Scott Spencer

[#1]

Hope Chest from Wine Vat Oak

Originally posted 7/22/2007 9:05 AM CDT

In October 2006, the fine folks from Pioneer Millworks awarded me with 100 bdft of "wine vat white oak" taken from the Widmer Wineries in the Finger Lakes region of NY State. It was grand prize for a design contest they held to promote use of reclaimed wood, so I graciously accepted!

Some of it has now been transformed into a hope chest of my design for my daughter's HS graduation gift. In addition to a previous history, there was alot of character in this wood between the wine stains, wear marks, and other discoloration from use. I was thrilled to see that much of it was quartersawn. The inside edge of every original board was stained burgundy from use as vats.... I considered featuring that stain, but I wasn't sure my 18 YO daughter would appreciate it like wood afficianados here do, plus it was difficult to control the consistency of the color, so I settled for using it inside. In the spirit of wood reclaimation, the bottom is cedar salvaged from a neighbor's timely curbside reject. Even the piano hinge was a garage sale find I've had kicking around for a few years.

The original plan was to build a keepsake box to store inside the chest. Hopefully that'll come eventually, but as time marches on, I think it's becoming less likely.