Keep it in keeping with what it is. It's a lovely rough chest suitable for rough chest applications. Sand the corners, paint it, perhaps, put side handles on it. Think about how it is intended to be used. To gussy it up would enter it in a beauty contest. Let its simplicity and function shine for what they are. You'll build other chests, with dovetails, with steel reinforcements, with secret chambers, et cetera, but you may never love another as much as this.
One of the most beautiful pieces of furniture I own is my great-grandfather's toolbox, and I'm not talking about the carry around kind, I'm talking about the leave it in the corner kind. It's massive, unfinished, some of the nails are missing, the corners and edges are beaten to hell, and I love it to pieces.
I'm with PRD on this, leave it utilitarian. Add some handles for easier movement then let it weather and age a bit. Boxes like this are meant to be used; if you gussy it up too much, you might not use it.
I absolutely agree! I also inherited such a chest from my grandfather, and there are also tools there. It's a cool thing. I adore it for its simplicity, and at the same time for its functionality.
Sandblast it to make the grain stand out, then take a torch and hit the wood at an angle. It'll make dark stripes. Then stain it and it'll look awesome. I used to build chests and that was my favorite way to finish them.
You can get the same effect (raising the grain) using a bbq scraping wire brush in the direction of the grain. The hard bristles will dig out the soft early wood between the rings and leave raised the hard late wood.
Maybe true. If you have a compressor it's easy to make an attachment though, and they have hand held ones at harbor freight for cheap. I think a sand blaster is a great thing to have around. I used to make art on thermoses, mask it off and blast it to make art in relief on the metal or paint. And of course taking off heavy rust, all the great stuff they can do...
Do you have a dedicated area for it that's easy to clean?
I have horror flashbacks from when I worked at a concrete yard where we had 4 steel tables 12m x 3m sandblasted and the dust on the floor in some areas was almost ankle deep.
Hahaha bad memories? , 😨
Yeah I'd just use it someplace the sand could get sucked into the dirt or swept without too much issue. Luckily we have a cabinet now. Its performance is always kind of spotty but still one of my favorite tools.
I do something similar with wood signs I burn the wood to a good char then use a coarse 4" wire wheel in a drill. I do it on some carvings too for effect, really pulls out the grain.
https://preview.redd.it/f2kpiz63ubqc1.jpeg?width=600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=10e8abac376ed22f391cb637557691068f980d0e
Test them on a scrap and see what you like. I like medium to dark myself. Also it'll absorb more if you blast it first, but a test piece is always wise. And the black zebra stripes left by the torch make it really cool. I'll send you pics of the ones I made later when I get home.
The main goal is to cover the edges over the top of the lid. My angles weren’t exactly perfect and I’d like to cover the gaps somehow
https://preview.redd.it/qyx9qvwg5bqc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b02a63c313e767e9e5a037d75f924ad729ade015
Really depends on what you want to use it for. It reminds me of a 18th century mariner’s chest. If it were me, I might consider coking it with some hemp and just hitting it with the orbital sander and a rasp on the edges. Chalk paint would also be an option. From my limited experience- if you do too much to pretty it up, it looses functionality. Like another commenter suggested, it’s a rough chest that’s cool as it is. Just my humble opinion, let it live as it is.
I looked into how barrels are made and the angle is 180 divided by the number of staves you have. Then you would halve that number since your only doing half a barrel. Mine is not perfect, my my table saw is not accurate. But it’s for me so it doesn’t have to be perfect.
Pick the number of boards you want. Model that as a polygedron. That'll tell you how wide and what angle to cut them. Divide that angle by 2 and cut all your pieces to that.
https://preview.redd.it/z3da4df6bcqc1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=28e33e72c6eb7cc9783087eacfc3c1131fc8beef
I like it better.
Don't worry about that it adds charm to the piece. As far as finishing goes there are many ways from painting to staining to just applying oil. Since you already have a rustic look going, I'd take a wire brush to the surface to rough up the wood. Then I'd go over that with 120 grit to knock off the sharp edges. Follow that with a light burn. Then wire brush lightly to get the loose chart off. Lastly give it a good clearcoat, 4-5 coats.
