Thread: Stringybark Chest of Draws.

Originally Posted by spokeshave

Thanks for looking...hope its all not happening too fast for you all.

Steven.

Not fast enough! I am really enjoying this.

Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

So Steven, let me get this right.....the project is actually finished, but you're doing a striptease for us over the next few days?

Yes...this is correct.

I would have done a WIP on the go, but my last one (Redgum Buffet) is now 4 months old and still sitting in the corner waiting its turn to be finished. I didnt want a repeat of this so thought a retrospective WIP that would actually result in a finished piece may have been a better option. This is why i stated right from the begining that it's already done and delivered.

Hope you dont mind this approach ???

Steven.

I must point out that I started this on the 28th of December 2013 and finished it on Fiday 7th of February. In this time i took off New Years and a couple of days here and there but it was several weeks of hard (and at times Very hot) slog to get this done on an 'enforced' work shutdown period. So my 'holiday' was a busy one. Also not having key machinery (such as a jointer, requireing the use of my thicky and sled to flatten all timber used) makes it that bit harder aswell. But i loved every minute of it.....

I didnt take alot of pics whilst preparing the front and rear rails, so have only two to show you. The first is the timber i had available to get the 4 pieces from, and the second is a progress shot with the rear rails sitting in thier positions (with tenons cut) and front rails cut to length but no tenons yet.

As you can see, dimensions are generous. Rear rails reflect side rail sizes (70mm deep for top and 90mm deep for bottom) and are 30mm thick. Front rails are both 40mm thick with the top being 40mm deep (essentially square) and the bottom 130 deep. Again...the size is evident of my paranoia about sag in this area due to the large span (1900mm) and weight of full draws.

I later cut a rebate in the top of the bottom rail where the bottom draw front would overlap it to reduce bulk.



Steven.

I like that stringy and the book matching looks great!!!
Solid unit!! Thief proof - no bugger will pick that up and abscond with it!!!

Well, I can see that kid won't be rearranging his own room very often.

Hi all again.

Now that i have the end assemblies aswell as front and rear rails sorted, it was time to attack the back.

I wanted to give the back just as much attention as the rest of the cabinet so decided on a similar approach as used on the end assemblies, book-matched panels.
Not sure if it's just me, but when I look around at store bought furniture and see the great slabs of ply stapled to the back, it irks me a bit. Cost constraints i guess...
So when the new owners make comment at 'how nice the back looks' even before its off the trailer, it makes the extra effort worth while.

The panels started as thick pieces of timber ready to be re-sawn into thinner pieces.



After the pieces were cleaned up in the thicknesser, it was time to match them up as best as i could. Some look ok, others a bit plain. Then I glued them up.



Because of size constaints, i had to have six panels across the back. Looks a bit busy, but i think it still looks ok. After the glue dried and was cleaned up, it was back through the thicknesser to about 8mm thick.



Steven.

Then it was dry fit up time to make sure it all fitted together properly.




From this point nothing has been glued up yet, (except the panels of course) so i like to apply the varnish now to the components made so far. I know there is a risk of damaging the nice new finish but I find getting a good result in all the corners afterwards frustrating. The end result is well worth the extra care required.

Corrr, e's getting down to 'is undies now!

Looking good Steven - like the simple design, and the timber looks like it will come up nicely.

I thought now was a good time to carefully drill the holes for the dowels to add strenght to the front and rear rail joints. (should have done these before i applied the varnish, but all was good) Then cut up some dowel pieces.



Then it was glue up time. I had to decide which way was the best approach. Glue up the end assemblies and then wrestle with long front and rear rails, or glue up the front and rear rails and legs into sub-assemblies then later glue up the end rails and panels. I decided it would be easier to glue the front together, then the rear then glue up the ends.

Front glue-up.



Rear glue-up.



Once the glue was set it was time to hammer in the dowels. The dimples in the end of the dowels are there purely because of the punch i used, they are not deliberate.



Steven.

I haven't got pics of the completed glued up cabinet but the next pics will show it anyway.

Having good results with an internal frame work in the past, I made up the top one first, then fitted it.



Then repeated the process for the bottom. Aswell as panels in the middle and at each end to mount the draw runners.



Then it was a matter if fitting a strip of stringy to the front of the middle divider to make it look a bit more finished. In the pic below you can see the rebate i cut into the top of the bottom rail for the bottom draw fronts to overhang into. The idea being to try and hide the bulk of the bottom rail.



I used Hettich soft-close full extension bottom mount draw runners.

Steven.

Magic!! I really admire the approach you have taken in building this unit.

As for the back, I agree wholeheartedly with you, I hate stapled ply!!
I know no one sees the back but that, to me is not an excuse, and again
those panels look the goods.

A wonderful build and it is great to see a lighter coloured timber used on
such a fine piece!

Originally Posted by artme

Magic!! I really admire the approach you have taken in building this unit.

As for the back, I agree wholeheartedly with you, I hate stapled ply!!
I know no one sees the back but that, to me is not an excuse, and again
those panels look the goods.

A wonderful build and it is great to see a lighter coloured timber used on
such a fine piece!

Thanks artme, I really appreciate your positive comments.

I enjoyed making this one, its not super complicated, no flashy bits but clean and functional.

Steven.

It's looking really good. Love the lighter timber and the proportions of the overall design. Looking forward to seeing it completed.

cheers

ajw

Magic. What a fantastic piece of furniture.

How did you rip those panels? I don't see a bandsaw of any kind in the photos.