The LEGENDARY Six-Board Chest 

Remember, there is no such thing as cutting a piece too short. You have merely cut a piece for a smaller project sooner than was needed...

This channel is hands down the best Patreon decision I'd ever made.

Sweet! That’s a really pretty 6 board chest Rex. About 35 years ago I made one with some wide pine boards I had around. Dovetailed the corners, painted it with federal blue milk paint and gave it to my 2 kids as a toy chest. Over the years it began achieving its own legendary status by acquiring its share of knocks and scrapes. When my son was about 10, he helped “antique” it one night by scratching the Chicago Bulls logo into the front. I still have it, it looks 100 years old and every time I look at it it reminds me of them and how much I love them. The kids are now 36 & 40 and one day I’ll give it back to one of them...but not yet. ♥️

Where i am from (Austria) we have a saiyng that goes like: ive cut it twice and it is still too short!, almost every austrian craftsman knows this saying XD

I am old, beat up, broke down and more wore out than my 70's work truck. When I need a pick me up, energy shot, motivation to get out in one of the shops I just watch one of your videos - Your energy is infectious

“Hand tools are harder”. A truer statement has never been made.

It's like my dad always used to say: "I cut it twice and it's still too short!"

Excellent video as always, Rex. I love that you not only mention your mistakes, but that you mention who inspired you to make a project. Too many make videos like they invented everything themselves.

Rex, just wanted to say that one of the things that I love, and that makes your channel different is the book recommendations. I often pick them up and enjoy them, while I'm waiting for the next video. I'm building quite the little woodworking library. Keep it up!

That "Joined" by Joshua Klein is an excellent book. I have it as well. Thanx for your honesty for putting in your mistakes and talking about how things haven't gone as well since switching over to hand tools. I really appreciate knowing that I'm not alone in having problems. I'm sure others are as well.

I can't tell you how encouraging it is to hear how normal it is to mess up even simple projects somewhere along the way. Between you and Adam Savage, that gives me enough confidence in not bein a total idiot even when things go south during a project.

The chest looks awesome, well done.

I have a long 6" wide scrap of pine board leftover from some shelves I did recently, and I need a small storage box to tidy up said shelves. Maybe I'll make a miniature version of this...

When I learned forging antiques some decades ago, any powertool besides the big bandsaw (imitating the traces a big two person rift Venetian saw lets behind) was banned from the workshop to make things uneven and "handcrafted" enough to *_not_* come over like imitations - which of course works best when actually handcrafted. Lots of thoughts went into construction and building sequences to have enough room to cheat, hide and trim. I liked Your approach of looking at a plethora of other people's work to find the one that satisfies You, no matter how "easy" or "simple" it might've been built. To date I like most the rural, "peasant's" woodwork, using cheap or left-over wood, making the most of what's left from a better piece, with visible cheats and tricks and ingenuity surpassing the lack of better material.

ah yes, the best compass we can have, the "random round object in arms reach"

I found a weird looking, really heavy oak cabinet in the attic of the house i bought. Later then i noticed that it actually was a chest and someone had just put feet on its side and stood it up. Only thing its missing is the original lit. I think your video has inspired me to revive that old thing, it deserves a second life in the house. Great Video, have been following you since very early on. Your channel is just different than most Woodworking channels, very didactic. Keep up the good work and greetings from Germany.

Perfect timing on that book rec for _Joined_ -- just the thing I needed to get my Lee Valley cart over $30 for free shipping on another sale item!

I'm learning so many things here! This channel is becoming almost addictive to me. What I like the most, Rex, is your not so usual honesty when telling about your mistakes. That adds an extra degree on learning. Thanks a lot!

First time I've seen someone use hearing protection for a hand saw:)

I haven't even watched the premier. I'm making this chest.

The first 20 seconds of this video had me so hyped up I almost left for the hardware store.. I wish more videos were simplified like this. Basic materials.. and nothing to difficult.

I KNOW that I can safely give a thumbs up for Rex Krueger's videos even before I watch them. Always.

I've learned that once you cut something too short, you can cut it as many times as you want to after that, and it will still be too short. I've had to learn that more than once unfortunately lol! Love your practical approach to things. Nice simple chest by the way. By the way, I bought a dozuki saw and have loved it. I now use hand tools about half the time, tho not totally. Any time I only need a cut or two or just want to make a hand made object, I use it. Once you get use to the pull cut as opposed to the push cut, you can do wonders with it and it is very accurate. I not only draw the line across, but on 90 degree cuts I draw that line as well. If you follow both lines, magic. A good 90 degree cut. But odd angles are just as easy once you get the hang of it. I also have the dove tail version as well. Love them both!

