How Should I Build a Cedar Chest?

[In The Doghouse]

When Hurricane Helena raced through our area I lost 4 trees on my land. Two pecan trees, that are tilting over, a large oak that thankfully fell away from our house and a large cedar tree. I have most of it cleaned up, but the tilted stumps remain. Hope to soon get them moved.

However, someone suggested to my wife that we should build a cedar chest from the downed tree. It measures 2ft diameter at the base and should provide sufficient lumber. I've found a local sawmill that can cut boards for me, now looking for someone to move the trunk to the sawmill.

So, my question is: What do I request? He could cut planks 1" thick, that could be ripped to any width. Do I need structural boards?

This seems to answer most of my questions. How to build cedar chest

There's also this option: Cedar Chest Plans

I'm not a woodworker and don't have much equipment. I guess for now I'm pondering how to proceed. Anybody out there with experience?

 

[PCustoms]

Got a better shot of the base section?

Step 1 is going to be finding someone to saw that.

 

[MovingAlong]

However, someone suggested to my wife ...

And a thousand voices cried out in anguish.

 

[In The Doghouse]

And a thousand voices cried out in anguish.

True that!

A shot of the base section:

 

[36truck]

You going to need lots of equipment to turn that log into workable lumber. Once it's sawed then you need to dry it. It will take a couple of years in your humid area. Then you need a planer to get the boards somewhat smooth. Then a Joiner to get square edges. Then a good table saw to cut the boards. Plus a chop saw to cut to length. Then clamps to hold it when you glue edges to get the wide boards.
Building furniture takes time from raw lumber.
Another thing you might be hard pressed to find someone to cut that up as it was in a yard. They don't like surprises like nails or other metal.

 

[rkevins]

if you can cut the lumber to width yourself have them cut 1 square edge then slab it out that way instead of all your boards being the narrowest width (canted) you will get the most out of your tree.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

Great project, this is going to be one hell of a journey. I would love to have access to some lumber like that. Good Luck

 

[gte718p]

Im visiting my parents in SC. There is so much beautiful lumber on the ground that is just going to be dumped or chipped. It’s sad, but the people who have the equipment to process it are few and far between and the ones that do have it are overwhelmed. I’m certainly not going to spent 10s of thousands of dollars to save hundreds.


I guess for the OP the cheapest option would be to get a good two man saw and slice some boards. Dry for a year or two, and then use a saw and hand planes to get to the dimensions you want for the box. Cut some joints and assemble.

I guess it could be slabbed out with a chainsaw and an Alaska mill setup.

 

[Brianf60]

That looks like some beautiful wood. Depending on how much useable lumber is there you may be able to find someone that has the skills and machinery that is willing to make your chest in exchange for the remaining lumber.

 

[niget2002]

As mentioned. Once you get the wood milled, you'll have to let it dry for quite a while. You can use that time to collect all the tools you need to finish processing it. You could use hand planes to plane and joint the boards. You could build a router sled for planing the boards. A circ saw and a good straight edge can do long cuts. Circ saw could also be used for cross cuts.

You'll want to practice by making some other pieces of furniture first so you don't ruin your cedar. You'll have a finite amount of usable lumber from the tree, but there's an infinite amount of pine and poplar at home depot to practice with.

Or. You can find someone in your area that builds furniture and see what they would charge to turn the wood into a cedar chest.

Get the wood processed so it can start drying out and then figure out how you want to proceed.

I'd have it sawn into 1" planks. Lumber mills would refer to that as 4/4 lumber. After final processing, you should get 3/4" to 1/2" boards depending on warpage as it dries.

 

[mike93lx]

I think this is a great idea, but the execution is going to be very difficult and expensive for a non-woodworker. Are you down for a really long project and buying a bunch more tools? Do you have a place to store the wood for a year or more while it dries, or are you willing to pay to have it kiln dried?

If you hired this out to a local woodworker, I would expect it to cost at least a couple grand, likely more.

 

[turbowoodworker]

There is no point in looking at milling anything past 2 inches thick until it has dried properly. Milling for width or straight edge now is futile and the loss of lumber to twist, cup, etc will be a frustration.
You could find someone with a portable mill to come onsite. May cost extra but save in a difficult transport.

 

[Neighbor]

I've found a local sawmill that can cut boards for me, now looking for someone to move the trunk to the sawmill.

So, my question is: What do I request? He could cut planks 1" thick, that could be ripped to any width. Do I need structural boards?

try searching for someone with a portable sawmill. They're basically big band saws on a trailer.

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[NUTTSGT]

Another thing you might be hard pressed to find someone to cut that up as it was in a yard. They don't like surprises like nails or other metal.

This is probably going to be your biggest problem.

I know how the happy wife/happy life thing goes, but it needs to be made clear to her that this project may never get off the ground and not to get her hopes up.

