Tool display or laundry cabinet

**RedShirtGuy** · 31st May 2013, 12:49 PM

I bashed this up from a Woodsmith magazine for the experience and as something to add to a resume portfolio.

Notch and tenon joinery for the case and half lap door frames. Basic pine with Tassie oak dowels finished with a couple of brushed on coats of satin poly. Shelves spaced at 25mm for a tighter fitting second shelf if desired.

There were soooooooooo many stuff ups that aren't necessarily visible in these shoddy pics:
- Had to shrink the size a fair bit due to a slip on the saw and couldn't afford to replace/waste the timber;
- Drilled right through on a couple of the case hinge screws;
- A number of dings (filled);
- Doors aren't mounted evenly (one sits back from the front while the other sticks out, both a couple of mm);
- A couple of nails in the glass stops broke out a little on the inside;
- Case isn't completely square - the tenons were tight, which I thought was ok, but during the glue up I had heaps of trouble getting them seated properly so it's a bit twisted.
- One door got a coat of black japan varnish before I figured out that it would be too dark to do the whole thing, so had to sand it back which left some stains.
- Didn't mirror the doors properly and consequently had to relocate the knob and striker plate on one.
- Didn't dry fit the back properly so found out that it was oversized and didn't sit in all the grooves properly while the case was half glued up and clamped - had to resort to black magic and kitten sacrifices to get it in.

It was worth it for the practice and experience anyway.

My plan is to do a few pieces specifically for my resume (furniture/cabinet apprenticeship) to show a bunch of different techniques. I was going to try and sell the pieces off at the material's cost price to help afford to do the next one but I think this cabinet is just going to have to stay here. I wouldn't dare say that it's good enough for someone else.

It's still a reasonable result but pretty disappointing for why I made it and how good I thought I'd do. I'm considering doing it again to get it done properly.

**BobR** · 31st May 2013, 01:30 PM

We all have to start somewhere, and we've all made the mistakes. Just keep it up.

**Pat** · 31st May 2013, 01:49 PM

Mistakes, what mistakes? Learning experience and problem solving on the fly is the preferred term. Mistakes are for the armchair crowd, who cannot do anything.

**snowyskiesau** · 31st May 2013, 02:05 PM

The trick is to not make the same mistakes next time, make new ones!

Looks a lot better than I could do, I haven't yet run out of mistakes to make.

**RedShirtGuy** · 31st May 2013, 03:28 PM

Ahh I just thought I would do better after going over the plan for weeks beforehand. C'est la vie

At least a lot of the mistakes are only from accidents, inexperience and too much eagerness rather than plain old daftness. I was aware of the possibility of a lot of them before they happened and tried to contain their chances of occurring, so I guess it could have been worse

I did forget one ripper muck up though...those doors are the result of the third attempt. I kept stuffing up the half laps and putting them on the wrong face. (Ok, that's a daftness one)

I'm seriously considering putting big signs up in the shed that say "Slow down doofus!!!" and "Check it. Really check it. NO!!! STOP THAT!!! CHECK IT!!!" with some photos of the things I've stuffed up before

**wheelinround** · 31st May 2013, 04:03 PM

Look I am willing to save you any further embarrassment of people seeing it just send it over and I'll make sure its out of sight..........well at your place anyway.

Looks good like the use of dowels and size not sure about magnets latches tho where they are.

**RedShirtGuy** · 31st May 2013, 04:24 PM

A very kind offer wheelin

I not a fan of the magnetic catches either. They're too big and too strong for my liking. You've really got to yank on the door to get it open.

**Sturdee** · 31st May 2013, 05:11 PM

Originally Posted by wheelinround

not sure about magnets latches tho where they are.

If this is a practice run and you're doing it again I would put the magnetic catches underneath the middle shelf where it's out of the way.

But a great effort, I like it.

Peter.

**Christos** · 31st May 2013, 10:26 PM

I was originally reading this on the bus ride home and thought you have been way too hard on yourself. And now that I have been given it some time I still think you have been way too hard on yourself.

I do like the fact that you have taken the time to think on what you would need to change in your procedure to make this next time.

**3 toed sloth** · 1st June 2013, 08:51 AM

Hi Redshirt,

Don't forget, woodworking is not easy. The good part is you've crammed all those stuff ups into one project, instead of spreading it out and stuffing up several projects.

Making it again is not a bad idea, I'm always amazed how much easier it is to make something the second time. And good luck with the apprenticeship

Peter

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