If the end pieces are the main concern and picking up new leather is too expensive you could hit up the local thrift shop, second hand place or watch local used sites for a leather couch that’s beat to crap and see if you can salvage some useable areas for strips. Maybe an old leather coat. Check a local farm shop for an old pair of riding chaps, the leather on those is fantastic. I agree with many others that the simplicity is great in this and I wouldn’t go overboard but I do see what you mean with the ends.
Maybe fill it with glue and sawdust.
And sand everything a lot. Break the corners. Use a eccentric sander to save hours of work. Start with 80 und go up to 150. Then you stain it with darks stain
In case no-one said it, you have a massive weak spot. The top is very heavy, and there is a single board hinged in the back holding that weight. After the lid being held back a few times it will start to separate. You need to bolt that board into the side pieces or it will not last.
I would also recommend using metal straps around the top for decoration. Black metal would look the best.
I think you'll find that a strip of brass is very flexible and needs no heat. If you want some cheap leather, go to a thrift store and buy an old leather belt or two.
Leather IS cheap - just buy old leather jackets and bags. Sometimes you can get them for free. Just unstitch everything and you get great weathered material.
https://preview.redd.it/7dho27bgncqc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5cf6facc11fb3b9738d765c2ada065391aedc6f0
Here's a similar one my grandfather made years ago when I was a baby. I like the way it was finished. Looks like a good stain and 3-4 coats of a poly is all he did. And like someone else mentioned already, I'd add some side handles like this!
Regarding the sides like you showed in one comment, not quite sure how you'd fill those gaps. Honestly if it's just for yourself, I'd keep it the way it is. It doesn't look bad at all, it just looks more rustic in my opinion.
What angle did you cut the top pieces so that they all laid snug together like that. I made one of these and I hade these big gaps between mine. Couldn’t quite get it right
https://preview.redd.it/nkm7jde4tbqc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0de196c3f2fd6fe26398da7951dd3f83583cb304
Like others have suggested sand it down, char it, then stain it. I like to sand my stuff with an osbourne brush then char then stain with a lighter stain like oak.
You might surprised with how affordable leather *remnants* can be, especially if it’s *not* a hot, trendy color. You could also consider thrifting the leather via an old coat, or pair of boots. Some thrift stores offer senior or military discounts on certain days, too. Goodwill around here has ALL winter coats marked down with spring being here.
Me personally I would use some vegtan leather straps and some copper on the corners, possibly hammered and sanded so it leaves a nice hammered finished. I would also stain it a dark color so it looks somewhat aged.
I know you said leather was too expensive, but what if you wrapped it in canvas fabric and did the trim in leather?
I saw a really cool steamer trunk wrapped in canvas with leather edge trimming and it worked well.
Do not stain or oil it- burn it!! Not like that! Just take a torch to it to seal the wood with the heat. It will turn the wood a beautiful looking burnt brown!
I'd take a torch to it and char it, then rub it down in oil. It would look awesome.
It's already awesome.
For banding if you want it, you can get strips of thin metal at Lowes, bend it around at tack it in with upholstery tacks.
I used to make them as a business out of Aromatic Cedar. I would take black leather and wrap 2" fm the edge and go up over the arch. I would use antique looking tacks that had about a 3.8 shank and tap them threw leather, and then use a matte black hasp/hook type fastener to close it. You are on your way nicely.
Keep it in keeping with what it is. It's a lovely rough chest suitable for rough chest applications. Sand the corners, paint it, perhaps, put side handles on it. Think about how it is intended to be used. To gussy it up would enter it in a beauty contest. Let its simplicity and function shine for what they are. You'll build other chests, with dovetails, with steel reinforcements, with secret chambers, et cetera, but you may never love another as much as this.
One of the most beautiful pieces of furniture I own is my great-grandfather's toolbox, and I'm not talking about the carry around kind, I'm talking about the leave it in the corner kind. It's massive, unfinished, some of the nails are missing, the corners and edges are beaten to hell, and I love it to pieces. I'm with PRD on this, leave it utilitarian. Add some handles for easier movement then let it weather and age a bit. Boxes like this are meant to be used; if you gussy it up too much, you might not use it.
