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This Early American blanket chest is patterned after a New England chest dated
1792. Chests were common in Colonial and Early American homes since closets
were quite rare. Many chests were dated and bore the name or initials of the
maker/owner, an idea you may also consider. Although chests such as this often
featured a false drawer front, our drawer is fully functional. The space above the
drawer is called a well.
Authentic chests of this period were constructed entirely of solid stock, typically
maple, walnut, birch, butternut, cherry, pine, or whatever wood was handy. The
solid-stock-throughout construction did not present a wood movement problem,
since early homes, with little insulation and no central heating, were not subject
to the prolonged dry winter heat produced by modern heating systems. To elimi-
nate any potential problem with wood movement, our design specifies plywood for
the well and carcass bottom panels, and for the drawer bottom.
Although the photo shows authentic moldings cut by hand with a molding plane,
we have called out more common moldings that enable you to fashion the decora-
tive edge with the router and readily available beading bits.
Early American Blanket Chest Complete
Schematic
Early American Blanket Chest Materials
List
Part Description Size No. Req’d
A Side 3/4" x 19-3/4" x 17-3/4" 2
B Back 3/4" x 19-3/4" x 34-3/4" 1
C Front 3/4" x 13" x 35-1/2" 1
D Well Bottom 3/4" x 17" x 34-3/4" 1
E Carcass Bottom 3/4" x 17-3/8" x 34-3/4" 1
F Long Drawer Spacer 3/4" x 3/4" x 34" 2
G Short Drawer Spacer 3/4" x 3/4" x 15-1/2" 2
H Base Side 1" x 6" x 18-3/8" 2
I Base Front 1" x 6" x 37-1/2" 1
J Base Back 1" x 5-1/4" x 9" 2
K Long Cleat 3/4" x 1" x 7" 4
L Short Cleat 3/4" x 1" x 6" 4
M Top 3/4" x 18" x 36-3/4" 1
N Top End Molding 1" x 1" x 19" 2
O Top Front Molding 1" x 1" x 37-3/4" 1
P Base Side Molding 3/4" x 3/4" x 18-1/2" 2
Q Base Front Molding 3/4" x 3/4" x 37" 1
R Drawer Side 1/2" x 5" x 16-1/2" 2
S Drawer Back 1/2" x 5" x 33-1/2" 1
T Drawer Front 3/4" x 5-1/2" x 34-3/4" 1
U Drawer Bottom 1/4" x 16-1/8" x 33-1/2" 1
V Drawer Handles 3" polished brass
W Hinges 3/4" x 3" 3
These plans were originally published in Volume 10, Issue 5 of The Woodworker’s
Journal (Sep./Oct. 1986, pages 45-47).