Originally Posted by rprice54

The first is a raised panel (cedar lined) pine chest I made for my wife on our first Christmas. I didn't have any tools so the cuts were made with the help of a friend in his shop and then I assembled it and stained it. We made the raised panels on a table saw (don't flame me!).


The second is after I got some tools of my own. My first solo project. I used what I learned from the first chest on this one. It's out of poplar. The letter routing was done with a fixed base router (I now have a plunge thank goodness). The ABC and 123 on the sides were free handed with the exception of their box outlines. My son's name was routed using a piece of scrap as a straight guide for the appropriate parts and then freehanded the serifs. I glazed (first time effort at this as well) the poplar to keep the grain and prevent splotching. The poly is still drying in the last photo, lots of coats to stand up to a 2 year old.