What $1,200 in wood and 6 months of work looks like

[@miketorgerson3536]

Thank you for drawing attention to the fact that it was a challenge for you. You make it look so easy watching the videos, and contrasting to my own work where I fixate on my struggles. It is a good reminder everyone struggles and it is just a part of the process.

[@ENCurtis]

Just part of the process indeed. Glad you took something from it my friend.

[@Rufio1975]

I know exactly what you mean. I see a lot these craftsman I'm subscribed to do such awesome work , I'm like how am I going to reach their level with my own set of struggles? But I keep challenging myself because I love it and these videos motivate me. Rock on!

[@DeepSnowRider]

@@ENCurtismay I ask what the final sales price was?

[@darrencollins1804]

On the dovetailed drawers decision - someone once told me that when you can't decide between two options, always choose the hardest one. Deep down you know it's right.

[@JeDxDeVu]

Sounds like Marriage lol

[@ndamico1]

What a journey. Love to hear what the clients feel.

[@ENCurtis]

Same same, my friend.

[@JeffFontecchio]

Beautiful build and a great way to start my morning watching your video with a cup of coffee.

[@ENCurtis]

Thanks Jeff!

[@troyboy4345]

A project that shows thought and displays a high degree of skill, very, very nice !

[@ENCurtis]

Thank you!

[@ericdeguilo1181]

That friction fit box drop deserves 5 replays!! Awesome job E!

[@CarlYota]

You probably know this but for anyone else who doesn’t, it’s not friction slowing the box from dropping. It’s air. The fit is so precise that the air can’t escape along the edge of the drawer fast enough. If it was friction it would wear away at the material. It’s called ‘piston fit’ since it resembles how a piston in an engine sits in the cylinder.

[@stevvvvvvv]

it's called wood porn is what it's called.

[@johnlowell7174]

Thank you for the closure of seeing the beginning to end in one video. I hope to take on that challenge of ‘wading out into those waters’ just beyond where I am comfortable in more of my pieces.

[@ENCurtis]

That's the best place to reside for a creative endeavor. I hope you get out there and see where the waves take you.

[@halorail]

Great Job. One of my favorite sayings, "Is you don't have to more just stop doing less"

[@TWC6724]

Stellar work. Looks amazing. And the end with “one for me, one for my homies” bourbon pour…..my man 💪

[@ENCurtis]

Cheers my dude. Thank you 👊

[@terrytopliss9506]

Lovely piece of furniture Eric, thanks for the video and thanks for sharing the journey.👍👍

[@ENCurtis]

Thank you!

[@jeffreyjennings1640]

That is on e beautiful piece of art. Thanks for sharing the journey of creating it.

[@ENCurtis]

Thank you!

[@BethyS13]

Definitely cause for celebration. It's a stunner! And those dovetails were definitely worth it!

[@dem7211]

Love to see the final result, and as always, somewhat funny. You're a very good teacher, and you have become my top person to watch and learn from.

[@robertknesbitt6714]

Besides being an awesome woodworker and teacher, you have the best soundtracks, if it doesn't cause a federal investigation could you please share the musical credits

[@ENCurtis]

Thank you both so much! I really appreciate that. And all my music comes from Epidemic Sound.

[@theofarmmanager267]

@@robertknesbitt6714age, age , age! The one bit that I can’t listen to is the music. I have to have one finger on the volume button when it goes to the soundtrack. It certainly doesn’t stop me watching and living the videos but I would be happier with more mellow music. Just age.

[@donesry2902]

It looks fantastic! Very well done Erik. Thank you for sharing this story with us.

[@ENCurtis]

Thanks for watching Don!

[@dougdavidson175]

Thanks for sharing yer journey. Merry Christmas. Take care & stay safe.

[@ENCurtis]

Thanks, you too!

[@briancollins2230]

Thank you! Over the last couple of years watching your channel. Aside from the coffee jokes, I have inspired challenge and stepping outside my comfort, and I can see that I am a better woodworker. So again. THANK YOU! And keep the cup full, my friend.