 

[Brianf60]

OP, I would hate to see this project not get completed. It would probably be worth checking some of the woodworking forums. I bet there are lots of people pot there that can lend a hand.
If this was mine and I couldn’t find someone with a portable band saw willing to cut it I would probably use one of the chainsaw rigs to rough cut the boards. That is the first step. Get it cut to rough and stacked to dry. While it drying you can figure out the rest of the game plan. This won’t be a quick project so no need to rush.

 

[gahrajmahal]

However, someone suggested to my wife that we should build a cedar chest from the downed tree. It measures 2ft diameter at the base and should provide sufficient lumber. I've found a local sawmill that can cut boards for me, now looking for someone to move the trunk to the sawmill.

I'm not a woodworker and don't have much equipment. I guess for now I'm pondering how to proceed. Anybody out there with experience?

So guys and gals “In The Doghouse” HAS a lumberyard willing to saw it up, he just needs to get it hauled to the sawmill.

I would suggest maybe an auto wrecker driver/owner? They could drop their bed down and winch those trunks easily onto the bed. Maybe they would do the deed for a share in the sawn boards, especially the hickory.

My photos are of a trunk we just inherited. It was originally in my mother-in-laws grandparents house. She was in her 90’s when she died, so I’m guessing around 150 yrs old? If you look at its construction the sides are a single board wide just lapped and nailed together. I’m sure there were no special tools necessary to build this other than a good saw and a hammer. But, this is “The Garage Journal” and the purchase of a few nice tools for the cause of keeping the wifey happy are always considered good purchases.

Last year I did a ton of trim work at my son’s house. I finished his home addition when his contractor quit on him. It is a 1920’s house and the trim was craftsman style with wide window framing and 7” baseboards. I have a 12” chop saw and used it a lot, but I also have a Metabo 7” battery circular saw that I used for many, many mitered corners using a 12” quick square as my guide. The Metabo features a soft start motor, so no jerk when you pull the trigger.

I’d start by building a series of small boxes now using whatever tools you have. Buy cheap lumber from the big box store. That way you can compare construction techniques and styles.

By the way our trunk is 20” tall, 20” wide and 40” long. I’m guessing it matches how big the boards were.

If you are a long time reader to the GJ, you’ll remember our host Ryan was an amateur woodworker not very long ago. He was tiptoeing during the start of his first project too, doubting his competency. Well look at his projects now! I think he has fallen in love with building stuff from wood and I would call him a master craftsman in his pursuit of excellence.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Metabo-HPT-was-Hitachi-Power-Tools-7-1-4-in-Corded-Circular-Saw-with-Aluminum-Shoe-and-Soft-Case/1000820258?store=&cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-tol-_-ggl-_-PMAX_TOL_000_Priority_Item-_-1000820258-_-online-_-0-_-0&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD2B2W-IajXzBh9cx5avCAxH56bYV&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzP37vf7viQMVth2tBh2KvRBFEAQYASABEgI7jfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

https://www.harborfreight.com/12-inch-rafter-angle-square-66778.html

 

[In The Doghouse]

Thank you everyone for your input, and also for the photos of the old trunk. That looks really nice.

The son of the man who runs the sawmill lives nearby and he runs a landscaping business. Monday he is supposed to trailer the cedar trunk to the sawmill which is about 10 miles from my home. I'm not sure what the transport and cutting will cost, hoping for the best.

I am thinking I should mostly request 1" planks cut as wide as possible, probably about 15". After a couple years of drying, they could be planed to ~ 3/4" thick for the side boards, lid and trim pieces. I could get some cut to 3/4" thick that might be used for trim pieces and some bluebird houses.

My woodworking tools are minimal. A table saw, a circular saw, a nice floor model drill press and a router with a wide selection of bits. I don't have the floor space to purchase more equipment, nor do I want to.

I will have a couple years to devise a plan to hire someone to build a chest or tackle it myself. I'm thinking I could build something like that pictured above with my minimal tools, but that is to be seen.

 

[toolmiser]

Maybe even think about going to 1 1/8" for board thickness. They will shrink a little when dry, and with starting at an inch gives you very little for processing. Just a little wander with the bandsaw blade will make boards unusable.

 

[tarmy]

You going to need lots of equipment to turn that log into workable lumber. Once it's sawed then you need to dry it. It will take a couple of years in your humid area. Then you need a planer to get the boards somewhat smooth. Then a Joiner to get square edges. Then a good table saw to cut the boards. Plus a chop saw to cut to length. Then clamps to hold it when you glue edges to get the wide boards.
Building furniture takes time from raw lumber.
Another thing you might be hard pressed to find someone to cut that up as it was in a yard. They don't like surprises like nails or other metal.

Damn…

You may have just posted the single best post on CG history.

I have been on here a day or two…read most everything posted those days…and that single post has listed the most tools, the most expensive set of tools and even provided an explanation of why they are needed. Even got the metal scan tool in there.

Gotta be 20-30k worth of stuff that OP now must acquire. Hope his wifey doesn’t notice and buy a chest for 500 bucks.

 

[PCustoms]

Damn…

You may have just posted the single best post on CG history.

I have been on here a day or two…read most everything posted those days…and that single post has listed the most tools, the most expensive set of tools and even provided an explanation of why they are needed. Even got the metal scan tool in there.