I ordered myself some old cast nails like 5 months ago for a trade show step stool. Now I have another project for my nails. Thank you for all the encouragement and teaching Davis Designs

Wow! I was raised around woodworking and I'm fascinated with hand tools especially since that was all my Dad would let me use as a 9 yr. old. I really enjoyed your video. It was very nostalgic for me. Plus your work is gorgeous.

This lesson was a real bodice-ripper. Thanks, Rex.

Ha, I was just looking into a chest as a nice rainy sunday project. Perfect timing, thanks! :D

This video is great. Subtle humor, honest humility, and an encouraging message. Not to mention the chest, of course. That thumbnail molding technique blew me away, and it looks like something I might try one day. Great job, Rex. Thanks for continuing to make content that has meaning.

this piece is absolutely beautiful.

Thanks for the vote of confidence Rex! I'm a contractor/rough carpenter turned hand tool woodworker with a RU-vid channel. Sounds like we're similar, except I'm way behind. Love your content. Thanks for your efforts. I know it's not the easiest thing to do.

Rex, that last few minutes are why I watch this channel. That's possibly the most honest motivational speech for woodworkers I've heard yet.

A SEVEN board chest! All lies! /s Great job yet again Rex!

...forgot - when I was a builder, I put in a set of basement stairs 3x before I got it right. I was attempting to make more steps for the lady of the house who had leg/foot issues. I failed to take into account the required 6'8" headroom. Tore out the first set, thought I had made the right adjustments, and no, I didn't. Cost me about $300 in materials - three sets of 2x12 stingers plus OSB treads and risers. Plus lost wages...so, yah, mistakes get made. Comes from our parents reading too many romance novels...

This really inspire me to make something similar, I would love to watch a video about the finishing of this chest. Thanks for all your work Rex

So I'm not alone in being able to cut pieces too short...multiple times? Ugh story of my life. Great project Rex. The chest looks great.

I started out with hand tools because I couldn’t afford power tools so that’s where I learned accuracy. Now I have a whole shop full of power tools (because I’m getting older some of the hand tools aggravate my arthritis) but when possible I use the hand tools more than not. There is just something about hearing the blades interacting with the wood without the noise of electric motors to drown them out.

Man, thanks a lot for your passion in work hand tools with wood, you give us a amazing power to keep us going on and getting better no matter what we can't do yet. In Live in Brazil amazon florest City and i have Access to some greatest hard wood, i am doing some works learning from RU-vid and yours youtube channel is a great support for me. Thanks a lot and i wish you a haapy and blessed live.

In about two minutes of viewing somewhere around the 5 minute mark I saw enough of your tools and thought process to see that you too spend time with Paul Sellers's videos. Nice work.

I've been living in a rental house since 2014 and have been doing some power tool woodworking as a side hobby and have massed a decent collection. From a strong 3.5 horse tablesaw a good ole Craftsman in excellent shape, as well as several other benchtop power tools mostly through craigslist. However I am going to need to move into a apartment due to some financial changes and I am considering switching over to doing hand tool woodworking instead. I have enjoyed both Rex's channel here and the classic Paul Sellers channel and instruction. So I think hand tool woodworking is where I will need to go from here, wish me luck y'all.

I love your finished project. Gives me a project to do later this year when my basic skills are more refined (and my workshop warms up). One thing I like is the way the bottom can be customized.

Good point on hand tools and power tools. I found after using hand tools a bit that I became more precise.

Rex - honesty is amazing @ 10:30 ... I appreciate that which is why I come back.

Hey, Rex, the short bottom is an easy fix. Cut it across the middle and glue in a racing strip of contrasting wood. Oh, or, nail in a cross support ledger board front to back in the middle and say you have improved the design to a seven board/panel chest. The face piece for the legs will hide the through tennon on the front, and the rear one won't show when the chest is up against the wall or bed.

