We're doing a Pirate theme for Halloween decoration, and I thought it would be nice to make a treasure chest prop to hold the candy for the kids. This is one of those No Plan, Play-it-by-Ear projects. About the only guidelines were that I had some 12" x 24" x 1/4" plywood that might make something about the right size.
As I thought about sizes and materials, I realized I had an old particle board cabinet I've been stumbling over in my shop for a while. You know, the stuff you save because you may find a use for it? It was a perfect size, and easy to take apart to use the sides and face frames for the front and back of the box.
Although I've mostly been using the CNC lately, this was a table, and miter saw project. The chest end panels are 12" x 12" to take full use of the plywood I had on hand. The height of the top was purely arbitrary and based on what I thought looked good.
The only CNC work was the end frames and an interior rib for the lid, plus the "lock" for the front. The curved top is strips of 1/4" plywood glued and nailed in place. The "brass" banding on the lid was made from kerfed 1/4" plywood that I was able to bend to fit the shape.
The 'rivets" are button top dowel plugs set in shallow 3/8" holes. The "lock" is carved from 1/2" MDF.
I had a sheet of 3/8" acrylic that's been taking up space in my shop for over 40 years, and I was finally able to put it use. I made a shallow tray that sits around the inside edge of the box to hold jewels and pieces of eight. The tray surrounds and supports the actual candy bin in the center of the box. The 1/4" plywood bin is removable so I can get to the batteries that power LED lights.
After the jewels and coins were placed into the tray, acrylic resin was poured in to hold everything in place. There are battery-powered color-changing LED lights under the tray to illuminate the jewels.
The "brass" banding is teak-color Briwax applied over gold paint to tone it down and add shadows around the rivets.
As I thought about sizes and materials, I realized I had an old particle board cabinet I've been stumbling over in my shop for a while. You know, the stuff you save because you may find a use for it? It was a perfect size, and easy to take apart to use the sides and face frames for the front and back of the box.
Although I've mostly been using the CNC lately, this was a table, and miter saw project. The chest end panels are 12" x 12" to take full use of the plywood I had on hand. The height of the top was purely arbitrary and based on what I thought looked good.
The only CNC work was the end frames and an interior rib for the lid, plus the "lock" for the front. The curved top is strips of 1/4" plywood glued and nailed in place. The "brass" banding on the lid was made from kerfed 1/4" plywood that I was able to bend to fit the shape.
The 'rivets" are button top dowel plugs set in shallow 3/8" holes. The "lock" is carved from 1/2" MDF.
I had a sheet of 3/8" acrylic that's been taking up space in my shop for over 40 years, and I was finally able to put it use. I made a shallow tray that sits around the inside edge of the box to hold jewels and pieces of eight. The tray surrounds and supports the actual candy bin in the center of the box. The 1/4" plywood bin is removable so I can get to the batteries that power LED lights.
After the jewels and coins were placed into the tray, acrylic resin was poured in to hold everything in place. There are battery-powered color-changing LED lights under the tray to illuminate the jewels.
The "brass" banding is teak-color Briwax applied over gold paint to tone it down and add shadows around the rivets.
