Pat, You make me want a pie safe for my kitchen I think I would use it for an pantry as for now all I have is cabinets.

Linda Cecil:

Pat, You make me want a pie safe for my kitchen I think I would use it for an pantry as for now all I have is cabinets.

They make new ones, but I haven't seen any I like as well as the old ones.  

I really enjoyed the pictures and story on the pie safe, Pat!  BTW, I have the same kind and color of step stool/seat.  You might be able to find a carpenter to recreate the missing drawer?  I'm thinking someone who is a craftsman and knows older ways -- maybe barter.  Meanwhile, they are making duct tape in colors these days, so something you might look for.    Also, I think the piece is stellar in it's own way -- a focal point and family history to boot.  It's true that the kitchen is the heart of the home.

Lynnea Berr:

You might be able to find a carpenter to recreate the missing drawer? 

I don't think that building the drawer is a problem as much as finding the right size of wood to make it from. It's a pretty simple drawer. It used to be, though, that a quarter inch board was a half inch thick. Now it's something like 3/16 of an inch thick, so finding a board that's the right size is the challenge. I suspect we'll wind up faking it somehow. 

Pat:

I don't think that building the drawer is a problem as much as finding the right size of wood to make it from. It's a pretty simple drawer. It used to be, though, that a quarter inch board was a half inch thick. Now it's something like 3/16 of an inch thick, so finding a board that's the right size is the challenge. I suspect we'll wind up faking it somehow. 

Well, I would think that the carpenter would probably know how to find the proper wood size to make the matched piece.  That might mean living without the other drawer for a short time unless he measured everything on premises.

Lynnea Berr:

Well, I would think that the carpenter would probably know how to find the proper wood size to make the matched piece.  That might mean living without the other drawer for a short time unless he measured everything on premises.

The problem is that they don't make that size of board any more. We will have to find another old piece of furniture to salvage it from, or plane a piece by hand very carefully.  

Joyous:

Pat, don't forget that you can go to a shoe store and just ask for boxes.

Thanks, Joyous, I had forgotten you mentioned that before! I think I've scrounged enough containers now, but if I come up short in the future, I will remember that.  

 Pat, find a local cabinet maker with a wood plane.  They can plane a board to any size you need.  I  recently redid most of my windows.  My friend who is a master cabinetmaker, took 1x6inch lumber and planed it down to 5/8 x 6. He also took some 2" stock (really 1 1/2" ) and planed that to1 1/8".  Took him about 5 minutes with his electric plane.  It might be worth your time to ask around to see if anyone locally has a plane that would be willing to do one board for you.  Shouldn't cost much if you furnish the board for them.

mtviolet:

It might be worth your time to ask around to see if anyone locally has a plane that would be willing to do one board for you. 

Thank you! I hadn't thought about asking a cabinet maker to plane the wood for me.