Nice project and nice pep talk on using hand tools alone. The only (a-hem) things I would add are: a) You don't need to spend a lot of money on tools (just a fraction of what power tools cost) and you can instantly start on carpentry with just a basic toolset. Hand tools also allow you more time to think and realize you're making a mistake and gradually learn carpentry. b) You don't need to spend time and brain cells on choosing the best power tools you can buy for your budget, worry about battery life, cables, wall sockets, optional accessories, warranties etc. c) You don't need a dust extraction system. d) You don't run the risk of accidentally maiming yourself or someone else maiming themselves or having other serious injuries/electrocution inflicted upon you/them. e) Unless you practice carpentry for a living (where time becomes a big issue), the sense of fulfilment from completing a piece, by just using your bare hands, and exercising your creativity simply do not compare. One is an art the other is a process.. pick your preference.

Thank you for noting your mistakes, I like that more and more woodworkers are bringing this up. Woodworking is such a singular and personal hobby that sometimes we can get caught up on trying to be perfect.

do the work get the results. Half of the reason I watch these videos is because of your enthusiasm and your dedication to the work and it translates well to your viewers. Thank you Rex

Okay. I slept a couple of days on watching this one, and I regret it. This has actually helped contextualise a bunch of things I've been a little bit confused about really well. I'm super amateur and learning pretty much just from RU-vid and trial an error, and the explanation about nails vs. glue and why to use nails for this just... Made a few things click into place. Love it. Previously I've only seen people commenting vaguely on this.

Have something similar in my house. Apparently made by a great great grandfather or something like that. Apparently also went to the Yukon. Hinges unfortunately have broken out but a cool thing is the stuff in it is super old as well, mostly blankets.

My Trade is that of Carpenter. When I was doing my learning, I was taught to work with hand tools before using power tools also, how to maintain my tools including using "lump" hammer for setting the teeth of circular saw blades before tct blades became available.

I support your channel because I think you do an excellent job of sharing woodworking skills and information in a very approachable manner. This is another great example. Well done.

I have been woodworking for 20 years and never heard of the painters tape/super glue trick. Great idea! Thanks!

Wow! I like this presentation along with your genuine humanity! There was much enjoyment. Semper Fi

You explain the process so I TOTALY understand . THANKS 😊

Once again, another great project and explanation of the why's. Your video last week on nails really opened my eyes to why the "old timers" only used nails and no glue a lot of the time. I'll be attempting this project in a month or two once I've managed to make my work bench, vice, saw vice and got the tools to do it - currently on 2nd lockdown, so no hardwares open for another 2 weeks. Just finished my first mallet using a hammer, chisel and sand paper and am fairly impressed that I got it to come out pretty good, tapered mortise, wedged and the handle is square on both axis, sitting on my counter drying now. Next project is the restoration of my father's mitre saw, around 70 years old, handles almost done, blade started, need to finish the blade and sharpen and wouldn't be attempting any of this without finding your channel, so thanks so much Rex.

Measure twice and cut once and again and again. Been there too often to count. Great video.

Man I'm glad ur good enough to tell us about ur mess ups. I think we all do 'uh-ohs' all the time, but we always feel like we're the only woodworkers that mess up.

one of the best channels on woodworking hands down.

I built one of these for my youngest. I put a drawer between the legs and chest it spanned the bottom. She kept all of her wooden blocks stored in it. Easiest build ever.

Part of being a true craftsman is admitting to, and learning from your mistakes. Love your videos Rex 👍

be comforted by this Rex -- you are not alone when you goof on cutting too short. i was the carpenter at a Steam Museum here in East Anglia, U.K. lol

Mr. Krueger, like I said a few minutes ago on another video of yours, you have an amazing talent and simply watching your videos already made me more knowledgeable than I ever imagined to be. Please keep up the amazing content. I think I'm not the only one when I say you are helping out a completely new generation of DIYers and woodworkers. And that is awesome! We all love you!

Fantastic content. I love the hand work / simple tool. I love that you are not afraid to refer your viewers to excellent resources just because they're excellent resources. I love the honesty of your mistakes and the work around for those. You do just a really super job at making wood working accessible to the average Joe. Thanks.

Love, love, love that you share your errors; for a guy like me who makes a lot of errors, it's nice to know (and see / hear) that we all make them - even professionals! Thanks!!

Rex there are others. Others who have more hand skills than you. Others have more this and that. I do like this overall channel very much due to low snobbery yet you have a very refined eye. All the photos of design examples are great good work.

