Plan Chest for Chicken Town

A plan chest made out of poplar. Handles to be fitted.

This plan chest was made for Chickenland. Chickenland is the trading name for Nando's. The wood that it was made out of was Poplar. It is not commonly used. This is mainly du to the fact that the grain is a little furry, but when it is sanded and sealed it has a wonderfully liquid look. It is also quite a soft wood so can damage easily. This though is the reason why the client asked for the chest to be made out of Poplar. They wanted something that that could be "aged" fairly quickly.

The back of the plan chest.

Detail of the top.

The plan chest showing the inside.

The top o the plan chest before being sealed.

The top of the plan chest before being laminated together.

A Plan Chest for an Art Collector

A plan chest made out of African Mahogany

This plan chest was built for an Art Collector. They were looking for a set to match the furniture in his office. As with many of the sets that I make access was a bit tricky so they have been split into two sections. In these photos it is just waiting to be delivered.

Looking at the plan chest from the back.

The plan chest with the top drawer open.

Pine Ply Plan Chest for Storeage

With the completion of this unit, I think that I have made somewhere between 25 and 30 plan chests over the last 5 years. This one was for Storeage in Somerset West. Or at least I think it was. I didn't actually get to meet the client.

Ply Wood Plan Chests

Plan Chests for Marcus Neustetter and Stephen Hobbs.

Of all the materials that I have used to build plan chests out of, Pine Ply has been the most common. I like to play around with the design. Looking for ways to improve it, both in terms of functionality as well as aesthetics. Sometimes this will mean modifying the design of the handles. Other times it will be looking at how the drawers slide in and out. It is common for modern runners to be used but I prefer to stay away from this solution. Why? It is not uncommon for grease to build up, and on the more complex designs the bearings start to come loose from their tracks. This leads to the possibility of a greasy bearing running along rare or expensive prints.

Plan Chests for Marcus Neustetter and Stephen Hobbs.

The design of this handle has been modified. Rather than having a slot just on the top, the drawer front now has slots both top and bottom. This means that one is able to grip the front of the drawer that much more firmly.

Plan Chest in the David Krut studio at Art on Main.

Plan Chest in the David Krut studio at Art on Main.

Mini Plan Chest for Rene Paul Gosselin.

Mini Plan Chest for Rene Paul Gosselin.

Detail of handle: Mini Plan Chest for Rene Paul Gosselin.

Restoration of an old set of Architects Drawers.

The restored unit in it's new home. 

Restoration often requires a little bit more than a quick light sand and a new coat of varnish. This was the case with this set of drawers. The previous owner looked like that they had been an artist that had used this set both as a butchers block as well as a palate.

The unit in its original state.

You can't quite see how badly it had been abused.

As is often the case with a restoration job, it is only when you start to work on the job that you then discover what it exactly entails. I found that I had to strip back the unit right back to it's frame. At least this was in good condition.

The chest stripped back to it's frame. 

New paneling for the sides and backs

 I then re machined the planks from the top. Due to the damage to the sides and back I had to make new panels.

The planks from the top re machined, fitted back together before a new trim is added and then sanded.