Watch the video and follow the steps below to build your very own storage chest.
For a complete list of materials you'll need to make your storage chest, download your MitrePlan Project Planner here.
There are lots of different sized pieces of timber required to make your chest, so make sure you take your time — measure twice, and cut once.
Top tip: if you're cutting timber to the same length, clamp all your pieces together and measure them as one. That way, the lengths will be identical.
Both sides, the top and bottom panel need one tongue and one groove planed off two boards for each section. To make it easier, you could also use tongue and groove floorboards to make your chest.
Take four lining boards to make the start and ends of the longer sides. Check using a carpenter's square that the edges are square down the length of each board, and that all the boards are the same length.
Start by forming the two long sides. Choose which side you want to be the visible external surface, then lay out two of the 893mm batons, 548mm from the outer edge to the outer edge. Place one groove removed from the board across them, so the top is flush to the top of the batons. This board needs to hang over the end of both batons by 12mm on each side. Remember, all the boards need to be glued and nailed to the batons.
Use a carpenter's square to check that you are square, and that the batons are parallel. Glue and nail the lining boards to the batons. Next, glue, fit and nail each board together neatly, with no gaps. The final board to be fitted will be the one with the tongue removed. All nails except the starting nail on the first board and the finishing nail on the last board can be secretly nailed by nailing into the board at an angle.
Repeat the above process for the second side and for the two ends.
The lid is constructed in the same way as the sides, just with different setbacks on your batons. Once you've built your lid, put it on the chest and check that the edges are in line and that it'll open smoothly.
Line the lid up with the four surfaces of the box and mark the two screw holes at each end of the hinge. Next, screw the lid and hinge onto the box, then with the lid open, add the rest of the screws. To minimise the risk of squashed fingers, fit lift-ups or lid-stays to your chest.
Fill all your nail holes and sand the entire outer surface of your chest. Then, you can either paint it, or apply a protective coating. Remember, when you're sanding, make sure you go with the grain so you don't scratch your surface. It'll also help to bring out the natural beauty of the wood.