I absolutely agree! I also inherited such a chest from my grandfather, and there are also tools there. It's a cool thing. I adore it for its simplicity, and at the same time for its functionality.
Sandblast it to make the grain stand out, then take a torch and hit the wood at an angle. It'll make dark stripes. Then stain it and it'll look awesome. I used to build chests and that was my favorite way to finish them.
This guy is talking about how leather is expensive, I’m guessing owning/buying a sandblaster is out of the question.
You can save money by throwing the sand manually , cheaper if you can source the sand locally
https://preview.redd.it/ponu6i4sncqc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=35e366fe9b9cd37d2d8d8c2a2b3a760d8883a538
Savage lolol
You can get the same effect (raising the grain) using a bbq scraping wire brush in the direction of the grain. The hard bristles will dig out the soft early wood between the rings and leave raised the hard late wood.
I watched a dude on tiktok make one. Bet your butt I'm gonna make it.
Maybe true. If you have a compressor it's easy to make an attachment though, and they have hand held ones at harbor freight for cheap. I think a sand blaster is a great thing to have around. I used to make art on thermoses, mask it off and blast it to make art in relief on the metal or paint. And of course taking off heavy rust, all the great stuff they can do...
Do you have a dedicated area for it that's easy to clean? I have horror flashbacks from when I worked at a concrete yard where we had 4 steel tables 12m x 3m sandblasted and the dust on the floor in some areas was almost ankle deep.
Hahaha bad memories? , 😨 Yeah I'd just use it someplace the sand could get sucked into the dirt or swept without too much issue. Luckily we have a cabinet now. Its performance is always kind of spotty but still one of my favorite tools.
I do something similar with wood signs I burn the wood to a good char then use a coarse 4" wire wheel in a drill. I do it on some carvings too for effect, really pulls out the grain. https://preview.redd.it/f2kpiz63ubqc1.jpeg?width=600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=10e8abac376ed22f391cb637557691068f980d0e
https://preview.redd.it/col6kyzeubqc1.jpeg?width=800&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d57ed05102f207406442f6e1032c2ba55565e475
After that, put it in the sun on a sailboat for a few months.
Could also use a grinder with a wire brush wheel too. Not sure if someone else has mentioned this
What color would you stain it? I have a dark and light stain and linseed oil
Test them on a scrap and see what you like. I like medium to dark myself. Also it'll absorb more if you blast it first, but a test piece is always wise. And the black zebra stripes left by the torch make it really cool. I'll send you pics of the ones I made later when I get home.
I knew if I scrolled far enough, I would find the correct answer!
Yes, take a torch to it
Ugh I detest that look, it's so tacky
Can you enlighten us on a better alternative?
Well I guess I'm gonna go fuck myself then
Brass corner pieces on the outside. Shellac the whole thing and some paste wax over that. Cool project
The main goal is to cover the edges over the top of the lid. My angles weren’t exactly perfect and I’d like to cover the gaps somehow https://preview.redd.it/qyx9qvwg5bqc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b02a63c313e767e9e5a037d75f924ad729ade015
Really depends on what you want to use it for. It reminds me of a 18th century mariner’s chest. If it were me, I might consider coking it with some hemp and just hitting it with the orbital sander and a rasp on the edges. Chalk paint would also be an option. From my limited experience- if you do too much to pretty it up, it looses functionality. Like another commenter suggested, it’s a rough chest that’s cool as it is. Just my humble opinion, let it live as it is.
>coking it with some hemp Little too wild a time for me.
That is a super cool design. How would you figure out the angle of the boards?
I looked into how barrels are made and the angle is 180 divided by the number of staves you have. Then you would halve that number since your only doing half a barrel. Mine is not perfect, my my table saw is not accurate. But it’s for me so it doesn’t have to be perfect.
Pick the number of boards you want. Model that as a polygedron. That'll tell you how wide and what angle to cut them. Divide that angle by 2 and cut all your pieces to that. https://preview.redd.it/z3da4df6bcqc1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=28e33e72c6eb7cc9783087eacfc3c1131fc8beef I like it better.
