A DIY course & Furniture Repair
The above is a sketch showing how a tote box might be made with some tools that could be used doing this job. We’ve done this because Provision House workshops are proposing to run a DIY course for total beginners starting in a few months time. Courses need careful planning and to that end we’re developing modules in the use of tools, fixtures and fittings, basic plumbing and electrics. As DIY needs a collection of tools and tools need to be stored we think that we’ll start by making a tote box. Apart from its practical use it’ll introduce students to various techniques such as cutting & measuring, timber based materials & some fixings. Should any reader be interested in attending please feel free to contact us.
On a historical note tote boxes have been around for many a year. This photo from the 1920’s shows the great uncle Arthur of one of our volunteers working in America on a log cabin. You’ll note his tote box on the floor just in front of him to the right.
Here’s our prototype being built.
A Blanket Chest with Drawers
We have this unusual blanket chest with drawers in the workshop for a tidy up. The top two tiers of drawers are ‘fake’ in that they do noting. Behind them is the chest portion of this furniture piece. As you can see the upper portion is lidded.
A small area has been badly painted in white. Getting the paint off is difficult because the oak has open pores or pockets which ‘protect’ the paint. So we had a laborious job using a dental pic to dig out lodged paint. The technique does however work.
The chest is crudely made. No dovetail construction on the drawers as you can see in this photo. Most of the thing is just nailed together.
Another interesting piece of furniture archeology can be seen on the inside of the lid. It looks very much as if the lid was made from a flap off a drop leaf table. There’s evidence of hinge pockets (typical of those seen on drop leaf tables) and a glue joint. See the following photo;-
