chests and small trinket chests and jewelry holders. Wooden chests are a value-added item; making your own is far cheaper than buying a pre-made chest, and you get to boast to your visitors that you made the chest yourself.

Things You'll Need

• 2 wood planks, 20 by 11 by ½ inches
• 2 wood planks, 11 by 10 by ½ inches
• Wood glue
• Corner clamps
• Wood screws
• Drill
• Wood plugs
• 1 wood slab, 20 by 11 by 1 inches
• Hammer
• Nails, 2 inch
• 1 wood slab, 20 by 13 by ½ inches
• Sandpaper
• Varnish
• Paintbrush
• 2 hinges, decorative
• 2 chest handles, decorative

Instructions

1. Assemble the planks into a box shape, forming the sides of the box. The shorter end pieces should abut the inside edge of the longer side pieces, making a corner. Check that the corners are at right angles, then glue between the joints and clamp with the corner clamps. Let dry.

2. Drill three evenly spaced wood screws into the glue joint. Drill in from the long side, through the joint, and into the edge of the shorter end pieces. Fill the screw holes with the wood plugs.

3. Lay the 20-by-11 inch slab over the box, making sure the sides line up and the slab is flush over the box. This is the base, but it will be attached from the top. Hammer a nail every three inches through the edges of the base into the sides of the chest, all the way around the perimeter. Invert the chest; the base is now on the bottom.

4. Sand and varnish the entire box, including the remaining 20-by-13 inch slab, which is the lid. Let dry.

5. Evenly space the decorative hinges on the back edge of the lid; screw in place. Position the lid over the top of the chest, the edge with the hinges flush with the back edge of the box, the other edge with a two inch lip. Screw the hinges into the back edge of the chest so the lid is attached and opens and closes.

6. Center the handles on the short ends of the chest and screw in place. Your homemade wooden chest is now complete.

References

• Wayne of the Woods: Wood Chest Plans
• Amateur Woodworker: Storage Chest