I have the panels of my daughters one-drawer blanket chest all cut and I am having a crisis of confidence on the dovetails that will hold the case together.

The chest is pirate style, with a coopered dome top, and front panels that angle out at 5°, and end panels that are parallel. The base is 36 x 18, with a d’tailed base all around. The wood is reclaimed wormy chestnut I resawed (a wonderful find, but that is another story).

Should the pins of the case d’tails be on the front panel or the side panels? Originally, I was going to put the pins on the long (front) panel, like if you were making a drawer, but tonight while supposedly watching a dance concert with the SO, I realized that would put a lot of end grain on the front edges, not to mention put the visible dovetail trapezoids on the end panels. It seems that both the front and end get roughly equal stress (unlike in a drawer) so that isn’t helping me decide. At this point I am ready to put the pins on the side panels *but* with the 5° cant to the sides, the pins will be slightly off-grain and might be weaker than if the pins were cut from the front panel, where they would be strictly parallel to the grain.

Any input on how traditional chests are structured? Any opinions to share?

Thanks!!

Dennis