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My shop has been occupied almost every day since the New Year started. I wanted to get a start on a Pennsylvania Blanket Chest that we saw in Popular Woodworking Last August. But first things first The LOML cautioned.

Had to come up with something to hold all of the thread that was crowding her Sewing/embroidery room. O.K., said I and bought $16 of pine from Lowe's. Making a thread rack is not difficult, you just have to make the dadoes all at the same angle. This is epically true if the spool holding dowels are going to be 8" long to hold two large spools. Since I only eyeballed the dadoes, I got close, but to an examining eye, problems can be easily found. Anyway - it's good enough! (I love that term;) )

Here's a photo of the two new racks (on the right of the pic) and we were able to save the older one, which is now behind the entry door. It holds only the smaller spools of thread.

I was going to buy 5/16" dowels for the new racks, but found that I needed 42 feet of dowel. That came to about $35 + tax just for the dowels. I elected to use the pine and make square pegs. Rounded the ends to fit the holes on the cross bars.

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Then finally got a start on the Blanket Chest. Assembled panels for the sides of the chest then cut the dovetails with a router and they worked out to a pretty good fit. Used a Prazi Chest Mate to make the dovetails.

The open space beneath the front of the chest is for two drawers. Will keep posting the progress on this chest.

Today I cut the dadoes and the grooves on the inside of the chest that will hold chest bottom, drawer frame and till box. Photo soon.

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Chuck

I'll give you the compliment that I most appreciate when I recieve it. You do nice work. Can't wait to see the progress.

Paul M

Man thats a lot of thread!!! Nice work on both projects. Cant wait to see the chest updates. I have built two and would love to build another, but furniture-wise we are busting at the seams in my house.
Mark

mark-b wrote:Man thats a lot of thread!!! Nice work on both projects. Cant wait to see the chest updates. I have built two and would love to build another, but furniture-wise we are busting at the seams in my house.
Mark

I know how you could make room for three bicycles!:D

charlese wrote:I elected to use the pine and make square pegs. Rounded the ends to fit the holes on the cross bars.

So you're going to put a square peg in a round hole?? Also the round end of the thread?

Very nice Chuck. Your prioritization of project choices was right one!!! Wise man.

I just hate when this stuff happens. I'm checking out Chucks projects and while I'm thrilled his wife got her project done I became more interested in the second project...

When I got looking at the dovetails and saw some little jig laying there I was thinking how I might make something like that. Anyway I got back to the reading and saw "Prazi Chest Mate". Now I've got no idea what that is. Since I don't get woodworking magazines anymore I miss out on a lot of interesting project, interesting reviews and all that great advertisements.

So I do a search and find the jig and now I want one. Not in this years budget for sure but I guess maybe I should add it to the sometime in the future. (This where the hate when this happens part happens).

So Chuck if you have some time would you mind doing a mini review of what you think of the jig?

Ed

"I know how you could make room for three bicycles!"
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JPG

I already have 13 bikes that I have to store, I dont need 3 more!!!
Mark

Chuck,

Even my wife admires your threat racks. I wonder how long before she orders something similar. She does want the know the brand and model of the Embroidery Machine? Jim

Chuck:

That's an awful lot of square pegs to put in round holes! Once again I admire your patience.

The blanket box is looking good too.

John