Got my first piece of furniture about 80% done this weekend. It's a chest of drawers, except the top drawer isn't one, it's just a false front. The lid is going to be hinged, so it lifts up to provide access to the top compartment.
The lid is 18 X 32X 5/8 glued up walnut, so it has a bit of weight to it.
- How much hinging (or how many hinges of what dimensions) do I need? Suggestions on type? I ask that because every jewelry box I've built has given me fits mortising in the hinges and having the top close straight.
- The back rail is 2 1/8 X 29 X 5/8, also walnut. Do I need to double it up to support the lid's weight and reduce the effect of twist racking as the lid is opened/closed? It's half lapped to the verticals that hold the rail and stile sides up and through M&T'd into the stiles, so it's glued up pretty solid - but that much twisting force concerns me a bit.
As a point of interest, all the drawer facings (they're ash drawers, dovetailed fronts, rabbet and dado rears) are book matched glued up panels. I bought 4" - 5 " wide 6/4s, re-sawed them on the table saw (that was some fun cutting, even with a sled on the fence!), and glued them up as 1/2" panels for the drawer faces. Cheaper than buying 10" wide walnut, even if I could have found any.
Pics are at
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cabinet will hold the knife collection also pictured there. Keeping sharp blades out of #1 grandson's paws!
Any help will be appreciated.
Regards.
Tom