Tea Chest

This is a tea chest that I made for my sister, Dana, for her birthday. She's getting it only four weeks late, which is practically on-time for me :)

The top panel is 3/4" MDF veneered with a piece of Walnut Burl from Flamingo Veneer (www.flamingoveneer.com). The box sides are Curly Cherry, with contrasting dovetails of Walnut (made with an Incra Ultra system). The bottom molding is Cocobolo. The cutout piece containing the two loose tea containers, spoons and tea balls is also Walnut (outlines cut out with a scrollsaw). The dividers are made of Willow.

Everything was sanded through 400 grit, then finished with a 50/50 mix of Boiled Linseed Oil and Mineral Spirits, followed by several coats of Dewaxed Lemon shellac from Paddy (www.shellac.net). It was then sanded with 1000 grit and rubbed out with Pumice Stone.

Special thanks to David Peterson of Masterpiece Furniture (www.masterpiecefurniture.com) who patiently answered all my veneering questions via email after I took a veneering course from him at the local Woodcraft store.

The finished box

Another view

Another flitch of the same veneer.

The top prior to finishing.

Side detail, pre-finish

The closed box.