A few weeks ago Thom called me again. Valen had a particularly difficult day and he was thinking it would be any day the box would be needed. I told him as soon as the shop was warm enough for glue-ups I would get started. Valen has rebounded from a rough couple days, but you cant escape reality. I had to get moving.
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Usually when Im building something I take a lot of pictures. Much more than what shows up here. I made a conscious decision to document less this time around and really see how efficiently I can get things done without my usual time sink. I did take some time to teach my oldest daughter how to do some sawing and she cut and chiseled one corner of the dovetails for me. I dont get to trick her out into the shop too often so it was a bit of a guilty pleasure.
Im not doing anything thats groundbreaking, or that I havent documented a dozen times here already. In fact, as I was telling my wife the other night, it almost feels like I completely know what Im doing this time around. I havent had any mystery or problem solving. I started with some rough measurements given to me by Thom and I just started building. No sketches, no sketch-up, no printed plans, or even a reference picture. I knew what I needed to build and Im just doing it. Trusting my eye and my abilities. Thats scary enough by itself.
Im not shooting for anything fancy. I will probably do some carving in the lid. but beyond that Im just looking for simple, straightforward, strong and classic. In the end its a smaller version of my tool chest, with a variation on the lid. People may ask why Ive gone to the bother of dovetailing the corners and ship-lapping the bottom. If Im in a hurry, then nailed joints should be enough right?
In the end Im a victim of my own compunctions. Im doing things the right way according to my definition of right. To do anything less would be shorting the project and shorting myself. Valen would never know the difference, and his master probably wouldnt either. In a short amount of time no one will know because the box will be buried under several feet of earth. I always fall back on a line "The things I make might be for others, how I make them is for me" from Tony Konavaloffs book "Chisel, Mallet, Plane, and Saw."
As Ive been building Ive been doing a lot of thinking about WWSD or "What Would Setles Do." Setles is my wifes grandfather who passed away several years ago, I inherited the start of my hand tool collection from him. I use his No 5 Stanley and hand saws on every project I work on and I think of him often. He was not a woodworker, he was just a man from a different age. One where you grew up on a farm and knew a little bit about doing almost anything. You could build a chicken coop and fix your car. You could even do a little blacksmithing if called upon.
The things he made from wood have a workmans character to them. Its often obvious theyre built from salvaged wood and theres small mistakes here and there. But he knew what he was up to and was able to bring things from scratch parts into the world. If he had to cut a dovetail he would hardly mark out a specific 1:6 ratio angle. He would grab a saw and cut it, what difference would a specific angle make. The idea was to get it done and get it done right.
After a grand total of about ten hours in the shop Ive completed the base of the chest. Theres a little sanding to do on the skirt and its done. The lid panel is already glued up as well. Tomorrow I can start planing that flat, cut it to size, and probably get the carving done.
Only today I decided I should probably fit some handles on the ends to help with carrying it. I havent decided if I will go an buy some steel ones or just fashion them from some 2x6 I have around. Setles could have done either and he probably wouldnt have agonized over the decision. Im leaning towards making my own, the ground doesnt need more steel buried in it anyway.
I do wonder though, just how long the chest will last in the ground, and in a couple hundred years what someone will think if they happen to dig it up.
Ratione et Passionis
Oldwolf
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