Thread: Latest Project

Very nice unit. But as a glazier seeing glass like that scares me a bit. I've see toughened glass go with just the touch of a watch band on an exposed edge. Looking forward to seeing the end result.

Paul

The glass top will have a timber frame around it. I had many long discussions with the guy who did the glass slumping and a couple of others. It seems that the issue is pointed metallic things coming into hard contact with the glass. The glass is 10 mm. One demonstration that was done was hitting a piece quite hard with an engineers ball pein hammer. Scared the daylights out of me. No damage done. Quite amazing really. I was also shown what happens with a pointed hammer, quite a different result. The customer has been told of the risks and has signed off on the design. Thanks for the input.
Cheers

In my younger days I repaired pinballs and video games and the glass in the pinballs is constantly hit by the steel ball.

One day I slid the glass out of the top of one and BANG the whole peice disintegrated.
Scared the .... out of me.

hey enfield, looking like a sweet little cabinet going there! constructive critisism - i would have maybe use a lighter timber for the drawer front just for a bit of contrast. but hey each to their own, can't wait to see it completed.

Keep up the good work mate.

spencer.

The glass is definitely an odd feature and I'll be interested to see it when completed.

I've been a little preoccupied in the last few days dealing with some issues I've had with a new car purchase. So, workshop time has been lacking. However, here's where I'm at. Received the second file drawer components so have been able to fit them off and make the drawer fronts. The pieces on the sides of the bottom drawers are a tapered sliding dovetail to allow a bit of movement while keeping the panel straight. Having done it, I'm not happy with the look and will remake these. I think I will house a batten into the back of the panel so that the look of all the drawers is consistent. I've stuck the handles on with a bit of blue tack to get an idea how they will look. What do you people reckon?

Mock up of the glass surround worked ok. Needs to be a little wider and thinner as well as being in walnut like the rest of the cabinet. Hope to have the surround done by monday. Then the leg to support the top.

Cheers

Here are the latest pics of the desk. The fourth prototype of the leg functions adequately, minor adjustments will be made to the final item. A. It will be fabricated from 6mm stainless rather than 5 mm mild steel. B. There will be two ribs rather than one running down the centre of the leg. C. The wheel type will change to a slightly larger one.

A couple of issues have come to light. A shim is required in the pivot mechanism to take out the little bit of slop that exists and a supplementary support seems to deal with any instability that was left. The tape on the glass is a temporary thing of course.

This has so far been quite an enlightening project. Lots of R&D required along with the problem solving that comes with that. It's a good thing that the customer is patient!!!!

Cheers
Bevan

I like this piece. Unique. Looking forward to the completed unit. On a technical note, surounding the glass in wood has taken almost all chances of it breaking away. Exposed edges are where it's most vuneralbe.

Paul

I'd forhotten about this bevan.

Looks good from where I sit.

Looks great!!!!!

Originally Posted by SNAFU

I like this piece. Unique. Looking forward to the completed unit. On a technical note, surounding the glass in wood has taken almost all chances of it breaking away. Exposed edges are where it's most vuneralbe.

Paul

That was the objective. I had long discussions with a guy here in brissy that helped to set up the first tempering plant many many years ago.

Couldn't do much today, got the bl##dy flu and can hardley concentrate on blowing my nose.

Cheers
Bevan

Nice work EG, is there a back behind the drawers? or any diagonal braceing? The design isn't my cup of tea but your workmanship looks great.What finish are you using?

The plan is for an open back and no diagonal bracing. There is substantial bracing provided by the spacer block between the two sections of the cabinet. The cabinet goes against a wall and between two posts. The drawer guides are housed into a sliding dovetail. Top and bottom rails are also housed via a dovetail. I have made pieces using this system previously and have tried pushing against the side to induce racking without much luck. Quite surprisingly strong really. Most times I put a back on the cabinet for dust exclusion and bracing. This time though I am not. I certainly wouldn't try this with a softer timber.

The timber choice is the customers. She did not like the idea of contrasting drawer fronts. She felt, as I do, that the naturally variable colour of the walnut was feature enough.

Still feel like crap from the flu that I have at the mo, but, soldier on I shall.

Cheers

The finish is Feast Watsons Floorshield. An oil based finish. 4 coats so far, a couple more to go. I prefer a satin finish rather than a gloss, I like to see the timber, not reflections.

Cheers