g’day all,
I want to build a couple of machinists chests in the style of the gerstner chests. I have had a good look at their catalogue and have no trouble with the ‘tounge and groove’ construction of the side panels. they are just small panel door withoutnthe fancy coves.
But can any one help with how have they have joined up the top tray. no sign of a dovetail and I can’t imagine that they have been in business this long with a nailed but joint.
thanks, dave
Replies
Hi Dave,
It's been a long while since I've looked at the details of a Gerstner, but if I recall correctly they make use of box joints for a lot of the construction.
Take care, Mike
Thanks Mike,
That was my first guess, but couldn't see evidence of finger joints around the top tray in any of their photos.
They keep talking about tounge and grove, so I thought they might have used a sort of flush fitted dado and matching tounge. It would look neat enought but would seem to have a lot of risk of breakout and poor glueing. Alternatively would be a splined mitre.
Always fun trying to find this stuff out.
regards
Dave
Evening, Dave.
One of the mags did a Gerstneresque chest sometime back--but I don't remember which one. They did discuss the various ways sides, dividers etc were joined over the years. But I think the drawers etc were always finger jointed.
I would send them an email and ask. They will probably respond.
Take care, Mike
Thanks, take care also.
Dave
Patto,
Working from a faded memory here, but it seems to me they may have used a tongue and groove variant where the tongue is worked on the end of the drawer front. The sides have a matching groove across the inside of the end, an eighth or so from the end.
Not real strong, but works well enough for a dainty chest for fine tools, pinky extended.
Ray
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