Sea Chests

[Dorian Lasseter]

Aye,

A lock is more of a deterrent... and how do you prove someone stole specie? "Oi! I had ten shillings in me chest an' someone stole 'em!"

How do you prove that? Now a personal item is another matter, but even that can be difficult to prove given how personalized the item might be.

So the mortised lock is more expensive, yet not as secure? Either that, or the locks of that type available today aren't as good/large as what was used on chests in the past? Most of the ones I've found are rather small in my opinion.

I can even see the common sailor not being able to afford a lock, given their level of poverty at times. A simple hasp could be secured with a bit of line, just to keep it shut, or even a rough wedge of wood. There are hasps that have a hook already attached that swings into the loop to secure it.

Now what would it be like on a pirate ship? Would any of the crew have the same security of a sea chest as they had aboard a navy or merchant ship?

Next bit; inside the chest.

We see most have a 'till box', which is essentially a small storage box with or without a lid on one side of the chest for small items so they do not get lost in the bottom of the chest. Edward mentioned he may add a lock for that as well. How common was that? I personally like the idea of a second lock on the till (again most likely on higher end chests) for extra security for your small valuables.

Also, I've seen a couple examples of a till box with a drawer underneath, some of which are almost a secret compartment...

Details, details, details... keep them coming!

[William Brand]

I found this one dating back to 1779...

[Captain_MacNamara]

I like that

I decided to get some pine and make my first chest out of pine just to get a feel for it. I compromised between straight and slanted sides, coming up with a slight slant. So far, I just have the pieces rough cut, but I'll be throwing her together over the next few days. Still working on the beckets as well... and then once she's together save for the beckets, I plan to do a bit of carving before I stain her in red oak to start. Haven't decided if I am going to do any painting or not yet... my choice of colors aren't exactly "period friendly".

Edit:

The tape's just to hold her together for the picture.

Edited May 3, 2009 by Captain_MacNamara

[Captain_MacNamara]

Glued together with gorilla glue...

Word of warning, this stuff gets everywhere and is tougher than the wood. And it doesn't wash off hands.

[oderlesseye]

Looking good so far Captain_MacNamara! Keep posting the Progress..Piticularly the Beckets..

I don't want to build the box, my schedule is too cramped for that. So I am going to order the hard ware pieces and Use a wrought iron hasp lock instead of the inlaid type. I am going for the front to be slanted in only.. I am going to have a cabinette maker do the job for me.. And engrave my Monikier on the front of it.

What I am currious about are these "Milk finishes" and how does one do that..I want to do a painted Black

or forest green milk finish. that part of the job I will do myself..

[Captain_MacNamara]

What I am currious about are these "Milk finishes" and how does one do that..I want to do a painted Black

or forest green milk finish. that part of the job I will do myself..

As am I... This being the "test run" chest so to speak, I am staining it in red oak. But for my "real" chest, I was thinking maybe a black milk paint finish with a purple trim...

Edit:

More progress pics

I opted to make copper nails out of copper rivets, though you can't see them all that well in the pic. I also finished shaping the lid, and cut out recesses for hinges. The design in progress on the lid is my tattoo, designed by our very own Pynch.

I made the till box from an old cedar jewelry box. A bit of a shortcut, but it works beautifully.

Edited May 5, 2009 by Captain_MacNamara

[Edward O'Keeffe]

What I am currious about are these "Milk finishes" and how does one do that..I want to do a painted Black

or forest green milk finish. that part of the job I will do myself..

Milk paint is available as a powder. The best source I have found for the real stuff is here: http://milkpaint.com/ The web site has a good bit of background on what milk paint is and how long it has been around. Just look to see if you have a local distributor. Since you mix it yourself you have a lot of flexibility with results. Mix in a bit of black or white pigment to alter colors, make it real thin for more of a color wash effect. Just be careful with it, it does contain lime, and can be a bit irritating, especially any sanding dust.

E O'K

[Ivan Henry aka Moose]

Found these pics the other day. Thought someone might be interested in this thread.

THe page is here with more pics: http://www.vallejogallery.com/item.php?tit...cts&id=1940

[Captain_MacNamara]

Here's the lid now that I'm finished carving it...

The design was originally a tattoo design Pynch did for me, which then became the symbol of the Iron Lotus. It is relief carved, and the raised portions are painted in a very watered down matte black acrylic. The lid, as with the rest of the chest, is stained in red oak.

[Captain_MacNamara]

More update pictures:

Becket in progress, with 3 strand coxcombing on the spliced eyes, and 3-strand cotton line wrapped in several layers to build up the tapering handle. Below that, the becket cleats, carved and painted with my SCA coat of arms.

Close-up of one of the eyes.

Close up of the becket cleat.

[oderlesseye]

Looking Good!

Captain_MacNamara

Lemme know if you think I should wait on the cleats

and give you a stab at them before I order them from Marlinespike.

[William Brand]

Great stuff, all. It's great to see a few different approaches.

