One purpose for this blog is for me to show, and talk about, my woodworking projects. This year, I've been experimenting with arched-top chest designs - evolving towards one I'm happy with. Here are two chests that represent the pinnacle of this initiative (so far).
This first chest is made from Canarywood. I like exotic hardwoods and luckily I have a local source for these woods. The arched top is made from 12 separate staves.
This second chest is made from New Guinea Paldao - another rare and exotic wood. Similar design but with only two drawers.
I've made arched top chests before, but I never had a dependable procedure for calculating and making the angled cuts necessary to fit the multi-piece tops together. I found an article in one of my woodworking magazines that showed a technique using my table saw to cut the staves. I then did some calculations which led me to make a nice Excel spreadsheet to do the calculations for me. Now I can vary the number of staves and the extent of the arch to whatever suites me. I knew that Plane Geometry would come in handy some day!
Once I know the angles, I set them on the table saw, as exactly as I can, and cut the staves. This photo shows the technique for gluing the staves together and clamping them with a couple of bar clamps. I've evolved the weight I place on top from a jug of glue to a shooter's sandbag. The sandbag works much better.
For my next project, I'm thinking of making a larger arched-top design with more drawers - a sort of arched-top machinist chest. Can't decide on the wood, though. - sgb
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