madrone sideboard

Joe Scannell, member

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I am currently making two sets of double doors for this sideboard.  When I prepped the lumber for the stiles, I realized there were several ways to use the grain. In the Sketchup drawing I have shown two different ways (pieces #2 and 5 are already committed - joinery already done).  In the left hand set the grain is "pincushioned" (#1 and 3); in the right hand set, the grain is "barreled" (#4 and 6).

I clamped the pieces in place for the photograph, to try and get a visual. The general shape of the cabinet is obvious (yes, the top of the opening is an arc), and the grain is fairly easy to see in the photo. But I cannot decide whether to orient the stiles to create a "barrel" or "pincushion" grain pattern.

I realize this may not be the appropriate place for questions such as this, but I couldn't find anywhere else to post it.  Does anyone out there have an opinion on my grain-orientation quandary?

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Jewelry/Keepsake Chest

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Kumiko art - landscape

Comments (3)

Joe Scannell writes: Thank you both for your comments and advice. I guess I knew the right thing to do, but needed your push to make me do it. I have decided to 1) replace pieces #2&5 with more straight-grained material and recut the joints; and 2) realign the edges on the other pieces so the grain is "straightened" (ala James Krenov). I haven't finished, but I already feel more confident about the outcome.
Posted: 11:53 pm on April 10th

MKenney writes: Of the two choices you offer I would pick barrel, so that the grain looks like sets of parentheses. A door always looks better when the grain encircles the frame. But if I had my choice, it would all be straight grain. Of course, that might not be an option.

Good luck.
Posted: 8:36 am on April 8th

hhmacdonald writes: That's a very interesting question. The norm would be that each door would have a separate oval shaped grain pattern similar to 5 and 6. This makes each door a closed 'container'.

But you could with the use of the strong laterals of the drawers make one very large container with 1 and 2 mimicking 3 and 4 and 5 shaped like 6 in the drawing. Or (((==))).
Posted: 10:46 pm on April 3rd

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