Thread: Rock Maple Kitchen Island

Nice work there Matt. I like the design of the drawer runners to give full extension, and that you didn't use a commercial product to achieve it (presumably).

I'm sure it will prove a very useful addition to the kitchen - all that extra food prep space!

If you are going to keep turning this sort of work quality out, are you sure you can't convince the powers that be that a planer (thicknesser to those down under) isn't an essential item?

There are quite a few people on here that have made their own drum sanders. Do a search and you'll find a lot of design ideas, and photos of how they were made, step by step. By the look of your work, I'm sure it isn't beyond your capabilities, and you'd find one very useful.

Until then, have a chat to some local table or door manufacturers. Some may be willing (for a few dollars) to put a piece you've joined up through their drum sander. Or, as an alternative, look at some of the darksiders works (those that prefer not to use powertools) - I'm sure they will give you guidance how to flatten tops like that with hand planes!

Anyway - welcome to the board, looking forward to seeing more of your work.

How weird is that? I clicked on the first picture to take a closer look and the second one enlarged! Hmmm...

Good looking kitchen block though Matt. What did you finish it with?

Cheers
Dan

I like your full extension drawer slides

Originally Posted by dan_tom

How weird is that? I clicked on the first picture to take a closer look and the second one enlarged! Hmmm...

Same for me. Interstellar vector forces affecting the ether again.

Good work Matt. Very nicely done. I'd say that job justifies purchase of quite a few tools. (Honey, we saved XXX over what that would cost at (insert name of fine furniture store here). If I had a (table saw, drill press, jointer, planer, random orbit sander) I could save thousands).

Keep up the good work.

Tex

Very nice, simple and effective design well done mate.

Nice table.

Originally Posted by dan_tom

How weird is that? I clicked on the first picture to take a closer look and the second one enlarged! Hmmm...

Good looking kitchen block though Matt. What did you finish it with?

Cheers
Dan

There was a URL missing: Try this:

Matt, my first word when I saw the pictures was WOW and that about says it all. Just love the timber (sorry Lumber) What is the finish please.

Cheers Peter

Peter,

I'm sorry my response has been slow, but work has kept me very busy.

Thank you very much. I'm glad that you like it.

The finish is 4 coats of Low Gloss Tong Oil. I used Formby's, but I'm sure another brand would be just as good. I applied it over a weeks time, waiting almost 20 hours for each coat to dry. I live in Houston, TX, so it's quite humid here, but steel wooling a partially dried coat is no fun to look at. The directions are clearly described on the back of the can that I have, minus the addition of two extra coats.

Matt

Originally Posted by Dylan SJ

Nice table.


There was a URL missing: Try this:

Thanx!

I must have pasted the wrong link.


-Matt

Originally Posted by Tex B

Good work Matt. Very nicely done. I'd say that job justifies purchase of quite a few tools. (Honey, we saved XXX over what that would cost at (insert name of fine furniture store here). If I had a (table saw, drill press, jointer, planer, random orbit sander) I could save thousands).
Tex

Thanx Tex, I'm glad that you, and everyone here has such wonderful things to say about my work. To me, that's worth more than money.

Honestly though, almost all of my expendable income goes to my shop. I've not yet been hitched =). Soon I will have a drum sander... soon...

-Matt

Originally Posted by Ironwood

I like your full extension drawer slides

My original challenge in this was to build the entire island without using any metal hardware. I did end up using a pocket hole jig to fasten the backs of the drawers, so the drawer bottoms could be removed. I also did the same for the top. I only fastened the top at the ends for expansion. The only other part, is the shelf, which I did make another, but decided not to put it in. I figured I'll probably make one of these for my mother. Merry Christmas mom... =)


-Matt

Originally Posted by Stuart.

Nice work there Matt. I like the design of the drawer runners to give full extension, and that you didn't use a commercial product to achieve it (presumably).

I'm sure it will prove a very useful addition to the kitchen - all that extra food prep space!

If you are going to keep turning this sort of work quality out, are you sure you can't convince the powers that be that a planer (thicknesser to those down under) isn't an essential item?

There are quite a few people on here that have made their own drum sanders. Do a search and you'll find a lot of design ideas, and photos of how they were made, step by step. By the look of your work, I'm sure it isn't beyond your capabilities, and you'd find one very useful.

Until then, have a chat to some local table or door manufacturers. Some may be willing (for a few dollars) to put a piece you've joined up through their drum sander. Or, as an alternative, look at some of the darksiders works (those that prefer not to use powertools) - I'm sure they will give you guidance how to flatten tops like that with hand planes!

Anyway - welcome to the board, looking forward to seeing more of your work.

Stuart,

Thanx for the great welcome. I've been thinking about joining one of these for some time now, and am glad I finally did.

That is a great idea about the door maker. I've seen a few of them around the area too. They are small shops, and I'm sure they wouldn't have a problem lending me a hand for a nominal fee.

The drawer guides are home grown. As I mentioned in a previous post, it was a challenge put forth by several of my friends to make this with no metal hardware. Time was running short, so I decided to use the pocket hole jig for the removable parts.

I will also check out those drum sanders you speak of.


Thanx!

-Matt