Gotta be 20-30k worth of stuff that OP now must acquire. Hope his wifey doesn’t notice and buy a chest for 500 bucks.

20-30k?

Either you **** at math or have no concept of what is actually involved.

Planner: package deal, <$1k
3hp joiner: package deal, <$1k
3hp Cabinet saw: $800
Chop saw $100 (could cut on table saw with crosscut sled)
Router/router table: package deal. Usually run me $100 (I have 4)

I've got a lot of tools but $30k to build a cedar chest is Ludacris. For that price the OP could buy the mill too!

 

[tarmy]

20-20k?

Either you **** at math or have no concept of what is actually involved.

Planner: package deal, <$1k
3hp joiner: package deal, <$1k
3hp Cabinet saw: $800
Chop saw $100 (could cut on table saw with crosscut sled)
Router/router table: package deal. Usually run me $100 (I have 4)

I've got a lot of tools but $30k to build a cedar chest is Ludacris. For that price the OP could buy the mill too!

You must shop at **** stores!

Real CGers go to places with friggin expensive tools that look good as well. This is a cabinet saw…and a real RAS…close to 10k right there…up your damn game man. I sorta know what I am talking about..

 

[PCustoms]

You must shop at **** stores!

Real CGers go to places with friggin expensive tools that look good as well. This is a cabinet saw…and a real RAS…close to 10k right there…up your damn game man. I sorta know what I am talking about..

Looks like you overpaid for some kitchen cabinets and a RAS, congratulations.

Expensive tools don't make up for talent.

I just wait till the no talent hacks sell their shop and scoop up equipment for pennies on the dollar.

I'm out of this discussion.

 

[southalabama]

Cut 5/4. Stack it up.
Decide the rest later
You’ll have a couple of years for it to dry.

 

[tarmy]

Looks like you overpaid for some kitchen cabinets and a RAS, congratulations.

Expensive tools don't make up for talent.

I just wait till the no talent hacks sell their shop and scoop up equipment for pennies on the dollar.

I'm out of this discussion.

Well I posted humor…you hurl insults. I repost more humor…you post more insults. maybe Reread the rules.

 

[36truck]

Damn…

You may have just posted the single best post on CG history.

I have been on here a day or two…read most everything posted those days…and that single post has listed the most tools, the most expensive set of tools and even provided an explanation of why they are needed. Even got the metal scan tool in there.

Gotta be 20-30k worth of stuff that OP now must acquire. Hope his wifey doesn’t notice and buy a chest for 500 bucks.

Well I've been around this stuff for a year or two. It does cost a dollar to take raw logs to make fine cabinets. Those logs might not be that good to build with. They have huge knots and most likely splits from the looks of the base.

 

[MovingAlong]

I'm thinking I could build something like that pictured above with my minimal tools, but that is to be seen.

It's not the tooling, you have plenty, it's the talent behind the tools. Fortunately, it's a skill you can learn and practice - if you put in some shop time..

Recommend starting with some simple pine projects: a box, a carpenters box, a footstool, a bench, a bookcase, etc.. Use whatever pine boards you can find at the big box stores. Develop some muscle memory, make some mistakes, enjoy the journey.

 

[lilredex]

Think I would go to a lumber yard and buy some cedar boards that are ready to go, build that chest and install an aromatic liner in it ....done, with minimal expense. You can always tell people the boards came from that tree.

As previously mentioned, you'll have difficulty finding someone ready to slice up yard trees.

 

[mike93lx]

As previously mentioned, you'll have difficulty finding someone ready to slice up yard trees.

that was already covered... Post 17

 

[Jgaz]

How much advice do you want and/or need on drying the wood?

About 30 years ago now I processed logs into almost 900 board feet of red oak and cherry.
By processed i mean that I took the trees from felled and topped to beautiful finished wood.
It was a learning experience to say the least, partly because of the large amount.
Made a number of correctable mistakes but also got a lot of great wood.

This built in entertainment center was made using some of the red oak from my drying experience

 

[Plastikosmd]

Beautiful setup tarmy!

Don't sweat the keyboard commandos

Dog, if it makes you happy, do it.

It is your $, and someday you will wish you just spent it for the enjoyment/experience as time is fleeting

 

[Joemctag]

Check out Fine Woodworking and Mother Earth News about stacking, drying and maybe coating the ends. You want to minimize checking (cracking) and warping which can render your wood unusable. Could be that cedar heartwood like yours does or doesn’t easily dry successfully. Good luck.

 

[In The Doghouse]

Today the two 9.5' long cedar trunk pieces were moved to the sawmill. I talked with a local cabinet builder who suggested cutting to 5/4" thick to allow shrinkage and planing. Plus, a slab 2" thick to provide the base trim pieces. He said he has a planer that can easily accommodate these widths.
He said that after a year of drying he can measure the moisture to determine if it's ready for use.

 

[turbowoodworker]

Looks like you have it figured out. Please repost or follow up with the moisture content in one year. Best wishes.