[@ENCurtis]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate that feedback. Keep on keepin on. Excited for you to keep improving with practice.

[@UndisclosedLocation]

Your closing remarks are words were just what I needed to hear. Cheers.

[@214rwoz]

Thank you for all your time and effort. I'm so glad your back.

[@ENCurtis]

You are very welcome!

[@Momsterluv4Ever]

I have been saving these old growth Maple boards my uncle gave me, and cedar tongue & groove for lining for years, even lugging them across 2000 miles to make 8 Keepsake boxes for my 8 kids to store their journals, diaries, old photos, quilts, teddy bears, baby books, boy scout banners, little league jerseys, letterman jackets, caps, tassels, prom dresses, etc. to give them & their children. Crazy, I know but this video is perfection. Thank you.

[@Matt98B5]

The backing music is great in this video. Thanks for showing a really unique build

[@henrysboy2]

The look of satisfaction when the natural vacuum slowed the drop of the box was very cool. And I get the decision on the joinery. I write for a living and sometimes you just step back and realize whatever you have done - although professionally acceptable - is not right for this situation. So you go back and do it again. All very cool. Love the “object” and your passion for the work and the video. Thanks for sharing.

[@ENCurtis]

Thank you. And yes, the ability to critique one's own work without being overly negative is an important skill to develop. Recognizing what fits and what doesn't goes a long way, no matter your medium.

[@rea59]

There's nothing like finishing a long project. Then standing back and seeing how well it was done. Awesome job sir!

[@michaelzimmerman635]

Ok. Understood. The fact that you answered speaks to your integrity. Now I feel guilty for hiding it from my feed. I'll give it it a like.

[@johnross278]

FANTASTIC, brother!

[@zionosphere]

I like to imagine that in about 18 years, someone will find these videos and now know why they dovetails have that pattern on the chest they know so well and will know how to refinish it in the way it was created.

[@ENCurtis]

It would be a valuable resource for anyone making repairs in the distant future for sure.

[@danielu1763]

Beautiful chest build, I mean absolutely beautiful. Aesthetic, tight joinery, hardware insets precise… but dovetailing the drawers - oh the angst!

[@williamshaffer2562]

ARTISTIC challenge and you nailed it again Erik. Enjoyed listening to your thought process as you made your way through this project. Carry on young man Semper Fi.

[@ENCurtis]

Thank you brother 👊

[@PikkaBird]

We've seen this thing standing on your bench for what feels like a million trillion years- seeing the finish and hardware applied is probably as satisfying to your viewers as it was for you.

[@ENCurtis]

Hahaha at least! Thank you. I'm glad you found some closure!

[@robertjackson1407]

Thank you 😊

[@donolds4722]

i love the Yoda ish way you approach things. i think that a lot of your viewers would understand this. i have adopted 2 motto's in my life, "just make a thing", and "punch today in the face". thanks for the videos.

[@ENCurtis]

Both excellent mottos. Thanks for watching 🙏

[@leethompson5942]

Dam, that's beautiful, dude. Great video. Thanks for sharing 👍

[@NicolasIdrobo]

What a beautiful piece. So much creativity and talent. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@timbotrout]

Nice piece, that tiger maple looks great.

[@alanwilliamson2259]

I have come from working with gold and silver over my life to attempting woodwork in retirement. Wood has me in a constant state of near disaster, and sometimes catastrophy but I love every minute i spend on it. To watch you using jigs and pushing your envelope is an inspiration . I will no longer see myself as failing because I use jigs to assist my projects. This was a magic video and thankyou so much for sharing it with us.

[@StewCal65]

People just don’t realize how time consuming furniture making is. It’s hard to make a living but it’s very rewarding when the client is blown away by the finished product.

[@robertberger8642]

Beautiful!

[@kholt5256]

So much fun to watch!

