Woodworking Projects: Cedar Chest Plans

Basic Design

• The basics of chest design prove relatively simple regardless of the type of wood you use. Start with your desired dimensions. You can use height, length, depth or volume as a starting point. Set the basic dimensions of your chest and create a scale drawing with the dimensions indicated for all parts. Use the rectangular solid as your basic design shape to keep things simple – the front, back, top and bottom of your chest exhibit the same length in this instance. If you plan on putting your chest in a specific spot in your home, measure that spot to get ideas for planning your chest. Design any molding, footing or framing elements as separate pieces, unless you know how to shape wood.

Detailed Design

• Detailed design work entails creating a plan for the construction process for your cedar chest. For instance, cedar comes in planks and boards. Decide which you want to use for your chest and how big you need each board or plank, based on your basic design. You must adhere these planks and/or boards to one another. You can do this using nails, screws, adhesives, joints or wood biscuits. Determine how you want your chest to open, on hinges or with a top that pulls away completely. Before starting construction, make a detailed drawing of your chest, including dimensions, each individual part and the location and type of fasteners. Make a parts list to make shopping easy on yourself.

Working with Cedar Lumber

• Cedar lumber qualifies as soft wood because it comes from a conifer, or a tree that reproduces using cones. Cedar lumber exhibits a low density when compared to other commercial softwoods, making it relatively easy to shape, cut and work with. Lumber taken from cedar often exhibits distinct cosmetic blemishes, such as knots. If you want a rustic look for your chest, these cosmetic blemishes may contribute to the aesthetic feel of your cedar chest. However, for a more finished look, you need heartwood, or lumber from the center of a cedar tree, which usually costs a good deal more than standard cedar. When purchasing lumber for your cedar chest, ask about ideal coatings and finishes for cedar. Coatings and finishes help protect the raw wood from moisture and other forms of damage.

Tools and Resources

• The low density of cedar means you can use regular, rather than specialized, tools with the wood. Use standard saws, screws, nails, screwdrivers, drills and hammers for making your cedar chest. A planer or lathe may come in handy, but such power tools aren't completely necessary for building a cedar chest. Numerous woodworking and building resources, such as “Fine Woodworking” and “Family Handyman,” publish information on wood building basics and furniture building. Find these at your local library or online for reference. You can also download plans for chests, and in particular cedar chests, for a fee of around $5 or $10 in 2011, from websites such as Grizzly Industrial. Other websites, such as Wayne of the Woods, offer free, albeit less detailed, plans.