Love this video. Looks simple enough when you see it being made but I bet it’ll be a test cutting all the joints accurately and all the mouldings. Loved the details into the nails and the reasoning behind it all too. I’ve got to have a go!

Absolutely loved this one Rex. It will allow anyone with a reasonable level of skill and a minimum of tools to make a real piece of furniture that will be passed on through generations. So many woodworking projects on RU-vid are the exact opposite: unnecessary complexity with little consideration of historical technique and the reasons behind it (did someone say epoxy river table?) Keep up the good work!

This was awesome! I've been interested in woodworking recently and this makes me really interested in using hand tools! Thanks for the inspiration

I started woodworking only a year ago. Your videos have given me a lot of encouragement to stay with hand tools and to not be shy about using "home center lumber" where it fits the style of the project.

Thanks for making the evening colorful. You may check tulipános láda - tulip chest As well.

Just finishing up my chest from your plans. Loved it. Thanks so much for the lessons. As others have mentioned I enjoy that you share your mistakes. I, for example, used my cordless router to cut the dados because of all the time it would save. I can't explain it and I don't know why but I spent 40 minutes getting the measurements and guide right for my first dado. I measured from the shelf line only to realize it wasn't square. I then measured from the bottom wrong - twice. I then realized I was measuring from the front of the router bit for the offset but the offset should have been from the back. At one point it was so bad that I took everything off and sanded the freaking mistake lines off my board and started over. I cut that dado, flipped the board over and had the sister dado cut in under 2 minutes. Some times you're just ... stuck in a groove baby! Thanks for the help.

Nice work Rex! Keep it up. And thanks for including you mistake (twice). It makes the video easier to relate to, because we all do it.

I Subscribed a year ago and rex YOU AND YOUR VIDEOS are a great part for my decision to get some new and crappy handtools (some german wood planes wich i restored) and just tried to work with I've learnd to sharpen my chisels and plane blades by my own hands with your (and Paul sellers) instructions I've learned how to saw (mostly) STRAIGHT with a saw And man I LOVE IT So let me say thank you for your work and for sharing your knowledge I hope you never have to stop doing what you do (Sorry for my english) with friendly greetings from Germany

I love you channel, I'm in college and I'm starting to get into woodworking and I can't make much noise since I live in a apartment. I only use hand tools and I have learned alot from watching your channel and following you. Thank you keep it up

I'm not sure how you manage it but you really make me feel like I can do anything when I'm watching your videos. Like, I'm pretty confident in my skills but Rex Krueger and Steve Ramsey really make me feel like I can *do things*. Thanks for that.

Rex, I watched the video and read the link that you included I must say you hit the nail on the head ( pun ). A better explation of how to build and more than one way. Well done.

Wow ....thanks so much for showing 😊

Very nicely done. Thanks! You are so right about the transition to hand tools. This is a great project for refining or using hand tool skills. Finally, these chests make great gifts and people just love them.

Excellent format! I'm watching on 2x speed so I don't know how it is at 1x, but at 2x everything flows perfectly without too many gaps, and your speech tempo and rhythm are perfect for watching at this speed.

Oh well I already built a viking sea chest out of some white oak and modified it to have a attachable worktable to it. It was a great project I will have it till I pass.

You must have picked trough every cheap board on the planet to get the no knot boards. Nice project.

Solid tips and humor too! Thanks for another great video Rex!