[@gloriousapplebees]

Incredible craftsmanship, love watching and learning from these. I will say, that drawer is definitely not a look for me lol, glad the client got exactly what they wanted though!

[@jerrybyrd7778]

You as an experienced woodworker and me as a novice, I recently made a canopy bed frame for my 6 year old granddaughter. The challenges are real, but really worth it. ❤

[@ENCurtis]

That is awesome! I'm sure she'll love it 👊

[@chrismiller6828]

Some people may just call it a box. I call it Art! This piece is absolutely gorgeous. Your knowledge and skill truly shines.

[@robertm348]

Absolutely stunning piece! Thank you for sharing your journey.

[@christopherjohnson5961]

Really beautiful piece. You did the lumber justice with this one. I also loved the overall edit. Right after you made the decision to do the harder but correct thing with the dovetail drawers you played some “just grit your teeth and get it done” guitar music. Really nice pacing and mood throughout.

[@einsteinbpc]

Beautiful piece. Once again, very inspiring and uplifting content. Cheers.

[@woodxj]

What an amazing piece of art. Dovetails for the drawers was absolutely the right decision. While the client would still love it, pinned rabbets would not have fit with that piece. It has been awesome to watch you build that. Thank you for sharing it. Need to find myself in the shop soon and make a thing.

[@mikeamboy7292]

A couple more reasons to allow your material to rest before final milling. If the lumber is highly figured or has knots, and the species of lumber. Some trees have a higher internal tension. Work with hickory or bloodwood and you will understand that.

[@thomasweller1321]

Wow! Your passion is contagious. That is a great piece of art. You motivate some of us to take the risk to make something. While it may not be as wonderful as yours is, it challenges to make something outside of our comfort zone. Thanks again. Cheers!

[@ENCurtis]

Thank you so much, Thomas!

[@keith6848]

Nice work mate. Great vid, even better box

[@awildeep]

calling this a box, is undervaluing the work.

[@erichargrove2287]

Beautiful work and inspirational as always.

[@ENCurtis]

Thank you so much!

[@UOTDF]

This video gave me that bitter-sweet feeling that you get when you finally finish reading an amazing trilogy of books that’s had you engrossed for hours of your life. Time spent that you can never get back but nevertheless, time spent well with small moments of wonder and joy all the way through. Thank you for sharing this build with us. There is so much merit in doing the hard thing, and it’s uplifting to watch someone do it and do it so well 👏🏻

[@AlexiYoung]

What a box!! All jokes aside, amazingly done video and an absolutely beautiful keepsake box! You truly are inspiring in your words and work.

[@marshallsnyder2364]

“Just a big box.” I think I’m putting that one on the wall in my shop! Beautiful design, wood selection, and build👏🏻👏🏻! Also, enjoy your time at MASW next year…phenomenal facility and Marc & Suzie are such gracious and giving hosts!

[@gedog77]

Never let your effort become moot!

[@johnhorner5711]

Much of modern life and culture has been organized around perceived ease and convenience. Yet it has been known for ages that doing difficult things is the best path to deep satisfaction and thus, earned confidence. Well done! Also, I love how you blend power and hand tool work in a fluid manner.

[@richardweiler1552]

Noticed you used liquid hide glue on the chest corners. Needed more open time or some other reason? Really nice piece, the book match is beautiful.

[@ENCurtis]

You got it exactly right. That open time was clutch.

[@5ElementsWoodworking]

Hey, thanks for asking this, I noticed the hide glue and meant to ask about it.

[@BillMSmith]

Thanks for the complete run through. "Simple" pieces are a challenge because there are so few things to distract from mistakes, whether in design or execution. A totally great piece, but for me the chefs kiss goes to the slight pillow on the lid edge. At about the 20:40 mark the light shadow line is as close to perfection as we mortals get.

[@ENCurtis]

Thank you so much Bill. I really appreciate that.

[@charlesgoff6429]

Very nice and great attention to detail.