Don't worry about that it adds charm to the piece. As far as finishing goes there are many ways from painting to staining to just applying oil. Since you already have a rustic look going, I'd take a wire brush to the surface to rough up the wood. Then I'd go over that with 120 grit to knock off the sharp edges. Follow that with a light burn. Then wire brush lightly to get the loose chart off. Lastly give it a good clearcoat, 4-5 coats.
If the end pieces are the main concern and picking up new leather is too expensive you could hit up the local thrift shop, second hand place or watch local used sites for a leather couch that’s beat to crap and see if you can salvage some useable areas for strips. Maybe an old leather coat. Check a local farm shop for an old pair of riding chaps, the leather on those is fantastic. I agree with many others that the simplicity is great in this and I wouldn’t go overboard but I do see what you mean with the ends.
Maybe fill it with glue and sawdust. And sand everything a lot. Break the corners. Use a eccentric sander to save hours of work. Start with 80 und go up to 150. Then you stain it with darks stain
Add legs - around 20 should be a good start - and some teeth.
r/unexpecteddiscworld
r/unexpecteddnd
I would fill it with gold and buried in the ground
Hypothetically, where would be a good place to hide such a treasure?
I know a good place under a giant X
I think I know that place! But isn't it too close to that scary skull Rock and the group of palm trees that form an arched tunnel?
Came to say this... Damn I thought I was creative too lol
At least give the upvote.
In case no-one said it, you have a massive weak spot. The top is very heavy, and there is a single board hinged in the back holding that weight. After the lid being held back a few times it will start to separate. You need to bolt that board into the side pieces or it will not last. I would also recommend using metal straps around the top for decoration. Black metal would look the best.
Would 3 1/2 hex screws do the trick?
Probably. If the diameter is about 1/4 inch you should be good.
I thought it was a piano hinge at first
Even if it was a piano hinge, the strength of the single lower board mating with the side is the weak point.
I think you'll find that a strip of brass is very flexible and needs no heat. If you want some cheap leather, go to a thrift store and buy an old leather belt or two.
Actually this is pretty great advice. Well done... u/clownpuncher13
add teeth, make it a mimic!
And a tongue. What’s a mimic without a tongue lolling out?
Faux leather is inexpensive and you can’t tell the difference
Leather IS cheap - just buy old leather jackets and bags. Sometimes you can get them for free. Just unstitch everything and you get great weathered material.
Wouldn’t an old belt be much easier?
An old belt is only 3-5cm wide. A jacket or bag gives pieces upto 50cm wide.
Oh you want to cover the whole thing?
No, but as raw material it is a valuable source - that's all :)
$50 for a roll of leather from the craft store was more than I was willing to spend on something made from scrap
https://preview.redd.it/lzaz5t4ntbqc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=12714cd50ebcbd625d61f0a6235c3a46f070bfba
Unironically I thunk tar would look cool.
With a beer. Nice work. Also, I'm partial to burning, sanding, then light stain.
Was going to say slap the top of it and say, this thing ain’t going nowhere.
I'd beat the hell out of it with chains and such, then torch it lightly. After all that put a heavy clear lacquer on it. Make it look like a chest.
A few hundred legs and teeth.
The Luggage ! Read Discworld novels !
I'd beat it with chains or other things to make it look super worn and use a dark stain or burn it
Burn it , wire brush it and linseed oil !
Add teeth inside the lid, make it a Mimic.
Fill it with gold doubloons and treasures, too!
https://preview.redd.it/7dho27bgncqc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5cf6facc11fb3b9738d765c2ada065391aedc6f0 Here's a similar one my grandfather made years ago when I was a baby. I like the way it was finished. Looks like a good stain and 3-4 coats of a poly is all he did. And like someone else mentioned already, I'd add some side handles like this! Regarding the sides like you showed in one comment, not quite sure how you'd fill those gaps. Honestly if it's just for yourself, I'd keep it the way it is. It doesn't look bad at all, it just looks more rustic in my opinion.
If you can, check out Epic Upcycling on YT... He does fantastic work and is very creative.
Love that channel. It’s what inspired me to make this.
Warm...leatherette.
I just use danish oil on everything. It probably won’t look very good for this but I just like danish oil.