The medieval monastery chests and the viking tool chest are near to my heart, I have built many in my days as a medieval recreationist back when all this was a hobby. I am glad I found this project, it brought back many great memories. As a custom medieval musical instrument maker (used to be a large scale computer network administrator and systems manager), I do not have the luxury of choosing to be a hand tool craftsman, in order to recreate the sounds and personality of a medieval instrument, you have to have a proper finish inside anywhere sound waves contact the material - in other words when you look in early extant instruments you see the toolmarks, you see the results visually of the techniques used to hollow and carve and pare the pieces, and those finish details, the tool marks, the raised grain and unevenness around wood features (pin knots, pitch pockets, hard grain bits and burls) all contribute to the authentic sound of an instrument from the period. So I have had to collect and learn to use several specific hand tools for this craft. I use machine tools, to do general rough shaping, material hogging, I have just developed ways to use these tools to increase efficiency, after all it is not a hobby. My power tools I consider my apprentices - I train them to do the rough work, they give me a piece that is ready for me to apply my sikll to. But by necessity and not choice, that skill involves almost exclusively hand tools, and very specific detailing tools such as mini gouges, spoon planes, fine chisels and gravers, and many handmade custom scrapers. It is always a challenge. What I most appreciate about your channel is that you are inspiring folks to look at projects from the hand tool option. Skills that can be used to solve challenges sometimes more effectively than just setting up a fence and a stop block are being lost, and it is up to teachers to keep that alive, just practitioners do not. So I also teach, both the handwork tool use and the science and art of the medieval musical instrument. I love bringing students ( from high school and college age, sometimes younger depending on the project and the individual, to older established craftsmen wanting to add something to their own knowledge). Mostly I try to teach them to think in a way that doesnt rely on modern technology. Most of my projects could be done by laying out a cad drawing and using a CNC router for the biggest parts and a CNC lathe fand mill for most of the smaller ones, but the end result would not provide the feel, the sound, or the look of a medieval instrument, it would simply be something modern.; Kudos to you, while your content is completely usable on it's own, the way you approach the projects is the real gem. You once said that since you are an experienced professional, you can no longer approach or present the way a novice can, and I know just what you mean. As my skills and knowledge increase, it does seem that watching me do something is sort of a lie in the eyes of the novice, what seems easy and effortless for me is simply not in the knowledge or skill base of the novice. So I hate to produce content for general consumption, instead preferring small in-person workshop sessions that allow me to guide a student personally into the skills that provide results. One day I might figure out how to make legitimate content in the production of authentic medieval instruments, and when I do I hope I remember to approach it with the humility you show in each project. Thank you for your continued willingness to bring all of us, even those with some hand skills, a different way of thinking about projects.

Thanks Rex as always brilliant, I was brought up using hand tools , and during my apprenticeship not allowed to use power tools until I had mastered the hand tool equivalent, but how right you are, going back to hand tools only can knock the confidence, love your channel , best wishes from the uk, stay safe

excellent video and i think what appeals to me is that you admit and show your mistakes and or imperfections its very reassuring.

Great video, humble teacher, crisp and to the point

Another great video Rex. I built a "Linen Chest" out of 2x12 clear Southern Yellow Pine. I resawed the boards to 1" that turned out at 13/16" after planing smooth and completely "flat and parallel." Mine is "sort of" based on Christopher Schwarz' s "Anarchist Tool Chest."

Orange & Blue both carry 'project panels' that are laminated butcher-block style, but thinner. They're not a lot more expensive than the dimensional lumber, but generally more stable so you can likely bypass that planing step. It also gives a different 'look' if you don't paint, and is moot if you do. Can't help you with the short cuts, still haven't found a decent wood stretcher.

Love the simplicity of this build. In the next few months I’d like to build a couple for my two grand daughters as hope chests.

Thanks for the inspiration! Starting my own woodworking hobby now that I'm medically retired.

Love the clear way you describe your methods. Always worth watching your videos. Another great project.

Thank you so much for providing beginner projects - I’ve been hesitating on my first project but feeling much braver after watching just a few of your vids 🙂

Well done!! Big fan of hand tools work

A while ago in Fine Woodworking Magazine there was a very skilled woman who made one of these out of quarter sawn white oak and a bunch of fancy "arts and crafts" carving. Then a big 5 step finishing system to color, shine and seal it. Dowels instead of nails but virtually the same otherwise. I like your better.

Nice build Rex. Think we'd call that till inside the chest a candle box in England.

Ive started woodworking about a year ago, and since the beginning I've been only hand tools, and its in great part thanks to you Rex ! Its just so hard when you start, but eventually, its the best thing ever. Its like learning the violin : when you start, anything you make is just aweful. But in the end, its so much worth it. You are a great role model Rex 🌼

I actually like the space underneath as it gives you random storage space

You are awesome! Thank you for sharing your TALENT with the world!! Your teaching style, videography, and creative mind gets us hooked on you as we wait like addicts for your next video to post! Thanks again Rex!!

I was trimming out a few showrooms in Dallas Market Hall, for the fall line. On the last room was a large two way glass on the wall. I did the same thing to the molding around it. it happens to everyone at some point.

I have also cut the same wring piece twice. There are no words to describe that kind of frustration.

Followed the link for Joshua Klein's book provided above and you were quoted in his endorsements section.