[@ENCurtis]

Thank you

[@burnu2240]

I love milling wood, something very therapeutic about it

[@KOutOfMyYard]

Always so well done.. perhaps the most enjoyable “come along” video I have watched in a while. You just get it. And we love that. Well. Freaking. Done.

[@dylanrapp7629]

It’s so pretty… I love wood

[@robertedwards5843]

Nice one Erik 👍

[@melanieb4037]

I feel kinda like Christmas arrived a little bit early. After eagerly anticipating this build video for months, it certainly did not disappoint. So much good stuff packed in that 22 minutes and the chest turned out absofrickinlutely beautiful! Thank you for sharing the journey with us!

[@ENCurtis]

Thank you so much 🙂 I'm so glad you enjoyed the video!!

[@StoneyMeyerhoeffer]

This is an incredible piece. I haven't quite stretched myself this much yet. Maybe you have inspired me. 10:10 When I am riding fences like this with my router I use the round side of the foot plate. Actually I use a fully round foot plate to do cuts like this, but if this was the only foot plate I had, I would use the round side. If you accidentally rotate the router on the flat side you ruin your cut. Not so on the round side. Just make sure the foot plate touches the fence and the router bit is always the same distance from the fence. This is especially true on one that is fully round. I realize this means making sure your bit is perfectly centered, but cones make this easy.

[@ENCurtis]

Absolutely true. Just a personal preference on my end. And thanks man!

[@sa3key]

Been building a thing for almost a month now. Just a small box. And it has been kicking my butt. So my first attempt has turned into a play of joinery. Each corner is a different joint. After I’m done playing, I will start back over and try and build the box from scratch…again.

[@timothyplumley6004]

what an excellent execution and exemplary pulloff of an awesome experiment. nice job virtual friend.

[@daedaluscreation4869]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and passion! I love picking up new methods and ideas as I watch you work. I’ve never tried clamping and gluing up panels to dry vertically. I’m definitely going to implement that when I can 😊

[@daedaluscreation4869]

And thank you for your encouragement in your closing ☺️

[@ENCurtis]

Thank you so much!

[@jesseelovaas]

It’s a beaut Clark. Great job man. Love all the dovetail joinery.

[@ENCurtis]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@markverhagen1663]

A beautiful piece Erik. I love your passion and desire to make the best job of everything you do. Thanks for sharing.

[@gerarddelmonte8776]

It's a testament to your skillset that you didn't make up a prototype in cheap pine or something to work out details and construction sequence. I have to assume that you at least did a set of dimensioned drawings first. In the end, a very nice piece. Kudos.

[@ENCurtis]

Thanks very much. I quickly rough out the dimensions in Sketchup, but only the skeleton.

[@MLSteffel]

OUT OF THE PARK! I love your videos and this is a prime example of why. Letting us into the thought process of every aspect of the build has opened my mind in work I do. My woodworking is SO much better for watching and hearing the process of your builds. Thank you!!! BTW: I'll try to pick up that Dewalt router soon.

[@johnhiemstra1464]

Thank you for your inspirational creativity and philosophical insights. I wonder if it is hard for you to part from the piece once completed. I find that,but it’s balanced with the excitement of sharing it with the client. Hope to hear how the client reacted.

[@ENCurtis]

No, I have enough as it is. I'm excited to and appreciative of the fact that I get to share these objects with clients 🙂

[@BigRedNZ1]

Kudos to you and your craft. Thats a great piece, and a very good point made

[@diegoribotto161]

Complimenti! Gran bel lavoro!

[@robohippy]

I learned more about wood 'adjusting' to having bulk removed from my lathe experience. Wood always adjusts, no matter how long it has been in your shop. Kiln/kill dried wood is the worst. Nice project. I am slowly getting back into flat work since I am now 'retired'. My dad always insisted that he wasn't going to retire until his birth certificate expired. He was going in to work until about 6 months before he passed, almost 101.... Me too, I will be out in my shop tinkering until then.