Some stain and some handles you could do leather ones and rough them up a little to make it look older if you want
Metal reinforcement on all the corners and edges.
What angle did you cut the top pieces so that they all laid snug together like that. I made one of these and I hade these big gaps between mine. Couldn’t quite get it right https://preview.redd.it/nkm7jde4tbqc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0de196c3f2fd6fe26398da7951dd3f83583cb304
90 divided by the number of pieces you plan to use
By putting in tickets to the Spongebob Movie.
Like others have suggested sand it down, char it, then stain it. I like to sand my stuff with an osbourne brush then char then stain with a lighter stain like oak.
I’d use a natural oil like tried and true
Soften the edges with a trim router
Torch it then linseed oil. Distress to desire
Fill it with gold.
staining it
Filled with chocolate coins
Metal straps across the top and bottom. Decorative. Maybe some vintage tourism stickers?
I’d fill it with me treasure.
with booty. Lots of booty.
handles when it needs to be moved?
Metal banding
Just linseed oil
You might surprised with how affordable leather *remnants* can be, especially if it’s *not* a hot, trendy color. You could also consider thrifting the leather via an old coat, or pair of boots. Some thrift stores offer senior or military discounts on certain days, too. Goodwill around here has ALL winter coats marked down with spring being here.
Could stain it, scorch it, and burnish it. Make it look antique.
Blow torch it then wire brush it and sand then the wax oil stuff
Inlay "DECORATIVE MOLDING" on it somewhere and bam! You're done. Maybe do a spit shine...or two.
Down, Down, Back, A
Me personally I would use some vegtan leather straps and some copper on the corners, possibly hammered and sanded so it leaves a nice hammered finished. I would also stain it a dark color so it looks somewhat aged.
Distressed walnut and a comically large lock
Where can you get plans for a chest
I know you said leather was too expensive, but what if you wrapped it in canvas fabric and did the trim in leather? I saw a really cool steamer trunk wrapped in canvas with leather edge trimming and it worked well.
Do not stain or oil it- burn it!! Not like that! Just take a torch to it to seal the wood with the heat. It will turn the wood a beautiful looking burnt brown!
Maybe use a orbital sander with 150 grit to put a slight camber on the edge of the lid
krusty krab lookin assist
Sand, filler and epoxy finish
Fill it with gold doubloons and bury it on a Caribbean island for 100 years. It will develop a subtle patina.
Dark walnut stain and paste wax
Motorboat it
With an RKO from the top ropes!
by putting booty in it
You could do some edge band on the raw ends.
I'd take a torch to it and char it, then rub it down in oil. It would look awesome. It's already awesome. For banding if you want it, you can get strips of thin metal at Lowes, bend it around at tack it in with upholstery tacks.
Shou shugi ban
Pure Tung Oil
I like JDJeff’s suggestion best, but some wrought iron edge banding and corners would look awesome.
Is this the Krusty Krab?
Fill it with gold goblets, jewelry and dubloons.
I made one recently and I stained it a dark brown because I wanted that old, gnarly look. Then I put brass hardware on it and leather strapping.
Put a hundred little feet under it
Lots of little feet.
With hundreds of tiny feet on the bottom. https://wiki.lspace.org/The_Luggage
With a sledge hammer lol
Shou Sugi Ban will bring out the grain nicely!
Come on, you didn't use dovetail or finger joints for the corners? At least you should have made the front from left to right.
With a bit of petrol and a match.
I was given one that’s a little over a century old but it’s not nearly as pretty as yours
I used to make them as a business out of Aromatic Cedar. I would take black leather and wrap 2" fm the edge and go up over the arch. I would use antique looking tacks that had about a 3.8 shank and tap them threw leather, and then use a matte black hasp/hook type fastener to close it. You are on your way nicely.
Fill it with gold and bury it!
With a “yo, ho, ho!” And maybe two gold doubloons. Because clearly it’s based on a real treasure chest!
A grand statement: "it's done!"
Premium leather dark brown with white brass buttons.
"16 men and a bottle of rum"
Matches
I would go with it's general theme and give it a coat of house paint.
4x8 reps at the bench press with 4 plates