[Captain_MacNamara]

Thanky... I went with the edge design I did on the lid because I always liked the look of Long John Silvers' tables... that is, before they changed styles.

Chest update...

The spar varnish on the chest is taking forever to dry because of the damnable humidity here lately. After an all-nighter, however, I managed to nearly finish one of the beckets:

3-lead coxcombing on the eyes, mirrored continuous crown sennits on the upper portion of the becket, and 33-lead grafting in hemp for the handle. 2-lead 5-bight 1/4" cotton turks heads just below the eyes, with 2.4mm hemp wormed into the middle for contrast. The handle is flanked by 3-lead 5-bight 2.4mm hemp turk's heads on either side. The "washers" are 1/8" vegtable-tanned leather, pinked(the edge notches), and stained black. I broke with "tradition" on the bolt. I used 4-point star knots for the ends, with a 4-lead continuous crown sennit for the axle. Normally, there would be a leather "sleeve" covering the axle, but the thing is already too fat.

Before anyone asks, yes they are disproportionate... they came out too fat because I used what I had on hand instead of buying new material. Un-tarred 2.4mm hemp and 1/4 cotton line make up the bulk of the work. My next set will come out more proper, as I'll have proper materials.

Edited May 7, 2009 by Captain_MacNamara

[William Brand]

WANT.

Seriously, what would you charge for beckets?

[Commodore Swab]

Very nice work, I know how to tie all those knots (yes the star knots as well) I started knot tying in 5th grade and you are doing a beautiful job. I know how much work that is.

[Captain_MacNamara]

WANT.

Seriously, what would you charge for beckets?

It depends... I'm about to start a set for oderlesseye. His will come out alot more proportionate, because I am getting all-new materials for his. After I finish his, I'll let you know.

Very nice work, I know how to tie all those knots (yes the star knots as well) I started knot tying in 5th grade and you are doing a beautiful job. I know how much work that is.

Thanks

Here's the same becket, tarred, with the (still not quite dry dammit)cleat sitting on the axle:

[Dorian Lasseter]

And now to stir things up a bit....

http://www.mariner.org/exhibitions/artifac...ct_seachest.php

This sea chest was acquired in Muscat, Oman and is typical of the style of sea chest carried by the Portuguese in the sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. The Portuguese conquered Oman in 1507 to protect their trade routes to India . They controlled the coastline and maintained a powerful presence in the Gulf of Oman until the imam Sultan bin Saif recaptured the area in 1650.

OOP but so cool...

And, no beckets.... but handles...

And next we have;

http://travel.webshots.com/photo/1047569817039209602WUrSjU

The Ark of the Covenant of Sea Chests...

[oderlesseye]

Hey Dorian, are ye bringing Vasco De Gama's sea chest to PIP?

Eye am a lucky man having seen Captain MacNamaras handy werk!

Da check be in da Mail!

Edited May 8, 2009 by oderlesseye

[Silkie McDonough]

Vasco De Gama's sea chest ...wow ...so ...what does the ship look like?

[Dorian Lasseter]

Dunno if this would be better in the Thieves Market...

But here's a fine place that has all kinds of hardware for a sea chest and more...

http://www.horton-brasses.com/

Locks, hasps, hinges...

http://www.horton-brasses.com/store/hinges...ron/snipehinges

Someone else posted there before I believe... I may use these on another project...

[oderlesseye]

I looked at the first site Dorian posted. The Hinges are too long for our purposes.

Departing from original specs though I decided to go with the old fasion lock and wrought iron

hasp instead of the inset lock seen on Marline Spike. Though I had not researched it..it is my feeling that

an average sailor could only afford a cheaper way of locking his belongings. Besides: it will add more style

to the box over all. I got this in the mail today..Gonna look sweet when it is all together!

I got it from here: http://www.rensup.com/Wrought-iron/21061.htm

I found another great link that shows off different style beckets and Cleats..These are some old pics..

http://www.frayedknotarts.com/beckets.html

Edited May 11, 2009 by oderlesseye

[oderlesseye]

Bump

Edited May 13, 2009 by oderlesseye

[oderlesseye]

I am currious to know which is the right kind of nail to use ..There are a variety to choose from on this web site.

Eye wanna order the correct one to use in the construction of the sea chest. I was thinkin the fine finish 2" ones..

http://www.yorstor.com/s.nl;jsessionid=ac1...amp;category=22

Edited May 13, 2009 by oderlesseye

[Captain_MacNamara]

I hammered some out of copper that are similar to the boat nails. Just a preference really on my end, but boat nails "seem" to be right. Felt right, as it were.

[Captain_MacNamara]

Well, I got her finished a while back, just didn't get pictures until our little "lake adventure". Here's me first sea chest:

She's built of pine, put together with wood glue and handmade square-shanked copper nails. The beckets are primarily cotton and tarred. The till box used to be a cedar jewelry box.

The wires coming out of the chest in the first pic are speaker wires from my laptop, which is inside the chest. We were using it for piratey music. :angry:

Edited May 24, 2009 by Captain_MacNamara