[@PaulMontgomery1888]

I absolutely love the concept and the final product. I wish I'd thought of making something like this when my daughters were born. Bravo to you and to your clients!

[@Mostviews111]

That's my favorite kind of wood is a maple with curl and bark pocket to it.

[@billbris]

You did the tree and the client, and yourself proud. Other than stunning results, I have a question about the glue up. I noticed you used both PVA and Old Brown Glue. Why? I'm guessing it might have to do with the set up time, or maybe not. I have both and tend towards the OBG for furniture pieces. Will you please explain how you decide which glue to choose? Thank you for sharing this adventure.

[@ENCurtis]

Thank you. And you nailed it. OBG gives a huge amount of open time--in the range of 40 minutes--which was super helpful for a complicated glue up like this. Simple as that.

[@johnhorner5711]

@@ENCurtis Often when I see people recommend OBG it is for the ease of disassembly and repair someday. I hadn't thought about the long open time. I had been using Slow Set PVA glue from Garrett Wade to get those long curing times, but it isn't available anymore. It is good to add OBG to my set of options. Complex glue ups can be nerve wracking!!!

[@jimrosson6702]

Absolutely amazing work Erik . It turned out beautiful you Sir are a true artist and craftsmen.

[@woodnotestudio]

Thank you for bringing us on this journey with you. The breakdown of each part was amazing and then to see it all put together in one final video was amazing. I hope the client loved it as much as everyone else that sees this. Congratulations on a wonderful finished piece.

[@YESITSWILL]

Add a link to the lid hinge also please. Never seen one of those before.

[@royunderwood7514]

Really nice video and editing. Great job showing the birth and progression of the piece.

[@ChrisHornberger]

"Don't be afraid to fail" is a life mantra. A long, long time ago I heard a thing that has stuck with me and has informed literally everything I do: "Success and failure are the two sides to the same coin - knowledge." So absolutely... don't be afraid to fail, and experiment often with the understanding that you're likely to fail, then figure it out from there. I admit, I take the safe route on most client builds, unless the client and I have already come to an understanding about the nature of "new" techniques and some of the experimentation that goes with that. I never charge them for those failures, but I do want to prepare them for an extra little time buffer, just in case. Do a thing. Do a new thing. Break something. Fix the thing. Learn.

[@Fusion_Woodworking]

Turned out great.

[@ENCurtis]

Thank you!

[@darbo7]

It turned out Sofa King great Erik!! And not only that, this video capturing the process was a wonderful viewing experience. Thank you for the knowledge and wisdom you shared and most of all I love and appreciate your design acumen. That moment of struggle between dovetail/no-dovetail concluding with the no-dovetails option seeming dissonant was fantastic.

[@ENCurtis]

Haha Sofa King Great!! 😂 Thank you!

[@ronpaull1682]

Would love to buy the plans for that build. I have 7 daughters and I built a hope chest for the oldest one then sold all my tools. Now I just put together another small shop and need to build 6 more!

[@philcannizzaro7512]

Beautiful work!

[@crashkg]

Beautiful project. Amazing video. I am curious why you only prefinished some of the inside before assembly.

[@ENCurtis]

Thank you. I only pre finished what I needed to. Those areas were very difficult to access after glue up. Everything else I could reach.

[@trippy66.]

thanks man

[@ENCurtis]

Thank you!

[@CaptainofmyShed]

Awesome build and video. Solid and beautiful craftsmanship at play here for sure. Interesting that you register the flat face of the router plate against your straight edge. I find the round edge more forgiving as it allows for any twisting without moving the bit away from the reference edge, not so with the flat edge of the router plate. Is there a reason you preference this? I should add, you’re twice the craftsman I am. Looking to learn here but worst case this is a tip which might save a future error.

[@peterboardman6407]

I know the benefits and drawbacks of a high or low blade but curious to know why you chose to use a high set blade to trim your panels.

[@donesry2902]

I noticed that too and was wondering the same thing.

[@ENCurtis]

Fair question. Honestly it's just mostly out of habit at this point. I rarely use a low blade unless needed.

[@peterboardman6407]

@@ENCurtis thanks for the reply! Was just curious if you knew something I was missing. Big fan of the page and content. 👌🏼

[@christopherharrison6724]

You gotta love those dovetails could be worse you could be doing them all by hand

[@ENCurtis]

1000%

[@douglasholt05]

I appreciate that you include your thoughts and considerations of the design and how it fits the patterns provided by the wood. I’m just curious about the choice for brass hardware on the exterior of the box, I found it to be a bit distracting from the other design considerations you used in planning the piece. Not a criticism just a curiosity. Love your work and and style of presentation. It inspires me to take more time to plan and honor the character of the wood. Thank you

[@ENCurtis]

That's a fair question. It was a specific request by the client to have handles. And ultimately I did not want a protrusion from the box sides, so a flush mount handle like that was one of only a few options. Is it a perfect solution? no. But it's a good solution to fulfill a client request.

[@theofarmmanager267]

A(nother) stimulating video. As much focussing upon the mental side as the making side. Everyone is different but, for me, that mental side, is the most challenging. After 45 plus years of turning trees into something smaller, I still struggle with the mental side. It could be a lack of patience, it could be design aesthetics - but it is rarely how could I make this? I’m making a side Demi-lune table with 4 legs; each legs has 4 parts and meeting each other at odd angles. The first batch of legs that I made are now repurposed because I just just want happy at the quality of the joinery; lack of patience; not checking/setting machines well enough; assumptions of methods - all were parts the second batch have gone through their first stage of glue ups and are better. I say better rather than perfect because I don’t think I’ve ever made anything that I regard as perfect. Others have but it’s part of my mental struggle never to see perfection in my work. All this is why I enjoy videos from EN Curtis (and Sawyer Design) because both makers talk about the mental input and the challenges - but still make great pieces. You don’t need every tool under the sun; you may not have the mental ability to use CNC machines (my brain just doesn’t take in modern technology any longer) ; you may not be making stuff that would sell for thousands - the most important result from making anything is to get mental pleasure from the process and the result. I, like many, find that the real challenge in woodworking.

[@swedishdad]

Somehow the musical track at the halfway mark is even more dope than the build... 2x speed for energy boost

[@RCMC-o7e]

Very nice

[@ENCurtis]

Thank you!

[@calebhowell8422]

This is sooooo sick! Would love to know the intended use.

[@elmaestro35]

It looks amazing, I have been watching all the mini episodes to get to this point and it’s been worth it. You are very talented and inspirational , thank you for sharing

[@aarondelong1530]

Why do you hold the flat part of the router base against your fence? Isn’t it more accurate/forgiving to use the rounded portion?

[@edwardnorek8506]

Outstanding piece. Interesting that you chose to use bookmatched Curly Maple. I've always had a hard time accepting the visual aesthetics of that particular figure as it always seems to come out uneven and not exactly the look I'm going for. I guess the curl doesn't always run perpendicular to the grain and in turn, doesn't always "bookmatch" the way I'm hoping for. This piece, from the angles shown seemed to come out quite nicely though. I may have to wade into this particular design again and see how it comes out again. Love watching someone else wrestle with the tiniest of details that will/won't be seen much but match to the exterior design to actually complete the piece and carry through the presented image and into the depths of the construction. I feel it shows the craftsman didn't decide to cut corners and carries his vision all the way through to the completion of the project. As always, excellent job . 👍😎

[@AngieWilliamsDesigns]

I wonder if anyone else tries to help you blow away the dust as they are watching this video? LOL I always enjoy the style of your videos. I learn a lot. It’s a soothing relaxing feeling. As soon as the video started I thought…. The cup is back! LOL You definitely inspire me to get in the shop, try some new joinery. Or… something that maybe isn’t new but that stretches my skill set. And… it makes me think…. Take the long way and enjoy the process.